CHAPTER 143: FROZEN

Emira blinked at the sudden contact of her cheek with the hard planes of his abdomen, then closed her eyes, feeling much better. She didn’t know what was wrong or rather she knew it was the drug effect that the witch had given her, but she didn;t know what to do to counter it. Her body felt as if there was a furnace burning inside her while the outside was frozen solid, as if she were sitting inside a cold storage. That strange contrast left her trembling uncontrollably.

Yet, touching him felt different. It was comforting, almost as if he could balance out the heat inside and the cold outside her.

She let out a quiet breath and, without realising it, nuzzled closer, her face brushing against his abs in a small, desperate motion for warmth. Even though his clothes were soaked through, it still felt good... and he smelled so good. She closed her eyes and breathed him in deeply.

Lance looked down at the Omega clinging to him, and his hands on her shoulders tightened a fraction. The scent of her heat mingled with the faint chill of the water, wrapped around him like a challenge his wolf didn’t want to ignore. And the way she was rubbing herself against him was a test of his own self control. He could already feel himself stirring beneath her cheek... and soon, she would too.

No sooner had he thought it than her entire body went rigid. She looked up at him in horror and jerked back, but almost immediately began trembling again. Her teeth chattered as she tried to speak, "You... you..."

Lance let out a sharp breath and stood up quickly. He looked down at her accusing yet helpless face and sighed. "Take off your clothes and get out."

Her eyes widened so much they almost fell out of her face, and he rolled his eyes, Did she really think he was going to take her during the heat when she was drugged. Hadn’t Kael and Zen thought her anything? Irritated with her accusatory look, he added pointedly, "You’re freezing. You’re soaked through and shaking from the heat. Do you plan to sleep in wet clothes? Take them off and come out."

Reining in his impatience, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and pointed toward the corner an continued, "There’s a robe."

And with that, Lance turned and walked out of the room, silently scolding his wolf for the constant push to claim her.

He was a nearly mated man. It didn’t matter that he could feel her need through the faint bond they shared-he needed to keep his distance.

Ramona. He reminded himself of their mate. She was already hurt by Kael and Zen’s acceptance of Emira. If he gave in now, if he even allowed himself near her the way his wolf wanted to, it would be the ultimate betrayal to his mate. And he would never do that.

That thought helped him hold himself together. He closed his eyes and clenched his hands, trying to picture his mate so he wouldn’t be distracted.

But the moment he did, the image that came to mind wasn’t Ramona...it was Emira, kneeling in the tub, drenched, her clothes clinging to her skin, and her wide, innocent eyes staring up at him... which then reminded him of the night outside Kael’s house...

He cursed and shook his head wildly. It must be the after effects of the fight that were making him lose control...His wolf seemed to be amused at that and taunted drolly, "Keep telling yourself that."

Lance shook his head and paced about the room. He just needed to be distracted from temptation. A cold shower should do the trick.

With that thought in mind, he unbuttoned his shirt and threw it aside, followed by his jeans and then paused. What was wrong with him? She was still in the washroom...

Just as his jeans fell to the floor, the bathroom door opened and Emira walked out, almost lost in the large bathrobe.

He froze.

So did she.

And then, he noticed, the robe was too large for her small frame, slipping slightly off one shoulder, revealing smooth, creamy skin that he wanted to lick and taste. His wolf growled in approval of the thought, and Lance shook himself out of the stupor.

And the, as if jolted, he walked towards her, perversely happy when her eyes widened as she looked him over. Ha! So, he was not the only one who could only admire her. But, ignoring her look, he placed a hand on her forehead and checked. "Still hot," he said quietly and then stepped back.

He picked up the hairdryer from the dresser and plugged it in and handed it to her, "Dry your hair before you catch a chill. And I want you in bed, before I return. I’m going to take a shower."

And without waiting for her response, he walked back toward the bathroom.

***

Emira’s fingers clutched the hair dryer as she watched the man go. He didn’t bother closing the door fully, and for a long moment, she simply stood there, frozen in place. Her eyes followed him as he turned on the water, paused and took off his black shorts... before she realised what she was doing-then her eyes widened, and for a heartbeat, she forgot to breathe.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, spreading all the way to her ears. She spun around abruptly, almost tripping over the long cord of the dryer in her haste. "Oh Moon..." she whispered under her breath, squeezing her eyes shut and clutching the dryer tighter as if it could erase what she had just seen.

Her mind, however, refused to listen. The image was already etched there, totally unforgettable. She’d seen Kael and Zen before, both powerful in their own right, almost identical in build, in stance... even down there, they were nearly the same. It had taken her time to tell the difference between them back then.

But Crown Prince Lance...

Her breath hitched again at the memory that flashed before her. He was nothing like those two in that department. Even though the three brothers looked so alike in every other way, except Prince Lance was somehow bigger... down there.

Did the Supreme Alpha have to be big there?

The thought slipped into her mind before she could stop herself, and she groaned inwardly, burying her face in her hands for a second.

What was wrong with her? She was supposed to be focusing on getting warm, on steadying herself-not on comparing the princes like some foolish Omega losing her mind to her own heat.

Realizing where her thoughts were straying, she shook her head furiously and flicked the switch on the dryer.. Focus focus on drying her hair and getting comfortable...