HIS DOE, HIS DAMNATION (An Erotic Billionaire Romance) novel Chapter 29

CHAPTER 0029

Meadow’s POV:

“I–I was just…” I trailed off, feeling an intense heat creep up my neck and cheeks.

Alaric’s eyes dragged over me slowly, and I shifted from one foot to the other. His gaze lingered on the lower part of my body for a second before his eyes came up to meet mine again. And back down.

I risked a glance at what I was wearing–a red tank top that rode up a bit so a sliver of my stomach was exposed, and a pair of black shorts. This was my comfort outfit, but right now, Alaric stared at the shorts like they had offended him somehow.

“Snooping around in my room?” he finished, walking into the room with a calmness that made my heart still I didn’t move from my spot in front of the secret door. He tossed something onto his bed, and I turned just in time to see his phone bounce for a second and then stop. “That’s bad manners, Meadow.”

“I wasn’t snooping.” My voice came out breathy, like a whisper. “I was just…”

I stopped talking before I could expose myself. I wasn’t sure I wanted Alaric to know that I was trying to find something connected to Juniper. I didn’t know what he’d do if he found out since he’d already said no before.

Plus, I wanted to do this myself. Not sure what I would accomplish on my own, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.

Alaric arched a brow like he was waiting for me to continue.

“I was…” My voice cracked, heartbeat pounding against my chest as he finally came to a stop in front of me.

He was close. Way too close for me to concentrate on speaking.

Alaric shoved his hands into his pockets and it was all I could do not to follow the movement. I forced my eyes to stay on him–Not his eyes, just his neck, jaw…

Anywhere else but those ink–blue orbs.

“You were what, Meadow?” He took his hand out of his pocket and reached for my jaw, forcing me to look up at him. “I hate it when you avoid my eyes. I value honesty.” His mouth twitched, the corner of his eyes narrowing.

“Eye contact helps.”

I froze.

Alaric’s hand left my jaw, moving up my cheek. He seemed calm and controlled as always, meanwhile, I was a panting mess. I could hear my own loud breathing. And I knew he could hear it too.

I couldn’t explain the kind of energy he carried. It was like, whenever he was near me, I just… lost my entire thought process and turned into a horny little thing. And even without touching me, he still had control over me.

He flicked the frames that were perched on the bridge of my nose and I flinched.

“I didn’t know you used glasses,” he muttered.

I leaned back against the door, eyes nearly fluttering at the sound of his voice, the warm breath from his mouth.

I stared at him pointedly, forcing my voice to sound firm, but it only came out as a whisper. “Then I guess you missed one tiny detail about me, Mr. Stalker.”

The glasses only protected my eyes from screens because I couldn’t stare at a bright screen for too long without

black spots in my vision. So I didn’t have it on all the time.

Amusement flickered in Alaric’s eyes and he let out an amused breath which had no damn business causing my core to pulsate.

“You should wear them more often,” he said casually. “They make you look… innocent.”

I swallowed hard, unsure whether it was meant to be a compliment or a warning. Maybe both.

I could feel the heat pooling between my legs from the moment I saw him standing at the door, but now?

God.

He leaned in slightly as his hand moved from my cheek down to the back of my neck.

Oh god, what was he doing?

He gently squeezed the nape of my neck, and this time, my eyelids did flutter, my mouth parting slightly. Alaric’s eyes remained on mine, like he was searching them as the space between us got smaller.

A part of me wanted to close the remainder of the space and just kiss him. I hated the fact that he’d made me cum twice and our lips hadn’t even touched. Not once.

A lie. But not entirely. I only omitted the part about looking for something concerning where my sister was being held.

I wanted to do that for him.

I cleared my throat. “Where does it go? The door, I mean.”

Alaric’s back was still facing me, and my tongue dried up as I watched him take his shirt off, unable to take my eyes off his tattoo. And his muscled, beautiful back.

His reply was flat. “You don’t need to know that.”

“But I want to,” I pushed.

I’d never been more curious about anything like I was at that door. It was so… mysterious. And the fact that he had a keypad beside it told me that it wasn’t just something minor.

My skin tingled with anticipation. With the need to know.

Alaric spun around slowly to face me, his gaze lazy as it swept over me. “You can’t have everything you want, Meadow.”

“Yeah, you’ve said that. Multiple times.” I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

And maybe it was just my curiosity speaking, or maybe I wanted to tease him… But I wasn’t in control of the next words that flew out of my mouth.

I swear.

“But you still end up giving me what I want. Always.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked, his eyes flashing, and in two long strides, Alaric was in front of me.

I let out a gasp, not knowing what to expect.

Alaric gripped the back of my neck again, pulling me flush against his bare chest. “You’re a spoiled little brat, aren’t you?” he rasped, voice low and deep.

I barely had time to respond, let alone breathe, before—

CRASH! 1