[Jasmine's POV]
I took an involuntary step back. “How did you know?”
Was my face that easy to read?
Gareth frowned and ran a hand through his hair.
“I didn't. I only guessed by watching your reactions to Isabella and Elliot kissing. You're the one who just confirmed my suspicions.”
Damn it!
I'd been fooled by one of the oldest tricks in the book.
Had Gareth only been flirting with me to lower my defenses?
“Are you here to get Elliot back?” he asked darkly. “I hope you realize that I will personally take down anyone who tries to stand in the way of my daughter’s happiness.”
I stepped toward him and looked him straight in the eyes. That same energy pulsed between us, but I tried my best to ignore it so I could get my thoughts in order.
“I’m not here to sabotage your daughter's wedding or beg Elliot to take me back,” I told him in a steady voice. “That’s not the kind of person I am. The only reason I came here tonight was to get some closure. I just needed to see with my own eyes that Elliot is…in love with someone else.” That sentence felt wrong coming out of my mouth.
Gareth’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Isabella and Elliot aren’t just in love. They’re getting married. Do you understand how big of a commitment that is?”
“Of course I do,” I snapped. “I’m not a child.”
His eyes slowly trailed down my body. “Oh, I’m well aware of that.”
My pulse quickened, and I sighed. “Look, can you cut me some slack here? It is possible to move on from a rejected mating bond. The only reason I’m here is so that I can start the process of letting Elliot go.”
Gareth’s lip curled, and he inclined his head reluctantly. “Touché.” The tension in the air lessened, and he looked down at my ruined dress. “Would you like some clothes to change into?”
I nodded, and he entered his walk-in closet and emerged with a pile of clothes in his hands.
After he handed me the clothes, I escaped into the bathroom, craving a moment alone away from his intoxicating scent that muddled my thoughts.
But when I pulled his soft white shirt over my head, his sandalwood scent wrapped around me like a warm embrace. His clothes were huge on me, but wearing them felt right in a way that I didn’t understand.
After I threw my ruined dress into the wastebasket, I walked out of the bathroom, placing my white purse on the giant bed. Gareth's back was to me as he faced his fully stocked bar cart.
“Would you like another drink? Don't worry, it won't be red wine,” he offered with a note of humor in his voice.
My lips turned up at the corners.
“Yes, please,” I said as I walked over to him.
“Good, because I already made them.” He spun around. In his hands were two crystal glasses with ice and an amber-colored liquid. There was even a twisted orange peel on the rim of the glass.
I took the chilled glass from him and sighed in pleasure after my first sip.
“Who knew the Lycan King knew how to make a perfect Old Fashioned?”
Gareth's eyebrows raised, impressed that I knew my mixed drinks. As he moved closer to me, the ice rattled in his cup.
“Was that a crack about my age?” he teased.
“If I say yes, will I be arrested for treason?”
A smirk played on the corners of his lips.
“Unfortunately, I can't arrest you for being a smartass."
I giggled and sipped my drink.
Gareth leaned closer to me, and my laughter caught in my throat. We were only inches away. I noticed that there was a faint scar over his left eyebrow, and there were flecks of bright blue in his gray eyes.
How was it possible for one person to be so good-looking?
For a fraction of a second, Gareth's gaze dropped to my lips. It was so quick that I could have imagined it. But from the desire in his eyes, I didn't think I did.
All of the air was sucked out of the room as I tried to pull some into my lungs. As our gazes locked together, I blushed, and the insistent heat spread throughout my body.
“What are your plans for the future, Jasmine?” Gareth asked and finished off his drink.
My heart pounded as he stared at me. For courage, I threw the rest of my drink back and placed my glass right next to his. Then, I moved closer until our lips were just inches apart.
Using my heightened hearing, I noticed that Gareth's heart beat faster the closer I got to him. This gave me confidence to say what was really on my mind.
“I don't want to think about the future,” I whispered, placing my hands on his warm, muscular chest. “I'd rather focus on the present. More specifically, on where I'm spending the night.”
He sucked in a sharp breath, and his eyes darkened with lust.
Gareth's hands reached down to grip my waist, and he pulled me flush against his hard body. I let out a loud moan when he traced my lower lip with his thumb.
“I've been wanting to kiss these plump lips since I saw you,” he murmured, and our mouths crashed together.
This wasn't the average first kiss. It wasn’t slow, sweet, or even romantic. His lips were insistent, and his strong fingers threaded through my hair, pressing me closer against him.
I threw everything I had into our kiss. I wanted—needed—his strong but soft lips on mine to make me forget. For this one night, I'd allow myself to forget about my aching heart and lose myself in Gareth's experienced touch.
His tongue forced my mouth open, making me moan against him. As our kiss deepened and his tongue moved against mine, his warm hands explored my body. Gareth's mouth tasted like whiskey and oranges. He kissed me like this was the only chance he would get to find out what I tasted like.
When he bit my lower lip, my nipples hardened, and a deep ache pulsed in my warm center.
An ache that only Gareth could relive.
He pulled his lips away and trailed searing kisses along my cheek. Then, he placed his lips right next to my ear. “You are the sweetest thing I've ever tasted.” Gareth's teeth grazed my earlobe.
My legs trembled, and if his hands weren't wrapped around me, I'd be no more than a puddle on the floor.
His heavenly mouth trailed along my neck, his tongue flicking my flushed skin. When he bit down on my pulse point, I let out a whimper. As his tongue ran along the top of my collarbone, my head spun from the intense sensation.
“Gareth,” I groaned and grabbed his head, holding him in place.
He chuckled, and his warm breath against my skin made me shiver in pleasure. All of a sudden, he attacked my collarbone with his hot mouth, sucking and nipping my sensitive skin.
His bites turned rougher, but that suited me just fine. I knew that he would leave a mark behind, and with a jolt, I realized that I wanted it to remember this night.
I wanted to remember the man who made it possible for me to feel something again.
Once he was satisfied with the mark that he left, Gareth kissed me hard again and began to move me in the direction of his bed.
My heart slammed against my chest. This was really happening. I was going to spend the night with the Lycan King.
As he gently laid me on the bed, a shrill ringing sounded next to us.
It was like a bucket of cold water being dumped over our overly heated bodies. Reluctantly, I pulled my lips away from his, my breathing ragged, and my thoughts jumbled.
After a moment, I realized that the sound was coming from my phone; the upbeat ringtone was reserved for my mother.
“I have to take this,” I murmured to Gareth, leaning over and answering the call.
Before I could even say hello, the sound of hysterical crying came from the speaker.
“Jasmine,” my mother sobbed. “You have to come home. Your father has been arrested…the Lycans have taken him into custody."