~ Helena ~

"Admit it." Ethan's smile showed on his lips. "Do you realize you're like an open book? Your eyes tell everything inside your head."

"B-but …."

"You like my body and want to touch it. No need to be shy." A statement, not a question.

"Are you a mind reader?" I worried he could read my mind. But, oh, what did I think before? Did he know I admired his handsome face and fantastic body? I blushed again. It would be embarrassing if he knew that.

He stared at me, then tried to avoid answering my question. "It's so obvious. You want me."

Again, a statement, not a question. It was another bold one, like the previous statement. I was speechless. What could I say? What Ethan said was the truth after all. Yet I was too shy to admit it. "Ethan?"

"Repeat it."

"Ethan?" I repeated his name. "Why?"

Ethan smiled. "Nothing. I love hearing you say my name. It sounds so good to hear it from your mouth."

"Oh! You're teasing me!" I pouted. "You're mean. You know I'm in a weak state, but you take advantage of my situation and tease me."

"Helena Starr."

I stopped when he mentioned my full name. "Yes?"

"Your name is appropriate since your blue eyes shine brightly like stars."

It was unexpected, so I bent my head and blushed again. "Oh, thank you." If he kept saying sweet things like that, how could I survive? My heart, oh, my heart, I was in danger!

"Your hair is beautiful too, long and soft." Then he whispered, "I can imagine your hair is unraveled on my pillow, then curled on my fingers. It will be like golden silk." He bent forward to kiss my hair. "Sweet fragrance. Rose?"

"Yes …." I was sure my cheeks, ears, and neck were now red. My heartbeat was racing. Ethan's boldness in saying seductive words provoked me more than I could think possible. I could imagine what he said, and suddenly, my curiosity increased. What did it feel like to lay beside him?

Then Ethan held my body with an arm. He raised his hand to my lips, touched my lips slowly, and stared at the lips. "Such delicate and beautiful lips, like a tender pink rose." His voice was hoarse. Then he touched my lips with his thumb. "Waiting to be touched and kissed."

As if he couldn't hold himself, his face was closer and captured my lips with his. Finally, he kissed me tenderly, and I closed my eyes.

"Such sweet lips. I can taste them until the day I die," he murmured.

"Don't talk about death."

"Why not?"

"Since we just met. We have a lot of days in front of us."

Then Ethan's stare was suddenly cold as if a bucket of icy water were thrown at his head. "No, we don't. After you recover, we won't meet again."

I gasped upon hearing those words. I thought Ethan had accepted me, considering how he praised my hair and lips, touched my lips, and then kissed me. My lips were trembling, and I bit my lower lip so I wouldn't cry. "B-but why?"

"Don't ask about it." Ethan sighed. He looked away and kept walking away from me.

I couldn't help myself not to cry. I shed tears because of the hurt I felt in my heart. I had put my hope high, only to be dropped again. When I sniffed, Ethan glanced at me.

"Hey, don't cry. I'm sorry, okay?"

"Why are you so mean to me?" I sobbed. "You praised me, then kissed me. You gave me hope, and then you smashed it again. I thought you had realized there was something between us."

"Stop it!" Ethan said abruptly. "You don't know what you said."

I shook my head. "What?! I only tell you what I feel inside."

"Don't! You don't know that you'll get hurt because of that!"

I gaped and stared at Ethan. "What did you say?"

"Forget it!"

"No, I can't forget it. You said that I'd get hurt. Why?"

Ethan growled. "Don't force me to do a harsh thing to you."

"Like what? You have done it anyway."

"What do you mean?" he frowned while staring at me.

"You made me have a high hope, then crushed it instantly. What else can you do to hurt me?"

Ethan groaned. "You don't know what you're dealing with. I'm trying to protect you!"

"From what?!"

"I can't tell you!"

I let out a sigh and shook my head again. It didn't make sense. "You're only trying to toy with me. Just like my ex." I looked down and wanted to weep again.

"Your ex? The scumbag who only looked when you drowned?"

