The Queen's Conquer

Chapter 37 : A Moment of Appreciation

Quiescent • [kwee-eh-snt]
A quiet, soft-spoken soul.

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If it wasn't for Samuel's intervention, I don't think I ever would've made it downstairs for our dinner. My infernal thoughts likely would've provoked me to simply refrain from any additional social interactions for the evening. And honestly, I would've been fine with that.

But now, even sitting exhausted in this familiar dining room, being around others helps to enliven me in some ways. It helps to distract me from the inevitable. The laughter and exchanged smiles across this large table remind me of the joys of this new life I'm living—one that's far more full of content.

And I try my damn hardest to ignore the fact that I was mouth-fucking Samuel only an hour ago, but with him sitting at my left, it's a very difficult task to keep myself from remembering the taste of him—the feeling of him.

A gentle squeeze of my hand pulls me from my lustful memories, drawing my head to look at the handsome man beside me—my mate—who I offer a warm smile. Killian's laughing his head off across the table from us as Liam talks about another disturbing story from his childhood involving him and Sterling. The poor woman sitting on his right looks utterly annoyed with her mate's behavior tonight, but her only response is a concealed pinch at Liam's leg, forcing him to swallow down his wide grin.

"You two and your childish shenanigans," Xander muses at one end of the table, swirling his red-colored alcohol around in his short glass with a slight smirk. 

"You're telling me you've never had a lover, Xan?" Killian chuckles. "Not even a crush?"

"I don't have time for those kinds of things," he says, the corners of his lips remaining upturned.

"C'mon, Xander. You must've at least slept around during your early training years," Liam croons with curiosity.

The dark-haired male's only reply is an entertained snort, clearly not wanting to further disclose his personal affairs. Even with his close friends.

I'll admit that I've also wondered who Xander's been involved with—if he has at all, that is. The male is indefinitely gorgeous and could easily use his looks to his advantage. But ever since I was first introduced to him in that ominous car after my leg had been shredded to pieces before spending three days recovering in the hospital, he's always shown to have a very exclusive life, caring more for doing his job and pleasing his alpha and pack over anything else.

"There's no point in trying to pry the information out of him, you two," Samuel interjects with his own grin. "Xander's always been focused on being the best warrior he possibly can be. It's one of the many reasons why I actually admire him."

A notion of appreciation is exchanged between the two of them, as though Xander is thankful my mate at least tolerates his presence. It's no wonder he was chosen as a pack leader—because of his loyalty to Phantomridge.

"Wait...you've all had former lovers? Like someone besides your mates?" I pipe in, now intrigued by the conversation as I poke at my plate of room-temperature food.

My appetite has decided to be mostly absent tonight, leaving me to look like I'm trying to starve myself while everyone else's plates are completely cleared. Thankfully, no one's taken much notice of it—except for Samuel who's been eyeing my movements since we joined everyone downstairs a little less than an hour ago.

Now I'm left to wonder what Samuel's own experiences were once like. There's no doubt that he didn't just suddenly learn all of those skills he's used on me during our most intimate moments. Even though it makes me somewhat jealous to know he must've been with someone else at another time, I'm somewhat glad his life wasn't utterly sex-deprived before I came into it.