The Alpha's Courtship (Werewolf Romance) (Ilie and Soleil Book 1) (6 page)

Is this about pride, milady?

Not at all,
she answered, but she knew she was lying. It was a bit about pride, and surely that was understandable?

He should have noticed her. She was his heartkeeper, curse it. So why hadn’t he? Why?

“I’m sorry.”

“Forgiven, milord.”

He told her in his mind,
Liar.

She let her eyes go wide.
Oh no, the big bad wolf’s found me out. Please don’t eat me---

His eyes blazed, and his nostrils flared.

Too late, she realized she had chosen the worst thing to say.

His mind connected with hers, and she saw what he was imagining.

Him pushing her legs wide apart as he sank to his knees.

And then he was eating her---

There.

She choked, her throat drying, and she quickly grabbed the glass of water, gulping it down---

Under the table, she felt his fingers crawl up.

She choked on her water.
Milord!

But the fingers continued to move.

She slammed the glass down on the table before she could accidentally drop it, and the patrons near their table turned to her in surprise.

Curse it! Curse him!

She managed a weak smile. “I apologize.” But she couldn’t say anymore, his fingers finding the edge of her crotchless drawers.

Their eyes locked with each other, his silver eyes feral in its hunger while hers was pleading and confused.

Milord…please…

His jaw clenched.

I’m sorry, ma lisse.

But I have to.

You can’t be serious.
Her tone was incredulous and hysterical, and she found herself gripping the edge of the round table. She needed something to hold on to, in case…things happened.

His fingers moved inside and grazed her inner thigh.

Her breath hitched.
We’re in a cake shop, milord!

It’s okay.
His voice was harsh, but when she looked at him, he looked entirely relaxed. And then he called for a waiter---

Are you crazy?
Her manners completely failed Soleil now, she was so aghast at what he had just done. She was frozen in her seat as the waiter came to them, and all she could think about was the marquis’ fingers stroking her inner thigh, just inches away from the suddenly aching flesh between her legs.

The marquis ordered a cup of coffee for him and asked for today’s papers.

“Right away, sir,” the waiter said eagerly.

But he didn’t leave.

Dear Lord, why wasn’t he leaving?

“Yes?” The marquis raised a brow.

“May I just say, sir, you have been my idol since I was a schoolboy,” the waiter declared fervently. “I am terribly honored, terribly, milord, to serve you.” He bowed. “Terribly.”

Stop him from bowing,
she cried out.
He might see what you’re doing under the table!

The marquis’ lips suddenly compressed, as if repressing a smile.

I’m serious!

Ilie cleared his throat. “I am humbled by your, err, devotion. Thank you---”

“Henry, milord.”

“But your real name is?” Most employers required their employees to call themselves Henry, for expediency’s sake.

“Godfrey, milord.”

Ilie almost winced, and despite everything, Soleil had to fight back a smile, too.
Godfrey.
It had to be that name, which meant ‘peace of God.’ Someone named after God, devoted to a half-demon.

The irony
, Soleil thought, and this time she failed at keeping the smile off her face.

Stop smiling,
Ilie commanded her in his mind while out loud, he told the waiter, “Well, thank you…” He forced himself to say the boy’s name.
“Godfrey.”

When the waiter left, Soleil started giggling, and though he knew she was laughing
at
him, he could not feel angry at all. To see her this happy, and over such a simple thing, was a revelation, and it made her a hundred times more beautiful.

Beautiful,
he thought again,
and hot.

Her laughter was a seductive melody that caressed his senses, and his hunger for her became fiercer and more demanding.
There was no way she would be leaving this place
, Ilie thought,
without tasting pleasure in his hands
.

“Milady,” he said softly. When she looked up, he told her, “Please start reading your book again.”

She looked at him suspiciously. “Why?”

Because you’ll need an excuse to hide your face when I do this---

His fingers touched the slit between her folds, which were slightly wet and swollen.

Oh my God! She scrambled to get the book and opened it---

He almost laughed but managed not to, murmuring, “Milady?” But he couldn’t resist stroking her as he spoke.

Soleil could not think at all. “Mm?” Those fingers of his were…were…indescribable in they way they made her feel. He was lining her folds, and she could feel herself getting wetter, practically drowning his fingers with her moisture.

“You’re reading your book upside down.”

Oh my God!

Cheeks burning in embarrassment, Soleil quickly turned it around, but at the same time she felt the marquis’ fingers move up, hovering over that tiny nub of flesh where she knew her feminine pleasure was centered.

Her eyes flew to him.
You wouldn’t---

His thumb slowly rubbed her clit.

Oh, but he did.

She stared down unseeingly at the pages before her, all the while dying. She was dying of pleasure, of lack of oxygen, of desire. Oh, that wicked thumb of his was so good, rubbing her a bit faster and rougher now.

Her inhibitions were completely gone, and she couldn’t even remember why she had protested against this. It was oh so good, she just wanted more---

Anything you want, ma lisse.
His dark drawl sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine.

But then she realized what he was saying and why---

Curse it, she had forgotten to guard her thoughts again!

His thumb still on her clit, his other fingers moved back to her slit.

“
Milady
?” His eyes captured hers.
Be prepared not to scream.

What are you---

One finger slipped inside her.

She gritted her teeth and stared harder at the book as she worked hard to contain her scream. Oh my God, this feeling of having a part of him inside of her, claiming her, was so much more exquisite than what the books she had read made her believe.

And then his finger started to move, and she was left in a daze to find this even more pleasurable.

Milady?

Y-yes?

Just so you are aware…

W-what?

I’m fucking you with my finger.

Her teeth gnashed against each other again, the marquis’ dirty words making her want to writhe. Such words were not common in their society at all, but somehow, it was that very reason which made Soleil feel so wanton at hearing it addressed to her.

