Playing The Alphas

Chapter 87: The Hungry Stranger

SAMANTHA

After locking eyes with Darlington, one thing became clear to me.

I was still in my sexy hot red lingerie.

The lace was barely there, a flimsy excuse for clothing that covered almost nothing and revealed almost everything. No wonder why he stared so hard, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin prickle with awareness.

The neckline was very low, struggling to contain my breasts in a way that felt precarious and dangerous. My waist was half-bared and it met the cool air of the room, sending goosebumps across my exposed skin. The hemlines daring cut exposed my entire leg, leaving nothing to the imagination with even the smallest movement.

"Argh—" I screamed, trying to shield my chest with my hands, but before I could properly cover myself, Darlington’s grip tightened around my wrist and he pulled me sharply into his embrace.

I crashed against him, my heart racing like a trapped bird in my chest as he wrapped an arm around my waist, holding me so hard that struggling seemed completely unnecessary. I could feel the heat of his skin through the thin fabric and his breath was warm against my ear. freёweɓnovel.com

"Prince Darlington..." I stammered, lifting my head to be met with his dark, scary gaze.

His usual gentleness had been stripped from him and his eyes were now clouded with a scary desire, a hunger that I had never seen in him before. He looked like a stranger, a far cry from the gentle man who had fed me chocolates and laughed with me moments ago.

Lost and bewildered, I wanted to plead with him, to beg him to stop and remember who he was, but as soon as I opened my mouth, he seized my chin and he crushed his lips against mine.

"Mmmm..." The sound escaped my throat as my eyes flew open in shock.

Darlington’s kiss deepened and his teeth grazed my tongue and the soft man I knew had vanished completely. Now he was replaced by this fierce, hungry stranger who took what he wanted without asking.

How did everything change so quickly?

Fear and disbelief moved through me like ice water and I struggled against him with all the strength I had. I pushed against his chest. I tried to turn my face away. I tried to break free.

But Lycan strength could not be compared to mine and I was nothing against him.

Darlington, despite his soft facade, was remarkably strong. His hand clamped around my waist while the other moved through the thin fabric of the lingerie, exploring without hesitation. His fingers found my breasts and he rubbed against them with a kind of slowness that made my breath catch in my throat.

His hot palm pressed upon my skin and his nails teased my nipples through the lace, sending a shiver down my spine that I could not control. Sensation flooded through me and before I knew it, a moan escaped my lips as my legs weakened beneath me.

A mix of tension and fear and growing desire left me unable to stand and I felt myself sinking against him.

Suddenly, Darlington released me and I tumbled back onto the sofa, completely off guard and disoriented.

My mind was in a blank state, unable to process what was happening. As I tried to sit up, I saw that Darlington had already taken off his shirt, revealing his muscular chest in all its glory.

My heart skipped a beat as fear gripped me and I moved backward on the sofa, trying to put as much distance between us as possible. Though Darlington appeared leaner than his brothers, the sight of his bare torso revealed a hidden strength that I had not noticed before. Muscles rippled beneath his skin and his chest was covered in scars that spoke of battles I could not imagine.

And I could feel the danger looming.

"No..." Terror made my voice tremble as I curled up on the sofa, my hands pressed against my chest. "Prince Clayton, please, be reasonable..."

He stopped.

His head tilted and his eyes narrowed and something flickered across his face.

"Clayton?" he repeated.

I froze.

"What did you call me?"

I opened my mouth but no words came out. I had mixed up his name again, the same mistake I had made before in the training room. In my fear and confusion, I had called him by a name that did not belong to him.

"I... I am sorry," I stammered. "I meant Darlington. I meant Prince Darlington."

He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes unreadable.

Then he laughed.

It was not a warm laugh. It was a cold, hollow sound that sent chills down my spine.

"You called me Clayton," he said. "Do you know who Clayton is?"

I shook my head.

"Clayton was my brother," he said. "My older brother. He died before we were born. He was too weak to survive the birth."

I felt my blood run cold.

"No one knows about him," Darlington continued. "My father buried the memory. My mother never spoke of him. But I have seen some of his pictures and memories."

He walked toward me slowly, his bare feet silent on the carpet.

"How do you know about Clayton, Samantha?" he asked. "How do you know a name that no one has spoken in twenty years?"

"I... I do not know," I said. "It just came out. I was scared. I mixed up your name."

"You mixed up my name with a dead brother’s name?"

"I am sorry. I did not mean to—"

He knelt in front of the sofa and his hand reached out and his fingers touched my chin and he tilted my face up to meet his gaze.

"You are full of secrets," he said softly. "Aren’t you?"

I did not answer. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

His thumb traced my lower lip and his eyes were dark and unreadable.

"I should be angry," he said. "I should demand to know how you know that name. But I am not angry."

"Then what are you?"

He smiled. It was a dangerous smile.

"I am curious."

He leaned in and his lips brushed against my ear and his voice was a whisper.

"Tell me your secrets, Samantha. All of them. And I will tell you mine."

I felt my heart stop, his lips still hovering over my ear.