CHAPTER TEN
CAILYN
Cailyn rocked in her cocoon, thoughts rolling ceaselessly through her mind; everything the Mothers had said about Alphas, her training, poor plans of how to get out of her situation, and the fact that she hadn't been lucky enough to die from Drocco's hand.
She was in a worse situation than she had been before. Drocco hadn't killed her, but he would certainly make her suffer like he always did. He may even be more careful about punishing her so that she didn't die. And yet, he was the best option for her death. Yes, she could starve herself—in fact, she welcomed the gnawing emptiness of her stomach—but it wasn’t as effective as having the Emperor crush her quickly.
She considered how she could aggravate him again. Maybe she could goad him with more lies about other men. She frowned. He had been upset about that. Had he been jealous? She shook the thought from her head. There was no way that he truly wanted her for who she was. Any possessive thought he had was due to his unwillingness to share something that no one else had. As soon as he found the other Omegas, he would discard her. He was fooling himself if he thought he would not be enticed by other Omegas.
Her thoughts revolved in her mind, so consuming and continuously, she barely heard the door open, but when it shut, she stilled. Shuffling and soft sounds reached her, but the door did not open straightaway like it had done since he tried to kill her. He had remained in the room. She curled up tighter, hoping he would go to sleep and leave her alone.
"Cailyn."
Cailyn started at the sound of her name. She froze, suddenly unsure what to do.
She listened again, a silence building.
"Cailyn, come here."
Her heart began to pound. He had never called her by her name before—something was wrong. She considered staying in her blankets but she couldn't ignore him. She was mentally and emotionally weak, and her resistance was depleted.
She climbed slowly out of her cocoon and peered over to the other side of the bedroom. Drocco sat on the couch next to the table, his black eyes watching her. He was bare-chested and barefoot but wore black trousers. She dropped her eyes and padded towards him slowly, trying to prepare for whatever pain he was about to issue this time.
She slowed to a stop before him, staring at the floor, as the hint of his scent began to surround her. “Emperor,” she began, shakily. “I will not—”
“Drocco.”
Cailyn paused, unsure what he meant by his interruption. “Um… Yes, Emperor.”
“Drocco,” he repeated. “You will call me Drocco.”
Cailyn stared at him, confused.
He held out a piece of fabric.
She frowned, glancing at him as she took it. Lifting it up, she shook it out to see a red tunic dress. She looked back at him.
Drocco simply nodded.
Fumbling, she put the dress on, confused by his change of heart about her lack of clothing. Maybe he was trying to unsettle her.
"Come here."
Cailyn stepped forward tentatively until she stood right in front of his legs, wide on the couch.
In a swift move, he lifted her up and maneuvered her onto his lap, her legs straddling his hips. Cailyn kept her eyes averted. She leaned away from him, balancing on his one wide, outstretched hand on her back.
She sat, not looking at him. She didn’t care what he was doing—whatever his new plan was, she would find a way to annoy and anger him so he would wish she were dead.
A faint, steady, rumble caught her attention, and as it swelled she realized it came from him. He was purring.
She stared at him, her eyes wide in shock as the strength of his purr increased, the vibrations seemingly penetrating the space between them and seeping into her.
Cailyn closed her eyes and sighed as it became stronger, working through her and cutting through her emotional gloom. She had heard about the Alpha purr at the Omega Compound. It had been touted as one of the few good things about Alphas, and something only they could do for Omegas that no others could do so satisfyingly. Many of the younger Omegas had no idea how that could be, but it was talked about fondly and some of the older Omegas from her childhood had been reduced to tears after discussing it.
Cailyn could see why. It was incredible. The vibrations pierced deep into her, bringing with it a soothing unlike she had never felt before. All of her emotional turmoil and distress stirred and bubbled through her, rising up only to dissipate into nothing, leaving an immense feeling of complete relief beaming through her. It overwhelmed her so thoroughly, she burst into tears. She cried for her lost freedom, for the secrets she’d revealed, and for her lost family of Omegas, but the solid weight of her depression lifted.
As her tears petered out, she realized his hand on her back was drawing her closer to him. She opened her eyes to see Drocco still staring at her, though she couldn’t read the expression on his face. He drew her closer and closer until she lay on his chest, his rumbling purr vibrating through her cheek. She kept still, wondering what the point of this was. Indeed she felt better, in fact, she felt almost content, but that was his purr, not him. He was still a monstrous savage. She lay on him, waiting for what he was going to do next, but nothing happened. As she continued to listen to his purr, she realized it had a husky quality, similar to the husk in his laugh. She pressed her cheek into him further, trying to get as much of the vibration as she could and sighed again, enjoying the comfort of it. Before she knew it she was relaxing into him, drowsy with peaceful sleep.
