Chapter 9: In His Office

"Did you really reject me because of that guy?" Krell pulled me away from Locas. He placed his hands on my shoulders and turned me so that I was only looking at him. I felt that Krell had misunderstood something, even though Locas and I were indeed kissing just now. "I..." I tried to explain but didn't know where to start. "That's right." Locas grabbed Krell's hand and moved it from my shoulder. "Mia is mine." What was Locas talking about? Krell became even angrier. I saw that he was already clenching his fists. "Krell..." I called out worriedly. Locas couldn't withstand another punch from him. "Answer me!" Krell shouted. It seemed that he really wanted an answer from me, but I really couldn't answer him. "Krell, you're so fierce. Girls won't like it." Locas smiled smugly. "I told you. Mia is mine." I was suddenly angry. Why did Locas compete with Krell for me like I was a toy? He didn't even ask me! Krell's eyes stared straight at me. His blue eyes were like a bottomless sea on a stormy night. "I told you a long time ago that Mia is my mate. No one can take her away from me!" Krell roared. Why was Krell saying the same thing as Locas? They never cared what I thought! "Do you choose him or me?" Locas focused in my direction as he questioned me. But why should I choose between them? It was my freedom to become mates with whomever I wanted! "Me, of course. I'm the alpha of the Erindo pack, the most powerful pack. Locas, you're nothing!" Krell answered for me. "Oh? I have money that no one can match. No matter how powerful your pack is, you still need my funding, don't you?" They argued and showed their advantages as if whoever was better would get me. I was dumbfounded. Were all the things Locas said when he kissed me also lies? They never even asked me if I liked it. As long as the stronger party gave the order, I had to carry it out without hesitation. I was never more than a toy for them to fight over! "Stop!" I shouted with all my might. "I've never been anyone's plaything!" Disappointed, I ran away from this Moon Ball. Neither Locas nor Krell should belong to me. I yearned for freedom. I wanted to be respected. I didn't want to be a pearl they fought for and manipulated! A bouquet of red roses lay on my desk. There were a total of 99 roses, each of which was in full bloom. The petals were still dripping with water, looking delicate against the carefully trimmed and matched green leaves. It was already the tenth bouquet of roses. Krell would put a bouquet of roses on my desk every day since that day of the Moon Ball. He still wanted to take me home after work, but how could I agree? He and Locas treated me like what I wanted didn't matter! But I never expected that he would follow me in his car when I didn't accept. He drove slowly and accommodated my pace. As a result, he blocked the entire road and attracted a wave of abuse from passersby. He would even come to me personally and invite me to dinner. This made my colleagues discuss among themselves, and no one dared to bully me anymore. When I was overwhelmed with flattery from my colleagues, I highly doubted that Krell did it on purpose! However, it did feel good to be protected by him. Ten days had passed. I thought I should have a proper talk with Krell. We should have finished, shouldn't we? But he was the first to find an excuse to let me into his office. The moment I pushed open the office door, I regretted it. As soon as I opened the door and closed it behind me, I was pressed against it. His scent kept getting closer and clearer. He buried his head in my neck and kissed and licked my neck and then my collarbone. "Krell..." I couldn't take the sudden heat and called out to him. "You're finally willing to forgive me?" Krell bit my neck gently. His voice sounded with a sense of yearning. "Krell, we need to talk," I said, trying not to make any other sounds. "Talk about what? You and Locas?" Krell's expression changed. "I won't give you to him easily. I'll respect you. You're not a plaything." Krell was competing with Locas again! There was nothing between Locas and me! "You're mistaken, Krell." I just wanted to explain it to him quickly. "Locas took the initiative to kiss me. I didn't reject him for fear of touching his wounds. You have to believe me. I'm not with him!" Krell was stunned and looked at me in surprise. "Really?" Krell asked, looking straight into my eyes as if to make sure I wasn't lying. I nodded. Locas wasn't the one I wanted. I wouldn't be a compatible mate for him. Krell's kiss suddenly landed, passionate and urgent. He couldn't wait to pry open my teeth and wantonly plunder my breath. I bit him hard. "Krell, do you remember what happened at the Moon Ball?" He froze. "I'm not with Locas." I put a hand over his mouth and pushed him away. "But that doesn't mean I agreed to be with you." His expression turned dark, but he actually forced himself to pull away from me. This had never happened before. "Mia," he said sincerely, "you should give me a new chance to respect you." I was stunned. I didn't expect Krell, who had always been domineering and arbitrary, to say something like he was giving in. He looked at me with such sincerity that I found it hard to resist. My heart was pounding, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Strange feelings flowed between us. Sunlight shone through the French windows, and our shadows overlapped at a certain angle. "Really?" I asked in disbelief. "Trust me." He tentatively took my hand. I also tried to hold his hand. At some point, our lips touched. After an unknown period of time, his lips kept moving down again. My chin, neck, collarbone, and all bare skin were almost kissed by him. Yet Krell didn't seem to be satisfied with that. I saw his long, strong hand reach to the collar of my shirt. With a gentle flick of his fingers, he unbuttoned my shirt. I felt a sudden chill on the front of my chest, and looked down to see that my shirt only had three buttons left. Krell stared at my exposed skin. His gaze was unconsciously fixed. I saw him swallow, which resembled the action of a ferocious beast seeing its prey. He lowered his head and kissed my chest reverently. It tickled, and I couldn't help but raise my neck. However, I was also very curious about what Krell looked like when he was doing this, so I couldn't help but look down. Krell was sucking on my chest, and the sound made me blush. I saw red marks appear where he had sucked. They looked extremely ambiguous, making one's imagination run wild. "Mia, Mia..." Krell called my name over and over again. His voice was extremely sexy, tempting me to sink with him. But this was the office! What were we doing now? "Mmm, Krell… wait." My breathing was ragged. "This is the office. No..." "No one dares to come in uninvited," Krell lowered his voice and told me with certainty. Then his lips nibbled my neck. It was so shameful. I had never done anything so risky. Besides, it was in the office. It was so embarrassing. But Krell's love made me feel unprecedented pleasure and joy. Shame and pleasure tugged at me. I felt as if I were about to be torn in half. Krell suddenly stopped what he was doing. He bent down and picked me up by the waist. Then, he thoughtfully wrapped my legs around his waist to prevent me from falling. He came to the desk and placed me on it. The desk was so high that I was a head taller than Krell when sitting on it. He looked up at me with love and tenderness. I could see that his eyes were filled with me. I was all he had and all that he wanted at this moment. The look in his eyes and it made me forget my shame. I decided to obey my body's command and fall into him. I couldn't help but lean over to look for Krell's lips. I still wanted more love from him, but he kept back so that I couldn't touch him even if I wanted to. Krell was such a bad guy! My cheeks were flushed. Krell looked at me and chuckled. Then, he kissed me passionately. My shirt had been unbuttoned, and Krell slipped it from my shoulders. It was hanging halfway over my arm, and my upper body was covered only by a bra. His kisses began to move downward again, like a fire snake that insisted on setting a blazing trial all over my body. He said again, "Mia, I have to protect you. I'll make you a beautiful greenhouse flower without any more suffering. I want to make you depend on me alone. I won't let anyone else touch you!" Greenhouse flower? Without suffering? That was impossible… It was a lie. No! This was not what I wanted! Krell's hand was circling around my waist. His other hand had already begun to pull down the slim skirt I was wearing. I began to panic. No, I didn't want this! I didn't want to rely on anyone! I wanted to earn my own respect! "Stop!" I yelled. However, Krell thought that I was being considerate. He seemed to be even more excited and quickened his movements. I raised my hand and pushed Krell away with all my might.