I nodded.

"It's good you broke up with him. You'll be better without him." Ethan stared at me with a tender look. Later, he smiled and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. Ethan looked so handsome when smiling like that. Well, he was handsome, smiling or not. "You'll find a better man."

"Kenneth was my first love, my first boyfriend. I thought he loved me." I snuggled my head on Ethan's shoulder and neck then sighed again. "I have found him, a man I want, yet he doesn't want me," I whispered, wishing he would understand he was the one I meant.

Ethan said nothing, yet his breath was faster. After a while, we finally arrived at his villa. He carried me inside.

"Oh, it's yours?"

"Yes."

"It's beautiful."

Ethan nodded. "Thank you." He brought me to a room and laid me on the bed. "I'll pick a bandage and balm for your feet and waist first."

I lay down on the bed alone while thinking about the situation. Then I wept again. It hurt that Kenneth broke up with me after cheating on me. Then meeting Ethan, I felt something strong with him, but he also rejected me. It was like pouring acid on my open wound.

Ethan entered the room and saw me cry. "Hey, do your feet and waist hurt badly? Don't worry. I'll tend to them."

I sobbed. "It hurts, but here—" I placed my hand on my chest "—it hurts more."

~ Ethan ~

I sighed. It hurt me to hear Helena sobbing. So I pulled Helena into my lap and hugged her. "Poor girl. You don't need such a wimp beside you. Trust me! You'll be better without him." I patted her back. "You're such a beautiful girl. Any man will be lucky to have you."

Helena then stared at me while still crying. "Including you?"

"Not me."

Then she sobbed again. "Even my savior rejected me."

"It's just …."

"What?" She glanced at me again.

"Forget it! You'll be better without me either. Trust me!"

"No! You saved me. Then you talked sweetly with me. Then, you finally wanted to help me tend my wound." She smiled in the middle of her tears. "You're a good man. But you don't want me."

"It's not true!"

"Really?" She widened her eyes. "So you want me. But then, why do you push me away?"

"I wish I could explain it to you."

"Try me. I'll listen."

I scratched my head. It was so frustrating in this situation. "I wish I could have you. There's nothing I want rather than to have my mate beside me."

"Mate? What do you mean?"

I shook my head. "Forget it."

"Mate? What do you mean by mate?" Helena stared at me with her big blue eyes. "I don't understand why you repeatedly send on and off signals. Is it because you don't like me? Is it because I'm too skinny for your liking?"

"No, you're perfect."

She blushed and smiled a little. But then, she frowned. "But you don't want me. Tell me why? At least, I need to know. If it's something I can change—"

I interjected immediately, "I have told you. In my eyes, you're perfect."

"Then why?"

"Oh, for goodness sake, leave it, Helena! Okay?"

"No, it's not okay! How can I be okay when anyone rejects me?" Helena sobbed again. "No, not anyone but you. I feel it. I feel something I can't explain inside. But now, it hurts so much!"

"Gosh!" I pulled her into my embrace. Then I stroked her hair. "I wish it didn't have to be this way. I wish it could be different." I sighed. "There's nothing I want more than meeting my mate and spending the rest of my life with her."

Helena sniffed; her eyes showed a deep confusion. "Mate? What do you mean?"

I sighed, refusing to reply her questions. "But I can't, and I can't tell you why. It's better this way for you. If you know more, you'll be hurt more." Then I kissed her hair. "The last thing I want is to hurt you."

"You have already hurt me. The question is, why don't you tell me the reason?"

I took a deep breath. "We can go on and on and on, but I'll not tell you anyway." Then I took Helena's feet. "Let me give balm to your feet and your waist. After that, you should rest."

She was finally quiet and let me take care of her. She winced when I touched her feet. "Does it hurt badly?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry. I'll be more gentle."

I placed some balm on Helena's feet and started rubbing a little.

"Argh!"

"Hold the pain. You'll feel better later."

