Chapter 0296

I just narrow my eyes, still pissed. Because I mean – I’ve done stuff by myself before – and never,

ever have I finished that fast.

Damn, but he thinks highly of himself in these regards.

“You’re exaggerating to get what you want,” I growl, even though it turns into a gasp when Luca

tightens his hand on my neck, holding me still as he lets his other hand inch closer to the center of

me. “There’s no way you could ever make me come in thirty seconds.”

Luca turns his head to the side a little, considering. “Probably right about that,” he murmurs,

nodding.

I smirk, smug.

“More like…two minutes.”

My jaw drops before I snap it shut, livid. “You arrogant little –“

He laughs, low and pleased, liking me all worked up and feisty like this. “Wanna bet, Princess?” His

mouth is so close that I can feel is breath on my lips.

I go still, staring at him, realizing that he’s offering…

Luca’s smile deepens. “If I win,” he says softly, “I get a weekend with you. All to myself. Before we

go back to the Academy.”

Yes! My wolf howls, dancing around inside of me, her paws skittering delightedly in my soul.

Sweeten the pot! Give him money! Give him your crown – that’s worth something, right? Give him

the PALACE!

I loose a shaky breath as Luca’s fingers start to trace circles around edges of my panties, dipping

inwards, slow and distracting and maddening and wonderful.

“And if I win?” I whisper.

“Whatever you want,” he murmurs, lowering his mouth to brush against mine. “A blank cheque.

Anything.”

He pulls back for a second, looking deep into my eyes, and I consider – just incrementally – that this

might be stupid. But god, the way he’s looking at me, the way he smells –

God, fuck, I don’t care – my wolf wins, I give in –

“Fine,” I say, giving a half-hearted little shrug, still trying to play it cool even though I can barely

think. “Do your worst, Grant.”

“So, it’s a bet? A weekend, against a blank cheque that you’re absolutely never going to cash?”

“Why wouldn’t I cash it?” I ask, frowning, confused.

“Because you’re never going to win,” he says, laughing a little, grinning at me.

“It’s a bet,” I growl, pissed again, newly determined –

But there’s no time to think on it, because faster than I can wrap my mind around anything new

Luca closes the final few inches between us and fastens his mouth to mine like he can’t wait

another second.

The kiss absolutely sweeps through me and I forget any determination that I had as Luca parts my

lips with his, as his tongue presses against mine, as he licks me and presses me hard back against

the lockers. I’m panting already, my heartrate so high I can feel it pounding in my ears.

As Luca lines every inch of his torso up with mine, I can feel that he wants me too – can feel it in the

way that he pants into my mouth, in the intensity with which he clings to me, in the hardness of his

cock, which is pressed between us, thick and ready. I slide my hand down towards it, wanting to –

“Absolutely not,” he growls, snatching my hand away and pinning it to the locker above my head

with the hand that was around my neck a moment ago. “You’re not distracting me with that, Ariel –

not when I’m on a time limit.”

But I just moan, and press my body closer to him, grinding my hips forward – wanting him, wanting

my mate, wanting to feel his body, every piece of it –

“No,” he murmurs, shaking his head at me. “This is about you.”

And then he moves his hand from my backside, sliding it around towards my stomach. Luca shifts

his body to make room, still pinning one of my hands above my head. My other hand smacks flat

against the lockers behind me like they’re some sort of anchor to the world as I concentrate on his

touch, on the way his hand moves all the way around so that it’s pressed flat against my navel, his

fingers pointing down towards the floor.

And then, as I pant, my eyes half shut, my focus on his face, Luca slides his hand lower and slips it

into my panties.