Chapter5 So wet already?

Aliya POV

I froze for a moment, at a loss for words in front of this rumored playboy.

Those blue eyes were so vivid, it felt like they could see through me to my soul.

I gave a small cough, tilting my head in a subtle attempt to escape his stare, and said, "Let me get this straight, I came here to propose a serious political alliance against a man who intends to destroy my family, and your response is that you'd rather sleep with me?"

Nikolai's lips curved into that irritatingly confident smile. "I'm just being honest about my initial intentions. But please," he gestured toward me, "continue with your proposal. You've certainly piqued my interest now."

My heartbeat seemed to quicken. Even though my wolf is dormant, I can't suppress my excitement for another Alpha.

I took a deep breath, pushing down the strange excitement rising within me, and said, "This isn't a game, Alpha Volkov. I'm not here for entertainment or a casual fling."

"I never said it was a game," he replied, his smile fading slightly. "I'm completely mesmerized by you."

I looked at him with a frown and said, "Marcus Stonecreek has done terrible things. Things that hurt my pack, my parents." I paused, feeling the familiar burn of rage rising in my chest. "I'm here because I want revenge, and I believe we can help each other."

Frowning, I said, "If you're not willing to work with me, I'm leaving. Now."

Nikolai's playful demeanor vanished entirely. He straightened in his seat, his face growing solemn as his blue eyes locked onto mine.

"You're not just having second thoughts about your marriage," he stated rather than asked. "This is personal."

"Very personal," I confirmed.

Nikolai leaned forward, elbows on his desk. "Tell me."

Over the next few minutes, I told him how Marcus had been manipulating me, how I found out about his secret alliance with Sarah, and most importantly, how he planned to take over my family's land and assets. I didn't mention my previous life or death; that would have ended our conversation immediately with him calling psychiatric services.

"I can help you win the Alpha King election," I concluded. "With my family's backing and the information I have on Marcus's campaign strategies, you'd be virtually unstoppable."

"And what do you want in return?" he asked, his voice low and serious now. "Protection for your family?"

"Yes. And freedom from my marriage without facing social or financial ruin."

Nikolai stood, circling his desk slowly until he was beside me. We were so close, we could hear each other's breathing.

"I have one condition of my own," he said, his voice dropping to an intimate tone that sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine.

"Which is?"

He leaned in closer, and for a moment, the scent of pine and something wild flooded my senses.

"When you're free of Marcus, you become my mate."

I stared at him, genuinely shocked. "What?"

This man is completely absurd!

"You heard me," he said, his voice almost a purr. "I'll help you destroy Marcus, protect your family, and ensure you suffer no consequences for breaking the bond. But afterward, you'll be mine."

"That's... that's absurd," I stammered. "We barely know each other."

"It's the perfect revenge," Nikolai argued, his eyes held a depth I couldn't begin to fathom. "What could hurt Marcus more than seeing his former mate with his greatest rival? No man can tolerate watching his mate with his competitor."

The rich smell of pine clung to him, almost suffocating me.

I made a move to push him back, trying to break the closeness between us. "So this is still about getting me into your bed."

"It's about much more than that now," he seized my wrist, drawing us even closer with an intimate closeness. "It's about power, revenge and attraction." His gaze traveled over me with open appreciation. "Don't pretend you don't feel it too."

Before I could react, he cupped my face in his hands and crashed his lips against mine. The kiss was sudden, demanding, and completely overwhelming. His mouth moved against mine with a hunger that made my knees weak, and despite myself, I found my body responding to his touch. For a moment, I was lost in the sensation, the way his hands felt against my skin, the intoxicating scent of pine that surrounded me.

I clung to my last shred of reason, pushing against his chest before I completely collapsed beneath Nikolai, breaking the kiss and stepping back, my breath coming in short gasps. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger and something else I didn't want to acknowledge.

Nikolai looked at me with a smile, wordlessly pinning my arms and pressing me down onto the desk, leaving me utterly at his mercy, like a lamb to the slaughter.

Panic surged through me at the situation, and I lifted my leg, trying to resist his advance. But Nikolai's other hand swiftly caught my ankle, pulling me closer to him with one smooth tug. His calloused palm grazed the inside of my thigh, a rough, deliberate touch that effortlessly slid my underwear down before moving further.

"Ah!" A moan escaped me before I could stop it, my trembling voice making my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

But Nikolai wasn't done with me. He added another finger, his rough palm teasing my clit with wicked intent. I writhed beneath his touch, my body betraying me with unsteady moans that followed his movements.

"So wet already?" Nikolai said with a mocking laugh. "Looks like Marcus hasn't been satisfying you. No wonder you came to me."

I turned my face away helplessly, acutely aware of the slick warmth pooling beneath me, my body responding to Nikolai's teasing with a shameful flood of desire.

Only when I was completely undone, limp against the desk, did Nikolai finally relent. His eyes were dark with satisfaction, a small smile playing at his lips. "Sealing our agreement," he said smoothly. "Consider it a preview of what's to come."

My cheeks burned with embarrassment and fury. "You can't do this to me!" I spat.

"Can't I?" he asked, his tone challenging. "You're going to marry me, Aliya. You might as well get used to it."

I stared at him, my heart still racing. "Why?" I asked, trying to steady my breathing. "Why do you insist on marrying me specifically? You could have any woman you want."

Nikolai's expression grew more serious, though his eyes still held that predatory gleam. "I'm thirty-five years old, Aliya. Do you know what that means for an Alpha?"

I shook my head, still catching my breath.

"It means I've been waiting for my fated mate for seventeen years since my first shift. She never came." His voice carried a hint of something bitter. "Most Alphas my age have either found their destined mate or settled for a political arrangement by now."

He moved closer again, his presence overwhelming. "Your beauty, your courage, your intelligence, and your noble bloodline, don't you think they match perfectly with me?"

I felt heat rise in my cheeks at his assessment. "So this is about convenience for you? A practical choice?"

"Partly," he admitted without shame. "But also about desire. You felt it too when I kissed you. Don't try to deny it."

I took a deep breath, trying to process everything. The weight of his words, the implications of what he was proposing, the way my body had responded to his touch despite my mind's protests.

Before he could respond, I reached into my purse and pulled out a small recording device, switching it on with a decisive click.

"Since we're in agreement," I said smoothly, "let's make it official. You'll help me destroy Marcus and protect my family. In return, I'll marry you after my current marriage ends. Do you agree to these terms?"