Chapter 4 Have You Bewitched Me?

~Sage~

First, I froze in my steps, with my hands on the towel which I was initially using to dry out my hair.

Then, I let out a piercing scream that I was sure would have torn through the whole building.

“I think you should cover yourself up with a towel instead of screaming. We wouldn’t want my father to find out that I saw his virgin bride naked before him. Don’t you think so?”

His calm voice stopped me mid-scream as I realized that I hadn’t even tried to cover myself up. Hurriedly, I unwrapped the towel from my head and wrapped it around my body.

All this while, his eyes never left my body. I was starting to wonder what sort of audacity he had to boldly look at a naked woman without flinching.

His gaze was hot, and I could feel it all over my body, burning every single place that it landed on.

“Haven’t you heard about knocking?” I half-yelled. “I understand that this is your father’s house, but the least you can do before entering a woman’s room is knock.”

His smile was slow and deliberate, as if he was aware that his mere presence unnerved me.

In response to my question, he slowly started to unbutton his shirt, all the while keeping his eyes on me. The number of times that I gulped shamelessly as I held his gaze was uncountable.

“W-what are you…” I cleared my throat and started all over again when I noticed how parched I sounded. “What are you trying to do?”

Now, that was better.

“Taking off my clothes” he replied with a smirk, “What else does it look like I’m doing?”

My cheeks flared up again at the dirty thoughts that crept into my head. Why would he even try taking his clothes off in front of me? Is this some sort of plot from him to seduce me or what?

“Hey! This is my room. Why would you barge into my room of all places to take off your clothes? I don’t know the idea that you have, but I’m not the kind of girl who you can just—"

His shirt came off and the words died in my throat. If I thought that this man was sexy with his clothes on, I would say that he was scalding hot without his shirt on.

He was hot and he knew it. That was why he kept on flaunting those broad shoulders that looked like I wouldn’t weigh a pin if I was tossed onto it.

His chest was well-defined, and his abs were carved with precision, leading down to a V-line that I suddenly desperately wanted to run my fingers along.

“Cut it out, Cinderella. This is my room. Look around you. You’re the trespasser here”

That was when it struck me. This room had a unique taste that no one had. And how had I not noticed all of the things that scream that it’s a man’s room?

“That still doesn’t give you the right to stare at a naked woman” I muttered, trying to hold my right.

My chest heaved up and down with effort as I clung tightly to the towel as if it contained the last shred of dignity that I had.

“So does that give you the right to assume things about me?” a naughty smirk formed on his lips. “You know, I could have sworn that you were mind-fucking me a few minutes ago”

My jaw dropped. “That’s preposterous. Are you trying to call me promiscuous?”

“No…but I do want you to tell me one thing”

He took intentional steps towards me, my morality leaving me with each step that he took.

Once he had me backed against the door with nowhere else to go, his right hand braced the door, while his left hand slowly traced a line across my lower lip before gently cupping my jaw.

I noticed the dragon tattoo that ran from one side of his chest down to his arm and took a quick breath. I was swooning over a man with a tattoo, and I could barely hide it.

“Why…” he started, his voice raspy and low, “Why have I not been able to stop thinking about you ever since I laid my eyes on you? Have you by any chance bewitched me?”

I blinked rapidly, my heart beating like a car going way over its speed limit.

Now it wasn’t just his looks or his voice. It was about me, about the way my body responded to every single thing that he did… every single thing that he said.

If I'd thought that my husband’s son was trouble, now, I think he would be a disaster.

I held on tightly to the door, since that was the only thing I could lay my hands on at the moment, and licked my lips which suddenly felt so dry.

His eyes followed my movement, lingering on my lips longer than I wanted them to.

“Why is my wolf trying so desperately to reach out to you? Why…” he stopped, his head lowering slowly, “…do I have the questionable urge to kiss you senseless right now?”

A gasp escaped my throat as he dropped the last question. I do not know what was wrong with me, but the moon goddess knows how much I wanted him to act on that urge.

My body sizzled with excitement as his finger trailed a line from my lips down to my chest, stopping briefly at the towel knot on my chest.

It took me a while to realize that his lingering at that point was to loosen the knot.

It was almost loose when a knock sounded on the door. “Son, open up.”

I jerked, recognizing the king’s voice. My hands became clammy and I started to hyperventilate as I thought about what the alpha would do if he caught me in this compromising position with his son.

“You have to help me turn him away. I can’t let the alpha king see me in here like this” I pleaded.

He nodded. “On one condition—go on a date with me”

“Are you stupid?” I whispered harshly, tightening the towel around me. “I can’t go on a date with you. I’m your father’s bride. Your stepmother.”

“Great. Then I’ll have to open up the door to our dear alpha king. I wonder what he’ll say when he sees his new bride in his son’s room, wrapped up in a skimpy towel with his son who is shirtless. And oh, let’s not forget the fact that you’re almost crimson and flustered”

I tried to call his bluff but realized that he was going to act on it when he turned the knob. I held onto his arm, shaking my head fervently. “Fine! I’ll go on a date with you. Just please turn him away”

His eyes trailed to the spot where I held him, and I immediately took my hand off, his burning gaze too hot for me to handle.

He moved me behind the door and threw it open.

I listened as they conversed, my body shaking with mortification. Why was I feeling so guilty when I hadn’t done anything wrong?

What happened was a pure mistake and could have happened to anyone. Besides, who the hell makes all the doors in a house similar?

“He’s gone.”

I heaved a sigh of relief. That was a close call. I wasn’t about to be caught playing hide-and-seek games with the king’s son. The warnings he gave me while we drove down here were still entrenched in my mind.

I’d rather spare myself more beatings than go against his orders.

“Thank you. I’ll leave now” I said and reached for the door, but he blocked it with his body.

“The king will throw a welcome party for you soon.” He leaned in closer, so close that our lips were only inches apart. “Wear red. I think it’ll make you look ravishing.”

“And why should I obey you?”

Moving his lips over to my ear, I could feel his warm breath on the base of my neck.

He whispered into my ear, sending shivers, giving me goosebumps, and also making me warm at the same time.

“Because I want to look at you from opposite the dinner table and imagine all the wild things that I could do to you.”