I touched the feet and rubbed them again. "At least, no bone fractures. It may be only sprained muscles. You'll be alright after resting for a few hours." Then I massaged Helena's feet more.

Helena bit her lower lip.

After a while, I glanced at her. "Open your dress."

"Why?" She blushed.

"Because I need to give the balm to your waist. Also, your dress is wet. It will make you ill to keep wearing it."

"Oh, I thought—"

"Trust me, having you for myself is crossing my mind too. But I'm not a barbarian like that. You are hurt right now. So, if I want to take you for myself, it must be when you are healthy."

Helena's face, ears, and neck were all red. "You're teasing me."

"No, I'm not. I'm merely stating the fact."

Helena sighed. She peeled her wet bolero and placed it on the table next to the bed. Helena tried to reach her zip on the back, but then, she let out a frustrated voice.

"Helena? What's wrong?"

Helena sighed. She turned her body, so her back faced me now. "Could you help me with the zip? My arms feel weak. It's difficult for me to open it."

I lowered the zip slowly. I gulped when I looked at how glowing and soft Helena's white skin on my hands. It was a huge temptation to have her, so I took a deep breath to calm myself. But unfortunately, it was a big mistake. Her sweet rose fragrance immediately filled my nose, and the wolf inside me wanted to grab and have Helena instantly.

With all the remaining self-control I had, I clenched my teeth. Then, finally, I finished opening the zip completely. "Done! Undress now. You can wrap yourself with a blanket while I dry your clothes."

Helena undressed and turned her back so I could only look at her bare body from behind. I took her dress, walked outside the room, and gave the dress to my maid.

Afterward, I returned to my room. Helena had already covered herself with the blanket. Then I approached her and touched her waist.

She squealed. "Aw!"

"Does it hurt so bad?"

"Yes." She grimaced and bit her lower lip.

"Poor girl." Then I peeled the blanket, caressed Helena's waist, and kissed it tenderly.

"E-Ethan, what are you doing?"

"Easing your pain."

"It's ticklish when you kiss my waist."

"Ah, you're sensitive on your waist. I see." I grinned. This piece of information was important.

"What?"

"Nothing." I smiled. Then I started rubbing the balm on Helena's waist. After finishing with the back waist, I said, "Turn your body."

"Uh, can you just reach my waist from behind?"

"I need to check if there are any bruises."

Helena gulped, then she turned her body with a crimson face. I glanced at her body and took a deep breath. Helena looked like an angel—a tempting angel. Her body, though skinny, was in good shape. I gulped again since I wanted to feel her body.

"You're flawless." My voice was hoarse. "You're perfect. Do you realize that?"

Helena's face was getting redder. "But it's useless if you don't want me either," she muttered and didn't want to look at my eyes.

I pretended not to hear that and rubbed Helena's stomach. "If you feel ache, tell me."

Helena nodded. She didn't winch again, so I was relieved since there was no pain other than Helena's waist and feet.

"I'll leave you now so you can rest for a while. I will send your dress back when it is dried."

"Thank you."

Then without glancing at Helena again, I walked outside of my room. Being close to my half-naked mate wasn't easy, especially since the wolf inside me urged to claim her. After half an hour, my maid brought Helena's dress to me. So, I finally returned to my room.

"You can wear your dress again." I gave Helena's dress.

Helena then took her dress. Blushing since I still stared at her, she muttered, "Don't look at me."

I let out a long sigh, then turned my body.

Helena immediately wore her dress. But then, she whispered, "Help with the zip, please?"

I held my breath again since I was tempted when I saw Helena's white and spotless back. I pulled the zip slowly and kissed her back.

"Ethan?"

"I wish things were different." I kissed her back again. "I wish I could have you."

***

~ Helena ~

I couldn't explain an urge inside me, but I said, "Yes, you can." I gasped afterward since I had never been so bold like this, even with Kenneth.

"No, I can't." Then in a fast move, Ethan pulled the zip. "Done. Rest for an hour or two until your feet and waist recover. Then I'll send you home."

