The Alpha and His Cursed Princess

Chapter 36

He had moved too close to her.

Almost silently, he said, “It's also very sexy and when you look over your shoulder there's something I don't even know what it is but you look amazing” his voice deepened. “ And maddeningly irresistible."

Amelia swallowed to ease her suddenly dry mouth and  part of her wanted desperately to diffuse the situation to let him know that she wasn't ready yet.

And then he turned her to face him and she looked up mutely into a face which was filled with desire. Her instinctive protective resistance crumbled under the impact of hunger so consuming she sighed as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

At first, he did not give her the passion she carved, his mouth touched her gently almost tenderly so that she had to stand on tiptoe and insists he satisfies the need he had aroused inside her.

Yet a slow languorous heat melted her bones until she could do nothing but accept his soft touches.

Kissing against her lips he said. “Is this what you want Amelia?”

“You know it is,” she said unable to hide whatever was going inside her even though in some distant area her brain was struggling to send out an alert all over her body but she could not resist.

He gathered her more closely to him his mouth crashing down on hers in a kiss so ruthlessly demanding that her knees almost gave away. And then she wasn't aware of anything but the wild reaction of an eager body, and the desire that overrode every sensible limit she had lived by until then.

When at last he lifted his mouth, Amelia realized he was every bit as aroused as she was. She was thrilled and looked at him passionately and she lay her head on his shoulders and Archie hugged her more tightly and made her heart flutter.

And despite all the turmoil of the passion that they had shared she had never felt so safe so wonderfully secure.

And that was the danger, she thought confusion tumbling around her brain as her breathing slowed into harmony and his arms relaxed.

“Amelia..” he said quietly resting his cheek against her forehead. “That will have to be enough for today .”

A chill shudder ran through her and she had to stifle a small sound of protest. As though he understood how shaken she still was he held her for several seconds more until she was able to strengthen and trust her knees enough to pull away.

She could read nothing on his face, the dense crystalline blue of her gaze or his thoughts, his emotions.

Words falling into the stiff silence and finally, after few seconds she said through slightly swollen lips “ Can I know why Archie?” Let him think that I am being desperate, she thought but she had to clear the confusion.

Alex's twisted smile held more ruefulness than amusement. “Because it's almost dinner time and my housekeeper   will wonder what the hell we're doing if we don't go down for dinner.”

Her laughter sounded almost like a sob. Hastily she tried to control her emotions and gazed at him with her fluttering lashes, while she tried to sort out what she wanted to say.

Archie said. “ And because you are not ready.” He paused for a second and continued. “A year ago we looked at each other and wanted each other but that time wasn't right. I don't know if it is the right time yet as I can sense some sort of restraint in you.”

His tone was neutral but his keen scrutiny unnerved her. No, it was certainly not restrained, no not at all what he sensed was shyness, but did not understand the modesty of a woman who was still a virgin.

And she wondered whether she should tell him but why should she.

She bit her lip. “I did not come here hoping for or intending any sort of....” her voice trailed away.

“Relationship? Well, I despise that word.” His tone was cool and almost mocking. “Affair? It's worse. So tell me Princess what did you expect?”

Amelia's brows lifted and she said with cutting edge to each word. “ I don’t want to be in a relationship either but I can’t deny it.”

She stopped because she did not know what to say next.

He was silent his face expressionless and then to her shock, he linked his fingers around her wrist so that his thumb rested on the vulnerable pulse that beat there.

Sheer astonishment held her frozen but to her dismay, she felt the answering leap of her heart at that almost casual grip.

“Whatever you hoped or intended or resisted,” he said holding her eyes with his own, “your response tells me and should convince me however much you would like to deny it, there already is a relationship in between us,” he emphasized the word enough to lift the hairs on the back of her neck.

“ I did not...” Amelia wanted to say but Archie cut in ruthlessly, “ what you decide to do about it is up to you but don't deny, it's there.” he released her “ and you are not in any danger I can control my urges and I'm sure you can too.”

His detached tone and ironic eye set a barrier between them that hurt when it should have reassured.

After a glance at his watch, he said. “Dinner will be ready soon. I will come and collect you in about fifteen minutes.”

Once he had left the memory of the kiss hung in the room and she stood there for sometimes drooling over what had happened. Then she shook her head vigorously as if she was trying to forget those things

.

I should take a shower she told herself and walked towards the bathroom.