Page 95 of Wolf Roulette
I jerked, but my violent movement was halted as Sascha clamped down on my hips. The heat of his mouth and tongue teased me through the material.
On the desk, I pressed my thighs together. “I can’t think when you do that.”
He released me, saying, “I know,” before moving to the other breast.
Was he purposefully distracting me?
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” I gasped as he circled with his tongue.
“I’m aware, little bird.” His words curled around my painful heart.
“Then tell me why you’re avoiding me.”
Coldness stung when he released me.
Sascha met my gaze. “It occurred to me that you may have returned to the tribe to swing the game in the pack’s favour. I fully expected to win Iron, and I didn’t want you to have any hand in that.”
He’d guessed why I left? “So you blocked me and made me feel that you hated me?”
“I didn’t block your number.” He gritted his teeth. “That was someone who believed they were acting in my best interest.”
It took me a second. “Mandy.”
His scent gave away the answer.
She would have had time to when I left pack lands and before Sascha returned.Dammit.
He continued. “I thought keeping you at a distance until Victratum ended would be easiest for you to handle in the future. You became so distant when the pack won Timber and Sandstone. You blamed yourself. I’d rather that you hated me.”
I pushed him back and locked my trembling legs to stand. “Of all the crazy explanations!”
He watched me.
Fat tears leaked over my cheeks, dripping off my chin. “I want you.”
“And I want you.”
I brushed my straight hair back. “We can work together. That’s how we get through this.”
Sascha’s eyes darkened. “You once asked if I’d be open to a different ending for the game. You were already thinking about negotiating some kind of truce.”
“You guessed?”
He turned away. “Yes. And that will never happen.”
My stomach plummeted.
A heavy silence sank its claws in.
“Have you really considered it?” My question rang in the office.
“I have over two centuries of data proving that a ceasefire between the Ni Tiaki and my pack will result in further bloodshed.” He faced me again. “I can’t do that to my pack. Iwon’tdo that to them. Most of us have lived through decades—and mostly centuries—of this foolish battle. We don’t want to do it anymore. Why would I bargain for a peace that probably won’t hold when we’re in the strongest position we’ve ever had in the game? Just for my own happiness? You would never act that way yourself.”
Heat crept over my jaw. “If the pack wins, over one thousand stewards are left without homes. If the tribe win, seven hundred and fifty Luthers face the same fate, if not death. There may be more risk in a truce, but if it works,everyonewins, including us.”
“And if it fails, we’re back to the start.”
“Better to take a chance than to do nothing out of fear.”