Chapter 68 – Between Fire and Flesh

Dominic’s POV

Watching the car’s tail light disappear, I cursed under my breath.

“That brat. He definitely knows something and is hiding it from me. He’s lucky I don’t have his time now.”

My wolf growled, echoing my irritation. The sound throbbed at the back of my mind like a second heartbeat.

“Let him run,” the wolf said darkly. “When the time comes, he won’t get far.”

I ignored him. I didn’t have time for Michael’s drama. Not when I had a flight in less than two hours and a crisis bleeding billions from my company.

I pulled my coat tighter, turned toward the driveway, and signaled for one of the drivers. The black sedan rolled up within seconds, the door opening before I even reached it.

“Head to the company,” I ordered. “Straight to the underground.”

“Yes, sir.”

The car glided through the quiet streets, the city half awake under the weak morning sun. I leaned back, tablet in hand, scrolling through documents and damage reports. My fingers moved quickly across the screen. My mind, however, was miles away—split between numbers and a pair of dark eyes that wouldn’t leave my head.

Mannie.

Even when I didn’t want to think of her, she crept in. The memory of her voice, the flicker of pain in her gaze when she spoke about her child—it had carved itself into me like a wound that refused to close.

The driver turned smoothly into the company’s private entrance. The gate slid open at the scan of my ID. The car descended into the underground garage reserved only for executives and special guests.

The low hum of engines echoed faintly as the tires came to a stop.

I stepped out, straightening my coat, my expression cold and unreadable. My shoes clicked against the concrete as I crossed the space and entered the private elevator.

The moment the doors slid open at the top floor, the air changed. Everyone stood immediately.

“Good morning, sir,” they chorused.

I nodded once, not slowing down.

My new assistant, short, nervous, clutching a tablet to her chest—hurried behind me. Her heels clicked in uneven rhythm.

“Is there anything you need, sir?” she asked quickly, voice trembling slightly.

“No,” I said. My tone left no room for more.

She stopped in her tracks, unsure whether to follow or flee.

“Go back to your desk,” I added without looking back.

“Yes, sir.”

My office door swung open with a soft hiss. The familiar scent of polished wood and mint oil greeted me. I went straight to my desk, picked up the document I needed, and flipped through it to confirm the details.

Numbers, Contracts, Authorizations. Everything seemed correct.

I left my office a few minutes later, the document still in my hand.

The corridor stretched long and silent ahead of me. The morning light from the tall glass panels spilled across the marble floor, creating faint reflections that followed my steps.

I flipped through the pages as I walked, eyes scanning each line. My mind was already back in work mode, detached, cold—until a faint scent hit me.

"Mate."? The voice echoed deep in my head, rough and certain.

I raised my head and caught sight of her long hair, reminding me of the scene five years ago.

Before I could think, before logic could interfere, my body moved on instinct.

I reached out and caught her hand as she passed.

She gasped, startled.

Her skin was warm against mine, soft, pulsing with life. The contact sent a jolt through me so strong it felt like the ground shifted beneath my feet.

“Wha—Mr. Blackmoore?” she stammered, trying to pull back, but I didn’t let go.

I didn’t even realize what I was doing until my back hit the door of the nearest room. The handle turned beneath my grip, and I pulled her inside with me.

The door clicked shut, sealing us off from the world outside.

The conference room was empty. Dim light filtered through the blinds, tracing lines across her face. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her lips parted in shock, eyes wide as she looked at me.

My own heartbeat thundered in my ears.

For a second, neither of us spoke. The air between us felt alive—heavy, electric, filled with something unspoken that neither of us knew how to handle.

“You!” she yelped, voice shaking slightly. “What are you doing?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

My gaze searched her face, every detail hitting like a wave—the curve of her lips, the way her mouth moved and how it glittered under the room light.

“Are you sure you aren’t the one from five years ago?” The words came before I could stop them.

Her eyes flickered, just for a second, but it vanished as fast as it came.

She smiled suddenly. But it wasn’t the soft kind of smile. It was sharp, teasing, dangerous.

Her hand brushed against my chest as she leaned slightly closer, her body trapped between me and the wall.

“What are you saying, Mr. Blackmoore?” she asked, voice low and smooth. “Are you sure you’re not mistaking me for someone else?”

Her tone danced between flirtation and challenge, and I felt the heat rise instantly. My wolf prowled under my skin, restless.

“Mannie,” I murmured, her name slipping past my control.

She tilted her head, pretending confusion. “You sound sure of yourself.”

I should’ve stepped back. I should’ve walked away. But her scent filled the room, wrapping around me like smoke.

Her fingers trailed along the lapel of my suit, slow and deliberate.

“Tsk…” she breathed softly, her lips close to my ear. “Maybe you’re just thirsty. Is that why you brought it up?”

Her voice was like silk over flame.

I clenched my fists, forcing control. Every muscle in my body tightened. “Dominic, you have somewhere to be,” I muttered under my breath, trying to remind myself why I came here.

But she moved again—her hip brushing against mine as she shifted her weight. Maybe it was accidental. Maybe not. Either way, the fire she stirred wasn’t something I could ignore.

Her breath brushed my neck. “You look tense,” she whispered. “Maybe you need… distraction?”

My pulse hammered. My self-control thinned to threads.

My wolf growled, a sound only I could hear. “She’s teasing. Testing you. Claim her.”

I gritted my teeth. “No.”

But my body didn’t obey.

The space between us felt alive—charged, heavy.

"I will be going on a trip. Meet my assistant if you need anything."

She looked up, eyes meeting mine. For a moment, everything stopped—the air, the noise, even my heartbeat.

“Is this a goodbye or what?” she asked softly, her gaze steady and unreadable.

The question hit harder than I expected.

I looked at her lips—soft, parted, trembling faintly. My throat went dry.

“I’m going on a trip,” I said, my voice rough. “If you need anything, call my assistant.” I repeated.

“Is that all?” she asked. “Alright”

The word rolled off her tongue like temptation itself.

My control snapped.

In one movement, I leaned in, closing the last inch of space between us.