The Alpha's Chubby Obsession. novel Chapter 109

He drew out the chair like a true gentleman would, and before long I realized the others had already left. We were alone now.

Clair

I swallowed hard before sitting down, my heart thudding so fast it felt like it might burst. I wasn’t used to this kind of closeness, and I just hoped he couldn’t hear the wild beating inside/my chest.

He sat too and began dishing his food, still quiet. For some reason, the silence between us felt heavy, almost awkward.

“Not hungry?” he finally asked.

“I’m not used to this,” I admitted, staring at the plates of food before me.

“Just pick anyone and start from there,” he said.

But I just sat there, not moving.

“Or you don’t want to eat with me?” he added, and the way he said it made guilt creep into me, so I quickly snapped my head up.

“It’s not like that,” I defended myself.

He didn’t look at me as he replied, “How do I believe that? You’ve made it clear you hate my guts.” He spoke so calmly, yet the words stung as he played absently with his fork.

I sighed and reached out for the steak, serving myself a portion to prove that wasn’t the reason I’d

been quiet.

But then, staring at the table, I didn’t even know what else to take-there were so many dishes, and I

felt completely lost.

“Just add a little bit of the potato purée,” he said, his tone softer now, and I did.

“And the sauce on top,” he continued, and again I obeyed.

“Now eat.”

He dug into his meal, and I followed, though my heart wouldn’t stop racing. His scent surrounded me, warm and intoxicating, making it hard to breathe. Each second I sat there, the air between us

grew heavier, and the strange flutter in my stomach wouldn’t go away.

We ate like that in silence, and to be honest, the meal was far better than I expected, rich, flavorful,

almost too good to stop eating. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it this much, yet here I was, savoring every

bite.

10

OOM

2

|||

O

Г

1/4

< Chapter 102

Clain

But I could feel his eyes on me. Even without looking up, I knew he was staring-watching me with that same intense focus as if he couldn’t get enough.

Why though? What could he possibly see in me? There’s nothing special about me, nothing worth that kind of attention. He, on the other hand, was the kind people called beautiful. I was… ordinary.

“Your eyes will fall off,” I said dryly, cutting into my steak without glancing up at him.

“I was just wondering why you’re hyperventilating,” he said, his tone teasing.

My head snapped up. “I beg your pardon?”

He smiled, slow and tempting. “Do you normally have a fast heartbeat?”

Embarrassment burned through me. I quickly dropped my gaze, pretending to focus on my plate

“Ouch, that’s rude,” he said, setting his fork down before leaning back in his chair, arms folded

casually across his chest.

“Tell me, Octavia,” he said after a moment, “what is it that you hate about me?”

Since we are on this topic I set my fork down too, meeting his gaze. “That you’re a Maxwell,” I

answered plainly.

He chuckled softly. “You’re too blunt.” His eyes trailed over my face, lingering longer than they

should have. “But I like it.”

The moment he said that, my heart betrayed me-thudding wildly again or maybe double this time.

He kept his eyes on me, studying every flicker of expression. “And what if I change that?” he asked quietly. “Would it change anything between us?”

I blinked, unsure of how to respond. Would it? Did I even hate him, truly? “I don’t know,” I admitted

softly. “I don’t know anything.”

Before I could gather another thought, he stood up, and my eyes widened as he began to walk

toward me. My breath caught when he leaned closer, his shadow falling over me.

He bent down, his face mere inches from mine, and instinctively, I leaned back in my chair. His voice dropped, calm yet magnetic.

“What is it that you do not know, Octavia?” he asked, his words brushing softly against my skin.

And in that moment, I couldn’t breathe, nor think straight. His gaze held me captive, unrelenting, burning into me as if he could see right through my thoughts which obviously he can. It was dizzying, the way everything around us seemed to fade, leaving just the two of us suspended in that fragile silence.

00

10

OOM

2/4

O

<Chapter 102

“Octavia,” he murmured, his tone coaxing, almost tender. “You’re not answering.”

My lips parted, but the only thing I could manage was, “I think I’m quite full.”

Clar

He chuckled softly, the sound low and knowing, vibrating through the space between us.

“Why are you running away?” he asked, voice laced with a quiet hunger, his eyes darkening as they

lingered on my lips. “Especially when you smell this good…”

Before I could comprehend his words, he leaned closer-so close that I could feel his breath against

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify