Chapter 3
Alaric had never been close to his younger brother Damon. People said he was a workaholic–always buried in business, always on the move.
I’d barely seen him more than three times before tonight.
I never understood why he had feelings for me in our last life. But from the way he looked at me now… from the way he touched me…
Could it be?
Was he reborn too?
The thought barely had time to settle before I saw it–Alaric was right on the edge.
His body was taut with tension, jaw clenched, eyes dark and burning with heat he could barely contain. Somewhere in that storm of heat and hunger, he was still trying to hold back.
His jaw clenched as he spoke through gritted teeth. “Mahina, the truth is… I…”
And that was it. That was all I needed to know.
He really was reborn.
Perfect.
That made him even easier to use.
Before he could say another word, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.
That final thread of restraint in his eyes snapped. He kissed me back–fierce, relentless, starved.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The final time? Pressed against the cold tile wall of the bathroom, with his hands gripping me like he’d never let go.
He lifted me effortlessly as I wrapped my legs around his waist. He hovered there, teasing, refusing to go any further.
I whimpered and bit down lightly on the base of his throat. “Don’t tease me… please…”
Alaric let out a low, wicked laugh, his hand cradling the back of my head. “Say it again.”
“Damon…”
He growled. “Wrong name.”
And with that, he gave a punishing thrust.
A sharp moan escaped me. My body tensed, trembling.
“Say Daddy.” His voice was a low rasp against my ear–gravelly, magnetic, dangerously smooth.
I bit down on my hand to muffle a whimper. “Daddy…”
That broke him.
Alaric lost control.
I was drowning in him–gasping, breathless, unable to do anything but cling to his shoulders and let the waves crash over me.
By the time I opened my eyes again, the sky outside was still dark. Dawn hadn’t broken yet.
But the bed beside me was empty.
Ithrew on my pajamas and crept out of the room.
Sure enough, the light in the study was still on.
flattened myself against the hallway wall and peered through the cracked door.
C
O
Alaric was lounging on the sofa in the sitting area, shirt undone, cigarette in hand. Damon stood in front of him, visibly fuming. Chapter 3
GoodShort
0.50%
“What the hell, Alaric?” Damon snapped. “How could you walk into the wrong room?”
“You know Mahina is my mate. I love her!”
Alaric didn’t even flinch. He sat there, legs crossed, exhaling smoke slowly as he tilted his head and looked up at Damon with a smirk.
“Is that so?” he said lazily. “Didn’t know that.”
He blew out another cloud of smoke. “Then again, weren’t you just downstairs in the guest room–warming Emily’s bed?”
Damon’s face twisted. “That was–Emily came onto me!”
Alaric chuckled coldly. “Whatever helps you sleep at night. What’s done is done. So what now, little brother?”
Damon’s expression shifted. He glanced at Alaric’s face, searching for an opening–and took it.
“Look, it’s not a big deal. Just a woman. If you really like Mahina that much… fine. You can have her for a while.”
“But you know I’ve been in charge of the Coralbay project this whole time. Grandfather only gave it to you because you just got back. I’d really like to keep managing it.”
Alaric’s smile deepened, like he’d been expecting this exact negotiation.
“Sure,” he said. “I’ll talk to Grandfather tomorrow. Coralbay’s yours.”
Damon’s face lit up.
Alaric added casually, “Oh–and you’ll be responsible for profits and losses. Sink or swim.”
Damon hesitated for half a beat, then nodded quickly. “Of course. That’s fair.”
I watched him from the shadows as he stood to leave.
Panicking, I slipped back into my room, dived under the covers, and shut my eyes.
Just in time.
Chapter 3
