Chapter 13. Mr. Perfect

In the early months of their arrangement, they would meet and head straight to bed without a word. A typical no-strings-attached situation. But now, things seemed to be shifting.

Emerald shook her head, trying to dismiss the thoughts that plagued her mind, and made another attempt to break free from Alaric's hold. When she finally succeeded, he quickly caught her wrist, forcing their eyes to meet. A small smirk played on Alaric's lips as he suddenly pinched her chin, as if he had read her mind.

"I've slept with you so many times. Why didn't I notice before that you found my touch so repulsive, Miss Greene?" he asked in a husky voice.

Emerald quickly averted her gaze and shook her head. "I'm just hungry," she deflected, changing the subject.

Even though they had been intimate countless times, Emerald was like a hedgehog, always guarded, never allowing anyone to truly get close. Once she finally pulled away from Alaric, she marched straight to the table, acting as if