The Taste of Seduction

"It\'s better..." his voice hitched before he continued, "this way."

"Better for whom?" Meredith demanded bitterly, unable to control her emotions.

Marcus sighed, "I can\'t stay around now that you have marked him and not me. I can\'t watch you kiss him and touch him knowing that I would never have that so forgive me if I\'m being selfish and want to leave!"

Meredith flinched at his tone, even though she knew what she was saying it\'s true.

"I\'m sorry... I\'m not trying to hurt you. My primal nature is attracted to you, but I...I don\'t love you." She swallowed thickly.

"I\'m not saying it won\'t be painful for me as well, but we will both heal. I hope you find someone else too."

She saw the pain fleeting in his eyes but he masked it quickly and nodded at her.

"Alright. At least can I get a hug before I go?"

"No!" Atlas replied.

Meredith grabbed Atlas shoulder and he sighed,

\'It\'s the least I can do. I owe him that much.\' She communicated to him via their mind link and he stepped aside for Meredith to directly face Marcus.

Meredith swallowed for some reason she felt nervous to hug him maybe it was her wolf whining about how much she hated the vampire prince and didn\'t want her to touch him or perhaps it was smoldering look in his eyes as he stared at her.

For a moment, she stood as she was. Her heart thudded nervously in her chest and her skin flushed with heat. He hadn\'t touched her, but still it was she could feel bond stretching between them.

He brushed his finger over her cheek carefully, causing her to briefly close her eyes in response.

She heard Atlas let out a warning growl behind her.

"Take care of yourself okay?"

Meredith nodded, he pulled her into a hug and when they pulled apart Marcus reached out and gently took Meredith\'s hand, gazing into her eyes with a fierce intensity.

Meredith tried to pull back but Marcus was stronger and he held her tightly. He leaned in closer, his lips inches from hers.

"Please Marcus, don\'t," Meredith whispered, her heart pounding with both fear and desire. She knew the mate bond between them was strong, but she didn\'t want to give in to it just yet.

"Sorry." He whispered as his fingers traced the delicate softness of her lower lip.

In a blur, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, softly at first, but then with a growing passion.

Meredith tried to resist at first but the her whole body was submitting to his touch. Shame and desire mingled hot in her throat.

He forced her mouth open with his tongue, and plunged inside, delivering his delicious flavor with a tantalizing stroke.

She found herself responding to his kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck as she lost herself in the moment.

Cradling her head in his hands, the kiss was possessive, greedy for more.

A fiery passion consumed her body, rendering her unable to think clearly. Her brain\'s electrical signals were disrupted, and a surge of endorphins made it impossible for her to think rationally.

All thoughts of resisting him vanished completely, as if they never existed. She could hardly remember her own name in that moment.

Her skin tingled. A needy mewl released from her throat, low and long as her arousal burst through the air.

Marcus pulled away as a wicked smirk gracing his lips.

"It seems she is really not immune to my touch." Marcus let out a mirthless chuckle.

Meredith froze and remembered that Atlas was still there, it\'s just he looked frozen like some power was restricting him from moving.

No wonder she didn\'t hear him or he didn\'t try to stop her.

Marcus had restricted him. She didn\'t know he had magical powers. Of course he was a royal vampire, it was only natural.

Atlas groaned as Marcus finally released him.

"I\'m going to—"

He launched towards Marcus but he disappeared in a blur.

Meredith\'s heart dropped in her chest.

God what had she done.

They had just talked about this and she—

Fuck.

She didn\'t even realize what she was doing; she just wanted to be close to Marcus. Wanted his touch as much as she hated to admit it she enjoyed the kiss.

She definitely regretted it but she didn\'t hate it.

Fucking stupid bond!

"Atlas.." She called out quietly as if she was afraid of her voice.

He just ignored her and walked back into the bedroom.

Nerves fluttered in her stomach as she went after him.

He was standing at the window. Atlas didn\'t speak or even looked at her.

Meredith doesn\'t remember him ever ignoring her like this. Her heart was breaking inside of her chest.

He stood with his back to her, each of his hands on either side of the window frame, with his head lowered.

Meredith watched his shoulders rise as fall as he inhaled deeply.

Sbe waited for him to say something, afraid to even move.

"Atlas—please say something—I didn\'t mean to—it was the bond! I-I…."

"Go take a shower and get rid of those clothes." He said, Meredith knew he was trying his hardest not to snap at her.

His head was still lowered and he was still not looking at her.

"At least look at me please!"

Atlas raked his fingers through his hair, "I will if you don\'t rake of his touch! It would be easier to get a grip of my wolf."

Meredith felt a pang of guilt as she looked at him, seeing the tension of his body and the way his hands were clenched on the window frame. She knew she was causing him pain, but she didn\'t know how to make it stop.

Hesitantly, she reached out with her mind, trying to sense his emotions. As she brushed against the edges of his subconscious, she was overwhelmed by the strength of his feelings. Rage, confusion, hurt, and frustration all flooded through her, leaving her breathless.

"Atlas—"

"Meredith Rossi!," He said sharply, interrupting her, causing her to jump in surprise.

Meredith quickly left the room and headed to the bathroom.

A/N: Don\'t beat me^^