Cailyn had no idea how long they sat there but she found herself waking up still straddling the Emperor. She had every intention of getting off of him, but he still purred, and she found she couldn’t, and didn’t want to, move away from that.
He seemed to sense her restlessness. He lifted her again, and she made a pitiful noise at being moved away from the source of her comfort, but he simply fixed her sideways on his lap and returned her to his chest.
She lay for a few long moments and then a sweet, familiar smell filled her nose. When she opened her eyes, Drocco held a piece of fruit to her lips. She opened her mouth and he placed it inside. It was something she had had before. She couldn’t place where she’d had it or its name, but it was tasty. It pulled on memories she couldn’t quite reach, memories swathed in darkness. He fed her another piece, and she savored it, the juicy, sweetness sparking her appetite.
He fed her a range of fruit from a platter on the table, some of them she loved, others she disliked. He didn’t bring any she refused to her lips again. Finally, her hunger was sated, and she fell asleep again against his vibrating chest.
***
Cailyn lost all track of time. The days blurred together, she didn’t know how much time had passed and couldn’t even guess. The only thing she cared about was that purr. Drocco kept her against his chest all the time and stayed with her constantly. He bathed with her, lathered and rinsed her, he sat with her while she ate, sometimes feeding her, and he kept her pressed against his chest to sleep on him as he sat on the couch. She had no idea when he slept or when he ate. She wasn’t sure she cared about that. His purr kept her in a state of contentment that she didn’t want to come out of. If she could stay in that oblivious state, then the reality of her situation didn’t matter.
She convinced herself of this even further because Drocco didn’t speak. He didn’t say a word to her. And she had no reason to say anything to him. They simply existed.
However, she couldn’t ignore the normal physical reaction she always had for him. She remained in a constant state of arousal, and it became stronger every day it wasn’t addressed. She could feel his arousal too when she sat on his lap. And yet he never moved to touch her or to relieve himself.
As her body’s other major concerns, such her hunger and her distress, were tended to, her need to mate with him increased. She ignored it, choosing to lose herself in his purr, but after a while, it became almost unbearable.
At one point, she sat on his lap, her face buried into his neck, breathing him in, and she began to rub herself on the hardness underneath her without even realizing it at first. Drocco growled and instantly her slick streamed from her.
Lifting her up, he carried her to the bed and placed her down. She sat upright, watching him warily as he undressed, his eyes remaining on her.
A trembling of fear fluttered through her. Regardless of the pleasurable nature of their mating, it had always ended in unbearable pain. Perhaps her respite was over. She sucked a breath in as he lay down beside her, ready for what may come.
She waited, but nothing happened. Turning to glance at him, she saw he lay naked on the bed, his massive and muscled body stretched along almost the entire length. Her eyes were drawn to his cock, hard and upright.
She glanced back up to his eyes, desire and demand stared back at her. He wanted her. He expected her to mate with him—to follow her instincts and relieve them both. But she couldn’t. Not only had she never initiated sex before, she had not chosen him. They were not a couple, and just because he purred for her, it did not mean she wanted him as a bonded mate. He would have to accept that.
“Drocco,” she began.
His cock twitched and the tip began to ooze.
Cailyn watched transfixed. “Drocco,” she whispered.
His cock jumped again, trickling more fluid for her. His potent scent deepened to an intricate aroma that burst around her and seeped into her. Everything she was about to say was lost to her.
Leaning forward, she brought her nose closer to his heavenly scent. Closer and closer still, until she reached his cock. She licked the length of it. He moaned, and the sound spurred her on. Closing her mouth on his tip, she sucked and a rush of desire shuddered through her. Lifting his cock, she sucked and licked him, guided by her instincts to explore every inch of him.
She became aware of his large hand cupping and squeezing her ass and she moved to her knees as his fingers dipped underneath to stroke her.
He breathed heavily, releasing guttural groans as she moved faster with fervor. And the sound of him at her mercy was almost as satisfying as his purr.
She gyrated her hips as his fingers played with her clit, trying to get more pressure, but he seemed to purposely avoid penetrating her. Eventually, she released his cock and glared at him.
