The Bully's Hated Mate
The Bully’s Hated Mate – Chapter 11

LUCIUS’ POV:

My eyes travelled the length of her exposed thighs, taking note of the freshness of her skin, how pale and curvy they were.

They were the most perfectly shaped thighs I’d ever seen. Even if I’d seen better, I couldn’t even remember in that moment.

Damon growled again, making it known that he liked the specimen standing a few feet away from me.

For a split second, I wondered how fast I could rip the towel from her hold, yank the towel that was so jealously guarding her body away from my sight.

I watched as her gaze dropped to her exposed skin. Embarrassment rose high on her cheeks as she indignantly covered it up.

“You don’t know how to knock?” She asked, taking a few steps back. Embarrassment had made her voice sharper.

I could hear that much, despite Damon having other lustful ideas.

I snapped out of my reverie.

“What are you doing here?” I snarled at her, walking towards her menacingly.

I didn’t want her scent in my room. I didn’t want it in my nostrils, and I didn’t want Damon aroused by the mere sight of her thighs.

“Doing here? I’m sleeping here, for your information.” She snarked back, picking up the lotion bottle from the bed and holding it like a weapon, her hand still tight on the towel.

“You are most definitely not sleeping in this room. Not today.” I said.

It was her turn to scoff. Her face had returned to it’s normal color, no longer bearing it’s embarrassed flush.

Now, she looked ready to fight. Good, I inwardly thought, because I would not let her win this battle.

“I’m sure you’re suffering from hearing problems because we were told to sleep in the same quarters.” She sneered.

I don’t know how Damon ever found this creature appealing. She was nothing but an annoying t**t.

“You might want to speak for yourself because I heard it crystal clear. However, this is my room and my quarters and my castle.” I inched closer to her with every word.

A frown nestled between her brows, her nose upturned. She was wearing a look that spoke of pure irritation.

“And?” She daringly asked, crossing her hands over her chest, lotion bottle still poised incase I made any funny moves.

I almost wanted to prove, for an unknown reason, that I could easily manoeuver her if I wanted to.

I could easily pin her underneath me if I so pleased. Ramp her against the wall and take her where she stood.

I could do it.

“And,” I added with annoyance. “You will not foul the air in this room with your scent. It’s bad enough that I have to see you.” I said, walking past her.

I must have hit a sore nerve because she tailed me, visibly fuming as I made my way to the bathroom.

“You listen up, you spoilt arrogant brat.” She waved her finger in my face, both surprising and annoying me.

“Did you just call me…” I asked, shocked at her boldness.

” Yes, I did because that’s what you are. I don’t want to be here any more than you do. It’s not my fault I got mated to the most annoying person in the pack!” She shot back, jabbing her finger in my chest.

“So, do us both a favor and stop whining. It’s bad enough that I have to hear your annoying voice, or see you for that matter. If there’s anyone who shouldn’t even set eyes on your shitface, it’s me.” She concluded, a satisfied smirk on her face.

I stared at her, mostly because I was short of words. Her comeback stole the words right out of me, so I was left gawking at her.

No one had ever spoken to me in that manner.

No one.

To recover whatever time I’d lost, I cleared my throat.

“Fine.” I spat, turning around and removing my shirt.

I could feel her stare on my back, boring holes everywhere her eyes probed.

Maybe it was the mate stuff, but it was kinda nice having her stare at me like that. It fed my masculine ego, no doubt.

I snapped my belt open, drawing it out and placing it in my drawer. My trousers went next.

“What’s this? A strip for the new bride?” She asked, her voice a little squeaky.

I could only smirk, but gave her no answers.

Wrapping my towel around my waist, I faced her.

“Why so shocked? People don’t take baths where you’re from?” I smugly asked, revelling in the hungry look on her face before annoyance wiped it off.

“Whatever.” She tiredly replied, padding to the bed and picking a night wear off it.

I inwardly g*****d. Now, some of her scent would be on my bed.

“What are you doing?” I asked, watching as she struggled between putting on her night gown and holding her towel.

It was honestly amusing to watch her struggle.

“Preparing to sleep. Haven’t you heard of it before?” She sarcastically asked.

I ignored the jab.

“You’re not sleeping on my bed.” I stated matter of factly, watching her raise her hands in exasperation and annoyance.

I couldn’t care for s**t, since I couldn’t make her go, she was not going to enjoy comfort either.

“Where then should I sleep? In the f*****g wardrobe?” She asked, hand on her h**s.

Her tongue was too sharp for her own good. I had other ideas on how to put it to better use, and all involved her getting down on her knees for me.

Turning away, I walked to the adjoining bathroom, feeling her glaring at me.

“Even better.” I said over my shoulder. ” You’ll be sleeping on the ground.” I said before closing the door behind me.

Her gasp filled the room with it’s unintentional delicious sound.

Her shock was just fine with me.

Mission accomplished.

