Two options. Fight or flight.

I had chosen option two yesterday. I had to run away from the situation before I could or maybe would embarrass myself anymore.

Right now, it seemed like my efforts went to waste. The dumpster around the hill mocking me. 

Midnight blue eyes which edged somewhere around black, onyx, were studying me with a keen interest.

I felt like the poster child for self-embarrassment.

"Why don't we settle scores?"

I gulped. "Settle scores?"

"Yes, I believe, that's how we roll."

I wanted to do a different kind of rolling. Face diving into my bed, under the blankets, seemed like a really nice option.

He looked at me, straight - into my eyes and started walking towards me, just like how he did yesterday. Without any hesitation or inhibition as if there was nothing holding him back, same on the lines, like yesterday.

I dug myself a grave.

"Dance with me."

Yesterday, it was a demanding request but today it was a command.

Deer caught in headlights couldn't sum up the trapped situation I felt right now. Embarrassing yourself is one thing and doing that to your Alpha is a whole level of dipshit. I am in trouble, not the jovial kind.

Slow. Calculated. Confident.

His demeanor and steps had them all.

He was observing, scrutinizing and assessing me as if waiting for me to run, but all I could do was openly stare at the fine specimen of masculine craftsmanship gaining on me. He had a determined look on his face while his eyes, they kind of screamed fuck you, held a look that was along the lines of a semi-euphoric daze.

As the afternoon sunlight came in through the slits of the curtains his raven black hair screamed brown in glee. Put in a bronze skin tone with tan and you have an Abercrombie model posing out for you - free. The deep blue- midnight black eyes seemed like the icing on a frosty red-velvet oreo cake with dark chocolate toppings.

You cannot actually tell the difference between midnight blue and onyx, yet from this distance or maybe lack of it you become a palette expert.

 Lucky me? I guess.

And, then, his lips-

Stop it Anouk fucking Clarke! For the sake of your doubtfully present sanity. 

He is your Alpha for Moon's sake and here you are busy staring, ogling, admiring, whatever the fuck you are doing - openly. No shame at all. Your Mother taught you better. On second thoughts, she didn't.

Focus!

 By now, he was standing directly in front of me and like any other cliché rom-com, my idiotic legs had carried me back, to the nearest wall and like everything stupid soap opera he tracked me all the way back - caging and captivating me by a mere flicker of his eyes.

"First thing," he began. Is this what doom looks like but sin sounds like? FO-fucking-CUS.

"I would like you to know that the carpets are expensive. No puking or shit. If you faint I'd gladly throw you in the dumpster cause Doctor's aren't really my thing and," I was in between his arms, "Look at my ass once again and I'll give you a perfect display of it along with the ministrations I'd like to perform on yours," his breath tickled my face, "and maybe more."

That more had me panting. Shit. He knows.

"I-uh-"

"You need not embarrass yourself anymore Anouk. Let me show you our room."

My hearing has definitely gone crazy. His voice is like the sirens, tempting, hypnotizing and alluring but that doesn't mean I'd start hearing things like our room. Oh, hello. Fairy God Mother, there's no our over here.

"Okay?"

Why am I questioning him? 

"What do you call me?" he enquired as he grabbed my hand and laced our fingers - DO NOT, I repeat do not overthink about it.

"Umm, Alpha?" What the hell is wrong with him?

"It is Knox to you." 

Mr. Weird, it is then.

His voice had the innate commanding tone, an edge, also as he stood directly in front of me in his full height as if to intimidate me further. Hello there, your proximity has taken care of that already and there is no need for these extra effects and VFX shit unless you really had plans of throwing guests into dumpsters. I am going to have a coronary one of these days, I swear.

"But that is disrespectful," here we go again.

My vocal cords are still functioning, yay!

His eyes narrowed at my reluctance. Sighed. He sigh-fucking-ed. Never knew sighs could be sexy cause I was quite the moans and groans fan. Shit. Vanessa has it coming. 

"You truly are a Eugene member," he comments while shaking his head.

I just nod my head. Esthupidddd!

My brains in a hormone dazed mumbo-jumbo. Woah!

 Biting my lip in confusion I follow him. I had no idea where this was leading to, both, the discussion and the walk. And truth be told, I was not interested in knowing because I did not want to have this conversation with him of all people and 'this' position to complicate things even more. I was left stranded at our Alpha's house for heaven's sake while my parents are off to Moon knows were. He he! That was a pun.

