Page 43 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #52)
Hannah
Staring at Julian, who breathes in my scent like a man who has just discovered air for the first time, I feel my pulse quicken as his mango scent surrounds me.
I thought I had made my orders clear to keep him away from my house, so why was he here, standing in my bathroom doorway, looking like a man ready to devour me whole?
Aidan, I link with my theta, not removing my eyes from Julian. Why is Julian in my house after I specifically requested you keep him busy for a few days?
I hear my friend let out a string of curses before our link goes dead. While I wait for my answer, I watch Julian, his chest heaving with each breath and his eyes slowly narrowing.
“Hannah.” He says my name with a deep, guttural groan, making my skin shiver and the flames of my heart burst within me.
I take a deep breath, suppressing the urge to close my eyes and drink him in. Goddess, Julian is a drug, and my body craves him like an addict.
“Julian,” I say calmly, the need in my voice clear even to my own ears. “You need to leave,” I state firmly, watching the muscles in his jaw twitch as he clenches his teeth.
“I don’t know if I can,” he whispers, his intense gaze never leaving my face.
Hannah, Fabian said King Julian was going for a walk the last time he spoke to him. I have no idea how or why he ended up at your cottage, Aidan calls through our link, making me spit out a few curses. Fabian was supposed to help keep Julian away from me as well.
“Julian, I need you gone. I can’t get through my heat with you so close,” I continue, whimpering as the flames hit me hard, becoming painful with Julian standing before me, so close to touch yet so far away in my mind.
I can’t let him in, can’t let him hold me and help me through my heat. If I did, there would be no going back.
“Hannah,” he calls my name, the sound so sweet that I finally close my eyes and relish it. “Hannah, you’re in pain. Let me help,” he pleads, taking a step closer to me.
“You can’t,” I whisper, pain lacing my voice as the heat rears inside me. “If you help, we can’t go our separate ways,” I continue, whimpering once again. Goddess, he needs to leave before it’s too late.
“I don’t want to go our separate ways,” he says, taking another step closer to me.
I sense his every movement, feel his every breath. The broken mate bond calls out to him, demanding that he touch me. My heat burns hot and bright, worse than anything I have felt.
Suddenly, a hand is placed on my shoulder. It has an instant cooling effect, like a never-ending ice storm. I shudder with relief as the flames recede into my body once again. Goddess, his touch is a salve I never expected.
“At least let me hold you,” Julian pleads, his voice tense.
I hesitate, not wanting to get close to the man who hurt me, but I have to admit that I want the relief his touch brings.
“Fine,” I sigh, leaning into his touch. “You can hold me, but only that,” I finally agree in defeat.
Julian lets out a sigh of relief, helping me out of the bathtub and wrapping a soft towel around my body.
He lowers himself onto the bathroom floor, keeping me on his lap. His scent envelops me, bringing me relief. Groaning in contentment, I rest my head against his shoulder. The slight contact is another cooling balm for my already burning body.
“How many times have you gone through your heat?” Julian asks, slowly rubbing his hands up and down my arms.
“This is my third time,” I answer with a yawn, the soothing motion of his hands slowly lulling me to sleep. “Each one has grown more painful than the last.”
Julian hums at this, shifting into a more comfortable position. The towel slips, and he fumbles to pull it over my skin, his fingers brushing against me. I sigh, the skin-to-skin contact cooling my heated body further.
“Can you let the towel fall?” I ask sheepishly, feeling Julian stiffen underneath me.
“Are you sure?” he asks, his voice sounding strained.
“Yes. The heat receded when your skin touched mine,” I confirm.
I can sense his hesitation, wondering if Julian will let the towel fall.
Thankfully, I feel the soft material slide down my body before his hand is placed flat against my back.
The flames licking at my body become a slow-burning ember—warm, yet still ever-present.
The bathroom goes silent, the only sounds being Julian’s and my breathing.
With a yawn, my eyes flutter closed, and sleep takes me now that I am no longer in pain.