The Alpha Prince And His Bride
Book 3 The Alpha’s Substitute Bride – Episode 11

I was annoyed by the confused look on Hunter’s face. What was there to be confused about? I saw the woman leave his study. I heard what she had to say to me. Then what could he possibly be confused about?

“You’re speaking about Alice?”

“Is there any other mistress that I should know about?” I snapped angrily.

He shook his head. “I didn’t. . . I didn’t sleep with Alice last night. I don’t know why you would think that.”

I gave him an incredulous look. “Do I look like a joke to you?” I demanded. “I saw her leave your study yesterday. I came to your room like a fool thinking that you might need someone to talk to. Only to find out that you were in there with your mistress while you both embraced each other.”

I still remembered the way I felt after seeing him with that woman and hearing what she had to say to me. The strong feelings were enough to dampen the pleasure of having our bodies pressed together, it was the extra fuel I needed to keep going and not back down.

There was a hint of realization on his face now and it annoyed me. The fact that he remembered meant that it actually really did happen. I didn’t want to admit it but a small part of me was hoping that he would deny all of this and prove me wrong.

Now I was angry at myself for hoping for the best. I knew from the start of the kind of person that he truly was. I should have never expected anything different. I knew better now.

I was angry when I shifted my gaze back to his. I tried to move my hands again but they were still pinned by him.

“Let me go.” I threatened when he wouldn’t say anything.

. . . . . . . . .

~HUNTER~

I tried to understand Isabella. She seemed genuinely upset about Alice. I didn’t think my mistress would make her feel any type of way unless . . .

I scanned her face, searching for answers. I wanted to tell her the truth. I wanted to see the reaction on her face when she heard what I had to say about what really happened last night.

I pushed her arms back and pressed them against the bed with one hand. “Listen to me.” I insisted with a penetrating gaze. “Nothing happened between Alice and me yesterday.”

Nothing happened because my body wouldn’t let me. Ever since you came into my life I’ve been f*****g screwed. You’ve awakened a part of me that should be dead. A part of me that I’ve worked so hard to get rid of. I want it to be gone. I want it to be gone because I don’t want to feel again. I don’t want to put myself through the pain again. For that reason, I will not tell you this. I’ll keep this truth to myself. Because Isabella, I will die before I let myself love another woman again.

I swallowed and took a close long look at her beneath me. I knew that if anything ever happened to her I would never be able to forgive myself. It would haunt me for the rest of my life. She was beautiful, so breathtakingly beautiful. But more than any of that, Isabella Cross was innocent and pure. She had spirit and strength; there were so many things about her that stood out to me, things that would forever leave a scar in my body.

She was still quiet beneath me after trying a couple of times to break free from my hold. No matter how hard she tried, I couldn’t find it in myself to let her go. I wanted to hold on tight and keep her close. But at the same time, another part of me screamed danger every time I came into contact with her.

Her long lashes framed her beautiful eyes as she peered up at me with parted lips. I could tell that she was finding it hard to trust the words Id spoken about my mistress. The fact that she’d seen Alice hugging me wasn’t helping my case either.

“Even if you turned her down yesterday, what will stop you from going to her another time?” She asked. “She’s still your mistress. That’s what mistresses are there for, you said it yourself.”

I searched her eyes, she was holding back a lot of emotions from me and I wanted to know what they were. Something told me that I wouldn’t be prepared for it however. So I decided to leave it alone at least for now. If I answered Isabella and told her the truth then that would leave room for other discussions that I wasn’t willing to have with her. I was trying to keep her away from me for the sake of both of us.

Her frown deepened when I didn’t answer her and I wasn’t prepared for the strength in which she used to push me away this time. I fell on my back onto the bed and peered up at her with hooded eyes. Isabella’s body was perfection; I had to stifle a g***n at the strong need to have her under my body while I claimed every single part of her own. Seeing her outside in the open for everyone to see her precious bare skin had taken a toll on me. In fact, I wanted to murder anyone who’d looked at her whether intentionally or not. One said person was none other than my best friend. They were a little too friendly with each other for my liking.

The thought of her laughing and talking to another man was too much for me to take.

“F**k.” I growled as Isabella turned around and gave me a full view of her naked a*s.

I couldn’t stop myself as I rushed forward and placed my hand over hers on the door handle. I heard her gasp as I pressed her body up against the door.

I was quiet as I pressed my lips to the side of her neck and lingered there for a few seconds. God, her scent was so captivating that it took me a while to gather my train of thoughts. Just like before, every muscle and bone in my body was screaming for me to bite down so hard that she screamed my name.

“Alice is no longer my mistress.” I whispered against her ear. “I told her that I just wanted her to be my house planner from now on. That is all that she is. Whether you believe me or not, the choice is yours.”

I didn’t know what made me say those words after convincing myself not to do it just a few minutes ago.

Before I had a chance to ponder more on that thought Isabella turned around to face me with wide eyes.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that I didn’t like the look on her face. It made me feel things that I didn’t want to. I couldn’t remember the last time a woman had ever looked at me like that. Even Maggie never looked at me the way that she did right now.

There was hope and admiration coupled with a few other emotions that I couldn’t read. It scared me so much that I knew that I had to leave this room now before I did something incredibly stupid.

“I will not be home until tomorrow.” I said quietly as I slowly moved away from her.

The truth was that I didn’t need to leave for an entire day but I wanted to. I couldn’t stay tonight in the same bed with Isabella. The taste of her was still embedded in my mind and her scent was so strong that it blinded the rest of my senses.

“Where are you going?” She asked.

I looked away from her and walked over to the closet, where I had some weapons hidden. I couldn’t look at her anymore; it was almost painful for me.

“Where are you going?” She demanded from me again.

“I have some business to get down to. I’ll make sure that all of the maids tend to you while I’m gone.” I assured her.

The silence that followed bothered me. It bugged me to turn around and find out why she’d gotten so quiet all of a sudden but I decided that it was probably for the best.

When I was finished, I zipped up the bag and rushed for the door. I could see her looking at me from the corner of my eye and just like before, I wanted to turn and get one last long look at her but refrained from doling so. “I’ll see you when I’m back.”