Roman took the opportunity to hand over a bottle of wine. "Alpha Knight, why don't you let Taya pour a gla*s of wine for you."
Roman had wanted to see me undress in front of everyone, but he quickly realized that I was his date and that he had publi cly referred to me as his girlfriend. He would look like a foo l if I took my clothes off in front of everyone-especially an Alpha.
And that was the only thing that saved me.
Preston reacted quickly and agreed with Roman. "Let her you a gla*s of wine as punishment."
pour
After that, he signaled me to pour wine for Griffon.
How…how was pouring him wine a punishment?
I looked up at Griffon. His face was blank, and I couldn't figure out what he was thinking…if he was thinking anything at all.
He'd been holding a gla*s of wine all evening, but I'd yet to see him take a sip of it. I didn't know what kind of wine was in his gla*s—if it was laced with wolfsbane or not.
I mustered the courage to pick up the expensive red wine on the table, walked up to him, and bent down slightly.
I was about to pour the wine into his gla*s when he suddenly raised his hand to cover the rim.
Griffon stared at me and spat out, "D rty."
My heart sank, and the pain was almost unbearable. I struggled to catch my breath as my hand trembled, still holding the wine bottle.
My body stiffened, and I gazed into his eyes. There was no trace of affection there, only disdain.
It was commonplace for shifters to think that humans-or those born to shifters but who never got their wolves-were tainted.
This was just ridic ulous, though. If that's what he was thinking right now, how wasn't I dirt y when he was sleeping with me for five years? No amount of cleaning myself "inside and out" was ever going to take away the fact that I wasn't a shifter.
My anger began to rise, and I stood up straight, handing the wine bottle back to Roman, upset.
"Beta Starke, since Alpha Knight thinks I'm dir ty, why don't you pour a gla*s of wine for him instead?"
Her voice was soft, and when she called Roman "Bela Starke," it almost made his bones go limp.
Roman was burning with desire, and hugged her waist,
comforting her. "Okay, let me handle it."
He took the bottle from her hand and poured wine for Griffon. "Don't misunderstand, Alpha Knight. She's not that kind of girl; she's clean."
Griffon snorted. "Is that so?"
The mocking laughter seemed to completely deflate Taya.
Roman gave him a suspicious look.
It was weird. Why did it feel like Griffon was making Taya feel uncomfortable on purpose? Was the Alpha playing some kind of game with her because she was human?
Worried that Griffon's misunderstanding would jeopardize the project his pack was so desperately trying to get, Roman quickly explained with a smile, "Trust me, I've checked. She's clean."
Griffon's hand tightened, and it almost looked as though he would snap the winegla*s stem in two.
He raised cold, narrowed eyes and looked at Roman. "And just how did you verify that?"
Roman didn't notice Griffon's strange reaction and said proudly, "I've slept with her, of course
I hadn't expected Roman to lie, so I had no clue how to react.
Griffon was VERY particular and VERY possessive. I was not to sleep with anyone else, or to be involved with anyone else in any way during the duration of our contract. Even though we were not romantically involved-though I so desperately wished he had feelings for me-it didn't matter.
No one touched anything that belonged to Alpha Knight, and the Alpha was very particular about his things. How they looked, smelled, felt… To say that control was important to him was an understatement.
The urge to explain myself to him was strong right now, but our relationship was over, and it was unnecessary.
He also didn't deserve an explanation from me after so casually throwing me aside.
When I hesitated, Griffon nodded toward me and said, "Fine. Let her pour the wine."
Roman quickly returned the wine to me and said, "Hurry up."
Puzzled by Griffon's sudden change of heart, I complied with Roman's urging, picked up the wine bottle again, and bent down to pour Griffon a drink.
Before the wine was poured out, the rim of the gla*s was covered by his hand again.
Griffon narrowed his eyes, and a borderline evil smirk crossed his lips. "Kneel," he growled out low, commanding.
I was taken aback by Griffon's request.
I might have been his secret lover, but I was not his servant. He'd never asked something like this of me before.
Part of me wanted to immediately kneel at his feet, willing to do whatever it took to have him pay attention to me. I wanted him so badly, and just being near him had my insides twisting up with desire, nerves…lust.
But then I remembered how he'd tossed me aside as if I didn't matter, didn't have feelings. Treated me the same way so many people treated the girl without her wolf.
I straightened up again and said, "Alpha Knight, I don't know what I've done to offend you, but clearly, something is going on." I turned and placed the bottle back on the table, then grabbed my purse. "I'll leave now and won't disturb you anymore."
I turned to leave, taking a step toward the door, but Roman's hand gripping my arm stopped me.
"There's no need to leave. You'll stay and enjoy the rest of the evening." Then, he threatened in a low voice that only I could hear. "Don't forget your best friend."
I quickly composed myself. I had hoped that Griffon's anger would give me a chance to leave, but Roman's insistence on pleasing him for the sake of his project made me angry. But I couldn't drag Harper into this.
I turned around, picked up the wine bottle, and knelt before Griffon.