CHAPTER 4

WADE'S POV

When Richard opens my office door, I'm expecting the temp secretary HR sent over last week. Maybe Karen from accounting filling in again.

I wasn't expecting her.

Lila fucking Reeves, and I feel like I've been hit by a freight train.

She's the girl from yesterday. 

The one who showed up at Liam's place with those innocent hazel eyes and that body that made my cock hard the second I saw her. 

The one I had on her knees in Liam's living room, taking my dick down her throat while I fisted her hair and told her what a good girl she was.

I'd been crashing at Liam's place while my mansion got redesigned and fumigated.

Liam said he'd be back the next day, away on pack business, so I figured I had the place to myself. Perfect opportunity to call in some company. 

So I'd ordered for a prostitute to come help me blow off steam after a shit week.

Except apparently, Lila wasn't the prostitute.

She's Liam's little sister.

Liam. My best friend since we were five years old. 

The guy who's saved my ass more times than I can count and who's been talking about his baby sister Lila for months, telling me how proud he is that she finally got her life together, how she landed this job at some big company.

This company.

My company.

Fuck.

I lean back in my chair, trying to process this clusterfuck while keeping my expression neutral and professional.

But inside, my wolf is going absolutely feral, recognizing her, wanting her, demanding I claim what's mine.

Because that's the other problem. The bigger problem.

My wolf thinks she's our mate.

I felt it yesterday when she walked into the apartment. That pull, that recognition, that primal need to mark her, claim her, make her mine in every way possible. 

I thought I was losing my mind. You don't just meet your mate randomly. It doesn't work like that.

Except, looks like it does.

"Miss Reeves," I say, keeping my voice smooth and controlled even though every instinct is screaming at me to lock the door and finish what we started yesterday. "How... unexpected."

She looks like she's about to pass out.

"Mr. Cross," she manages, and fuck, does she sound nervous.

"You two know each other?" Richard looks between us, confused.

"No," she says quickly, and I almost laugh at how bad of a liar she is.

"Not yet," I say instead, letting a small smile curve on my lips. "But I have a feeling we're going to get very well acquainted."

Richard clears his throat, unaware of the tension crackling through the room. "Right. Well, Miss Reeves will be managing your schedule and handling your correspondence, sir. If there's anything specific you need from her, just let her know."

"Oh, I will." I keep my eyes locked on hers. "I have very specific needs."

The double meaning lands, and her face flushes that pretty pink color I remember from yesterday.

"You can go, Richard," I say, waving him off. "I'd like to speak with Miss Reeves. Alone."

Richard nods and leaves, and the second the door clicks shut, the air in the room changes. Gets heavier. More charged.

I stand, moving around my desk slowly and deliberately. 

Lila tracks my movement like prey watching a predator, and fuck if that doesn't make my cock twitch.

"So," I say, stopping a few feet away from her. "My little omega."

She flinches at the name, and I file that reaction away for later. "It's Lila, sir. My name is Lila."

"Is it?" I move closer, and I can see her pulse jumping in her throat. "Because yesterday, you were very much my little omega. On your knees. Taking my cock in that pretty little mouth."

Her face goes even redder. "That was... that was different. That wasn't…"

"Wasn't what?" I cock my head, studying her. She's even more beautiful than I remember. Those hazel eyes, that wavy brown hair with bangs I want to wrap around my fist, those curves I want to map with my hands and mouth. "Wasn't real? Because it felt pretty fucking real when you were about to come on my cock before your brother interrupted us."

"I didn't know you were going to be my boss!"

"And I didn't know my new secretary was my best friend's little sister." I smile, and I know it's not a nice smile. "I thought you were the escort service I called. Imagine my surprise when you showed up at Liam's place."

Her eyes widen. "You thought I was a… a prostitute?"

"What else was I supposed to think? Beautiful girl shows up at my best friend's door when he's supposed to be gone until the next day, practically throws herself at me?" I shrug. "Though I have to admit, you're much better than any professional I've hired."

"I am not… I would never…" She sputters, and it's almost cute how offended she is.

"Relax, omega. I'm not judging." I move even closer until I can smell her shampoo. Something floral. Innocent. Nothing like the way she tasted yesterday. "We both have our secrets, don't we?"

"We don't have any secrets, sir," she says, trying to sound firm but failing. "Last night was just a mistake. It's not going to happen again."

"Are you sure?" I'm right in front of her now, so close I can see the flecks of gold in her eyes. "Because from where I'm standing, you walked right back into it."

"This is different. This is a legitimate job. I'm not…"

"Not what? Not going to fuck your boss? Your brother's best friend?" I let my hand come up to cup her jaw, and she doesn't pull away. “Because we both know that's a lie, don't we, omega?"

Her breath catches, and I can smell her arousal. Sweet and absolutely fucking intoxicating.

My wolf is clawing at me, demanding I mark her, claim her, make her understand that she's ours. But I force him down. 

This situation is already complicated enough without adding a mating bond to it.

And Liam. Fuck, Liam trusted me with his house keys, trusted me enough to let me stay there while he was gone, and I repaid him by fucking his sister in his living room. Against his wall.

Not my finest moment.

"Please, sir..." Her voice wavers. "Don't."

"Don't what? Don't touch you?" I brush my thumb over her bottom lip, remembering how those lips looked wrapped around my cock. "Don't remind you that yesterday, you were begging me not to stop?"

She can't form words, just stares at me with those wide eyes, and I know I've got her exactly where I want her.

I should step back. 

I should put distance between us and establish professional boundaries. Should remember that this girl is Liam's sister, and if he finds out I've touched her, in his own house, he'll probably try to kill me.

But I've never been good at doing what I should.

Instead, I drop my hand and walk past her to the door, opening it. "Come with me."

"But what about my work...?"

"You are working," I interrupt, stepping into the hallway. "Unless you're scared."

I can practically hear her internal debate, but eventually, she follows. Good girl.

We walk to the elevator in silence, and I press the button. The doors slide open, and we both step inside.

The moment the doors close, I turn to face her, and I let my carefully controlled mask drop just a little. Let her see the hunger I've been hiding.

"This time," I say, leaning close enough that my breath grazes her ear, "you don't get to run."

She's trembling, and I can feel the heat radiating off her body. My wolf is practically howling with satisfaction.

"S-sir Wade," she says, her voice shaky. "This is insane. You're my boss now."

"Oh really?" I take a step closer, backing her against the mirrored wall. "Does that make it better or worse?"

"Worse. Definitely worse." But even as she says it, her body's leaning into me.

I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me. "You're trembling."

"I'm not," she lies.

"You're turned on." I narrow my eyes, reading her like an open book. "Your pupils are dilated. Your breathing's shallow. And if I slipped my hand under that skirt right now, I bet I'd find you soaking wet for me."

Her face burns. "You're incredibly wrong."

"And you're incredibly responsive." I press my thumb against her bottom lip, and her mouth opens instinctively. "Last night, you were on your knees for me in minutes. Today, you're acting like you have self-control."

"I do have self-control."

"Prove it." I let my other hand settle on her waist possessively. "Tell me to stop. Tell me you don't want this, and I'll walk away. We'll keep things professional. You'll be just another secretary."

I watch her struggle with it. Watch her try to find the words to push me away.

But when she opens her mouth, what comes out is, "And if I don't tell you to stop?"

Victory surges through me so dark and primal that I grin. "Then I'm going to fuck you against this mirror until you forget your own name."