***

The warm water sprayed from the shower, trailing it’s way with slim fingers down my head, massaging the dip of my neck and releasing some tension.

The fog in the bathroom half reassured me that I could spill my thoughts here and the fog would take it when it dissipated.

I liked thinking in the bathroom.

It was my safe space.

My favorite place actually.

I shifted my head and a spray of warm water hit my face. Damon was restless, prowling within me, chastising me for not letting her sleep on the bed.

Maybe I wanted a warm body besides mine for my own reasons. I was selfish sometimes, but I was not okay with it — whether Damon pranced or not.

I’d never slept on the ground before. I could imagine how hard it felt and how uncomfortable she would feel.

Serves her right, I inwardly thought, scrubbing my hair with shampoo.

She was an Omega, for goddess’ sake. She probably slept on the ground every night and the night after that. She was used to it — I could be helping her even.

I glanced at the shower door, half expecting it to turn slightly or forcefully, half expecting Cassia to barge in and tell me she would sleep on the bed whether I liked it or not.

Her smart mouth doing the things it knew how to do best.

It was her nature to defy, to annoy, to make snarky replies and mouth gaping comebacks.

I knew I wouldn’t get it easy with her the moment I realized she was my mate. She had the scent with her, every part of her breathed fiery resistance.

The scent of a free-willed person, but I wasn’t about to let all that happen. She was going to do exactly what I say, when I say it and at the damn time I say it.

It wasn’t about to be me that she was going to go free spirited on. I wasn’t going to give her that free pass.

Maybe I’d have the pleasure of breaking her.

It wasn’t helping that Damon was crazy attracted to her, making it hard to even think around her with her appealing scent in my nostrils.

I hated losing control.

I hated the vulnerability I was feeling. A foreign emotion.

A useless emotion.

As I stopped the shower, twisting the silver knobs until the stream of water stopped, I grabbed my towel.

I thought about Ariadne.

Sweet, passionate and classy Ariadne.

I’d promised her we would be together, but I’d never experienced half the emotion I felt when I saw Cassia’s thighs with Ariadne.

Not even for a moment.

I felt guilty building up within me. There was no way I was going to spoil what I had over some delicious thighs.

I was mainly thinking about Ariadne to let Damon know that he could k**s the scent goodbye.

I was with Ariadne and we were together, and there was no way I was going to allow a mere Omega ruin my relationship.

And for goddess’ sake, we were not right for each other and she was goddamn annoying. How the hell could Damon not sniff that?

Groaning, I threw my towel over my shoulder and opened the door.

My eyes went straight to the gigantic bed, expecting to see Cassia sprawled across the bedspread, but shocked when I saw no one on the bed.

So, she listens?

With my eyes darting left and right, it was clear that Cassia was not there. Had she left?

Maybe she’d dressed up and walked out of the room, tired of our sparing and eager for rest on a different bed.

Maybe she’d gone to my father to complain about the sleeping arrangements, annoyed and disgusted.

If she’d done that, so help me goddess, I would pulverize her into a pulp. Damon disagreed with the idea.

I didn’t care.

Not caring if she had left, I opened my wardrobe and dressed in my silk pyjamas, padding over to my bed in exhaustion, desperi for sleep.

It was her problem if she decided to leave. Better if she left. I would deal with that in the morning.

I would have to think well and hard on how I was going to break the news to my father, but all would be done.

On getting to my bed, I almost stepped on the small form curled on the plush rug.

It took me a moment to realise that she hadn’t left but had finally dressed in her night gown and had stubbornly slept on the floor without blanket.

Her nightie was perfectly her size. Deep red like the colour of passion and seduction, it fit her curves and hugged her breasts, running all the way to her knees, shielding the thighs she’d embarrassingly covered earlier.

I gulped.

I stared at her, annoyance warring with l**t. And goddess, her scent was even stronger and probably more sultrier.

I had no idea how I was going to sleep with Damon taking greedy lungfuls of her scent, or my mind scarring me with more lustful thoughts and images.

All that now involved me ripping the nightgown to shreds, exposing whatever delicacy she had underneath.

Cassia shivered lightly, turning in her sleep, backing me.

As much as I wanted to climb into my bed and sleep, I reluctantly walked back to my wardrobe, bringing with me the thickest and comfiest blanket.

I hoped the blanket would tone down some of her scent.

It wasn’t as though I was doing it probably because Damon was fussing, or that she held her elbows while she slept. Her stubbornness was evident even in sleep.

Gently, I dropped it over her, rolling my eyes when she clutched the blanket, sleepily grateful for the extra warmth.

She almost looked peaceful now that her smart mouth was shut tight and her fingers covered under the blanket.

Disgusted with how nice I was being, I propped her pillows properly. Damon must have had something to do with the extra niceness because no way.

This was me before climbing my bed and turning away from her.

With some lingering traces of her peculiar scent still in my nose, I closed my eyes and willed sleep to come.