I slid into the booth at the bakery across the street and sipped my iced coffee. It'd been a long week with Luther, and his agonizing stare. For someone that thought our kiss was a mistake, he sure got riled up over nothing. His temper tiptoed on the border of obsessive, in fact, his entire personality screamed possessive and … alpha. I knew he was in charge, and probably didn't enjoy my smart mouth or my sarcasm, but he did care about what I did and I wasn't entirely sure why? It went beyond my position as his assistant. He wanted to control me, and my life, and it screamed, controlling older boyfriend, but … I felt it was for a different reason, I just didn't know why yet. I sucked to the bottom of my coffee, and peeled the paper off my cupcake, taking a big unladylike bite of it. After our kiss, that was a completely different story in itself, because I'd never been kissed like that before. Every fiber in my body yearned for him after he stormed out of the bathroom as if my body
Scotch had become my best friend, ever since Blaire stumbled into my office that day. I'd been on an emotional roller coaster from the moment I met my mate. I knew having a mate wasn’t what it was cracked up to be. That's why I went thirty plus years without looking for her. She was infuriating. Her dark hair tempted me from the opposite side of the plane where she doodled on a notepad, and hummed along to some song in her head. I loved the length, and how the soft waves cascaded down her shoulder, while she bit her lip. I replayed her kiss in my mind so many times it felt permanently engrained in my brain waves. I tossed back the rest of the amber liquor in my glass, the ice rattling as I sat it down in my cup holder, and leaned back to cradle my head. It had been a mistake to ask Blaire to come, I knew better, but when she tried to force Stephanie on me, I couldn't help but to counteract. That was my problem. I was the alpha, and I hated her disobedience. I loathed it. My wolf
The look on Luther's face when I told him about my dream scared me. It wasn't what I expected. As an adult, you assume a nightmare wouldn't scare another adult, but this one turned his face ashen. His wide shoulders tensed, and his blue eyes turned that dark color I'd noticed in his office. "He stood on two legs?" he asked. I swiped the sweat that had gathered from my hairline with the back of my hand. "Yeah, I know it's weird. I need to get myself a glass of water. I'll be right—, "Luther stood up. "I'll get it." He marched over toward the mini-fridge and snagged a bottle. "Here," he said, sitting back down. I noticed that he didn't have a shirt on, and my cheeks burned hot at the sight. He looked even sexier being that it was night, and his eyes were hooded from sleep. "What else happened in the dream?" I unscrewed the cap and stared at him. He seemed very interested in my dream. I sucked down half the bottle and sat it on the nightstand. "I don't know, Luther, it's just a dream.
She laid with her back toward me, curled into a ball and I sensed every time she thought about our night, every time a rush of adrenaline coursed through her. I knew she wasn't asleep, but I couldn’t say I knew, because it would confuse her. Everything in the upcoming weeks would confuse Blaire. Go join her, my wolf coaxed. I rolled my eyes and placed my forearm over my eyes in an attempt to drown myself of all emotion. Everything about the night replayed in my mind like a never-ending slideshow. Her soft touch made my body purr, and it scared me. No woman had ever done that to me. I pressed my eyes closed tightly; praying for sleep, but it never came. I knew a mate bond was strong, but nothing prepared me for this. When sunlight hit the window the next morning, I was up and making coffee in the small kitchen. Blaire was half-asleep; her mouth opened slightly, one arm hanging off the bed. I wanted to join her, kiss and bite every square inch of her body until she begged me to stop
Alicia: Where did you go? Come back and drink with me? Both of the guys left. No one wants to have fun tonight. I shoved my phone back into the depths of my pocket and ignored Alicia's rant. I loved the girl, but there was more to life than drinking and partying every weekend. I'd spent my afternoon paying my landlord back rent, and eating Ben and Jerry's while being depressed that over half of my check was gone. At least I had somewhere to be depressed. Then Alicia showed up with Jory, and Axel to make matters worse. I told her I wasn't in the mood, but being Alicia, she persuaded me to let them in for a while. Which made me uncomfortable. The way Axel stared at me made my spine stiffen, and I was a laidback person. If someone made me uncomfortable, they were freaking weird. What were the chances of Jory hitting it off with Alicia of all people, and Axel tagging along? It was conspicuous, and I had no one to call but Luther, who showed up within minutes with his fury in tow. "Tha
"Control yourself," I hissed to my wolf. He'd become nearly incontrollable when Blaire followed me into my bedroom. The simple scent of her skin had me undone. I'd told her the truth because I knew she wouldn't move across the hallway if I didn't. Besides pissing herself, she took it—okay-ish. I wasn't sure if this was a façade yet, and she waited for me to turn my head so she could run for it. She knew she wouldn't make it far. Blaire stopped at the bathroom door, her gaze transfixed on my lavish bathroom with the overhanging showerhead and expensive granite countertops. I slipped up behind her, skimming my hot mouth against the smooth path of her neck. "I never knew a mate would make me feel like this?" Blaire chuckled, clutching the granite countertop in front of her, our gazes locked in the mirror. "You didn't look for me?" I didn't want to put my foot in my mouth, but she deserved the truth. I gripped her hips and lifted her to the cabinet. "Honestly, no. I didn't want a we
By the look on Luther's face, I figured it would be bad. His shoulders tensed, and his grip tightened around my wrist. "Stay by me," he hissed. I gave him an are you okay look before stepping out of the car. The ranch-style house was beautiful, with a wraparound porch, overflowing ferns, and magnolia trees in the yard. Who I assumed was his mother, met him halfway, her smile reached her blue eyes, and her graying hair was pulled into a stylish bun. "Darling, I'm so glad to see you," she said, pinching his cheeks as if he wasn't this powerful alpha of their pack. I loved it. Her steely gaze shifted to mine, and her smile brightened. "I'm so sorry that I'm not more prepared for your arrival. Luther didn't tell me that you were coming," she said, giving him an eye roll. "What's your name, Lovely?" "I'm Blaire Summers. It's nice to meet you ..." "I'm Barbara—you can call me Barbie. I'm so thrilled Luther has found his mate," his gaze dropped to my neck. "I see you haven't been mark
My body hummed with adrenaline, my wolf paced back and forth in anticipation of beating the hell out of Marcus. We'd never been close growing up. When I was deemed the next Alpha of our pack, Marcus grew cold and distant. When I walked into the room, I'd feel his gaze on me, haunting and pissed as if I purposefully took the position out from underneath him. The smug look on his face as I jacked him up, sent shivers up my spine due to the lack of emotion in his eyes. The fact he brought Emily here was a definite stab in the back. I didn't dare look over at her, because it'd be too much to handle. I never meant for it to happen. We were just kids. Still figuring out our strengths and our abilities. But Marcus didn't see it that way. To him, I was a killer. The reason his mate died. "Boys!" Momma said. "You two knock it off right now. We're trying to have a nice dinner." Marcus put his palms up in surrender, his shirt still bunched in my grasp. "You're right, Momma. I think Luther sh