The Lycan Kingpin's Captive: A Baby For The Beast
Beta's Runaway Bride: 12 - Xiomara

“He's home, please tell Alpha Nikolaos not to worry. I've tended to his wounds, cleaned him up, andmade sure he’s okay,” I tell Luna Mia over the cell phone she lent me to keep in touch with her. “Hedidn't want the Alpha seeing how hurt he was.”

"Oh, thank Goddess! Niko has been trying to contact him through the mind link, but the silver mighthave blocked it,” she says, relieved and breathing out a long sigh. “Thank you, Xiomara; is it okay ifwe come by later?”

"Please do! We're having something to eat right now, but I think he'd appreciate it,” I say, turningmy gaze to Maxim who nods at me. “See you later, Luna Mia.”

I kill the call and put the cell phone down on the counter before walking over to Maxim laying downon the couch. This morning with him was torture; being naked with him in the shower did all sortsto me, but luckily I reined my lust in.

He trusted me enough to be naked with me, trusted me enough to let me wash him down thenembraced me afterward. I don't know what's happening between us right now, but the silence isgrowing so loud and my stomach is in knots.

My eyes flit to where he's laying deep in thought, his one arm behind his head while the other restson his stomach. He hasn't really spoken to me, either, not after we embraced in the shower. Thingsjust feel awkward now.

Do I mention how he makes me feel or leave it be?

“I don't require a babysitter, Xiomara,” he suddenly says, his eyes still glued to the black TV screen.“You don't need to sit here and keep me company if you'd much rather be someplace else.”

I bite back a retort but respond anyway. “What makes you think I don't want to be here with you?” Ionly realize after I said those words that it has a double meaning because he looks back up at mewith narrowed eyes.

“You're fidgeting in your seat and won't even look my way or attempt a conversation. If I bore you-"“But you're not doing any of that either,” I shrug. “Or are you expecting me to keep thisconversation going while you lay there?”

Whatever I just said seems to be amusing to him because he chuckles and shakes his head. “Touche,Bambi,” he says, calling me that stupid nickname again.

"Why do you call me that? I'm in no way timid like a deer, nor am I fragile like one,” I ask, genuinelycurious as to why he would liken me to that character.

I draw my legs towards my chest and wrap my arms around them before answering him. “Sure, youcan sit down on the bed if you'd like.”

He nods curtly and slowly walks towards my bed but instead of sitting down next to me on theopposite side, he walks around to where I'm sitting. Being in close proximity like this always seemsto get my heart beating way too fast, and right now there's no exception.

I can feel his eyes on me and a flush covers my cheeks as I peer up at him. “What did you want totalk about?” I ask, or rather, whisper because right now even the act of breathing is difficult for me.Even battered and bruised, Maxim is still the most handsome man I have ever been around. His blueeyes, once emotionless, now have a cloudy tint to them and for the first time, I wish I knew whatwas on his mind.

Maxim sighs, then winces. “Before I went away, we sort of left things open-ended between us and Iwould like us to discuss them,” he says, and as thankful as I am for him coming out with this, I alsohate the fact that I have to talk about it now.

“I thought it was just... sex to you,” I say, leaning my head on my knees. “Wasn't it?"

He shakes his head and my heartbeat picks up. “I know I deserve you seeing it that way, but I didn'tjust think of it as sex,” he says. “Things between us are strange and strained, I know that, but I'd belying if I said I felt nothing for you.”

I sit up straight and my eyebrows pinch together; am I hearing what I think I'm hearing right now?“It's... not just me that feels it?"

Maxim chuckles and draws his hand to my cheek, cupping it gently and running his thumb over myskin. “You had me right by the heart the second you tried to stab me, Bambi,” he says. “But as selfishas I am, I know that I can't have you when you yearn to be free from me.”

Wait, no. “Maxim-"

He places a finger on my lips and shakes his head. “I saw the look of shame and regret on your faceand in your eyes afterward; I don't ever want to see that again. So, I'm letting you go because thelast thing I want you to feel when you're with me, is shame.”

Is that what he thinks it was? I mean, I felt ashamed because of my actions, not because of how hemade me feel! “Wait, just let me-"

“I can't be selfish with you, Xiomara, even though everything in me is telling me to. So I want to askif I can have one last kiss before we go our separate ways, if that's okay with you?”

Go our separate ways? Is he that determined to let me go?

I sigh and nod my head. “One last kiss before I go,” I say with trepidation in my heart because Iknow this kiss will be the one to set my soul ablaze. He parts my legs and moves closer, running thepad of his thumb over my bottom lip...

And when he leaned in to capture my mouth in a searing kiss, I knew I wasn't wrong. He pulls meflush against his body; against all logic, I melt into his embrace and drown in his delicious scent.

I can practically taste his desire with every swipe of his tongue against mine and every groan my kissis eliciting from him. The last time we kissed, it was out of anger and frustration but this one isbittersweet - it's a farewell neither of us wants.

He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me onto his lap where I can feel his thick length; evenif this is only a parting kiss, his cock is betraying his true intentions.

I wrap my legs around his waist and my hands dove into his soft hair. He groans when I grind downon his cock, my own body betraying my true intentions now. With a low growl, he slips his handsdown my back to my ass, cupping it and bucking right against my pussy.

Breaking off the kiss, he brands my neck with sharp, curt kisses before working his way to my mouthagain.

With every kiss, we're telling each other what we want, but neither of us can say it out loud. Sayingit would make it real, and it would feel even worse when I do leave here.

But how do I tell him that I don't want to leave? How do I let him know that this is what I want, thatmy freedom is being with him when he’s already made up his mind to let me go?

With a sudden jolt, he breaks off the kiss again and frowns. I cup his face with both my hands withthe intention of telling him that I want him for him when his next words shatter the little semblanceof happiness his kiss gave me.

“Your father is here.”