He still stared at her—that look of expectation in his eyes. He pressed his fingers against her opening and she whined and widened her knees, trying to sink onto his fingers, but he pulled away.
She snapped her head back to him, a snarl on her lips.
Drocco’s expression didn’t change. “If you want it, take it.” His gravelly, deep, voice instantly made her wetter.
She looked at his cock, glistening and wet. She had made it like that. Suddenly a heat rose to her face and she lowered her eyes. “I can’t,” she whispered.
“You can. And you will, Cailyn.”
Drocco’s hand inched up her dress, slowly and deliberately. His hand was rough against her skin and she moaned as it scraped up her back, sending a scatter of tingles all over her. He slowly pulled her dress over her head, and began playing with her already hard nipples, dragging his nails across her body and dipping his fingertips lower to brush her clit.
She gasped and moaned and hummed at the sensations building in her. Everything he did enhanced her pleasure, but her neglected pussy made her frustrated. She squirmed, uncomfortable with the amount of slick she was producing, and looked again at his cock. She wanted it.
Drocco suddenly lifted her up and lowered her onto him, her legs either side of him. As her wet core pressed onto him, she rubbed against him, slathering his hardness with her slick. She moaned as his shaft and tip pressed against her clit and leaned forward to place her hands on the bed, either side of his torso.
He lay looking at her with that same expression, and for a moment, an annoyance coursed through her that he wasn’t touching her. His hands were on the fucking bed instead of on her—caressing her, petting her, moving her to where he wanted. Then his cock twitched underneath her.
She looked down between them. Reaching down, she lined up his cock to her entrance and sunk down on it. She groaned, as did Drocco, as she lowered all the way down onto him. She stilled, gasping at the incredible feeling of being filled and stretched and then began to rock on him.
She remained leaning over, her weight on her hands, watching their joining as her pleasure built. His thick cock shone with her slick, and as she rode him faster, lifting herself all the way to his tip and back down, a wild sense of perverse pleasure rocked through her. Fuck, it was so good!
The harder she rode, the more powerful the sensations and soon she cried out in utter ecstasy, her fists bunching the sheets.
“Look at me.” Drocco’s voice was quiet but demanding.
She lifted her head. His eyes were half-lidded and he breathed heavily. Her desire spiked, sending a clench to her core.
“Beautiful,” he breathed.
He lifted his head up toward her, his stomach muscles bunching up to rub her hard nipples. He grabbed her ass cheek and began to yank her hips down on him, guiding her faster and faster until her head rolled back and she almost screamed.
“Look at me, Cailyn.”
She forced herself to look back at him. His face had moved closer and his eyes drank in every inch of her face. His other hand scooped up her hair in a tight grip and, as he slammed her hips down on him, almost violently, he brought his lips to hers with the softest brush of a kiss.
She came hard, the explosion of intense bliss causing her entire body to twist and shudder. He kept her steady and swallowed all of her screams and moans as he deepened the kiss. She kissed him back, reveling in the roughness of his tongue, his breath in her mouth, and the claiming nature of his grip. Was there any part of this man that didn’t taste good? He slammed his knot in, grunting and moaning in her mouth as he came, but wouldn’t release her from his kiss. He spread his hand on her ass, keeping them pressed together.
Cailyn tried to pull away, fear returning ten-fold as she realized he had knotted her, and what that meant, but he gripped her hair harder, slowing his kiss to suck on her tongue and nibble on her lower lip. She remained tense, waiting for the questioning to start, but he seemed content to simply kiss her.
As he continued to explore her mouth, she relaxed slightly, noticing how securely they were locked together. It felt… strange—as though she was claiming his cock. As he kissed her longer, his purr returned and she relaxed further, kissing him back.
The intimacy of his lips on hers affected her in a way she hadn’t been prepared for. Not only was she learning a new taste and feel of him, but his approach surprised her. Drocco was kissing her tenderly; still claiming, still intense, but also careful and lingering, as though he relished her.
Eventually, he slowly pulled away to look at her. “How many men?”
Cailyn stared into his ink-like eyes, breathless from his kisses and drowsy from their mating. “Just you.”
His eyes ran over her face. “Just me?”
“Just you, Drocco.”
His purr deepened and he lay back on the bed. She waited for him to smirk or laugh or question why she lied, but he simply watched her.
She lay on his chest, sighing as his purr rumbled against her, coaxing her to sleep.
