SERAPHINA'S POV
I nervously check over my outfit for the night again, obsessing over the low-rise neckline and debating if showcasing a hint of cleavage might come across as too forward.
Cleavage or not?
The dress I've chosen is the shortest one I own, ending at mid-thigh, and its spaghetti straps make me feel exposed.
He's expected any moment now, and after endless pleas and apologies, I managed to persuade Olivia to vacate the room.
The anxiety intensifies with each passing second, and my palms grow clammy. Staring at my reflection, dressed to impress, specifically to seduce, the gravity of the situation dawns on me, making it all even crazier.
Soon, a knock from the balcony door jerks me out of my thoughts, anchoring me back to the present. Taking a deep breath, I turn towards the door, attempting to swallow the nervous lump in my throat.
He's here.
I take several deep breaths, each more deliberate than the last, before approaching the door and pulling it open.
Artemis stands there, his hair slightly damp, appearing effortlessly tousled and shimmering under the gentle glow of the moon. He gives off a scent fresh from a shower, reminders of a cool mountain breeze, immediately invading my senses.
Tonight, there's something different about him.
He seems to glow, making him all the more captivating. Lost in the depth of his cerulean eyes, it's only his soft smile that jolts me back to the moment.
"Hey, Sera."
Flustered, I shake off the daze, reminding myself of Olivia's cautionary words about not falling under his spell.
"Hey, come in," I reply, stepping aside to let him in.
As he enters, his tall frame leans slightly to work the doorframe, and I can't help but watch him curiously explore the room Olivia and I share.
"Your room is... smaller," he notes, his gaze finally meeting mine.
His intense look once again sends my heart racing, causing me to respond with a sprinkle of defensiveness, "Y-yeah, maybe to you. I mean, you're the esteemed Alpha prince; naturally, your room would dwarf one shared between an omega and the unwanted human girl."
He chuckles softly, taking a seat on my bed without needing an invitation.
"Not unwanted anymore, though."
Raising an eyebrow, I ask, "How did you know that was my bed?"
"I can sense you all over it- a potent, intoxicating scent," he replies, lightly brushing his fingers over my bedsheet.
The mere thought of those fingers on my skin sends my mind into a mess, imagining a soft, tantalizing touch, bound to tease and ignite goosebumps.
To distract myself, I grab the bottle of wine I had set aside, taking several gulps. The liquid courage starts to course through my veins, boosting my confidence.
Turning back to him, I offer a more assured smile.
I'm genuinely clueless about how to go about this - seducing a man - especially given that my only reference point is a handful of online videos.
"Would you like some wine?" I tentatively offer the glass towards him, trying to appear more confident than I feel.
His gaze deepens, locked onto mine, and there's that sly smirk again.
"Yeah, I would."
The rush of warmth to my cheeks is unmistakable. I quickly pour his drink, hand it to him, and then take a seat uncomfortably close to him.
An awkward silence takes over, and I find myself downing my wine faster than I should, simply to have an excuse to break eye contact.
He finally speaks, his voice a low rumble, "So, where did you get this wine?"
Relieved for the shift in conversation, I answer, "I...uh...sourced it from the kitchen. Had a friend's help."
The 'friend' in question being Kamila. She'd suggested the wine might be a way to ease tension. I hate that she was able to easily predict that I'd need the alcoholic boost.
He leans in, his voice teasing, "Stealing from the kitchen? That's very naughty of you, Sera."
His proximity, combined with that comment and possibly the wine, sends an unexpected thrill through me. I don't know if it's the wine, but I feel an instant tickle in my lower regions, the sensation lingering, drawing more heat to my core.
I blurt out, "It's suddenly so warm, right?"
It feels way too hot to sit next to him, and my head spins a bit from intoxication. Seeking some sort of escape from my own nerves, I rise, striding over to the window to let in some fresh air.
"Better?" I ask, glancing back at him.
But his gaze is intense, and there's a hint of mischief.
"You aren't...terrified of bugs, are you?"
Confused, I respond, "They're one of my top fears. Why do you ask?"
"Okay, I need you to not panic." He says slowly, getting up from the bed and drawing closer to me with gentle, calculated steps.
