I Bought A Male Escort, Turns Out He's The Lycan King novel Chapter 124

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 124**

**HUNTER**

An hour had passed since I’d uttered those words, and I was teetering on the edge of regret. I found myself on the brink of begging for her to understand, to forgive. After a quick shower in one of the spare bedrooms, I’d dressed in fresh clothes and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. But the physical ache in my groin was unbearable; every movement sent a sharp jolt through me. I was whisking eggs, lost in my thoughts, when Kitty sauntered into the kitchen. She wore one of my shirts, the fabric hanging loosely on her slender frame, her bare legs exposed and undeniably free of any underwear.

Our eyes locked, and she held my gaze without a hint of hesitation. The sight of her lips, slightly parted, drew my attention like a moth to a flame.

In that moment, I nearly pleaded for her to wrap those lips around me.

But then a clatter interrupted my thoughts, jolting me back to reality as my instincts kicked in. I glanced down to see the bowl of eggs had toppled over, splattering the floor with yellow goo.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, grabbing a roll of kitchen towels to clean up the mess.

I focused on the task at hand, avoiding her gaze until I felt my heart rate stabilize and the beast within me quieted.

“Don’t leave the room without me,” I warned, tossing the soiled towels into the sink. “This isn’t your father’s castle; it’s not safe here.”

I felt a slight tremor in our bond but chose to ignore it as I prepared two cups of coffee. I deliberately arranged the placemats on the table, placing two chairs between us, creating a barrier I desperately needed. I didn’t want to face the haunting memories of Elijah’s death every time she looked at me. The last thing I needed was for her to be too close, too tempting.

“The food’s getting cold. Sit,” I commanded, my voice firm.

She hesitated, taking what felt like an eternity to cross the kitchen and finally take a seat at the table. A knot twisted in my stomach at her reluctance. How long could I endure this silence? How long until I succumbed to the urge to speak those words that would sever our fragile connection? Until my beast accepted that there was no future for us?

I stole a glance at her as she began to poke at her food. The expression on her face was one I had never seen before. The sadness that had plagued me since I left her in my bedroom was now compounded by a deeper despair, one that seemed to pull her into an abyss of hopelessness.

I was aware of my shortcomings. I could just say the words and end this torment for both of us. But I wanted to understand why she had chosen another man. I wanted her to grasp why I could never choose her again.

My gaze fell to her bare legs, and I found myself transfixed. My grip on the fork tightened, the air between us thick with tension. Instead of the aroma of breakfast, I inhaled the intoxicating scent of her arousal. Damn it. I needed distance, a moment to collect my thoughts.

A soft whimper escaped her lips, jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. I glanced down at the fork in my hand and realized I had bent it under the weight of my restraint.

Kitty cleared her throat, setting her utensils aside. It was clear she hadn’t touched her meal.

“I heard that man at the door earlier,” she said, her voice low and trembling. “I think he’s right. I’m a werewolf. I shouldn’t be here.”

I dropped my fork and reached for a glass of water, gulping it down as if it could extinguish the sudden fire igniting in my veins. The glass nearly shattered as I slammed it back onto the table.

“He’s wrong, Miss Munroe. This is my house,” I said, striving to keep my tone steady. “No one dictates what happens here.”

Her hands fell into her lap, and my eyes followed, watching as she wrung them together, the anxiety radiating from her through our bond.

“What are you really afraid of?” I inquired, my voice edged with frustration. “That I’ll use your flesh to fertilize my garden? Or that you might actually fall for me? Fall for this monster who would kill that bastard again without a second thought?”

She tensed, and I could feel the pulse of truth in the air. Her heartbeat quickened, and the faint scent of fear returned, confirming my suspicion.

I pushed my chair back and averted my gaze.

“I need to wash up and do laundry. Go back to the bedroom and rest. I’ll give you a tour later.”

Her head snapped up, eyes wide with disbelief as if I had crossed a line.

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