Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 214 - A Synchronized Crisp Snowflake

Her eyes have drifted down to where the water laps against the pointy blue faces on my swimwear as I drift a little closer. Not quite as close as when we were standing outside of the pool.

> But close enough for her to reach out and grab me before I could react. <

"How are you doing lately?"

Finally she speaks and the choice makes me smile. Despite the fact that I’ve only just released her wrist, attempting normal conversation in this moment is absolutely what she would try to do!

"There are times where I believe I’m doing quite well. Then there are times when I get a picture that tells me I could be... doing better."

"...I see."

Yes, you seem to be seeing a lot! I can feel my lip quivering with amusement when she replies so hoarsely.

"You know, I did have some help with this selection you are enjoying. I hope your assistant gets paid very well."

"She does. But times like now I feel it’s not... enough."

Kyrie’s voice grows steadier and the orange is trying its best to stay brown longer than a fraction of a second. Like she is trying to grow used to me... I’m not sure I like that, so I dive down beside her to wet my face.

The fact that they are solidly glowing when I return to the surface tells me her attempts were all bravado. Slicking some of the water back from my bangs, I catch her drifting in a slow spiral. Just a little closer.

"And you have that interview tomorrow? Are you nervous?"

"Should I be?"

Drooping down slowly as if she is reluctant to look away, her eyes eventually close and she dives down herself. When she comes up a couple seconds later and her palm slides back, from forehead to the top of her skull, bringing her hair with it?

> Yes... howl away. Do it for the both of us... <

I urge my wolf to keep up its silliness - because I’m certainly not going to make that sort of fool of myself over my attraction.

"...If it was a summer fashion issue, I’d definitely say no. Even if I had to buy out the companies involved."

Her lips part... and a quiet, extremely possessive admission rolls off her tongue. As if she wanted me to hear it too desperately to only keep it in her head.

"Oh really?"

When I verify in a haughty tone, her eyes meet mine across the water - and she just nods. Not taking it back, not apologizing. Frankly... I like that response better.

Not just because I’m playing dangerous games tonight. Because her admitting those feelings to me openly feels like a step toward something which I may not be ready for now.

And more information about the reality of things is always better in political, social, and mercantile games. I believe someone famous in this world wrote something similar that talked about knowing your enemy?

"And yet this whole city knows your face. Judging by the ways of the Duskpaw... and the way you were not uncomfortable changing in front of me, there are probably a few of your pack that have seen you naked - prior and post shifting forms."

My index reaches up underneath the point of her chin and pushes just to the point of firming. I can feel her body shivering with her restraint. But my own has slipped.

"But... that’s okay, is it?"

"That’s..."

When my fingertip swipes away and I fall back in the water away from her, she all but follows right after me. Like I physically pulled her along in my small wake.

"I’m kidding. It’s a practical necessity of our abilities, isn’t it?"

> No, you do not have to point out that I might not be so fine with it if I was there watching people watch her. <

We begin to swim around together then, eventually side by side across the length of the pool. She’s a strong swimmer, her strokes clean and efficient, but I can match her pace easily... when I cheat with my wolf.

And she matches mine, because... well, that’s just what she does. There’s something actually relaxing and meditative about it. The rhythm of our movements in the warm water and the way our bodies seem to synchronize.

But I don’t let it continue too long. Normal is not what I came here for. Relaxing... is not *exactly* what I asked her here for.

> Well, in a manner of speaking it is, but that... comes later. <

"Hold up at the wall."

When we reach the far end of the pool on one lap when I can take no more of being calm, I end things abruptly by positioning myself behind her before she can turn around. My hands find the pool’s edge on either side of her.

Trapping her between my arms and the tile wall with my chest pressing up against her back. And if my forearms were not underneath her armpits, she may have just sunk completely into the water.

"Kyrie. You can move enough not to drown."

I breathe her name - and the helpful suggestion - right against her ear. But my attention turns elsewhere quickly. The tattoo I’d only glimpsed hints of before was now fully before me... and I had plans for it.

Dark ink spreads across her strong shoulder blades. Simple in places, intricate in others. Beautiful on her pale skin and utterly captivating. For reasons more than just because it is on her and she smells even more intoxicating at this distance.

An extremely detailed monochrome snowflake sits at the center. Six trees extending from the center and rendered in very delicate geometric precision, mirrored without any visible imperfections beyond how her skin stretches against it.

Surrounding that sort of natural hexagon and arranged in an octagram pattern are the simplified phases of the moon. The new moon that rests at the bottom is a solid black circle, while the full moon at the top is just a circle’s outline.

Arranged between them were the crescents and gibbous phases, waxing and waning. In my world just as in this one, encapsulating symbols in a circle was usually part of rituals for protection.

> The simplest form of snow that represents her pack name being protected by the Lunar Goddess? Engraved on her very body. Weighing on her shoulders, pushing at her back. So very... Alpha of her... <

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel