Bitter Vows (Crimson Falls 1)

“If you ever think you mean nothing to me, you’re sorely mistaken,” Lycan says, catching my attention, bringing it back to the here and now. “I may have signed a contract to marry you, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t slowly burrowed your way into my mind.”

I note how he doesn’t say, heart. He is convinced he cannot love. And even though my plan to make him fall for me has fallen by the wayside, his admission makes me think perhaps without trying, I could still accomplish it.

“Then show me your world,” I whisper, allowing my lips to feather along his, earning myself a growl of need. The wolf that Lycan keeps locked away within him is hungry, and he bares his teeth when I bite down on his full lower lip.

Lycan’s animalistic hiss is nothing short of feral and wild. Even though we’re amongst guests only a few feet away, I want nothing more than for him to touch me again. Memories spark in my mind like fireworks on the Fourth of July. He takes a step toward me, eating up the few inches that were there before, and his hand grips my hip possessively.

“Every fucking man in this room right now wants you,” he murmurs under his breath, reminding me that we’re not alone. That’s the problem when I’m near Lycan. All I can think about is him; all I see is him. He looms over me, like a giant, and I feel small and fragile.

“No, they don’t.”

A chuckle reverberates through him. “You’re far too fucking sweet and innocent. It’s a shame that I’m going to have to mar that beauty,” he tells me earnestly. “I’ll show you my world. I’ll train you to be the perfect little submissive, but there’s one thing I want from you.”

“Besides the bitter vows, I’m meant to spew at our wedding?” I challenge, causing a predatory smirk to curl his lips which causes my stomach to twirl with nervous energy.

“Let me tell you one thing, little red,” Lycan whispers along my cheek in a trail to find my earlobe, which he grazes with his teeth. “When you say your vows in a couple of weeks, they’ll not be bitter but filled with want and need. Because when I’m done with you, you’ll beg to be my wife.”

His fingers dig into my hip, painfully reminding me of who’s in charge. He steps back quickly, as if he wasn’t there to begin with. And then, he’s leading me with gentle fingertips at the base of my spine as we move through the crowd.

I’m utterly speechless, and that’s how Lycan guides me to the curved bar where two young, handsome men are working. One of them sees Lycan and straightens, offering a curt nod, but he doesn’t greet him verbally.

“Simon,” Lycan says in a tone that underlies dominance. “My fiancée will have a white wine. I’ll have the usual.”

“Yes, sir.” He moves quickly, grabbing glasses and setting them before us. The display of obedience is something I’m convinced Lycan enjoys. This is what he wants from me, no debating, no snarky comments, only obedience.

Once our drinks are poured with a flourish and a hint of a smile, Lycan hands me mine and picks up his tumbler, which shimmers with amber liquid. “I’d like you to take it all in.” His gaze flits behind me, and I can tell there’s annoyance where moments ago there was happiness and comfortable satisfaction—as if he were home.

When I turn, I find the woman, Lori, staring at us. She’s perfected the vamp look, and her sights are set on the man who’s right beside me. Tall, leggy, and someone I would picture Lycan beside rather than me.

“Are you going to lie to me again?” I question, but I don’t turn to face him. I can’t see the denial on his face when he tells me she’s nothing to him.

“Let’s go,” he answers, pulling me toward the back of the club, where we disappear down the hallway into a room decked in black. The reminder of his bedroom comes to mind, and I have a feeling this isn’t just a random room that can be used. This is Lycan’s bedroom of choice.

“Who is she?”

“The woman who took everything from me and left me with nothing. Now can you stop asking questions and take off your clothes,” he orders through gritted teeth. His free hand tangles in his dark hair, while his other brings the drink to his full lips as he swallows back the double shot of whiskey.

This is not the way I thought this evening would go.

Obeying him without debate, I slink off the black dress, and I stand before him in matching black panties and a bra that pushes my breasts together, giving me the illusion of cleavage.

His hot stare takes me in from my heels, which are a dark red. His gaze trails me gently, and it feels like his hands are all over me.