When she next stirred, she lay on her side on the bed, her leg over Drocco’s hip while his hand still held her ass. His purr still vibrated from him but he seemed asleep. She stared at him for a moment. Even in his sleep, he looked rugged and wild. Sighing, she rolled away from him and headed to the washroom. As she used the toilet and washed, she realized that she and Drocco had fully mated, with a knot that had remained inside her until it shrunk. That meant he could get her pregnant. She pondered the possibility before dismissing it. Normally an Omega’s chances of pregnancy increased in her Haze and it was still possible through normal mating, especially when a high attraction existed between the couple. However, with Cailyn’s blocks messing up her Haze cycle, she suspected it would be difficult for her to get pregnant when not in her Haze.
She couldn’t deny that she was attracted to Drocco. Regardless of the fact that she was his prisoner, he was the kind of Alpha many Omegas would want as a bonded mate. In fact, many of the younger Omegas had been arguing the logic of staying hidden when Omegas were trained in the Talent. Some of them had petitioned the Mothers for a change in the rules to allow Talent-crafter Omegas to leave the Compound to find an Alpha or Beta mate to create a life with. Of course, many of them hadn’t even been through the required training to leave the Compound—they seemed to have high-flown ideas about what the Eastern Land cities and territories were like, and even though some admitted being scared to leave, they had plenty of ideas of what the future could hold for Omegas.
She headed back to the room, back to Drocco, but paused at the edge of the bed. She turned to glance at her own bed, in the corner on the floor. She hadn’t slept there in what felt like weeks, and yet that was where she had been most comfortable. Did she really want to return to the bed with the Emperor? The place where she had suffered, and with the man who had made her suffer?
She turned and headed toward her bed and slowed to a stop halfway there as the potency of his purr began to fade. She turned toward him, indecision clouding her. She wanted to be close to his purr but not on the bed. She stood watching him and suddenly noticed he was awake, watching her back.
“Would you like me to join you, Cailyn?” he asked. Once again his voice sent a shiver through her.
“Yes,” she whispered.
He got up from the bed, unfolding to his full height. Cailyn’s eyes widened as she took him in. She had forgotten how big he was. She shrunk back as he strode toward her, wondering how the hell he was going to fit in her little makeshift bed. This was a bad idea.
He scooped her up and carried her the rest of the way to her bed, then carefully knelt to allow her to lift the pile of duvets and sheets.
It took some shifting and shuffling and readjustment before they were both encased, head to toe, by all the duvets, blankets and cushions, and a nervousness clawed at Cailyn as she wondered if she was doing the right thing. She had allowed him into her private space. The space where she felt safe. Why destroy that? But as soon as Drocco drew her into his arms, and her head lay on his rumbling chest, all other thoughts disappeared. His scent expanded into the small enclosed area and she sighed at the comfort of it.
Drocco lowered his head, his mouth against her forehead. “I’m pleased you allowed me into your nest.”
Cailyn’s drowsiness fled and she was suddenly awake. Her nest? Her mind raced, trying to remember what she had been told about nesting Omegas. The Mothers had spoken about it, but it was so early in her training, she couldn’t remember. It felt like it was important. Disturbed, she found she couldn’t relax, even with that thick, heavy rumble coming from the broad chest against her.
She fidgeted and turned, worried thoughts rolling through her mind. Finally, Drocco pulled her higher to kiss her thoroughly before taking a nipple into his mouth, erasing all worries from her mind.
***
Life became a simple series of meeting her base needs. When she was hungry, Drocco made sure she ate. When she was tired, Drocco’s purr rocked her to sleep. When she was restless, plagued by thoughts she couldn’t control, he shifted his weight on top of her, pinning her to the nest and making her feel secure and protected. When she had even a spark of arousal, Drocco’s mouth was on her body, building her to that incredible high, which meant he fucked her all the time.
Gone was the Drocco who demanded with a single look—he took her roughly and completely, owning her body and claiming it with every spearing thrust of his cock, every flick of his tongue, every deep, breathtaking kiss. She hated that she loved it. She hated that she rode his face so enthusiastically—that it was so pleasurable to lick and suck every part of him. And when in her right mind, she was embarrassed that she reveled in the vulgar pleasure that came from putting herself on display, widening her legs to spread her slick-drenched pussy so eagerly to entice him to slam into her—all without him needing to even utter a word.
