Chapter 182

“Pork?” I turned back to look up at Cillian as he offered me a bowl. His eyes lifted a little and his lips twitched. “Ah. I suppose you are a bit distracted. Do carry on.”

I turned back and his arms were still around her. Her fingers were in his hair, stroking his hair. He seemed to tremble a little before they pulled back. He threw his head back with a laugh and Estella laughed too. What the hell were they laughing about? He pulled a box out of his cloak and offered it to her. Her eyes lit up and she beamed up at him before taking it out of his hands and hugging him again. I was about to charge over there and rip her away from him, but she cupped his face for a moment and turned, hustling back down the street the way they came. He stepped out of the alcove with a smile as he watched her go. He looked up and turned towards me. I turned around swiftly.

“We should have real dinner,” I said quickly. “I don’t think I can… walk the whole festival.”

His lips twitched. “Of course. Do you still want this?”

I nodded and took the bowl. It was still warm. I didn’t know exactly what was in it, but it smelled like pork and something spicy. I hated spicy things, but I tasted the pork anyway. It was good. Better than what I’d eaten with Candido at that other place before. I set my jaw. I bet Candido had taken Estella somewhere much nicer than where he’d taken me. Cillian turned and led me past Candido. He’d caught someone with Moon Shadow, and they were talking. He looked up, and his gaze darted between Cillian and me, then down to the bowl in my hands. I drew closer to Cillian and waited for him to say something.

My stomach clenched waiting for his expression to change. To hear him be angry and jealous. I wanted him to pull me away from Cillian and demand to know what was going on. I wanted him to apologize for making me slap him earlier. I wanted him to admit that I was right and see that Estella was just trying to take my place at his side.

I waited. I knew he would say something. I knew he would react, but his eyes didn’t even narrow. His expression remained neutral. His gaze didn’t linger on the way the dress fit me or how much skin I was showing.

He didn’t even look like he cared, like I was just another person to him. In the end, he said nothing then turned back to the man he was speaking to.

“His lack of a reaction irritated me.

“Check in with Vanessa and Wren. We’ll reconvene in half an hour.”

The man nodded. “And what about her?”

My heart tripped. He had to be talking about me. What would he say? What was going on?

“She’ll meet us at the rendezvous point with the others.”

He wasn’t talking about me? He wasn’t talking about Vanessa. Where were they going? What rendezvous point? I set my jaw and wanted to ask, but then Candido was parting from the man. The man looked at me briefly before shaking his head and leaving.

I wanted to call him on that look, but I couldn’t find the words, and it didn’t matter what he thought.

All that mattered was that Candido was walking away from me without even saying a word when I was clearly out with another man! Wasn’t he jealous at all, or maybe he was just playing as though he wasn’t? Maybe he thought I was just acting out. Maybe he thought this was a part of the deal I had with Cillian.

Fine, but I was going to make sure that Candido was jealous and did something. He wasn’t going to be able to ignore me for long. He wasn’t going to be able to ignore my relationship with Cillian for long.

I knew it. Whatever Estella had told him or done to him, couldn’t erase the fact that we were mates and that it would eat him alive if any other man touched me.

Wasn’t that why he had been so deadest on keeping me away from the parties and all of the social activities? Isn’t that why he didn’t want me to move on campus, so he could have me all to himself? He put me before Sibyl and he was supposed to marry her. No matter what he says, I know that he was just going to marry her and ruin the Full Moon pack in the process.

I saved him and the pack, and he wanted to treat me like I was nothing! He hadn’t even looked apologetic for anything he’d done to me!

Fine, but it wouldn’t last for long.

“We should get on with our date,” I said to Cillian. “Do you think the place we’re going has chocolate cake?”

Cillian laughed and led me down the street. “Perhaps something like it.”

The place we went to was much better than the place Candido had taken me to. I guess it was probably because even then Candido hadn’t really been focused on me. The cake was rich and chocolatey and I felt at ease with Cillian. He didn’t say much, letting me fill the conversation. There was something warm and tender in his eyes. It reminded me of the way Candido would look at me when I came into his office and pretended to struggle.

Still, there was no mistaking the heat that was behind his gaze and the way it drifted over my shoulders and breasts. He looked at me like he wanted me, like I was a much better meal than the food on the table and all he could think about was having a taste. It made my stomach flutter nervously with excitement, but it was all I’d ever wanted from Candido.

For him to want me. For him to treat me the way Cillian was treating me now. I wanted him to care about me, to dote on me, to cherish me but also to want me. I wanted him to give me the world and want nothing but me in return.

We left the restaurant as the red of the moon was starting to fade. The streets were still full of people, and I was certain I caught sight of several members of Moon Shadow drifting around, darting in an out of buildings quickly.

“Did you enjoy it?” Cillian asked. “Not the cake. It was clear you did.”

My cheeks heated. “Yes, I did. You don’t have to tease me about it.”

“I was tempted to order you another slice just to hear you moaning about it again.” My eyes widened as he grinned. “You’re bright red.”

“That’s because you keep teasing me.”

He stopped and looked down at me. “Teasing… Is that what you think?”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“Do you believe I am just teasing you?” Cillian asked, his voice growing soft and deep. “Do you believe I mean to do nothing?”

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. The heat of his body and the scent of his cologne sent a shiver of anticipation through me.

“W-What do you mean?”

“I realize that Candido has given you a very… muted version of what a man might do to a woman he has an interest in, but I assure you that teasing isn’t the half of it.”

I licked my lips as my mouth felt dry. “And… what is the half of it?”

He smirked. “Are you asking me to tell you or show, Hedy?”

I glanced up and down the street. “H-Here?”

“Not exactly here…” He chuckled and leaned close, whispering in my ear. “Are you embarrassed or excited at the thought of people seeing how easily you would melt to me?”

My heart raced and heat rushed through me. “M-Melt?”

“I assure you that while you may be unsure about Candido’s sexual prowess, you need not be unsure about mine. I’d have you crying out praises for the goddess in less than a minute.”

I could hardly breathe as he pulled away. “You’d want more. I can tell you’ll be needy. Once or twice won’t be enough, but you won’t have to worry about that.”

“I-I’m not—”

“Aren’t you, princess?” Cillian asked, cupping my jaw and tracing his thumb across my bottom lip. “Needy that is? Don’t you want it?”

His eyes were so dark, I could drown in them. I felt my panties getting wet at the thought of what he was offering me with that look.

Would I? Could I? Did I? Should I?

It was all I had wanted with Candido. I shouldn’t want it with Cillian. I shouldn’t even be stunned, but I couldn’t help it….

I did.