Chapter 15

Shemika stood frozen, unable to move. Caturix prowled toward her, his movements predatory. She tried to meet his gaze, to defy his command, but his handsome face left her speechless. He seized her wrist, pulling her toward his bathroom. She didn’t resist. Every time she found the courage to fight back, one look at his face would drain her resolve.

He positioned her next to the bathtub and stepped back. Then, he sank into a chair across from the tub. “Strip,” he commanded, stretching his long, muscular legs out in front of him.

That was not going to happen. “In your dreams, pal. There’s no way I’m giving you a free show,” she shot back, crossing her arms over her chest.

He shook his head slightly, a hint of disapproval in his eyes. “You’re not leaving my room until you wash his scent off your skin and out of your body.”

Did he mean she had to wash Nikandr’s semen out of her body? They’d only slept together once. Why was he suddenly so possessive? It was a boost to her ego, though. She’d been pining after him for weeks with no response. Now, after one time, he was hooked. Sort of.

“I don’t feel like washing right now,” she said, turning away from him. She glanced at the tub and instantly regretted her words. It was filled with steaming water and bubbles, and it smelled faintly of lavender.

Caturix slouched in his chair, his fingers laced over his chest. “I’ve got all day, Shemika. You can leave as soon as you wash his scent off.”

“What’s the big deal about his scent, Caturix? Why are you so hung up on how he smells? Don’t you care that I slept with him?” she demanded.

His jaw tightened, but he looked away. “Why won’t you undress? You’ve got nothing to hide. I’ve already fucked you,” he muttered, still refusing to meet her gaze.

He was avoiding the question. “I’m not hiding anything,” she retorted. She didn’t have the same hang-ups as others. Her only insecurity was her size. She was…curvier than other lycan women.

“So you’re just scared,” he concluded.

Was he trying to goad her into undressing? Shemika gritted her teeth. “I’m not scared of anything, kitty.”

His head snapped toward her, his eyes hardening. She’d noticed his icy demeanor had softened in his bedroom. Maybe he was just more at ease in his own space.

“You’re going to be pretty uncomfortable standing there all night. Just get in the bath and get it over with,” he said calmly.

She wrinkled her nose, but finally gave in with a sigh. “Fine, whatever. I’ll take your damn bath, but I’m leaving as soon as I’m done,” she declared.

He nodded slightly, as if in agreement, but she could see a different intention in his eyes. He watched closely as she unbuttoned her top and slid it down her arms. She could feel his hungry gaze on her skin.

She glanced up and saw his dark, angry expression. Was he disappointed by her partial nudity? She wasn’t as slim and toned as other she-wolves. Ylenia was the only other she-wolf with a curvy body, but even hers was muscular.

Shemika unzipped her skirt and let it fall to the floor. She didn’t need to look up to know he was watching. She could feel the heat of his gaze.

She stepped into the tub and sank into the hot water. She didn’t speak for a long time. She sat there, quietly, thinking about Caturix. Wondering what he thought of her body. Nikandr had called her the ‘most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.’ How could one man see her so positively, while the other seemed repulsed by her?

“You can use my toiletries,” he finally said, gesturing to the items next to the tub.

She glanced at him before cautiously using his things. They smelled distinctly masculine. She washed her hair and body, acutely aware of Caturix’s presence.

“Wash yourself out,” he added, his voice harsh.

She turned to snap at him but stopped. His pants were tented, his eyes fixed on her. She moved her hands under the water to wash herself, blushing deeply as Caturix watched.

“You’ll let me go when I’m done, right?” she asked suspiciously.

He nodded slowly.

“Okay, good, I’m done,” she said, standing up suddenly. Bubbles clung to her body and water dripped down her curves.

Caturix stood up too, offering her a plush towel. As she started to dry off, he picked up her clothes.

“Hey,” she protested, reaching for them. “I need clothes to get back to my room.” There was no way she’d make it back to her room without clothes.

He gave her an indifferent look. “What’s the point of bathing if you’re just going to put these clothes back on? They still smell like Nikandr.”

He was really bothered by Nikandr’s scent.

“Do you have a problem with Nikandr or something?” she asked, rolling her eyes.

He stormed out of the room, calling over his shoulder, “No. I don’t have a problem with Nikandr, but you shouldn’t smell like him. You should smell like you…or—or me,” he growled.

Shemika was taken aback. She followed him back into his bedroom, through his living room. “What the hell is your problem, Caturix? I chased after you for six fucking weeks and you ignored me. Now all of a sudden you care about me?” she snapped.

Caturix stopped at the foot of his bed, his body rigid. He wouldn’t look at her. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. “I ignored you for your own good, Shemika,” he finally said through gritted teeth.

Shemika moved until she was standing right in front of him. “Shouldn’t you only care about your pleasure? Why do you care about my well-being?” she demanded.

He took a deep breath before saying, “I’ve slept with every woman of breeding age in this pack and most of the mature she-wolves. They all regretted it, they all begged me to stop, Shemika. I’m done doing that,” he said quietly, his head bowed. “Every woman I’ve been with wishes they’d never wanted me.”

“I don’t,” Shemika blurted out.

He looked up, but his eyes were cold. “You went to Nikandr for what you needed,” he said hoarsely.

She shook her head vehemently, her wet curls flying. “That’s not true, Caturix,” she insisted.

“Then what?” he demanded. “Why did you go to him? Him of all people,” he hissed, turning away from her.

Him of all people? She’d have to ask about that later. “Caturix,” she pleaded, reaching out to grab his wrist. “I enjoyed our…time together.”

“Sure,” he said quietly, clearly unconvinced.

“I did,” she insisted, stamping her bare foot. “I…I wanted to…to not enjoy it. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” she confessed.

Caturix turned back to her, his eyes wide with surprise, almost disbelief.

She continued, hesitantly, “I’ve never enjoyed being with any other man like I did with you. I haven’t…fini…clim…I haven’t…” She struggled to find the right words.

“Orgasmed?” he suggested.

She nodded, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Not for a long time, at least.”

“You didn’t even experience the full extent of my sexual appetite like the other women. I just took you in the hallway,” he admitted.

Shemika’s fists clenched at her sides. What now? She hadn’t even experienced the full extent of his lovemaking? All the other women had! But not her? She was suddenly furious. She felt deceived, cheated.

“I want the full extent of your sexual appetite,” she demanded, crossing her arms.

He blinked down at her. “I thought you wanted to leave as soon as you finished bathing,” he teased.

She glared at him, but let her towel drop to the floor. She stood there, naked, in front of him.

His eyes roamed over her body. “Are you sure, Shemika?”

She gave a quiet nod. Perhaps after this, she wouldn’t desire to share his bed anymore. But one thing was certain in her mind—there was no chance she’d let those other women have more of him than she did.

Experience more than she did.