Every touch brought her so much complex bliss she’d never experienced before, she couldn’t get enough. The fear of his knot had been replaced by a strange satisfaction whenever she locked her muscles onto that intimate part of him. Her pussy seemed to think his cock belonged to it, and an odd thrill began to build every time it happened.
Once, while on all fours and locked on to him behind her, Drocco grabbed her arms and lifted her back toward him, pinning her elbows together with one hand. He kissed and licked the back of her neck and reached round to squeeze and slap her breasts, wringing her nipples and clawing his nails over her stomach. That was all it took for her to come again, shuddering on his knot and clenching onto every inch of him buried inside her. He cursed in exclamation, pulling her into his arms and telling her how amazing she was. He made her orgasm multiple times on his knot. It meant that their mating seemed to last for ages, and she was always exhausted after.
It was a good thing really. She tried not to allow herself to think of anything beyond the room or beyond her senses. What was the point? She couldn’t escape if her Talent didn’t work. She was at his mercy and, at the moment, he was being attentive. She allowed herself to drown in the overwhelming sensations.
She became familiar with the subtle differences in his purr. When he slept it was lighter than normal, when he was distracted it was erratic, and when he was satisfied it was luxuriously heavy. The amazing thing was, she began to feel safe and comfortable. It was even pleasurable when he tucked her into his chest to sleep, running his hands all over her, petting her and gently squeezing parts of her body.
However, as time passed, she began to wonder about his motives. Drocco was an intelligent Alpha, capable of planning and executing sophisticated missions to conquer the Eastern Lands. She noticed he would always collect their food and drink from the locked door when she was indisposed; sleeping, drowsy from sex or using the washroom. He was smart enough to try and keep her attention away from those occurrences. So what was his plan with her? Every so often, the thought niggled her that maybe once he had his fill, he would pass her on to another Alpha. Or he would move on to another female. The idea lowered her mood and sparked both jealousy and anger before she caught it and scolded herself. They were not a couple, she had to remember that. Whatever came next, after he tired of her, she had to prepare for it.
She began to climb out of the nest more to spend time sitting at the wall-wide window, behind the curtain. The city beyond the forest had changed from the time she first looked out at it. Broken buildings had been knocked down or mended, the general cream coloring of the buildings had been decorated with patterns of red or black, marking it as Lox Empire. Cailyn stared out at it, wondering how long she had actually been in the room.
One day, Drocco lifted the curtain and sat next to her with a small plate, watching the city as he passed her fruit. They had remained in silence for most of the time since he had tried to strangle her, and she hadn’t forced any kind of conversation for fear of breaking the contentment she so desperately needed at the time. But now that there were questions on her tongue, she didn’t know how to phrase what she wanted to say.
“You have been very thoughtful lately,” Drocco said, his eyes on the city.
Cailyn glanced at him. “How long have I been here?” she asked tentatively, taking an orange segment.
“Does it matter?”
Cailyn shrugged. Maybe it didn’t. “I’m wondering what your plans are for me.”
Drocco held out an apple chunk. “It’s not important. I’m looking after you, that’s all you need to know.”
Cailyn took the fruit. “Looking after me by keeping me captive?”
Drocco turned to look at her. “Is there anything you are lacking?”
“My freedom.”
Drocco placed the plate down next to him and pulled her onto his lap, keeping her facing the city. “You think you want that, but you don’t.”
Cailyn tensed. “You can’t tell me what I want.”
Drocco’s hand slipped between her thighs. “I can.”
Cailyn huffed, squeezing her thighs together but failing to trap his hand as his fingers climbed higher.
“You are easier to read than you think,” he murmured into her ear, his fingers brushing gently against her pussy. “I can detect your moods, I can tell what you need and when you need it. I know what you like… what you dislike… your preferences.”
“I preferred it when you were silent,” she snapped. “As soon as you open your mouth, you spoil things.”
He grabbed her hair and yanked her head back, lowering to press his nose against her neck. “I know you don’t want it to be true, but that is the benefit of being in close proximity to your Alpha.”
“Just because you can tell when my body is aroused doesn’t mean you know what I want,” Cailyn replied, evenly. “And it doesn’t mean you’re my Alpha.”
His mouth moved up her neck. “Did you know you purr in your sleep?”
Cailyn jolted in surprise. She twisted in his grip to look at him. “W-what?”
Drocco relaxed his hold on her, staring back into her eyes, a slight smirk on his face. “You would not purr if you wanted to leave. You would not purr for an Alpha that isn’t yours. You would not nest with me if you weren’t preparing for a life with me, Cailyn. You are content here.”
