The Code Of The Alpha

I don’t remember putting the rest of the groceries away. But, somehow, when I returned to my senses, I was standing alone in the kitchen with empty grocery bags in my hands and the power had come back on.

I don’t remember what else Luca had said to me before he walked away. I just remember watching his lips as they moved and recalling the way they felt pressed against mine.

Even after the several minutes it had been since he’d left the kitchen, the taste of Luca’s mouth lingered on my tongue, leaving me longing for more.

I found myself reminiscing about the feeling of his hands on my face, wishing he hadn’t pulled away from me. The racing thoughts added weight behind the pull I felt towards Luca.

The imaginary rope I felt tethered to earlier that day had just become shorter and now tugged me backward, forcing me into a test of strength and self-control. I wanted nothing more than to leap into his arms and let him kiss me for the entire rest of my existence.

I knew that it was nothing more than the initial infatuation that came with a mate bond, but I couldn’t have anticipated that it would be as strong as it was; especially given the previous choices Luca had made in his personal life that hindered our

ability to bond significantly.

Losing my first battle of willpower happened without me even realizing it: I didn’t argue with Luca when he insisted that I would sleep in his bed that night.

I didn’t know why he insisted-although it wouldn’t take a psychic to figure out-and I certainly didn’t know why I willfully agreed so quickly. Almost robotically, I grabbed my things from upstairs and moved myself down to his bedroom, settling in comfortably on his bed while he showered.

My fingers ran along the smooth, soft surface of the sheets. The cushion of the mattress beneath me cradled my body in a way that made me sleepy almost instantly.

I had even pushed my own pillow to the side in favor of sleeping on one of the many feather pillows stacked on Luca’s bed I was enveloped in his scent.

You’re not doing anything to help your self-control issue, I reminded myself.

The bathroom door opened and I sat up to see Luca emerge, adorned in nothing but black boxer briefs.

Luca’s damp hair hung over his eyes, barely covering the glint of mischief that lingered there as he watched me lay eyes on his nearly naked body.

His olive-complected, muscular build was nothing short of Herculean. An impressive set of pectoral muscles flexed across his chest as he closed the bathroom door. Even more impressive were the

carved abs that stretched over his stomach and the taut Adonis belt that curved down his torso, disappearing into his boxers.

I had to force my eyes back upward, refusing to be caught gawking any further down his body.

“I don’t understand,” I admitted, looking him in the eyes.

His eyebrows drew together in confusion, despite the knowing smile on his lips.

“You eat nothing but Pop-Tarts and cereal.”

Luca let out a short laugh. “Fast metabolism?” he offered.

I rolled my eyes. “You disgust me.”

Luca feigned offense. “No,” he said softly, walking closer. “I don’t think I disgust you.

I nodded, leaning away from his approach.

“No,” Luca repeated.

He grabbed my ankle and pulled me back towards where he stood at the side of the bed, my legs on either side of his hips.

“I think I turn you on.”

I scowled at his musing as he tugged at my t-shirt, my body pressing against his.

“Think again,” I told him, pressing my hands against his chest.

As Luca’s face drew closer to mine, I could feel his hand against my lower back, pressing my hips against his waist. His head dipped down and his nose brushed against mine. Before I knew what was happening, my eyes were closed and lips slightly parted as I waited for the oncoming kiss.

When it never came, my eyes fluttered open to see Luca peering back at me with a smirk plastered across his face. Luca bit his bottom lip as he looked down at my chest where his thumbs skimmed over my nipples, the stiffened peaks evident through my t-shirt.

“Disgusted?” he asked again.

I swatted his hands away from my breasts.

“It’s cold in here,” I said, getting under the duvet.

“Feels pretty warm to me..

I huffed, laying my head down on a pillow.

“Goodnight, Luca.”

He hummed in response.

Luca reached over my body to grab a pillow from behind the spot where I lay. Throwing it to the ground, he pulled a blanket off the back of the

chair that sat beside the bed and laid it on the ground as well.

Luca laid down on his back, lifting and dropping his shoulders a few times to get comfortable. As he looked over and saw me watching him, he winked.

I immediately rolled over to face the other side of the room.

“Dream of me, amore.”

“Don’t worry…”

My voice trailed off.

I couldn’t promise him that I wouldn’t.