Stripping For The Alpha King

Chapter 36

"You look lovely," Holly approved. She was settled on the chair by my vanity, sitting cross legged on the small space with a massive smile on her lips. She had been so delighted when I told her that Ajax was taking me out on a date and she was more than happy to help me get ready.

"I'm trying to look comfortable and sexy all at once. I'm not sure it's working all that well," I confessed, turning around in front of the mirror for the millionth time. I was wearing a tight, grey tank top with a plaid shirt over top and black jeans that were torn at the knees. I had thought the outfit was cute and versatile at one point. Not anymore. "I look frumpy, don't I? Like I'm going to harvest pumpkins."

"You look great," she corrected, unfolding herself from the chair and coming to stand behind me.

"I think you forget that I'm meeting with a prince," I shot back.

"You aren't meeting with a prince. You are going on a date with a guy who is super into you," she argued, shaking her head. "I think you forget that this man is so crazy for you that he is going to see that, then want to lay you out on his backseat." Her fingers brushed against the top of the black bra strap on my shoulder. The bra strap that was covered in small white gems and had a peak of the lace cups just below. She pulled my plaid shirt tighter around me.

"What if it happens again?" I whispered. I had felt incredible when I pulled the racy underwear on, but the possibility of having sex had only been a fantasy.

"What do you mean?"

"You know, the warmth, the feeling?"

"Are you talking about the heat?" she questioned.

"I guess so?"

"You have nothing to worry about in that regard. It's not something that you can control. It's just your body trying to force you two closer together. It wants you to complete the mating process and it will come and go until you do," she explained with a casual shrug of her shoulders.

"What the hell is mating?" I demanded, then almost scrubbed a hand over my face. I stopped when I remembered my freshly applied mascara and lip gloss. "I know what it technically means, but you are making it sound like something different now."

"It's the process that is used to bond two people together and it's beautiful. You have nothing to worry about with any of it, I promise. Just do what feels good."

"That seems like the worst advice you could give someone."

"Trust me, in this case, it's the best way to go. When your instincts overpower everything else it's the only thing you can do."

I had no choice but to believe her. As crazy as I knew this whole thing was I felt like I couldn't fight it anymore. And she was right. I always wanted to think that I was a rational human being, but the reality was that I couldn't have withhold myself from the pleasure that Ajax gave me.

A few minutes later I sucked in a deep breath and made my way to the foyer, the designated meeting place.

When Ajax saw me he smiled. And I let out a breath of relief when I noticed that he wasn't wearing a suit for once. His hands were in the front pockets of his jeans as he chatted idly with Ivan, the royal advisor. I couldn't help but love the way he looked in the sweater with a snapback pulled over his auburn hair. He was young like this, free spirited and bright eyed. I wasn't going to be courted by a future king. I was just going on a date with Ajax.

And he didn't spare a second in the house. As soon as he saw I was ready he took me to the garage and held open the door while I climbed into the angular SUV that seemed to be his.

We were half way down the gravel road that led to the highway when he twisted around in the driver seat to reach behind me before placing something in my lap.

"What is?" I demanded, but stared at the box with a clear image of a camera on the outside. "Why would you get me a camera? Jesus, it has a touch screen and everything, how much did this cost?"

"It doesn't matter what it costs," he dismissed, but a smile was stretching across his face. "What are you supposed to scrapbook if you don't have any pictures? And there's no better time to learn than a date in Hamburg."

"And what does that date consist of?" I pressed.

"You'll have to wait and find out," he replied with a wink.

First we went to a small building in what I assumed was downtown. I wasn't really paying attention to the city, only impressed by the vast amount of canals and bridges. But once we were in the building I was stricken by all the children inside and I grew pensive. This didn't seem like an ideal date. It certainly wasn't romantic by any stretch.

Ajax just smiled and pulled me through the crowd.

Then, on either side of me there were tiny towns complete with train stations, airports, and lake systems.

"Welcome to the world's largest model train exhibit," he whispered in my ear, "Complete with figurines and planes that seem to fly."

"This is crazy," I breathed back, my eyes locked on the miniature trains that stopped a station, then continued on as the lights in the room dimmed, signaling night time. Like real people were in those little houses and hotels, all the lights turned on at various times.

"Come on, let's see what that new camera of yours will do," Ajax encouraged, pulling out a small map, "And let's complete one of the least family friendly scavenger hunts to exist."

And he was right. The scavenger hunt that was provided was not always acceptable for children. But trying to find two figurines tangled in a loving embrace was more fun than I thought possible. And I got to practice with my camera as we progressed through each section, from Germany to Austria, all the way to America.

Then, after three hours of staring at a miniature world, Ajax took me back outside into the cool fall air. I felt like I was verbally spewing all over him. I couldn't shut up. I blabbered on about how the lights had changed and wondered out loud how they made it all work together so seamlessly. Then, as I we walked, I paused and glanced up at Ajax. The man who had planned this whole thing for me and paid for every last part of it.

"Thank you," I whispered, "This day has been lovely."

Ajax was glowing at my words. He tossed one arm round my waist, pulling me into his side, "It's not done yet, sweetheart."

***Here's part 3, enjoy!***