LOGINARIA I lifted my head, twisting it just a bit to look at him over my shoulder. The intensity in his eyes pinned me in place, dark and smoldering, like he could see straight through every flustered thought swirling in my mind. But before I could sort through the thoughts in my head, his hand slid up to the back of my neck as he tugged me closer, and then his lips crashed into mine.I went still for a beat, my mind blanking out for fe seconds. Then something snapped, and I was kissing him back, pressing into it with everything I had, my tongue meeting his to keep up. 'Mmm,' I breathed against him, my fingers fumbling up to wrap around his neck with my nails slightly digging her bag. My back stayed pressed to his chest as he held me while the kiss turned messy as our breaths mingleg in the space between us.I didn't notice his hand moving at first, too caught up in the dominance of his lips. But then his fingers were there again, slipping past the open zipper of my trousers, nudging my
ARIA“Good to be back,” I murmured, mostly to myself, as I stepped inside the penthouse. I felt Knox's gaze on me “I’m fine,” I added quickly before he could start with his questions.“I get nosebleeds sometimes,” I said casually. Not like I lied. It was half truth. “It happens.”He nodded as if to pretend he believed me before heading into the bedroom, probably to take his bath after that long run.I walked around the house and entered his study. I took a tablet as I went through emails—mostly confirmations, reminders—and then the main reason we came back. But Vanguard Holdings got to be kidding me.“They want a video call instead instead of face to face? Who do they really think they are?”I turned around heading to the bedroom and forgot how to breathe.Knox stepped out of the bathroom with steam rolling behind him. Water dripped from his hair, trailing down the strong lines of his shoulders, his chest, all the way to the single towel hanging dangerously low on his hips.My brain s
ARIAThe woods were quieter now and the sun was slowly coming up through the tree branches, warming the back of my neck as I tried to steady my breaths. I didn’t realize I’d gone quiet until Knox’s shadow fell across me.“What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked softly.I blinked up, startled a little by how close he was. His gray eyes searched mine like he already knew something was wrong.I forced a small smile. “Nothing.”He didn’t believe me. I could tell by the way one brow lifted. But he didn’t push. Instead he stood, brushing dirt from his palms.“Come on,” he said. “Race you back.”I huffed. “I thought we were jogging.”His mouth tilted—not quite a smile, but close. “Now we’re racing.”He took off first, and something in me snapped awake. I sprang after him, feet pounding against the earth, heart flying. I didn’t catch him, not even close, but the run loosened that tight ball of fear in my chest.By the time I reached the house, I was panting again. He wasn’t even swe
ARIAMy eyelids fluttered open. I blinked and stretched, and it refreshed in my memory. Two days. Two whole days since… that morning.I remembered it clearly. He had asked me, “Are you enjoying the view?”I had tilted my head, pretending to be coy with a teasing smile curling my lips. “Yes,” I had said, just to see if I could get under his skin.And well, I haven't laid my eyes on him for the past forty-eight hours. I had even snuck back to the training grounds but it was empty. I had scoffed at the thought of him changing the training grounds so I couldn't feed my eyes.I sat up, stretching slowly. It was still dawn as the view outside was still foggy. Mason had said he was at the pack office. Well for what ever reason I felt he was wrong. Wrong to leave me like this. I was still a newbie in the pack for crying out loud. If it weren’t for Kora’s company, I would have been the epitome of loneliness and boredom.Suddenly my nose caught whiff of a scent. Knox. But it was coming from the
WRITER’S POVDaphne stepped into Grey Enterprise with her eyes scanning the place and her heels announcing her arrival. The lobby lights gleamed off the black midi fitted off shoulder gown she wore alongside gloves with a black hat and extremely out of place in a corporate building full of suits.The gloves alone made her look like she was going to a gala, not a business office. People looked at her, some longer than they should, but she ignored them. Her bangs covered the bandage at her temple, and she hoped it stayed hidden.She wasn’t here to impress anyone. Rather she was looking for one person.Her eyes drifted around the lobby until an unfamiliar voice came from the side.“Good morning,” Tasha said as she walked over. She recognized Daphne immediately. Who wouldn't know the face behind Luxe Mane Studio?“Are you looking for someone?” Tasha asked.“Is Aria around?” Daphne asked instead.“You mean Miss Lane?” Tasha blinked and Daphne nodded once while crossing her arms.“No, she’s
ARIAThe first thing I noticed when I woke up was the empty space beside me. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. Great. So much for waking up before him. I had planned to wake up early—before him—just so I could return to my makeshift bed. But clearly, that didn’t work out. Instead, I’d slept like a baby. Like I hadn’t in… forever.Dragging myself out of bed, I brushed my teeth and stepped into the shower. The warm water helped chase away the sleepiness. Afterward, I pulled on my underwear—it had dried overnight—and then slipped into one of Knox’s shirts again. A blue long-sleeved one this time.I was still adjusting the sleeves when I heard the door opening.“Hello”I froze. My first thought was ‘That's certainly not Knox's voice’So who—?I stepped out of the room and stopped. A girl stood there, holding a small woven basket in both hands. She looked about my age, maybe younger. Her brown hair was tied back, and she blinked at me, wide-eyed, like I’d just walked out of her TV screen.“Uh…”







