Free Web NovelChapter 36: Chapter 36
Riley’s POV
She starts circling me slowly, like a shark deciding if the prey is worth the bite, and I just stand there, not moving a muscle, not saying a single word.
My heart is hammering so loud I swear she can hear it but I keep my face blank, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me freak out.
"I like you," she says all of a sudden, her voice dropping low and almost sweet, and I blink hard, swallowing the lump in my throat.
She keeps walking around me, eyes glued to every part of me. "I like girls like you. Bold. Fearless. Courageous." She draws the words out like she’s tasting them.
"But above all that... you’re gorgeous. Really beautiful. I must say, the Alphas definitely have eyes for pretty things."
Now she’s right behind me, so close I can feel the heat coming off her body. Her fingers brush the back of my neck, light at first then firmer, tracing down the line of my collarbone over my shoulders then slowly along my arms.
Goosebumps explode across my skin even though I hate it. Before I can react, she grabs my shoulders and spins me around so fast I almost lose my balance. We’re face to face now, her eyes locked on mine, dark and hungry.
I want to slap her so badly my palm tingles, but I remember exactly where I am. I’m human. She’s not. One wrong move and I could end up broken in ways I don’t even want to think about. So I keep my hands at my sides and my mouth shut.
"I can help you," she says, voice soft now, almost coaxing. "I can get rid of Ethan for good. You won’t have to go through that stupid Rite of the Borrowed Moon. You’ll get everything you want handed to you on a silver platter."
She pauses, her lips curving into a slow smile. "But I have one little wish." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
I finally force the words out, keeping my voice steady even though my insides are shaking. "Which is?"
She doesn’t answer right away. Instead she steps back, walks over to the huge bed across the room, and sits down on the edge like she owns the whole world.
She reaches for the white bottle of drink on the small table next to her bed, pours some dark liquid into a glass, takes a long sip, then sets it down yet her eyes never leave mine.
Then—ZIP!—ZIP! she grabs the front of her dress and tears it open in one sharp pull. The fabric rips apart like paper and falls to the floor in a heap.
She’s completely naked underneath. No bra. No panties. Nothing. Just smooth skin and curves that catch the dim light from the lamps.
My mouth goes dry. I choke on air. "What—what is the meaning of this?" The words come out all shaky and stupid. freewёbnoνel.com
She stands up slowly, letting me see every inch of her. "My condition is simple, Riley. You become my lover. You satisfy me, and I’ll satisfy you right back."
She starts walking toward me, her hips swaying. "I liked you the second I saw you. I want to know exactly what’s hiding under that dress of yours. I bet it’s one hell of a sight."
I take a quick step back. "You’re insane, Ms. Sapphire. Really crazy. I’m not interested in you. I’m sorry. I have to leave now."
I turn to bolt for the door, but she’s faster than I expect. Her hand shoots out, grabs my wrist and yanks me back so hard I slam against the wall. Pain shoots through my shoulder but it’s nothing compared to the way her grip feels like iron. Werewolf strength. Holy hell!
"What are you doing?!" I almost shout, twisting my hands to get free but she pins me there with one hand on my chest, the other still locked around my wrist.
"I’m making you a very good offer," she hisses, her face inches from mine. "Most girls would jump at this. And you’re being stubborn?" Her eyes rake over me again, slow and pretty much shameless. "I can still take what I want even if you don’t agree. You know that, right?"
I struggle harder, kicking at her legs, shoving at her shoulders, but it’s like pushing a brick wall. My arms burn from the efforts. "Let me go! Like I said, I’m not interested in you or anyone else!"
She laughs meanly. "But you’re interested in my stepsons, aren’t you? The Alphas. If it was them standing here demanding the same thing, I bet you wouldn’t even protest. You’d probably beg for it."
Her words sting more than they should. I glare straight into her eyes and force a smirk even though my heart is racing. "Well, maybe that’s because they’re a lot better at things like this than you are. Don’t you think so?"
Her face changes instantly. Rage flashes across it hot and ugly all at once. Her fingers tighten around my wrist so hard her nails dig into my skin. I yelp in pain, sharp and sudden, but she doesn’t let go. Instead she presses her naked body closer, trapping me completely against the wall.
"You little—"
The door bursts open with a loud crash and Gunnar storms in.
His eyes sweep the room in one second flatly—Sapphire naked, me pinned, her hand still clamped on me. His gaze lands on us and something deadly shifts in his expression. He doesn’t yell. He doesn’t rush either. He just starts walking toward us, slowly, intentional steps that make the whole room feel smaller.
Sapphire freezes. I can feel her start to shake even though she’s still holding me. She’s scared. Really scared.
Gunnar stops a few feet away. His voice comes out low, chilling, like ice. "You know too well, Sapphire, that if you lose those fingers of yours, you ain’t getting them back. Let her go. Now."
She hesitates for half a second, then releases me so fast I almost fall. She turns to face him, trying to look confident even though her hands are trembling. "You can’t just burst in here without permission. I’ll tell your father about this disrespect. Seeing me naked like this—"
Gunnar actually laughs. It’s short, cold, and completely without humor. "Go ahead. Tell him. There’s nothing special in there anyway. It’s better if you don’t even wear clothes. I’ve seen much better things than that."
He doesn’t wait for her to answer. He turns to me, grabs my arms firmly and yanks me away from the wall. His grip is warm nothing like hers. I stumble a little but he keeps me upright, pulling me toward the door.
I don’t look back at Sapphire. I don’t want to see her face. I just let Gunnar drag me out of the room, my wrist throbbing where her nails dug in, my skin still crawling from her touch.
The door slams shut behind us.
He doesn’t stop walking. He keeps pulling me down the corridor, faster now, until we’re far enough away that the air feels different and safer. Only then does he slow down and finally let go of my arm.
I rub my wrist, wincing at the red marks already forming. My breathing is still messed up, chest rising and falling too fast.
Gunnar turns to face me. His eyes scan me quickly—checking for injuries, I think then his gaze lock on mine. "Choose, do you scolding or care first?"
I look at him confused. "I—I," I can’t even find the right words to answer because it’s stuck somewhere in my throat.
"I choose scolding"
