Page 120 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

“You’ve lived a long life, Alec. Just how many lovers have you had?”

I know that I’m playing with fire, my own fire, and I will surely burn.

Alec falters, dropping my face. Guilt etches its way across his face. He recovers his slip quickly, but not swift enough. My eyesgo wide, and I laugh in shocked disbelief as blood pounds heavy in my ears.

“Do not do this. Not right now,” Alec pleads with me, knowing what his face gave away.

Crossing my arms, I gape at him as rotten, dirty bile creeps up my throat.

Unwanted images flash through my reeling mind. A whole montage of hundreds of faceless people touching what’s mine, taking what’s mine, while Alec freely gives it to them. I fight the urge to be sick.

“That many?” I ask softly and retreat away from him.

Alec follows my steps, determined to deny me the distance I put between us. “You cannot fault my actions before you even existed. I have had no one for nearly twenty-four years.”

Shooting him a glare with as much malice as I can muster, I give him words I know will strike home. “I’m not trying to fault you, Alec. I’m just wondering how many lovers of my own I should take.”

I look up at him challengingly and see my sick rage mirrored in Alec’s face. His jaw clenches, the muscles feathering dangerously. “That is not funny, Ellya.”

“I guess I’m going to have to fuck my way across both continents before I finally get toyou.”

His face pales.

Alec growls in my face with ferocity, and I quickly back away from him. He stalks towards me menacingly until his imposing frame shadows me. “If anyone touches you, I will gift wrap their entrails and present them to you with a silk fucking bow,” he says with lethal softness. Alec holds out his hands, miming the action of tenderly passing me a gift.

A cold laugh works past my lips, and Alec smiles right back. He takes another step towards me, close enough that water drips onto my chest and slides down the low cut of my dress.

I don’t back down.

“What were they like, Alec?”

He laughs deep, the luscious sound holding no amusement. “You want to know what my previous lovers were like? You truly want to know?”

My head nods enthusiastically. “I sure do.” My hands are balled into fists at my sides, shaking uncontrollably. I know I should stop. I know I won’t like the answer.

Alec puts his face right in mine. We are both panting—sharing breath. The heady musk of his scent invades my senses and threatens to dissolve my rapidly crumbling composure.

“Bland.” Alec emphasizes the word, sounding bored. He moves forward another fraction. “Flavorless,” he hisses against my lips. He backs away enough to study my face before smiling smugly down at me. “I have found more pleasure fucking my own fist to thoughts of your scent alone than I ever did with those meaningless fucks.”

My breath catches at his boldness.

My mouth drops open, a soft gasp escaping from my parted lips.

Alec’s arrogant smile grows at my erratic breathing, the quick bloom of my pupils, the blush creeping up my neck like climbing ivy.

“Okay, I’m leaving now,” Cescily says in a high voice before the sounds of her retreating footsteps.

“What is wrong, Ellya? Not the answer you were expecting?” Alec asks.

Fury takes over. My resolve grows and solidifies with his arrogance. The remaining parts of my rational brain kick in, and I remember a certain vision I had only months ago. Conversations with a disguised woman of royal errands and the next best thing race through my mind, another piece of mystery popping into place. Excitement owns me as I prepare to wipe that smile right from Alec’s face—and I find another reason to hate this woman I’ve never met.

I move closer into him, and he leans down to breathe me in greedily.

“Alec,” I whisper quietly, our lips barely skimming with the movement of words spoken.

I feel his heartbeat increasing, beating in tandem with mine.

“Yes, my clove?” His voice has gone husky and dark as he places his hands on my hips, pulling me closer, soaking my dress.