Cailyn stared at him in shock. Omegas at the Compound never purred. It was something they only did with or for their chosen Alphas. “No,” she whispered.
A flash of irritation crossed Drocco’s face. He lifted his head to look at the city, but his jaw was hard. “No what, Cailyn?”
Cailyn swallowed. She turned back to look at the city too, her thoughts racing. She remembered now. Generally, nesting Omegas were preparing a place for their pregnancy, but it could also be a place they created to simply feel safe. Yes. That’s what she had done. He had tortured her after all. As for her purring… “I don’t know if that’s true, Drocco.”
“You don’t have to know.” His fingers played with her lazily and she tried not to be distracted by her body’s response. “You just have to listen to your body. When you do, you will feel the instinct to purr. Just like I felt when to do it for you.”
Cailyn was speechless. There it was. She was being primed into letting her body’s natural instincts take over her natural thoughts, something he knew she didn’t want, and she had been allowing it to happen, distracted by the comfort of his purr and the pleasure he wrecked on her. A small part of her wondered if it really was a terrible thing. She had been content over these past… however long it was, hadn’t she?
No. It hadn’t been real. She had been distressed to the point of suicide and had suffered through his attempt to murder her. His purr would, of course, force her to cling to him and he had manipulated her with that knowledge. Furthermore, he was an Emperor. How could he be spending day after day with her without needing to leave and tend to his Empire? He had a plan to bring her to heel. He was manipulating her—even now, with his hand between her legs as he discussed this.
“Cailyn,” he murmured, kissing her ear as his fingers zeroed in on her clit. “I know you don’t like being called kitten, but you should know, your purr is very… cute.”
Cailyn gritted her teeth against the tingling sensations building in her. “It’s not real.”
Drocco’s fingers froze. “What?”
“It’s not real. You are the first and only man I’ve been with—the only Alpha. My Omega impulses are all over the place. They can’t be trusted.”
Drocco was silent for a long while. “You don’t want to trust them,” he growled accusingly. “You have never wanted to trust them.”
“I’m just trying to point out that you cannot keep assuming you are my Alpha. You are most likely mistaken.”
Drocco’s whole body tensed. “You still deny it?”
“Yes.”
Drocco pushed Cailyn off of his lap and stood abruptly. She watched him stalk to the other side of the bedroom and pull clothes out of the closet to dress.
“Where are you going?” she asked, alarmed. If he was getting dressed, that meant he was leaving.
“I’m tired of all this denial,” he hollered, yanking on his shirt. “I’m going to find a Beta female to fuck. One who will submit willingly and beg me to bond with her.”
Cailyn narrowed her eyes and slowly got up, a sudden heat flaring all over her body. “If you leave, you will not come back in my nest.”
“I will fuck you whenever I want,” Drocco shot back. “And you will want me because that’s how your body always responds, even though it supposedly can’t be trusted.” He pulled on his boots. “If you don’t want to claim me, you will not mind sharing.”
Cailyn trembled with a rage so intense, her mind had only one focus. She stepped toward him, slowly crossing the room, her fists clenched. “If you fuck another female, I will kill you.”
Drocco stilled, his gaze intensifying as he took her in. His nostrils flared and something changed in his eyes. He turned and strode to the door.
Cailyn ran toward him, determined to rip his fucking face off, but the door slammed behind him before she got there. A hot, white fury seared through her and she shrieked a string of curses as she pounded the door with all her might. Then she turned on the room and destroyed everything she could reach, screaming and yelling obscenities in her anguish.
By the time she calmed, the room was an absolute wreck. Water and food were splattered everywhere, the bed was a mess, the table and chairs were overturned and even part of the curtain limped from its rail.
Cailyn sat in the middle of the room, tormented by the idea of Drocco with another woman. She sobbed and rocked, trying to reason with herself that it didn’t matter, but it did. He would come back to her smothered with another woman’s scent, and she would still open her legs for him. He knew it. And she couldn’t deny that her extreme reaction aligned with his theories. She had become emotionally attached to him somehow. She wanted him for herself, everything about him. Not just his tongue, his cock, his husky purr, or those liquid jet-black eyes, she also wanted his laugh, his dominance, his thundering demands… she wanted him. The monster she had always despised—that she still despised. When had it come to this?
She crawled to the strewn blankets of her nest and found the one most saturated with his scent before curling up on it, her tears still spilling down her cheeks.