11
" He grinned as she rolled her eyes.
“Good grief. You won’t stop trying to seduce me until you get what you want, will you?”
“No.” Firmly stated.
She heaved a heavy sigh. “Fine.”
“What do you mean, fine?”
“We’ll eat dinner and then have sex. But don’t take too long would you with the humping and grunting. I’ve got to work in the morning, and I’ll need a shower.”
That didn’t sound exactly seductive. He frowned. “You make it sound like a chore.”
She angled her head sideways so she could smirk at him. “I guess that depends on who’s doing all the work. In this case, that would be you. So you’d better make it good, or no amount of begging and big, pleading eyes will get you seconds.”
Begging? Did she think he begged her? Fur ruffled, he slid back to his seat across from her so he could better read her expression.
She, of course, misunderstood his strategic move. “Did I prick someone’s ego?”
“We’ll see who gets pricked,” he muttered ominously. "
― Eve Langlais , When an Alpha Purrs (A Lion's Pride, #1)
13
" Cradling her in his arms, Arik enjoyed the moment. A moment that went on for a while until he felt compelled to ask, “Are you okay?”
She stirred against him. Her head tilted far enough for him to see the lazy smile she shot him. “Better than okay.”
She wiggled in his arms, and he let her down, hiding his smug satisfaction as she wavered on wobbly legs, a smugness that faded when she said, “That sure beats waking up to Frosted Flakes and milk.”
Did she really compare him to— “Processed cereal?” He shuddered. “Don’t tell me you eat that stuff.”
“All the time. I like it. It’s fast and easy. Who doesn’t like a bowl of sugar to perk them up in the morning?”
“Not me. A lion needs real food.”
“Lion? Someone’s got a messed-up opinion of himself,” she teased, not realizing his verbal gaffe. “Although I’ll admit you do kind of remind me of an animal with some of the noises you make.”
If she only knew those noises were just the tip of his furry, perfectly tufted tail.
“So sue me for being a man who expresses himself vocally when aroused. But I warn you, sue me at your own peril. I have the best lawyer in town on retainer.”
“If you ask me, your money would be better spent with a psychiatrist for your ego problem.”
“Admit it, my supreme confidence is sexy.”
“No, it’s disturbing, but lucky for you, your butt is awesome. "
― Eve Langlais , When an Alpha Purrs (A Lion's Pride, #1)
14
" You seem awfully concerned about this guy,” Jeoff stated. “More than a disobedient lone wolf merits. Has he hurt someone in the pride?”
“In a sense. He threatens my mate.”
That was one way to stun an opponent.
“You? Mated? You have my condolences.”
Arik frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s always sad when a man gets shackled to a ball and chain. Next thing you know, you’ll be taking ballroom fucking dancing, calling everything ‘ours’, losing your closet to shoes, and having to watch romantic comedies instead of going to the bar with the boys.”
“I’ll also be having incredible sex multiple times a day.”
“You could have had that without having her shackle you.”
“I’m the one who claimed her.”
“Why? Why would you do that?” Jeoff shook his head. “Don’t come crying to me when she makes you wear an ugly sweater at Christmas.”
“I won’t cry because I’ll make sure you and I have matching ones, given to you publicly, so you can’t refuse. I’ll have Hayder take a picture, and I’ll post it on every social media site I find.”
“You’re an evil king, Arik.”
“Thank you.” He couldn’t help a smug smile. "
― Eve Langlais , When an Alpha Purrs (A Lion's Pride, #1)
15
" Peeking at him where he sat perusing the stock market on his phone while chewing on some crisp bacon, she blurted out the momentous news. “I love you.”
“I know.” Smugly said.
She blinked. “What do you mean you know?”
“Because of the letter A.”
“What does A have to do with anything other than being the first letter in your name?”
“Because it also stands for awesome.”
“And arrogant.”
“Are we back to alphabetizing my attributes? B is for brave.”
She laughed. “Don’t you dare start again. Besides, there’s only one set of four letters that interest me.”
“Oh?” he said, putting down his phone and ignoring his meal. “And what might those be?”
