[Stephanie's POV]
"That must be the smell of my scented candles making you uncomfortable. Well, I will extinguish it and lessen the smell on my clothes before I meet you next time." I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to hide my discomfort.
"No, no." Arthur shook his head and explained to me, "I like the smell remaining on your clothes. Sage, cedarwood, red berries, citrus, vanilla, they enhance your distinctive lemon soda scent, which is more appealing to me."
"Lemon soda?" I suddenly understood that it was supposed to be his favorite scent he smelled on me, his mate. This Alpha King was a head taller than me, and his favorite smell was actually lemon soda. I couldn't help but laugh out loud, and even my unhappiness disappeared into the morning mist along with my laughter.
"I'm glad I could make you laugh, though I can guess you're probably laughing at my childish preferences." Arthur relieved and spread his hands.
I casually waved my hand, "Sorry. I'm just a little surprised that your favorite smell is carbonated drink. I thought, as an Alpha King, you might like the smell of blood or some sort of men's cologne."
Arthur chuckled and shook his head, "Why the smell of blood? I am not a tyrant into war and killing. By the way," he asked with a smirk as he took a few steps closer to me, "I am curious what you can smell from me?"
I didn't answer Arthur's question but moved my eyes from his smiling eyes to his lips.
Maybe it was because of our mate bond. When I saw him smiling, it seemed like each and every cell in my body was screaming at my sanity, 'Hold him tight. Kiss him. Have sex with him. Mark him.'
"Come on, Steph, just do it!" Rose was also encouraging me.
I looked into his eyes again and noticed that Arthur's eyes were becoming even more passionate about me than they had been a moment ago. He must have guessed what I was thinking as I stared at his lips.
I deliberately swallowed. The smell of fir coming from his body made me even more captivated by him.
We were so close that if I had taken just half a step forward, I could have wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. Just at the moment when I had this thought, there was a very hot palm behind my waist. His lips fell to mine just as quickly.
After our lips were pressed together for a short moment, his hot tongue slipped between my teeth and hooked the tip of my tongue. His kisses seemed to have special magic that drew me to forget everything for a while and enjoy his embrace and kisses. I couldn't help but moan.
His arms on my waist pulled me into his arms with force, allowing his tongue to frolic better with mine.
My hands were on Arthur's chest. I could feel his strong heartbeat under my fingertips. I moved my hands from his chest to his stomach. My arms wrapped around him, and I groped his waist. He didn't have a weapon on him, so he shouldn't be planning to kill me now, right? I relaxed completely.
At that moment, I heard another moan spill out between our pressed lips, this time from Arthur. His hands, which were confined to my waist, no longer remained motionless; the fingers of his right hand were running up my spine, and the thumb of his left hand was rubbing my left waist.
My body trembled at the movement of his fingers, and I could even feel that I was already wet. If it continued, his perfect body and the rich smell of fir would make me want more.
I deliberately bit his lower lip with my teeth, touched my hands to his hot neck, and slowly left him. The moment I separated my lips from his, I gasped out. The man took the opportunity to let his lips touch mine again.
Arthur's eyes seemed tinged with a thin layer of morning mist, hazy and kind of misty. Did he want more as much as I did? He licked his bottom lip, leaning in to whisper in my ear, "Steph, you're so sweet."
His words made my ears burn along with my cheeks, and I stepped back, smiling as I reached up and pressed my hand to his lips, and praised him, "I was very pleased with that kiss. You're a good kisser."
Arthur took my fingers and left a kiss on my fingertips, giving me another wicked smile, "I'm sure you'll be more than satisfied with my performance in bed."
I withdrew my heated fingers and pretended to clear my throat." So you saved me because I'm your mate, right?"
He nodded and said nothing else in excess.
I remembered my speculation about the she-wolf next to Arthur, "Well before I died in my last life, I think I heard..."
"Shhh," Arthur held out his hand to stop my question, "someone is coming. He smells like sterile water. Is he your pack member?"
"He might be Doctor Dave. My pack doctor. His mate is also the Doctor of Demon Forest." Wait a second. I sensed something was wrong.
I recalled that in my last life, after Freya had twisted the dagger in my heart, Carl had talked to her about going back to the pack to find Doctor Dave to pronounce me dead.
"No!" my eyes widened as I realized that the man who was jogging a mile away had spotted us and was coming in our direction.
"What's wrong with him? Do you think he joined Carl and Freya in their plan in your last life? He was one of your killers?" Arthur was astutely aware of the change in expression on my face.
"I don't know. I, I'm not sure." I shook my head because I couldn't imagine. If Doctor Dave, who had cared so much for me as a child, had helped Carl and Freya kill me, who else could I trust in the White Star Lake pack but Patrick and my father? My breath hitched from the fear inside me.
"Steph, look at me!" Arthur suddenly stepped in front of me, grabbed me by the shoulders, and forced me to look at him. He sped up his words and said, "Listen, you're alive now. You'll be safe with me by your side. You can't show any hostility or fear toward him until you're sure he's your enemy. You can do it, Steph, you must."
Doctor Dave was less than half a mile away, and I felt the strength in Arthur's arm. The power hidden in his words and voice could reassure me. I could do it. I nodded to Arthur and took a deep breath.
"Morning, Steph, it's rare to see you at this time." Doctor Dave smiled and waved at me, greeting me before looking over at Arthur standing next to me. "You must be King Arthur. It's an honor to meet you. I'm Dave Scott."
"Good morning, Mr. Scott." Arthur gave a friendly smile and offered his hand to Doctor Dave for a handshake.
"Good morning, Doctor Dave." I took the opportunity to adjust myself and smile at Doctor Dave as they introduced themselves.
"How's your head? Still have a headache? I got a message from Eric last night that you were in a very emotional state." Doctor Dave asked me, with concerned look.
Because I had shifted in advance, I possessed the ability to heal myself. The bruise on my forehead from the fall had completely healed. I shook my head and smiled back at him, "I'm completely healed. You know it's only a minor injury. We are more physically strong than humans."
Doctor Dave nodded and looked at Arthur and me curiously again, "By the way, is there something you guys are doing here so early?"
"I got up early today. Eric told me yesterday there was light ball grass around here, and I had nothing to do, so I came out to look for it. I didn't expect to meet Steph jogging around here, so I had a chat with her." Arthur unhurriedly told a lie.
His lie sounded perfect, but there was a big problem with it.