An alpha she had just cursed and insulted and blamed. An alpha who could crush her skull with one hand. And she had just given him every reason to do so.
The breath caught in Cassidy's throat as her senses came rushing back.
What did it matter if she was kicked out of Dr. Cheung's class if she got herself killed tonight?
Her knees wobbled, and she collapsed to the ground at his feet, her head down.
"I'm so sorry, Samso—Mr. Turner." The words rushed out in a tangle of regret and fear. "I didn't mean…I wasn't trying to…I'm so sorry."
She didn't dare look up. Not just because she was afraid to see the rage burning in Samson's eyes, but because she couldn't bear to see what other judgment might be there.
That she was just another entitled beta who had recklessly broken the rules. Another worthless coward begging for her life at his feet.
Another idiot who deserved whatever came next.
Chapter Five
Samson gazed down at Cassidy. She was on her knees in front of him—a position he'd dreamed of countless times before.
But not like this.
The scent of her fear was overwhelming. Everything had changed in just a few seconds. Now, she was pleading for her life instead of begging him for more. Groveling, instead of submitting to the power of his touch.
As if he would ever harm her.
As if he wouldn't kill anyone who ever tried to.
And that's just what he should have done to that beta coward who had dared to mock her for her passion. The way he'd disrespected Cassidy was inexcusable. Samson should have sent him home with broken bones for the crime.
But instead, he'd let him run away. Mostly because he didn't want to look at the wormy bastard a second more than he had to.
Now, he wondered if that had been a mistake.
"Get up," he told Cassidy.
She didn't move, only shook like an injured deer on the ground. Samson didn't tell her a second time. Instead, he reached down and lifted her up to her feet.
After a long second, Cassidy looked up at him. Her eyes still shone with unshed tears—both from fear and anger—but she was managing to hold them back. Pushing them behind the same defensive wall she'd hidden behind for a year and a half, he realized.
"Thank you," she said, her tone stiff and formal. "I know you would have been within your rights to punish me for the way I spoke to you. I appreciate your restraint."
His restraint?
For fuck's sake. The only thing he was restraining now was the need to prop her up against the side of the bar and slide his cock deep inside her.
"I already said I would never hurt you."
Cassidy tilted her head back down and gazed at her feet. "But that was before."
"Before what?"
"Before, when you and I were…" Her words trailed off.
Samson's blood surged. "When you and I were pressed together?" he finished for her. "When we were moments away from satisfying our lust?"
Cassidy tossed her head, but she didn't answer.
Samson hooked his finger under her chin and forced her gaze up.
"An alpha never harms his woman," he said. "No matter what, I will take care of you."
A full spectrum of emotions flashed in her eyes before finally landing on hope. "Does that mean that you'll drive me back to the boundary?"
Samson's mood darkened at the request. "You want to leave?"
"I have to," Cassidy said. "Ian has the car and a head start, but I'm sure I can rent another one once I'm back in the beta world. If I'm lucky, I might be able to catch him before he gets back to the university."
"And do what?" Samson demanded.
"Talk some sense into him."
Her words rang hollow. Not even she believed them.
"You know that's not going to happen," he said.
"All right.” She drew in a deep breath and tried to turn her head away as she thought, but Samson wouldn't let her. He cupped her chin and held her steady. "Well, then maybe I can get to Dr. Cheung before Ian does,” she tried again. “He'll listen to me."
Maybe Cassidy was right. Maybe her professor would listen…but Samson didn't care.
All he cared about right now was tasting Cassidy again. About feeling her body move against his. About fulfilling the need that raged inside him.
It was clear this wasn't how either one of them had intended this night to play out. In a year and a half of contact, neither of them had ever acted on their attraction. She'd draped herself in professionalism, and he'd hidden behind social norms.
But tonight everything had changed.
Now Samson knew the taste of her desire. He felt the heat of her skin searing his. He'd drawn in the scent of her slick.
Nothing would ever be the same.
"It's too late," he told her.
The corners of her mouth pulled down. "I guess you're right. I'm never going to find a rental place this late at night."
That wasn't what he meant. Deep down, Cassidy had to know it too, but for some reason, she buried herself in denial.
"Maybe in the morning, then?" she tried.
"Maybe."
Who knew? Maybe after a night of burning off all this crackling sexual energy, this madness would fade. Maybe once he'd spent himself in her, over and over again, he'd be willing to watch her walk away.
Maybe.
She twisted around, pulling away from his touch and looking toward the side door. "Do you think Ty would let me spend the night in his backroom?"
Of course he would. As long as Cassidy was at Evander's Bar, she was still Ty’s guest and under his protection. The least he would do was offer her a bed.
But that wasn't going to happen.
"You'll stay with me," he told her.
She spun back around, her eyes wide. "But…where?"
Where did she think?
"At my home."
In my bed.
"B-But I can't," she sputtered. "We can't."
"Why not?"
"Everyone knows alphas don't let betas on their property," she said. "We're only allowed in neutral territory."
Samson didn't give a shit what everyone knew.
