Page 47 of Aine

He looks more than uncomfortable as he stands in the doorway, his hands twitching at his sides and his feet shuffling slightly along the floor. I nod, agreeing that he shouldn’t have done either of those things.

“Is Damien going to be mad you’re here?” I ask, not wanting to anger him any further today.

Alex shakes his head. “He saw me walking in and would’ve stopped me if he’d had an issue with it.” He sticks his head into the room and looks around. “I don’t like the way Damien’s decorated.”

A loud snort erupts from my throat at his disapproval. Honestly, I think it looks pretty nice in here. If Damien weren’t such an asshole, I’d probably defend his work, but since he is, I remain silent.

Alex tilts his head to the side before stepping back to put some additional space between us. His actions are surprising, but I realize why when I hear the heavy footfalls.

Damien takes his sweet time walking up the stairs, letting his feet slam into each step to alert the house of his presence. Olivia’s door creaks open, and seconds later, she’s rushing behind Alex to wait at the top landing.

If Alex’s wide eyes are anything to go by, he’s shocked by her actions as well.

“What is it, exactly, that you’re doing?” Alex asks Olivia, chuckling as she turns to him in panic.

Damien answers for her. “She was supposed to return to my office after helping Aine.”

Olivia wilts, her actions only serving as a reminder that Damien’s a cruel man who thrives off the fear he invokes.

Alex moves to stand between her and Damien. He places a hand on Olivia’s back and trails it from the top of her neck to the base of her spine before urging her to head downstairs with him. His apologetic eyes meet mine for a brief second before he disappears. He seems to be doing that a lot today.

“Is the room to your satisfaction?” Damien asks.

I nod, sliding off the bed. If I need to escape, it will be easier to do if I’m already on my feet.

Damien scans me head to toe, his lip curling and pupils dilating. My palms grow sweaty under his gaze, and I calmly search for the best escape route.

“What will it take to get you to stop whoring around with my brother?” he asks out of the blue.

I gasp, my body stiffening. “Excuse me? I’m notwhoring aroundwith anybody.” Heat rushes to my face and chest at his accusation.

“It’s clear you’re starving for affection.” Damien tilts his head to the side. “I will agree to pleasure you daily and accompany you to every dinner.”

Is he dumb? In what world does this man think those are things I want? While I’m by no means an expert on all the cultural ins and outs of their village, I’ve seen enough to know this is not typical behavior for the beasts.

“Is that not enough?” he asks, seemingly misreading my silence. “I know you’re attracted to me.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “I don’t even know how you’d like me to respond to that.”

He really is dumb.

“Then tell me what you want.” Damien grunts.

I stare blankly, my mind racing through scenarios on how to handle this situation. I’m fearful of angering him, but I also don’t want to agree to spend time with him. Damien waits impatiently for my response, his foot tapping against the ground in a quick rhythm.

“I don’twantanything,” I say, wincing at the shake in my voice. “And I’m not attracted to you.”

Damien throws his head back with a laugh, his disbelief at my words frustrating. This man is delusional, and if I could trade him in for another mate, I would in a heartbeat.

“Aine,” he purrs, crossing the threshold of my door and stalking up to me. “I’m not saying you love me.” His body comes to a halt in front of mine, and slowly, he lifts his hand and grazes it over my mark. “But you can’t deny that you want me.”

I shiver as his fingertips push into the sensitive scar on my neck and jerk away as the interaction makes my knees buckle. Damien laughs as my jaw clenches shut, his body crowding over mine for the second time today.

“Want to see something fun?” he teases, pressing his free hand against my stomach to trap me against the wall.

A choked moan erupts from my lips as he jabs his thumb into my mark. My body slumps against his as he continues to rub it, a pleasure I’ve never experienced before coursing through my body.

“Please,” I beg, not wanting this.

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