A loud voice suddenly came from my stomach when I laid my head on the pillow. My face blushed immediately.

He laughed out loud. "When was the last time you ate?"

"Uh, in the morning."

"No wonder. Wait here! I'll bring some meals for you." Ethan left the room, but this time he didn't rush.

Later he brought a tray filled with five plates of meals and a glass of orange juice. "Now, eat it. You'll need a lot of energy."

"Do you cook it yourself?"

"Of course not. I have a cook and a maid who helps me here."

I nodded. "You can pay a cook and a maid. Then you must be a rich man."

Ethan shrugged. "Well, I'm a leader. My people call me Alpha King. So, it's normal, I guess."

"Oh! Is that the reason you don't want me? Because I'm just a nobody?"

Ethan didn't answer. "You should eat now." He pushed the tray closer to me.

Since I was too hungry, I didn't go after Ethan for an answer. There was roasted chicken with honey sauce, beef with black pepper sauce, fried fish, spaghetti carbonara, and broccoli sauteed with mushroom sauce on the tray. So, I ate and then licked my lips and hummed. "It's delicious!"

He smiled as he watched me chew the meals. Next, he sat in front of me, wiped sauce on the corner of my lips, and licked it. I blushed and stopped eating because his gesture was too intimate.

"Why do you stop?"

"You are distracting me. Why don't you eat together with me?" I looked at the table, too shy to stare at him.

"I already ate my lunch. Don't worry. I'll leave you now so you can eat peacefully."

"No!" Then I blushed again. "I mean, please stay."

"Then you should continue eating." Ethan picked up a spoon. "Open your mouth."

I followed what he said and opened my mouth. When Ethan fed me, I smiled. Then he continued providing meals for me, touched my cheek once or twice, and wiped my lips when the sauce covered them. As if he seduced me without words but only with gestures.

Since the meals were too much, I couldn't finish them all. I rubbed my stomach and shook my head. "I'm full already. Thank you."

"Drink your orange juice then."

Obediently, I did as Ethan asked.

"Good girl. Now, take a nap. After sleeping, you will feel better."

I bit my lower lip. "Will you accompany me?"

Ethan groaned and sighed. "You don't know what you asked, girl."

"No, I know what I want." I stopped for a while. Then, I blushed after thinking for a few seconds since what I said was so bold. "I want you to be with me. I want you," I said, without staring at Ethan.

Again, Ethan groaned and shook his head. "You're playing with fire. It will burn you alive."

"Then burn me. I'm not afraid."

He said nothing and reached his hand to my shoulder, but he stopped in the middle. "You don't know what you said."

I looked away. Why did I suddenly become so bold? It was weird. Before, I felt hurt because of Kenneth's betrayal. I thought I loved him. But I was unsure anymore. Since how could I feel something so strong with Ethan if I loved Kenneth? Then I glanced at Ethan's bare chest. Uh, his chest was broad and comfortable. I wanted to lay my head there.

"What?" His black eyes stared at me.

I shook my head. "Nothing."

Ethan startled me as he gently caught me above my waist, then he pulled and placed me on his lap as he sat and brought me with him. My heartbeat was so fast now. What would he do? He looked into my eyes and stroked my hair. I licked my dry lips.

When Ethan saw that, as if it was an encouragement he couldn't resist. He pulled my body toward him, inhaled deeply, and growled, "Mine! My mate!" Then he crushed my lips, coaxing my tender lips to open with his tongue. At the same time, his hand touched my sensitive upper body.

I moaned and opened my mouth a bit. That was when Ethan invaded my mouth with passionate and vigorous tongue strokes.

"E-Ethan?"

"Sssh, don't talk, my lovely one. Let me taste you." Ethan caressed my neck with his fingers while his tongue played inside my mouth.

I moaned again and tilted my head to the side. It was overwhelming, and I had never felt like this before. It was as if fire rose within my body, burning me alive.

Ethan bit my neck and then whispered, "Now, you are completely mine. My mate!"