Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Impossible Little Wife

"Condition," Derek repeated. He sounded entirely nonchalant, as if they were discussing a change in the dinner menu.

"Yes," Kira answered, holding his gaze without flinching. Her heart hammered so hard she was sure he could hear it echoing off the tiled walls, but she refused to let him see her waver. She had to get this out.

"Undress and get into the tub," he told her evenly. "Then we can discuss your condition."

"I’m not getting—"

"Don’t you know the act of seduction gets you what you want faster, wife?" His tone carried a mocking edge, one dark brow lifting slightly. "You should learn to wield that power. It’s a weapon. Now, undress and get into the tub."

Kira sucked in a deep, steadying breath. Fine. She wanted this over and done with. She would follow his order, but she wasn’t letting him lay a finger on her until he gave her what she needed. Gathering every scrap of courage she had left, she let the silk robe slip from her shoulders to pool at her feet, revealing the tiny nightdress beneath. She met Derek’s unflinching stare with defiance. She would not let him see her cower.

Slowly, she slid the thin straps down her shoulders and let the silk slip away, leaving her completely naked. Cool air kissed her instantly, raising goosebumps in a rush across her arms, her stomach, her thighs. Small, involuntary tremors ran through her, not from the chill, but from the sudden flare of heat in Derek’s eyes. His face remained inscrutable, but his gaze swept over her with such intensity that it felt like physical hands skimming over her skin.

"Come inside." His voice had gone low, and a raspy edge had further deepened it so that his words came out on a rumbling growl.

Kira stepped into the tub at last, but she chose the opposite end, putting as much distance between them as the tub allowed, and faced him directly. Derek gave no outward reaction to this small act of distance.

"What is it you want?" he asked, the question almost lazy, though his eyes never left her, roaming her shoulders, her collarbone, the curve of her breasts half-submerged in the water.

Kira forced herself to stay still when all she really wanted to do was run and hide. She lifted her chin and met those amber eyes again. "I know what the contract says. Open marriage, no strings, whatever. But I don’t want you sleeping with any other woman while you’re sleeping with me."

Derek’s expression didn’t shift, no furrowed brow, no flicker of surprise. "Why?"

She had a dozen reasons burning on her tongue, but she wasn’t about to hand them over. "At least until I’m pregnant," she said, sidestepping the question entirely. Once she carried his child, she would never let him touch her again. Then he could sleep with the entire Dravengard for all she cared. But until then, she needed him faithful.

For a long beat, Derek said nothing. He simply stared at her, blank and unreadable, and for the first time since she had stepped into the bathroom, Kira dropped her gaze to the rippling water between them.

"You’re asking me for fidelity?" he asked at last.

"Yes," she answered, a little too quickly. "Not for the rest of the year, just until I’m pregnant."

"Why?" he pressed again.

"Because, I..."

Because I don’t want to catch some nasty disease from your parade of mistresses.

How the heck would he know that? They could be sneaking around behind his back. It wasn’t as if they carried health certificates pinned to their foreheads.

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