“M.I.N.E.” The only word she needed to have him drag her onto his lap for a scorching kiss.
A whispered, “I love you,” vibrated against her lips, his softly growled admission fueling her passion.
And after they were done, panting, glowing, and cradled together, ignoring the pounding at the door, she held still as she tried to figure out what she heard.
It should have been impossible. Arik was a lion, and yet he was— “Purring?” Indeed, he was.
And when an alpha purrs, pleasure is sure to follow. "
― Eve Langlais , When an Alpha Purrs (A Lion's Pride, #1)
17
" You can’t seriously expect me to trust my mane to a woman?”
Sexism, alive and well in Arik’s world, the fault of the females in his pride who’d raised him. No coddling for Arik. They didn’t believe in letting him play with dolls or caving to others. His mother and aunts, not to mention his numerous female cousins, had taught him to be tough. They didn’t allow softness in his world, not when they groomed him as the future leader of their pride. He was all male, all the time, and dammit, a man used a barber, not a hairdresser.
Even if she was cute.
“Suit yourself. I’ve got more than enough men to take care of—”
Was that his cat growling?
“— without adding a pompous one to the list.”
“Pompous?” Even if she’d pegged him right, it didn’t stop his indignant glare.
A glare she chose to ignore.
She crossed her arms over her chest, plumping her cleavage— ooh, pretty, shadowy cleft.
His curious nature drew his eyes to the mysterious and beckoning vee until she cleared her throat.
“My eyes are up here, big guy.”
Caught.
Good thing he was a cat. His kind had no shame, nor did they apologize.
He shot her his most engaging, boyish grin. “My name is Arik. Arik Castiglione.”
She didn’t react to his smile or titles, so he elaborated, “The CEO for Castiglione Enterprises.”
He stretched his lips wide enough to engage his deadly dimple.
And still failed to impress.
She raised a brow. “Is that supposed to mean something?”
Surely she jested. Within his mind, his poor lion lay down in a traumatized heap and crossed its paws over its eyes.
“We are the largest importer of meat in the world.”
Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I don’t check the label to see who brings me my steak. I just eat it.”
“What about our chain of restaurants? A Lion’s Pride Steakhouses.”
“Those I’ve heard of. Decent, I hear, but overpriced. I can get a bigger plate of food at LongHorn. And according to my girlfriends, the male waiters are cuter too. "
― Eve Langlais , When an Alpha Purrs (A Lion's Pride, #1)
19
" Arik had already gone two weeks longer than usual for this haircut because of an overseas business trip.
Time to get back to his highest priority. “How long until Dominic is back?”
“A week, maybe two. I told him to take his time. Granddad doesn’t often take time off, and he’s getting up there in years.”
A few weeks? He’d look like a wildebeest if he waited that long.
“That’s no good. I need a cut. Are there any male barbers available?”
“Afraid to let a girl touch your precious hair?” She smirked. “I can peek at the schedule and see if we can squeeze you in this afternoon.”
“I don’t have time to come back. I need it done now.”
Usually when he used the word now, people jumped to do his bidding. She, on the other hand, shook her head.
“Not happening, unless you’ve changed your mind and are willing to let me cut it.”
“You’re a hairdresser.”
“Exactly.”
“I want a barber.”
“Same thing.” Said the girl without a Y chromosome.
“I think I’ll wait.”
Arik turned away from her, only to freeze as she muttered, “Pussy.”
If she only knew how right she was. But, of course, she didn’t mean the feline version.
Pride made him pivot back. “You know what. On second thought, you may cut my hair.”
“How gracious of you, Your Majesty.”
She sketched him a mock bow. Not funny, even if accurate. He glared in reply.
“I see someone’s too uptight for a sense of humor.”
“I greatly enjoy comedy, when I hear it.”
“Sorry if my brand of sarcasm is too simple for you to understand, big guy. Now, if you’re done, sit down so we can get this over with and send you and your precious hair back to your office. "
― Eve Langlais , When an Alpha Purrs (A Lion's Pride, #1)
