Protect Me, Alpha King
55. The Marking?

The alpha king is kissing me? What is happening? What is happening? my mind asked in disbelief. Why is he kissing me now?

"Respond to my kisses, River. You want this badly from the start," he muttered when I stayed still like a barbecue stick. "And now I am kissing you, and you're unresponsive dampening desire.”

The alpha king bit my lower lip, making me gasp. Using that opportunity, he slipped his tongue into mine, teasing me, promising me what might happen if I let go.

However, I continued to be unresponsive, trying to decipher his actions and the sudden mood change.

What the heck? I told him I had accepted my defeat and that I'll start recognizing that he would never mark me.

Still dealing with the confusion, I put both hands around his chest and pushed him away. No matter how much I wanted to return his kisses.

Breathing heavily, I looked at him, dumbfounded. "Why are you kissing me, Your Majesty?"

The corner of his mouth lifted. "Why? You don't like it?" he inquired back. "Now that I am kissing, you want me to stop? You are fickle-minded, River.”

"Because I accepted my defeat that you will never mark me. That you still love Zenith, Your Majesty.” Now, why did the last statement hurt? It was not like I was starting to like the alpha king, right? No freaking way! That was unacceptable.

He put a distance between us and crossed his arms in front of his chest. The cold never bothered him. In contrast, I started to feel the frigid temperature inside.

"Does it mean you're finally letting go of her memories?” That would be better.

"River. You really are a child. Even if I still love her, it does not mean I cannot fuck anyone. And that includes you. You struggled to tempt me, yet you backed out from your plan? You always confuse me, River."

Earlier, I was willing to give myself to him. But when he mentioned that he would fuck anyone, a burning pain in my chest resurfaced, and I just wanted to punch him to wipe that irritating expression on his face.

I was nothing but a bed warmer for him.

"You also confuse me. Tell me, Your Majesty. Do you still like Zenith? Or not?"

"Like is an understatement. I. Love. Her. For eternity. But here you are. You are attempting to fill the void of her absence. Are you willing to be used, River? In return for marking you?"

What he said was a mistake. I never wanted to fill the presence of a dead woman.

I stilled and gawked at him. "You will mark me now?"

He nodded. "You seem desperate enough for that. That's why I am doing it for you. I pity you."

Pity.

My mood turned sour.

What an irritating word. Despite all the hardships and painful experiences I had, I never wanted to be pitied by someone.

I felt like someone had showered me with a bucket of cold water.

I sank into the tub and submerged again, shuddering at the cold.

"Do not pity me, Your Majesty. I don't like it."

He raised his eyebrows and looked at me. "You're offended. If you are, the door is wide open for you to go out, River. I don't want a sensitive woman."

Get out of this tub? No freaking way! The alpha king already gave his permission. I had already reached this far. Backing out was out of the plan.

Shooing away the bitterness of my mood, I smiled at the alpha king.

Brushing his face with my fingers, I said, "I can handle a little bit of insult right now, Your Majesty. We've been here for quite some time, and we need to finish our business.” With that, I dipped my lips into his while I straddled him. "Use me. I can even pretend I am Zenith if you want. In return, give me what I want," I whispered.

My hands traveled to his hair and fisted on it while my other hand was busy touching all the muscles of his body.

I felt his erection on my stomach. It never scares me, but it excites me. Hope resurfaced. I could do this. I will succeed this morning.

Leaning closer, I smashed my body against his body, feeling the hardness of his body.

He grunted when I accidentally touched his wound. He muttered a curse under his breath while I pulled away, smirking.

"What a crybaby."

His eyes widened. "You are saying that an alpha king is a crybaby? You are the only person who called me that. I am deeply hurt." He was not. He was only teasing me.

I looked down at his bare chest and saw the different cuts from his past battles. Tracing all of it, I said, "Your body is protesting that you're not taking care of this anymore, Your Majesty. Let me take care of you after this.”

"You should be doing that, River. After all, you are my personal attendant. Enough of this talk.” And he kissed me once more while his other free hand massaged my breast. I arched my brows to give her more access to it. My body felt fire whenever he touched my bare skin, making me moan. Everything was too much. The sensation. The effects of his kisses and touch on me. I felt greedy, and I wanted more. I loved everything he could offer, even if he did it because of Zenith.

I was offended and hurt at the same time.

Pull yourself together, River. Enough of the drama. Your goal is for him to mark you. Not love you nor like you. Focus.

As if he was a baby, I cradled his head while offering my other breast for him to suckle. I groaned the moment his sinful mouth tasted it.

Looking up, he asked, "Do you like this, River?"

Closing my eyes, I said, "Hmmm. You're so good at this, Your Majesty. That's why Nora keeps wanting you to take her. Teach me how to pleasure you, Your Majesty."

"In exchange for marking you? You have no pride willing to be taken and used.”

"I don't care if all you see right now is Zenith and not my face, Your Majesty. That's how desperate I am. Take whatever you want in my body, Your Majesty. Everything is yours now. Just mark me," I said throatily.

The feeling of his absence hit me when he abandoned my breast and went to the hollow of my neck. Excitement rushed through me when he licked it and blew air.

I shivered in reply.

"This is what you wanted from the beginning.”

"You already know about that, Your Majesty, after Alpha Erik abandoned me."

"You are willing to be used.”

"Because I will also be using you, Your Majesty,” I muttered truthfully. I thought he would be furious at my statement, but the moment I met his eyes, my heart jumped at the intensity of his gaze.

"Do you know the repercussions of marking you, River?"

I brushed his lips and traced its corner. "Power."

"Power and enemies. Lady Juliana will kill you if she finds out I marked you."

"I'm not afraid of dying after I meet my parents, Your Majesty. Lady Juliana can try killing me as long as she wants."

"That's not being brave. That's foolishness, River.

"Say whatever you want, Your Majesty. You will not shake me. How about you, Your Majesty? Are you willing to suffer Lady Juliana’s wrath? You will betray her, and she may call off the engagement.” He scoffed. "We are not engaged with each other. It was only her fantasy.”

"You never corrected her?”

"I can use her family for my benefit." Totally evil.

"But what happens now after you mark me?"

"And now you are concerned about me."

"Not you, personally, but of the palace.”

"You worry too much, River. Let me handle it. I am the alpha king," he said, and before I could react, his fangs extended and sank into my skin.

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