The marquis was fucking her with his finger.

She jerked in her seat involuntarily, and this caused a second finger to slip inside her.

The marquis was startled then concerned. He started to pull his fingers out, not wanting to stretch her too painfully, but then she did something entirely unpredictable.

Soleil’s hips moved forward slightly, and his fingers were again completely engulfed inside of her.

Ah.
She wanted him. The knowledge made the marquis feel raw and uncontrolled as his desire for her sharpened and rose. His balls ached, his cock swelled into a painfully hard erection, and he was no longer able to stop his fingers from moving.

I’m going to make you come, ma lisse,
he growled as he fucked her with his fingers.

Oh God---

And you’re going to scream my name when I do, milady.
He pushed his fingers deep into her.
Do you understand?

She gripped the book tightly, tears of agonizing pleasure stinging her eyes.

Answer me, milady!
He pulled his fingers out and pushed them back in hard.

Almost rocking in her chair at the strength of his thrust, she cried out,
Yes!

He didn’t need to hear anything else, his fingers moving as hard and as fast as he could manage without causing the table to shake.
Milady,
he growled, and just saying it was enough to heighten his arousal.

She looked at him, wetting her lips, throat bobbing, and dammit, but the sight had him hurting, his balls tightening in the need to pour his cum into her.

M-milord.
She cried it out in her mind, sounding confused, afraid, and dammit, there was so much need in her voice---

Need for him.

His ears picked up her heartbeat, and its pace told him she was so near---

He slid a third finger inside of her, wanting to stretch her to near fullness.

Her eyes began to dilate.

Look down,
he hissed.

Realizing why, she quickly bowed her head again. She tried to keep still as his fingers went in and out – fucking her, he was fucking her with his fingers---

Oh God, she could feel her eyes rolling back as her body tightened in anticipation.

The marquis ground his fingers deep into her, his thumb pressing down hard on her clit.

Ilie.
She screamed his name as she came, and the moment his name slipped past her lips, it was almost like she was already halfway to becoming his.

The marquis stepped out of the carriage to help her out personally, his grip on her hand gentle but possessive. When she was on her feet, he caressed her cheek, murmuring, “Do not forget your promise.”

She nodded.

He bent his head and she held her breath, wondering if he was actually going to kiss her here, in the streets, outside her very home.

His lips paused a hair’s breadth away from hers.

“I hear your curtains twitching, milady.”

What?

Her head snapped towards the house, and sure enough, she saw three pairs of eyes just before her family quickly shut the curtains and retreated from view.

When she looked back at the marquis, he had stepped away, a wry look in his eyes. “I must restrain myself.” He paused then said under his breath, “Help me here,
ma lisse.
Do not look at me so.” And almost as if he didn’t trust himself while she was within reach, he took another step back.

“I want to kiss you badly,” he said fiercely. “You don’t know how bad, milady, but I have a feeling if I do, you’ll hold me accountable once your head’s cleared properly.”

But her head was clear
, she wanted to protest, and it was
clearly
telling her she wanted that kiss.

The marquis had a pained look on his face. “Five minutes from now, milady, you will thank me.” His voice became grim. “And you will owe me for this.” He bowed. “Until tomorrow, milady.”

She watched him go, the pieces of her heart all jumbled up at the sight of him leaving. When his carriage was completely gone from view, she turned around and opened the door. The euphoria started to fade as she stepped inside her home.

She began walking towards the drawing room, and five minutes later, she realized the marquis was indeed right.

Oh my God, what a harlot she had turned into, wanting him to kiss her so publicly!

Entering the parlor, she found her sisters and Charles waiting for her with expectant looks on their faces.

She said flatly, “No, I’m not officially his heartkeeper yet.”

Everyone burst into protest.

She raised her hand. “And I’m not going to be.”

“But why?” Aurora burst out. “He wants you, Soleil. He wouldn’t have gone around town chasing after you if he didn’t!”

“Is he a bad kisser?” Fleur blurted out. “Too…I don’t know…
demonic
?”

Everyone turned to look at her.

Fleur made a face. “Okay, okay, bad idea, my humblest apologies.”

Charles began, “But he’s a good fit---”

“Not you too, Papa,” Soleil cut him off with a shake of her head. “I’m
not
going to be his heartkeeper, end of story.
Okay
?”

“Okay.” Fleur answered for the rest of the family.

Soleil’s gaze narrowed. “Okay, but? There’s a but, isn’t there?”

“
But
,” Fleur echoed obediently, “---have you forgotten something?” She bit her lip. “Ilie Marcovici is
the
Marquis di Lunare. I don’t think he’s the type to take no for an answer if he really wants you to be his heartkeeper.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Soleil had just come down to enjoy breakfast the next day, and the first thing she saw was Ilie Marcovici seated on her father’s right. Her sisters were also there, seated opposite him, and the four of them were laughing and chatting like a happy family.

As if they didn’t know Ilie Marcovici was not human,
she thought ungraciously.

Ilie was the first one to notice her, and he stood up immediately. “Good morning, milady,” he said with a bow. “I came only to call, but your father has insisted I join your family for breakfast. I hope you don’t mind?”

Hovering by the doorway, Soleil debated between forgetting her manners and pleading a sudden migraine.

But the choice was out of her hands when Charles called out, “What are you standing there for, my dear?” His pleasant voice had a note of warning in it, reminding Soleil his absolute dislike of any display of ill manners in his household.

Soleil had a rebellious urge to stomp her feet---

About to throw a tantrum, milady?
the marquis teased in her mind.
This I have to see.

But instead she made her way to her father, practically gliding on her satin slippers in her effort to move with grace. Aurora and Fleur were gaping at her, as if asking Soleil if she had lost her mind and that was the reason she seemed to be dancing towards them.