All the while, his eyes are fixated on my hair. And then I make the mistake of looking. I don't know what it is, but it's a deep blue creature with long antennae and hard legs sticking out of my hair.
Panic surges through me, and a piercing scream escapes my lips as I sense the creature's wings flutter against my head.
"Get it off!" The words burst from me, frantic, as I wave my arms around, desperate to rid myself of the intruder.
Each desperate tug and swat is in vain; the creature clings fiercely to my hair, prompting a surge of alarm that sends me dashing around the room hysterically.
Luckily, Artemis intervenes. With a certain calm and little amusement, he holds me perfectly in place, plucking out the little shit from my tresses.
With swift precision, he sends it sailing through the window, quickly shutting it behind. The rush of adrenaline in me finally settles, and I take in a deep breath of obvious relief. My heart is still racing from the ordeal.
"Thank you," I manage to say, looking up at him.
His intense gaze, however, is still fixated on my hair, prompting my frown.
"What?"
"Your hair," he observes, almost playfully.
With a wary hand, I touch it, feeling the telltale signs of their wild, messy state. I move towards the window, dreading what I might see on its reflective surface, and a gasp escapes me the instant I do.
My hair now looks like a bird's muddled up nesting ground.
"Oh."
"You okay?" He breaks the silence, a note of genuine concern in his voice.
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration, I reply, "I look like a chewed-up yarn, or rat - the kind a cat drags in after hunting in the garden."
Defeated, I flop onto the bed, hiding my face.
All that effort to look seductive, wasted.
He settles beside me, a sweet, comforting presence.
"I don't know what you're talking about; you look just as lovely," he says, fingers run through my strands, restoring a level of order to the mess.
Drawing back, his eyes search mine, "So, bugs terrify you?"
"Always have. I was bitten by one when I was five, and since then, those little critters have haunted me. They creep me out."
A deep chuckle vibrates from him, yanking me from my vivid thoughts. It's a sound full of warmth and innocence, genuinely caught by my silly words.
I almost laugh in response. - as an extension of the lure of his voice.
"I can just imagine a pint-sized you, walking around. Must've been adorable," he muses, those gorgeous blue eyes of his lighting up with amusement.
"Maybe," I reply, getting lost in those eyes. They hold a universe, especially when he smiles, and I'm entranced by the dance of beautiful colors in them.
It's breathtaking.
He notices my focus, "What?"
I hesitate, then admit, "Your eyes... they're just so pretty. I want to stare at them."
I lean closer to him, captivated by the intricate details of his eyes.
I wish to tattoo their perfection onto my brain, imagining what it'd be like to capture their allure on canvas, painting out the vividness and intensity they hold.
Reflexively, my fingers fall onto his chest for support, and under my touch, he stiffens - his muscles tensing.
"Sera..."
"Yes?"
"You've had a bit too much tonight," he remarks, though there's a longing in his gaze.
"No, I'm just fine."
Yet even as I say it, my fingers betray me, sliding up to gently cradle his face. The air between us thickens, his once playful demeanor replaced by a gaze burning with intensity and desire.
There's a magnetic force between us, pulling us closer. It's as if every glance, every touch, has been leading up to this moment, a dam waiting to break.
And that kiss had been the perfect sledgehammer to everything we've tried to fight.
I feel it, and I know he feels it too.
"Sera..." he whispers again, deeply this time, breathing more labored than before
I shift, kneeling beside him, holding his face in both my hands. For a moment, I wobble, unsteady, until his strong hands grasp my hips, grounding me.
I can feel his warmth even through the thin fabric of my gown.
"Yes..." My voice is low.
His gaze is filled with a hunger he's struggling to control.
"You're pushing me to the edge here," he murmurs, the strain evident in his voice.
Biting my lip subtly, I tease, "Why? You didn't hesitate before kissing me earlier."
"That... that was different."
"How so?"
"Because then, I could do it without losing my mind. Now, with you this close, with you in this dress, staring down at me with those eyes ... I'd be damned."
His fingers press more firmly into my hips, eyes darting between mine in a silent plea. A wayward strap of my gown slips down, teasingly revealing a hint of my cleavage.
His eyes instantly latch on to it, lingering just a second too long.
"Sera..."
"Hmm?"
"Fuck it," he growls, pulling me down and claiming my lips.