Isabella
I know I promised Dane to stay inside his room. I would not steal a glimpse of his body, and I would tell him when I was done inside the shower. These were his rules.
But I've never been one to follow the stream. I'm a rebel at heart, so now I'm standing here in the doorframe. Dane is taking off his clothes. He must know I'm watching him; he has spider senses.
Yet he doesn't call me out for staring at the ropes of corded muscle over his back. Dane is caked. His ass is plump, more than a handful, and his shoulders are broad and beautiful.
My mouth is salivating at the view. Dane is gorgeous, and my heartbeat speeds up when he turns around. Those pecs look heavy and juicy enough to make me lick my lips.
"I thought we had set up a couple of rules," Dane says, narrowing his eyes when he notices I'm naked. "You're not supposed to be in the living room, and seducing me is a bad idea."
"Uhhh..."
"Also," Dane's lips curl slightly, only the tiniest bit. He uses his fingers to point at his eyes. "My eyes are up here, Isabella."
A blush spread between my ears. I'm usually never shy. I speak without a filter and say whatever I want, but how could I not be nervous around Dane's naked body? He is a piece of art!
"Sorry," I apologize but don't turn around to leave. "It's just that..."
He arches a perfect eyebrow. "Yes?"
I laugh and cover my face. "I think you're mean for rejecting me."
"What if I'm not as attracted to you as you think I am?"
My lips twitch. I try to keep my composure, but I can't for the life of me fight the smile taking my lips. Dane is wearing white boxer briefs, and we both know he is tenting.
"Well..." I wet my lips, hoping he won't kill me for saying this. "Are you always hard around women, then?"
Dane ignores me. I continue to stare at him, gaping at his hands. Calloused and rough, they had seen their share of work in his field. I sighed. Dane is a man in every sense of the word.
And he continues to ignore me, and for some reason, that makes me even more determined to talk to gain his attention—probably the opposite of the effect he wanted to have.
Nice try, but... Dane has never met a woman as stubborn as me.
I cleared my throat. "I'm really sorry about coming in here."
Dane snorts, knowing I'm not one bit sorry. He picks up a cigar from the coffee table and opens the balcony door. The only piece of fabric on his body is his boxer briefs. I'm naked but pick up a towel to follow the man outside into the night.
Once I'm underneath the starry sky, Dane takes a long puff of the cigar and blows the smoke out. He then whips his head in my direction so fast that it startles me. "Why are you trying so hard?"
I don't have to think very hard. "I believe the mate-bond is sacred, and the moon goddess shouldn't be wrong. You're a good person too. Silent and crabby, but you're not bad."
He closes his eyes as if processing my words. I expect more silence, but he surprises me with a long, hearty laugh; it vibrates throughout my body.
Well, at least Dane isn't yelling at me. I would pick his laughter over his glare any day.
"Have you ever been with another man?"
"Yes," I'm lying because I don't want him to call me a child. Our age difference is already significant. My inexperience might be another reason for Dane to frown upon me.
"I think you're lying."
I peer up at him. He isn't even faced with me, but his solemn expression tells me he knows I don't smell like any other man has touched me.
"Alright, I lied, but... It's because I don't want to come off as inexperienced, and..."
Dane doesn't comment on this but moves on. "What is your favorite type of music?"
A smile graces my lips. "If you were to make a guess, who would you say is my favorite singer?"
"Ah, now I already know it's a woman."
"That would be correct."
Dane's eyes roam over me, and it feels like I've won the best price in the entire universe. Sparks fly off my skin, and the electricity between us can't be denied. Why did he reject me? He is smiling too; he must like me, at least a little bit.
It frustrates me how Dane could look away from the mate-bond. We are meant to be; why can't he see that?
It doesn't matter to me that Dane is older and my father's old beta. Neither do I care about him being a hybrid.
"Avril Lavigne," Dane's expression is perfectly calm. "Because of your colored hair and all your accessories."
I take a deep breath, smiling because he is right. "I love Avril Lavigne, especially her old songs."
"Complicated?"
"That's my favorite," I say, taking a deep breath. "And it perfectly matched with you and me."
Dane's eyes widen slightly, but as expected, he turns to face the skies without making a comment. He puffs on his cigar, and I swallow at the churning emotions inside my chest.
I clear my throat. "Speaking of you being a dick…"
That got Dane's attention back. He looks insulted, but it doesn't matter; all I need is to listen.
"Why aren't you treating the mate-bond as something sacred? I thought every single werewolf looked forward to meeting their fated mate."
Dane blows out thick smoke. "I'm a hybrid, remember? Vampires aren't as caring about true love and the mate-bond."
Our eyes lock before his mouth curves into a slight smile. It confuses me how his expression is giving me more grief than happiness.
"You're not a bad girl, Isabella," Dane finally says. "If you reject me, I'm sure you will find a second-chance mate out there. Someone who will treasure and love you."
"I don't want that," I fidget under his gaze, not knowing what to do with my body. Being around Dane makes me very squirmy. "I'm determined to make you change your mind about me."
Dane smirks. "You might if you intend on always hanging out with me with hardened nipples. That towel is supposed to cover you, no? You removed it two minutes ago."
I peer down at myself. Shit. Dane is right. For some reason, I've created an opening in the towel, and my tits are practically out in the open. I'm so into Dane that I hadn't even noticed.
Silently, I cover myself with the cover. I hadn't planned for this to happen, but nevertheless, I blush at the admiration written over Dane's features. He definitely enjoyed the view. It fills me with heat.
On some level, Dane is sexually noticing me, and I like it—too much, maybe. Bubbling excitement courses through me, and the smile comes back to curl my lips.
Maybe everything isn't lost.