I wouldn't have noticed the change in his eye colors if it wasn't for the close proximity between us. But I did. His eye color changed from midnight blue to pitch black, not much of a noticeable difference but I did notice it anyway. It was as if the all calm and serene ocean of his eyes was disrupted by a sudden storm which was evidently reflected in his gaze. There was an upsetting storm over there and here was I!

Knox Mercado adjusted himself subtly. Only if Anouk knew about the storms she was causing in places unmentionable. 

"Why are we in your room, Alpha?"

As I inspected his room I was subconsciously aware of the gaze following my ministrations.

He eventually snapped out of it only to release my bottom lips from the clutches of my teeth. Tracing his thumb over my bottom lip he sighed. Is that groaning? 

He traced his thumb along my now quivering bottom lip. Unfamiliar emotions numbing my senses, surging through my veins had me wanting for more. It made it difficult for me to maintain eye a steady eye-contact. My eyes wanted to explore things galore.I felt the heat flow through my veins and reach all over my body which led to a crazy blush on my cheeks and, oh my!

He touched my already scorched cheeks with the back of his hand in a fleeting touch that could pass as the touch of a feather but that was enough to burn me inside and out. 

Burning people alive is legal?

I wasn't burning, I was charred yet my ashes weren't satiated by a mere touch. I wanted more. It was as if he was estimating my level of restraint. Oh hello! I had none. Lord have mercy on me.

Damn!

I felt hot and bothered and clearly frustrated because of my already heightened senses. But reality settled in faster than I thought that it would. So much for making such an 'intense' moment last longer!

I knew that this was wrong on so many levels and so I simply I backed out and moved away from him, far away only to be captured and cornered by him once again but this time he was furious at my actions or rather yet my rejection.

"Never back away from me. You got that Anouk?" he sounded possessive yet calm. As if controlling himself for giving me an earful. By the looks of it, he was keen on giving me a mouthful though.

Ew.

Freinds suck. Bad influencers. Ugh.

I looked at him with confused eyes not knowing what to say or how to respond.

"This is wrong Alpha," I muttered breathlessly because I was exhausted by a mere encounter and also the lack of space between us was a matter of serious concern.

"What is wrong, Anouk? ", he asked clearly amused. My name a tease rolling down from his mouth, caressing his lips and my heated skin all along. As if he was enjoying and to make things even more difficult he placed one of his hands around my waist pulling me even closer, like that was even possible! 

Abort mission 'self-restraint' and jump him already.

"This", I said motioning in-between him and me, as I was unable to meet his heated gaze.

He seemed to clearly enjoy it and here I was dying out of embarrassment.

"May I ask why?" he asked with clear amusement in his voice.

"B-because we aren't associates?" Shit, what? "And, so it is wrong on so many levels," I said but somehow it felt like I was convincing myself. 

"Is that so?" he asked pulling me more closer to him as if I already did not have a frantically beating heart that he decided to create more havoc within.

"Al-Alpha!" I muttered troubled because of the close proximity.

"Associates,  huh?" he asked in a tone full of enigma.

He smiled a forlorn smile; one full of sinister promises as if he knew something that I was clearly oblivious about. But also there was settled some deep sadness in those beautiful eyes. I observed it because that was all I could do.

I was taking it all. His appearances and everything about him. It was like I was parched and he was a forbidden oasis in the desert. A beautiful mirage and a forbidden dream.

Did I just think about that?

"You are sad," I commented without thinking about the consequences.

He eyes snapped at me. Intense, the gaze was intense.

Is it okay if I melt? Cause I felt like a marshmallow being fed to a raging inferno.

My English teacher would have been so proud. Simile's and metaphors galore.

His lips on mine.

Well, fuck me!

He had lost self-restraint and for me, I have already pledged guilty to my sinful thoughts and wild imagination.

Don't you ever fucking talk about butterflies or sparks or things like that because hell, it felt like my body was electrocuted. There was a transfer of charge between our intimately pressed bodies. This wasn't a sloppy kiss with noises and shit. Nah, it was theft. He was stealing my breath so craftily. 

It felt all heated and static rose, somewhat combustible where my happiness levels were reaching ecstasy as if this was the best thing that could have ever happened.

Even though it was just a kiss, it had me. It had me real bad. 

I was breathless when his lips left mine only to capture them again and again and all over again as if punishing me for some unknown crime and I was more than happy to be found guilty. By the looks of it; I was sure that I will master the art of shallow breathing and low oxygen survival by the end.

^_^

EDITED: JANUARY 28th, 2018. 01:39 PM.

Ever kissed someone on your first date?

Fun fact about this chapter: Knox wasn't an asshole to Anouk but a sweetheart, wonder why?

Re-readers, do the initiation. Spam it with spoilers galore.

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