Tabitha's POV
Upon hearing Derek's words, I closed my eyes quickly.
The next morning, I woke up in his arms.
It had been ages since we slept together while hugging each other. The second I opened my eyes, I saw his handsome sleeping face.
I suddenly felt that time had gone back three years when I could see him whenever I opened my eyes.
He closed his eyes tightly. With a few strands of hair softly resting on his usually smooth forehead, he no longer looked that cold and aloof.
There was a faint stubble on his tightly clenched jaw, and even in his sleep, he was still frowning tightly.
I instinctively raised my hand to smooth his furrowed eyebrows.
Yet after I lifted my hand, I realized that we were no longer mates. I was about to retract my hand when he opened his eyes at that moment.
Our eyes met, and I saw fine dust flying in the air.
My hand froze in mid-air. Either putting it back or leaving it there seemed a bit awkward.
While I was hesitating on what to do, he suddenly leaned forward and kissed my lips without any warning.
His lips were as thin as always. I was stunned for a moment, and right after I came back to my senses, I pushed him away subconsciously.
Yet my struggle was to no avail. He cupped my head with his broad palms and deepened the kiss.
Frowning, I wanted to bite him, but he saw through me and clutched my cheeks tightly.
Women were no match for men in terms of physical strength, and I could only surrender.
Just as I thought I would suffocate to death, Derek finally let go of me.
He looked grim. "What is it? Am I not allowed to touch you?"
Without waiting for my answer, he added more strength to his fingers pinching my cheeks, and as he lowered his head, I saw his eyes filled with coldness.
"Let go!" I struggled to pull his hands away. "If you're horny, go to Daphne. She's your fiancée."
"You've become bold."
Derek, irritated by my struggle, reached out and grabbed me.
I had learned from my lesson and dared not resist too much, fearing that I'd push him further, and he'd do something crueler to me.
So, I gave up resisting. However, Derek suddenly let go of me and went to the bathroom.
I rubbed my cheeks, which he had pinched and hurt, thinking that Derek had become more unpredictable compared to before.
I silently reminded myself not to provoke him again.
Ten minutes later, he came out, refreshed after washing up.
His hair was still wet. He walked past me without looking sideways and went to the wardrobe.
I knew better than anyone that if I pissed him off, I'd suffer more.
I opened the other side of the wardrobe and took out a suit. "Wear this."
It was a smoke-gray suit, dignified and elegant, without the overwhelming feeling of black, which suited him well.
Derek walked to me step by step, and I instinctively stepped back.
He came to me closer and closer till my body leaned back against his soft clothes, and then he confined me to the narrow wardrobe.
Nervous, I looked up and met his eyes.
"You..."
Derek reached out and stroked my cheek. "It's been a long time since you picked out clothes for me."
My heart skipped a beat. He was always so good at flirting, and I always fell for it.
"You never came home, didn't you?" Sounded like I was complaining, and my voice carried a hint of helplessness.
He leaned over and kissed my lips, and I had to wrap my arms around his neck to keep my body from falling.
The cramped space made my breath chaotic, but I dared not push Derek away again. I was forced to be kissed by him.
I could feel Crystal's emotions clearly.
She became excited.
She was encouraging me.
My rationality and my sensibility fought with each other.
I felt the attraction between mates, and at the same time, I craved much more intimacy with Derek.
Yet those memories from the past were killing me.
Just then, Derek suddenly said, "Tabitha, let's make a deal."
"A deal?" I looked at him, confused.
I had nothing. What could I trade with him?
The cramped and narrow space, along with the stagnant air, made me suffocate, and my back was covered with a layer of sweat.
He slightly bent down, and a droplet of water fell from the tip of his hair onto my face, bringing me a moment of coolness.
He looked serious. "Stay with me, and it'll be a clean slate between me and Silver Moon Pack."
I asked calmly, "Stay? In what capacity?"
After a moment of silence, he said, "You can have anything except for the title of Black Thorn Pack's Luna."
I asked word by word, "So, you want me to be your mistress?"
My words upset Derek. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to explain, "We'll be just like before, except that you're not my Luna. You can feel our mate bond, right? I can mark you again."
"Before..." I sneered. I knew exactly I should have shown the white feather and played meek to get a better deal with him, but his offer pissed me off so badly that my head hurt.
I felt like a giant balloon filled with gas that was about to explode.
My hand propping my body up felt something.
I approached him, smiling, "Anything? Really?"
Derek nodded calmly. "Yes. What do you want?"
As I got closer and closer to him, I whispered in his ear, "I want..."
I hit Derek in the head hard with the tie box I felt.
"I want you dead, you jerk! I'm so curious. How shameless exactly are you to say such damn words? Are you nuts or what? We're divorced, and you want me to be your mistress?"
I grabbed his collar and continued, "If you loved me, why did you cheat? And now, you won't leave me alone! Or is having an affair your thing?"