Chained By The Alpha By Jessica Hall
Chapter 31

I catch my breath, my body responding to his touch in ways I can’t control. His proximity, the heat of his body, the intensity of his gaze – it’s overwhelming, intoxicating

He leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear. “With my hands, my tongue, I would trace every inch of you. You’d never be out of my sight, you’d be lucky if I let you out of my bed,” he whispers, sending another shiver through me

“Id make sure you are safe, cherished…”

His words are like a caress, wrapping around me, pulling me deeper into the spell he’s weaving. I can feel myself getting lost in the moment, in the fantasy he’s painting-a fantasy where I am adored, where I am the center of

someone s world

But then he ruins it, his voice turning teasing, almost taunting. “I certainly wouldn’t abandon you while you were in a vulnerable state.” his

face pulls away with a smirk on his face

“But by the smell of your arousal, I bet you want to replace out exactly how I’d worship you, don’t you?” His fingers trace lower, brushing just below the hem of the shirt, teasing the bare skin of my thighs. “I bet Deacon doesn’t get the same reaction from you.”

The spell breaks, and I step back, feeling a flush of embarrassment heat my face. His words, so intimate and raw, cut through me, reminding me of the reality of the situation

“I… You can’t just say things like that,” I stammer, trying to regain my composure. The

mix of arousal and embarrassment leaves me feeling exposed, vulnerable

Zayn”s expression shifts, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes before he masks it with a smirk. “Can’t I?”

Turning away from him, I wrap my arms around myself, feeling a turmoil of emotions raging inside me. Zayn’s words, his touch, have awakened something within me, something I can’t quite understand. And as much as I want to explore it, I’m also terrified it may mean he has sired me

I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks, his words igniting a fire within me. It’s a dangerous game we’re playing, flirting with the line between jest and earnest

“You’re just messing with me,” I say, though my

voice lacks conviction as I peer at him over my shoulder

Zayn’s smile fades, replaced by a look of sincerity. “I’m not, Cleo. You deserve better than Deacon. You deserve someone who sees your worth, who values you for who you are.”

The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard

The thought of being valued, cherished even, is both alluring and terrifying

“Now go shower, I’ll replace you some clothes,” he tells me

Alpha Zayn leaves the bathroom to fetch me some clothes, and I turn on the water, adjusting it toa warm, soothing temperature. As I step under the spray, the water cascades over me, and I close my eyes, letting 1t wash over my skin. The tension in my muscles begins to

loosen, but my mind refuses to quiet down

My mind a whirlpool of confusion and unbidden thoughts about Zayn and the things he Just said. The way he had moved, his muscles rippling under his skin, had left an imprint in my mind, one that I found both unsettling and undeniably alluring. His presence seemed to linger in the room, a tangible force that I couldn’t ignore

As I lather soap over my body, I replace myself thinking about Zayn more, about the way his sweatpants had clung to him. It’s a visual that’s both provocative and intimate, and it sends a warm flush through my body

I shake my head, trying to dispel these thoughts

I shouldn’t be thinking about him like this, not now, not with everything that’s happened. But it’s like a current I can’t swim against, drawing

me in despite my best efforts to stay aloof

Rinsing my face, I open my eyes, and to my mortification, he walks back into the bathroom just as I am about to step out of the shower. His eyes never leaving mine, he begins stripping off his own clothes and I open the door to hop out when he cages me back inside the shower, forcing me to remain in with him

“Dude, you are getting far too comfortable with me!” I snap, my embarrassment morphing into irritation

He smirks and steps into the shower with me. I try to hop out, but he reaches for the soap behind me, effectively caging me in. I take a step back, bumping into the cold tiles, letting out a shriek. I lurch forward and slam into him in my haste to get away. His strong arms wrap around me, stopping me from falling. Now, I am flush against him, feeling the heat of his body

against mine and feeling my blood run to my face. I try to pull away, but he keeps a hold on me

“Only the other day, you were saying unshifted females shouldn’t be around unmated males?” I remind him, trying to sound confident despite my awkwardness. “I’m pretty sure you’re breaking your jail bait rule?”

He only smiles, tugging me even closer, making me gasp. “I figured that went out the

window when I healed you last night,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against mine as he speaks. “With my tongue.” He lets out a soft purr, and this time, his tongue runs

along my lips

Arousal floods me, and instinctively, I lean in towards him, only to realize what I am doing. I jerk away, but his grip on me remains strong

Embarrassment washes over me as he lifts his

hand, brushing his thumb over my cheek. That silly smile still dances on his face, clearly toying with me. His scent envelops me, intoxicating and entrancing me. Before I know it, Iam leaning in again, our lips nearly touching as he speaks

“I’m definitely getting too comfortable around you, but are you uncomfortable because you want me closer or because you’re scared of what Daddy will think if he replaces out?” he asks, a teasing glint in his eyes

“Shut up,” I spit, glaring at him, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation

The truth is, I can’t deny the strange attraction I feel towards him. But that didn’t mean I was going to let him make fun of me for it