Stripping For The Alpha King

Chapter 38

A week had passed since my outing with Ajax. A week since our breathtaking first kiss. And I was feeling infinitely better than I had in years. I had been off that medication for almost a full month. That combined with the German air and almost constant adventure and I was feeling incredible. Being away from all the stress and demand was beyond amazing. And Ajax had given me all of this.

There was a part of me that was aware of the fact that I was missing a tremendous amount of school and had been away from my mother without any contact for a long time. When I brought it up Ajax didn't seem particularly interested in the conversation and Holly avoided it all together, saying that it wasn't her place. I was growing agitated with the situation. At this point I wouldn't be able to even try and catch up with all of my assignments. I would've certainly lost my contract with the strip club as well. I hadn't paid my dorm fees this month or my car insurance. My life back in Denver would be in shambles.

But when I tried to pin Ajax to give me an answer he was slipping out the back door, wearing a loose tee shirt and basketball shorts.

"Where are you going dressed like that when it's almost winter outside?" I demanded, but couldn't stop myself from running my eyes over him.

"I'm going training," he answered with a lazy smile, like he loved each and every word that dripped out of my mouth. Or maybe he loved the way I looked at him.

"Training?"

"Yeah, like hand to hand combat."

"Are you aware that we have guns now? It seems like a much more effective way of protecting yourself."

"That is one of the most American things you have said to me," he chuckled, "I'm aware that guns have been invented. And I knew how to safely operate one. However, physical training is important for our kind."

"Our kind," I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"I would so love to get into this conversation right now but the guys are waiting for me," he dismissed.

He moved forward, one finger curling under my chin. I knew he was going to kiss me the moment his eyes met mine. And I wanted to kiss him back so badly. While he was wearing only a shirt and shorts I could see how defined his calves were and I could watch the way the muscles in his arms flexed as he moved. It was almost enough to make my mouth water when I thought of all the things I couldn't see.

But I didn't want to come undone again. I took a slow step back.

"I hate playing this cat and mouse game with you," Ajax whispered, following my step. "I hate the way that you fight me when you should just be submissive."

"Submissive?" I demanded, "You don't want me to be submissive. You love it when I fight you. I see the way you look at me when I don't give you what you want. You love the chase."

Ajax said nothing. His hands slid around my waist, pulling me flat against his chest. His head moved towards my shoulder. And he sucked in a low breath at the base of my throat. There was something so deeply erotic about the gesture. It made me hold onto him a little tighter.

"You love that I make you a little wild, don't you?" he whispered in my ear. "I can't wait until I get to take what I want from you."

And I could feel the last bit of my resolve coming undone. It was the sound of his voice. It was the feeling of his hands holding me tight. It was the confidence that he exuded. He knew just want to do to me and just what to say.

"Go to your training," I ordered in his ear. "Unless you want me to bring you to your knees."

"You are such a vixen. But you forget that I will be king. I don't bow to anyone." There was a playful tone in his voice, like he wanted to push me just to see how far I would let this go. But there was a feral look in his eyes, like he truly didn't enjoy being challenged. "Go upstairs and wait in your bedroom. I'll come to you when I'm done."

I gave him a coy smile and stepped away from him, giving him a small nod while looking at him through my eyelashes. I knew how to look like the epitome of innocence. And Ajax ate it up, looking like he had conquered me. At least, for now.

Ajax left out the back door and I went back to my bedroom. But I wasn't staying. I grabbed that new, beautiful camera he had bought for me and pulled a thick hoodie over my head. If Ajax wanted me to stay in then now was the perfect time to go out and explore. I pulled on my running shoes at the front door, hoping he was still tucked away in the back compound, and moved towards that dense forest that Adeline and I had ridden through. That pond would photograph so well and after I looked through my first set of pictures it was clear I needed all the practice I could get.

I paused at the stables when I spotted Zelda out in the pasture. The old horse moved around for me, like she knew she was being photographed and it allowed to me use the action setting on my camera. I tried all kinds of angles and zooms and settings, though I doubted half of them would even look decent.

"Beautiful mover isn't she?" Adeline said from behind me.

"She is," I agreed, still hesitant around her.

I found her husband much easier to get along with and if Ryan hated my mother he at least tried to swallow it. with Adeline I felt like I was always tiptoeing on the edge of an outburst. It was impossible to read a woman like her.

"Where is Ajax?" she asked.

"Training."

"I see, and he let you come outside?"

"Yes." I felt like snapping at her, telling her that people- royal or not- didn't have the right to restrict me as much as they did. I was a free woman, I didn't need Ajax's approval to live. But I knew better than to challenge her.

"I see, well, enjoy your photography tour then."

Then I was off into the woods. I took pictures of anything and everything. The towering trees overhead, the little critters that moved about. It was all beautiful. And being alone, breathing in the fresh air did something to my soul. I was starting to enjoy Ajax's company and I loved seeing Holly again. But it had been so long since I had time to be alone and been given a chance to just be. There was a little magic in the loneliness.

Then, as I moved towards the pond, I felt like something wasn't quite right, like I wasn't as alone as I thought. The energy in the air had changed somehow, but I couldn't place why. I glanced up at the sky, wondering if a storm had snuck up on me. It was all perfectly clear.

Then, there was the soft rustle of leaves and the snap of a small branch from behind me as something moved. I spun around so quickly I tripped over my own feet. And landed on the gravel path on my back.

And in front of me was a grey wolf with bared teeth. And it was taking slow steps towards me.