It felt so good to have her in his arms, looking at him with those beautiful clearblue eyes that widened at the shock of being in this kind of situation.“I am...

sorry,” she mumbled under her breath as he kept holding her.

Tight.“Another turn! Now!” he commanded his driver mentally and the car shook again,Gideon using this moment to properly place her on his lap.

Even if it was just fora few moments, it was so worth it.“Oh, Goddess!” her cheeks became delicately pink again and he wanted nothingmore than to brush his palm over one to feel how silky her skin was.

Her sweetscent was all over him,making his head dizzy.

Yet he was still sober enough tocontrol the situation.“Don’t worry,” he smiled, not intending to let her go at all, “It’s a very bumpy roadto the Lycan Kingdom.”“Really?” she did not look like she was buying it and he was afraid to overdo it.But Mars was purring inside of him at her closeness, and he wished to prolong itas much as he could.

Even if it were just mere seconds.“Something to work on,” he smirked, feeling her fingers digging into his flesh andrealizing that she was not pushing him away.

Or even trying to distance herself.Just right back when he was covering her neck with hot and wet kisses.Which reminded him of...“How is your mark?” he gently removed her golden locks off her shoulder,exposing her neck to him.

The desire to touch her again like that was toooverwhelming.

He thought of their ‘healing’ session way too many times after ithappened.“It’s fine,”Ria muttered and he could feel her heart beating faster.

She was feelingsomething too and he knew it.

Even if she couldn’t understand it yet.

So, he felt bold and placed his fingers on the top button of her blouse, askingpermission with his eyes to unbutton it.“May I?” his voice sounded lower and huskier than usual, and he could see thehesitation in her eyes.“We’d better not,” she turned away quickly and he had to unclench his fingers,letting her come back to the seat opposite of him.

At least, it was something.

Itdidn’t matter that it didn’t last long.

They would have their whole life togetheronce he found out how to get her wolf to come out and play.

And luckily now theyhad a whole week to figure it out.His eyes grazed over her beautiful face and he sensed at once that somethingwas off.

wanted her to get used to the idea of sharing everything with him.“Nothing,” she said as she stared in the window with her hands crossed on herknees, which now were perfectly pressed together in the most royal pose ever.He could just tell that it wasn‘t nothing“Riannon,” he cleared his throat, “Talk to me.

Is there something you don’t like?”She took a deep breath and bit her lip, which almost drove him crazy.“I am starting to think that you have a very wrong impression about me,” her eyesmet his with a challenge.“Why would you think that?” he had to handle it carefully but the blush on hercheeks was tempting him to tease her, “Did I...

do something wrong?”She turned away, letting him know at once that he did.

And a little smirk crept onhis lips.

She wasn’t a teenager anymore and judging by the Alpha Ball she knewvery well how to handle men and make them crazy about her.

Yet he managed tomake her blush like that several times.

It was giving him the hope he needed.And now even the tips of her ears were red.

Riannon did not know how to proceed with this.

On one hand, she was ready todo anything to get a divorce and her pack back.

But on the other, she knew that ifthe lycan king was helping her only to get her in the bed, she would be crushedinside.For some reason, it was important to her that he saw her as more than just a bedtoy that he wanted.

Not to mention that if that was all he wanted, she may end upwith nothing in the end.

She was conflicted on so many levels here.

It was stupidto deny that she did like him to some extent.

She definitely did.

But this wasn’tthe way she wanted to carve her path to freedom.

And would that even befreedom?“I would like to keep our relationship professional,” she said firmly and looked himin the eye again, noticing a grin on his perfectly handsome face.“And may I ask why?” he relaxed into his seat with a content expression on hisface.Okay.

She did not expect that kind of a reply.“What do you mean why?” she knitted her brows, “Because this is...appropriate.”“Appropriate?” he chuckled, clearly having fun which made Riannon slightlyfurious, ” That’s one way to put it.”“There is nothing funny,” she shot him an annoyed glance, “When I asked foryour help,will be paying with...”“I don’t,” he interrupted her at once, getting serious, “Riannon, I don’t think thatabout you.

And I don’t want you to think that I am the kind of man who wouldexpect something like that from a woman.”Ria felt slightly puzzled.

Did she misread his signals then?

“You licked my mark,” the words left her mouth before she realized it and shewanted to bite her tongue.“For healing purposes,” Gideon coughed, trying to hold back laughter andenjoying her flustered face.

He wanted to bring out more of that.

But he alsowanted her to know something.

“Having said that, I do like you, Riannon.

And Iintend to court you and make you mine.”He tried not to stress out that last word but it practically sounded like a growl inspite of all the effort.

The one that he was suppressing ever since he saw her forthe first time.Her lips parted as she met his intense gaze and realised that this wasn’t a joke.The Lycan King was serious about wanting her.“But...

I am married,” she said the first thing that came to her mind.“I am literally helping you to get your divorce,” he snorted at her weak objection.He hoped that she wouldn’t have any others, so he added quickly, “Before yousay anything, my intentions are serious.

I am not looking for a fling.”“But...

You are a lycan and I am a werewolf!” she still tried to find an excuse,“Lycans only...”“Yes, it’s rare,” he admitted, “But there are exceptions.

And you are going to beone of them.”“Why?” she let out a laugh.

He couldn’t be serious!“There are reasons,” for a second there he contemplated telling her that she washis mate.

But judging by how shocked she was at his sudden confession; it wastoo early.

She could simply not believe him.He wanted to play it safe.

Because she was already hurt by one man she trusted.And their trust was just forming.

He had to prove himself to her first.magic

“So, is that why you are helping me?” Ria tilted her head slightly.“That’s one of the many reasons.

And before you assume anything, not all ofthem are personal.

But I would be after you even if I decided that it was best notto help you get your“That would be incredibly hard!” she teased him with the corners of her mouthcurled.“I have a few cards up my sleeve,” he radiated confidence and she had to admitit.But wasn’t all that too much? He was a powerful Lycan King and she was...

Atthe moment she was a Luna in name only.

She had nothing to offer him and himwanting her so much didn’t make sense.And also, the sad truth was that Brayden broke her heart.

She had no ideaanymore if she even wanted a man in her life.

However, just looking at Gideon...the idea was tempting.But there were other things to consider.

If he wanted her then what would stophim from simply claiming her? Some Alphas were like that and she hated thekind.

For the first time, she got worried that she decided to go to the LycanKingdom.“Look,” he cleared his throat, sensing the sudden mood change.

He guessedwhere her mind went at once.

“I will not force you into anything.

You will have achoice at all times if that’s what you are worried about.

But how about we get toknow each other better while you are here? I guess what I am asking from you isto give me a chance?”She was afraid to respond.

How could she trust a man after everything thathappened to her? Was it even possible or that part of her died back then in herpast life? She did not know anymore...There were too many thoughts in her head now.

It was a mess.

And this was when a painfully familiar voice went through her mind.“Trust him,” Onyx said firmly, making her gasp in disbelief.