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326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2022
Would you like me to turn around for you? Make it easier for you to ogle me?
How pathetic. I’d been tricked and threatened and had the hots for a guy who may or not be talking inside my head. Stockholm Syndrome at its finest, ladies and gentlemen. Focus, Bella.
“You realize your last name sounds like rectum, right?”
Bastard. Now, Bella, I’m not a bastard.
“My oh my… do you feel the air? It’s… singing around her. Benji, get her name. I think it’s going to be important.”
“Nic.” “Mica. I see you’ve met my mate.” “Mate?” Mica’s face blanched, and he dropped his arm from around me. “Yes. This is her.”
I’ve longed for you, Bella. Waiting for my mate. But I never imagined you’d be… this lustrous. You’re divine.
Yes. You are magnificent, Bella. How will you taste? Like sunshine? Like forbidden whiskey?
“Don’t worry about funds. You’re my Regina. You’ll never worry.” “Seems shady.” I narrowed my eyes. He ignored my comment. “Move in now.” “Nah, I’ll wait until the expiration date. So… where do I live?” “With me.”
Sandro reached the banister with a tortured expression on his face, but I flipped him off. “In case that wasn’t clear, that means fuck you. I’ll make sure to look up how to say it in Domini. If that’s even a real thing.”
“My Maluma, I sensed your thoughts from my wing. Why are you upset? Can I help? Tell me.”
“Worse has happened. You’re very strong, my Bella. Your energy, your mind… your connection with Sandro, how you can block me. No one should be able to complete those tasks.
“Prince, leader, king, or mate, I’m not a second. Have a good night, Dominic."
“We can chat later. I took care of all my business for the day, and I would like to spend time with you. Are you able to make some time for me?” - It was stupid, the butterflies in my stomach. He had been kinder since that night in the kitchen—bringing me breakfast when he could, joining me when I read in the library sometimes, and walking me to the gym before he left for whatever he did.
“Nic, stop, what the fuck?” I gripped his arm, but he didn’t budge. Rage fueled me, and without meaning to, something snapped in my mind, sending Nic to the floor. “Enough.” “He offended you,” Nic said, frowning as he rubbed his forehead and looked at me. “No. It was a joke. God.”
All three men stared at the strength in my voice. It sounded like me, but it also didn’t.
“Be mad. Hit me. Yell. But let’s do it inside? The surprise visitor today has my nerves on end. Come.”
Sandro quickly brought his attention to Nic, and an idea struck me. Blocking him. I projected a large wall, stopping all thoughts to travel, and sure enough, Sandro gave me a panicked look. - Did you prevent me from communicating with Nic? Yes. He doesn’t need to know about our conversation.
“You are the first Regina to begin training at the gym. None in our past have done that. None have been considered to join a career path, which you can when you want to talk about it. The Reginas’ main goal was to please the Dynastes and, in return, they would get whatever they wanted. Money, kids, cars… you are unique in your desires.”
High five, Bella. Nice work.” I bowed and pretended to cry. “That was the first nice thing you’ve ever said to me, Dro. I’m touched.”
“I’m not so sure. I constantly try to convince you to get naked around me, but it never works.” - “I’m joking, Bella.”
“I’ll start you one. I won’t invade your privacy if you don’t want me in there, but I need to be near you tonight. Is that okay?” - “Please?” Fuck. He pleaded. I was weak when he used his seductively sweet tone. “Okay.” - Stay with me tonight. I arched a brow, not responding either way. He swallowed hard and nodded. Please stay with me tonight. Please. I want to know you’re safe. I’ll be good. “Okay.”
“Bella, Domina, come sleep. I promise, I will not do anything unless you ask. I just want to be near you.” I closed my eyes, letting the truth of his words hit me. “Okay.” “Come to bed. You need rest after today.”
Nope. You’ve used up all your jealous cards today. If you play another, you are dismissed. “I am dismissed?” He caught up to me at the end of the stairs and placed his thumb and pointer around my wrist. He had laugh lines around his eyes, and I nodded. “Exactly. Dynastes or not, you can be dismissed.
It happened fast. The combination of my anger and hurt. It was like a rubberband snapped the hold he had over me, smacking his control away, but I could move freely, and I channeled every thought, cell, vibe, and ounce of energy I had into freezing him. I threw him on the ground, his expression frozen in shock.
“No, no. You misunderstand.” He laughed and put a hand on Nic’s shoulder when he joined us. Nic’s expression matched mine: confused, annoyed, and angry. “Bulla, she broke the hold and reversed it. On me.”
“You’re a bastard.” “Come on, Bella. What upset you to the point you pinned me completely to the ground? You can tell me. I thought we were friends.”
“You are the closest thing here to making this feel like a real home. I’m mated with Nic, I know, but our friendship felt natural, and it hurt me to think it was just a waste of your time. I’ve been told that throughout my life—”
“I’m not looking for pity, but my biggest weakness is belonging. My parents gave me up, my foster families were just filling in, and the only person who made me feel at home was Kristin. But you took me from that, too. You ripped away the little confidence I had living here. That’s why I was furious. That’s why I snapped.”
Maluma, why is your anxiety shouting at me? If you want to cancel our date, tell me. I do not want to cancel our date. Can I come to you? Wow, look at your progress. You asked!
Thirty-two times. Nic had either hugged me, put his hands on my shoulders and pulled me to his chest, or pressed his lips against some part of my skin since we left the cave an hour ago. It was about forty minutes outside Flagstaff, and the walk back to the car was as uneventful as possible.
Your strength is incredible. Your beauty, mind, soul. All of you.
It was easy to forget about the final thing I kept when his hands and tongue explored every part of me. It was easy to lose myself in him, my mate, and that’s just what I did.