Page 47 of Forced Alpha Bride
I jump in front of her, gathering Winnie’s chain in my right hand to keep her by my side.
“Back off, Krista,” I growl. “We have places to be.”
“I just want to talk to her—”
“Some other time,” I mutter, walking towards the door. Winnie doesn’t make a single sound of protest, and her silence begins to unnerve me.
As I put her in the car and shut the door, I see her eyes are dilated and her cheeks are flushed bright pink.
I can’t tell if she’s scared… or excited.
Before we leave, I pull out my phone and message Flint, making sure he’ll stop by the manor to check on my orders. I’d like to get out into the hills and oversee everything myself, but I have far more important business to take care of.
If we don’t consummate, I’ll lose my position, my power. I can’t let that happen!
As I drive home, I keep glancing over at Winnie, desperately trying to think of something to say. My emotions have never been so chaotic, and I’ve truly never felt this stressed.
It’s because of this morning. If she had stayed cold towards me, I’d know exactly where she stands right now. But after teasing me like that… I think she really does want me.
I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if we had met each other randomly, without all the pack business in the way. I like to think we’d have clicked instantly and indulged in the chemistry between us without any inhibitions.
Yeah, right. I’m still the bad guy, and she’s the sister of an alpha. She never would have even looked at me.
As I pull into the driveway, I try to settle my thoughts so I can decide what to do. Being committed to a course of action and following through has always been one of my strengths, but I’ve never had to worry about anyone else’s feelings before.
Or maybe I just didn’t care, but now I do.
I look over at Winnie as I stop the car. She’s staring at her lap, fiddling with the chain. Her cheeks are still red, but she seems calmer now.
How the fuck do I start talking about this?
“Let’s go,” I snap in a commanding tone.
To my surprise, she obeys, getting out of the car and walking calmly to the door. As I open it, I notice her nibbling on her lip, but it’s the only real sign that she’s nervous.
Winnie walks into the living room as I close the door, locking it behind us. I follow her down the hall, and when I get to the cool, dark room, she’s sitting on the couch, playing with the chains again.
She doesn’t look up at me, even when I stand right in front of her. I decide to just come right out with it.
“You heard what Regina said. We have to consummate.”
Winnie looks up at me, her blue eyes burning with electric fire. “Go consummate yourself, Damon!”
I’m quiet for a moment. “I would if I thought it would work, but unfortunately, I don’t think that counts.”
I see the hint of a grin tease the edges of her lips, but she still glares at me.
“How dare you,” she says. “After everything that’s happened so far, you think you can just order me to have sex with you?”
“Well. It certainly doesn’t hurt to try. Maybe you like taking orders. Have you ever tried it?”
This time, I see a flicker of humor in her eyes, but she covers it quickly.
“Maybe you should take these off, as a sign of good faith,” she says, holding up her hands.
I watch the light trail over the chain links, feeling my temper rising.
“No,” I growl. “I can’t let you get away. You’re too important.”
