Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Maddox gritted his teeth. Everyone talks about finding a mate as something extraordinary, yet for him, it was full of uncertainty, and he hated it, but he couldn’t walk away either… not when his Goddess was calling him to get into the touching distance, and it was just the two of them in the room. Privacy.
For the first time in a long time, Maddox was not sure what to do.
He could go next to her but what will be next?
Maddox knew that he will get aroused and want to kiss and fondle her, and she will probably call him a caveman again. Or can he go there and behave? It will be the biggest test of his willpower.
Eventually, Maddox released a slow breath and moved closer to the bed.
The moment he sat on the edge of the bed, Tatiana scooted on the side and lifted the cover, exposing her body that had a loose hospital gown on it, but Maddox knew that there is a skimpy bikini under it, and then her glorious body.
Maddox swallowed hard. “What?”
Tatiana rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me beg for it, Max. Come here.”
Maddox’s insides jolted. There was that word. Beg.
Maddox never cared for any word in particular, but since Dayson said that Maddox should beg for Tatiana’s forgiveness, that word became something nasty that shouldn’t be used.
“I will never expect you to beg for anything, Tanya.”, Maddox said seriously. “Not from me and not from anyone else. But I hope you will clearly tell me what you want.”
Tatiana appreciated that. “I want you in the bed with me. Now.”
Maddox steeled his resolve and laid flat on his back in slow motion like the mattress was made out of eggshells.
He stiffened when Tatiana stuck to him, and she even pulled the cover over both of them.
Her breath fanned his chest and his hair stood on ends.
The thin hospital gown separated their bodies under the cover, but he could still feel the sparks of their bond dancing over his skin.
And their legs were interlaced. It was skin to skin!
Maddox tried thinking about something else to distract himself from the overwhelming arousal that swelled in a second.
Saggy breasts… quarterly expenses report for the pack… deplumed chickens… broccoli…
No matter how horrid images he conjured in his mind, it didn’t work. His erection pitched a tent and he hoped that Tatiana will focus on his face or at least not call him a caveman again.
Tatiana was frustrated. He was obviously aroused, and she was clinging to him. Why did this look like she was hugging a statue?
“Max?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you really just going to lie like that?”
Maddox didn’t get it. Was she chasing him away already? He didn’t do anything! “Like what?”
“Like a dead person.”
Maddox was confused. “And how do you want me to lie?”
“Aren’t I your mate? Don’t you want to hug me and”, Tatiana’s voice stopped abruptly when Maddox turned sideways to face her.
“Say that again.”, Maddox said anxiously.
Did he hear her right? Did she say that she wanted him to hug her?
Tatiana blinked rapidly. She was not sure if she can keep up with his mood changes. “Is there something wrong?”
“I don’t know. You tell me. So far, when I hold you, you pull back. When I want intimacy, you call me a caveman. I remember clearly that you said sex was off the table. So how about you explain to me what you want? You want hugs? How about kisses? Is touching above waist level allowed? I need to know what all is acceptable so I don’t offend you again.” Because every time you push back, I am dying on the inside.
“Max, I…”, Tatiana paused. She was not sure how to respond to Maddox’s sudden emotional outpour but she knew that her actions really hurt him.
His eyes were angry and disappointed, and there was some anticipation as well, but the most striking was the strength of his insecurities that reached her through their mate bond and she couldn’t look at him.
Tatiana leaned closer and rested her forehead on Maddox’s chest.
“I want to thank you for saving me.”
“No need.”, Maddox said curtly. “I did what should be done. If you want me here only as a thank you, I should leave.”
Tatiana’s arms tightened around him. “No. Don’t go. It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“Damn it, Max!”, Tatiana snapped. “I said, thank you. Can’t you just say, you are welcome, and we will be done with pleasantries?”
“What happens after pleasantries are over?”, Maddox asked reluctantly.
Tatiana shrugged. “I don’t know. How about… we start over?”
Maddox’s eyebrows shot up. “Does that mean you are over what happened…”
He stopped talking when Tatiana put her fingers over his lips. “Can you not talk about it? Please?”
“Only if you promise not to bring it up again.”
“I can do that.”
Maddox smiled a little. “So… are we good?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”, Tatiana said.
Maddox’s eyes anxiously roamed over Tatiana’s face, like he was expecting to find something unpleasant.
He was not certain if this was real or if she was up to something, and he needed to make sure which one is it before he makes a move that can earn him another slap.