CHAPTER 0004

Meadow’s POV

Alaric Ashford was handsome in a way that made me nervous.

I’d seen a lot of good looking men in my lifetime, but Alaric?

His beauty knocked the breath out of me completely. Long thick hair that was slightly messy as though he’d been running his hand through it, which was a huge contrast to his dangerously calm demeanor.

I couldn’t tell the exact color of his eyes inside the dimly-lit room, but they appeared dark, gazing at me like he was trying to penetrate my soul.

A sharp jawline, slightly crooked nose, five o’clock shadow…

Okay, I was focusing on the wrong things.

This man had just said my name—and my last name—like he knew me. And I had never met him or heard anything but stories about him.

I pressed myself harder against the wall, trying to breathe normally.

“Do I know you?” I asked.

He tilted his head slowly, his smile cool as he leaned in just a bit closer, but not close enough to touch me.

“Not yet.”

“H-how do you know my name?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but there was still a bit of a slur in my tone.

“I make it a point to know what interests me.”

I hated the way my stomach flipped at that. Why was I even here? And why didn’t I feel disgusted that I’d walked into something that I shouldn’t have?

Even worse? Why did I feel like Alaric had wanted me to see that?

“What do you want from me?” A shiver racked through my bones.

Alaric didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes on me. “You’re shivering.”

His eyes dropped to my chest again and he smirked.

I had no idea whether it was because of my protruding nipples, or the words that were displayed on my top, mocking me.

The bride that couldn’t be.

I shot him a glare. “My eyes are up here, pervert,” I snapped.

Alaric didn’t flinch. Instead, he looked me dead in the eyes and said, “I’ve already seen your eyes, Meadow.” His voice was low, dark, causing warmth to pool at the bottom of my stomach.

Why was I so turned on by the sight of this stranger? Why wasn’t I running away from someone that everyone considered dangerous?

He continued. “They’re guarded. Full of hurt. I wanted to see the rest of you.”

My mouth parted, but no sound came out.

He took another step forward and I leaned further back into the wall. “I’ve heard about you.” My voice was shaky, barely above a whisper.

“From Tyler Cross, I presume? Your… fiance?”

My heart sank, then picked up again.

“Ex-fiance,” I bit out. “And how do you know that much about him?”

He stepped away from me, and I let out a sigh of relief.

Alaric began to pull off his suit jacket, and my eyes followed every single movement.

His muscles flexed underneath his black button-down shirt as he took it off, the top three buttons of his shirt undone, drawing my eyes to it like it was a magnet, and I was a helpless piece of metal.

And then he tossed it to me. “I know everything about my employees,” he said casually, as if that explained anything.

He looked at me expectantly, like he was waiting for me to put on his jacket. And I wanted to.

God, I wanted to envelop myself in his scent, but I wasn’t going to make this easy for him.

“What do you want from me?”

“Right now?” He arched his brow. “I want you to put on that jacket, Meadow. You’re shivering.”

“Yeah, because you’re scaring me,” I lied. “What the hell do you want from me?”

“Put on the jacket, and then we can continue this lovely conversation.” His voice was low. Deep. Dark. “Now.”

Shooting him another glare, I did as he said, shoving my arms angrily through the jacket that this stranger just had on.

“Happy?” I spat, looking back into his eyes.

What I saw in them made my breath cut. I let out a gasp, my back hitting the wall again as I stumbled backward.

Alaric Ashford was looking at me like I was the last meal on earth. His eyes had darkened, his expression raw as they dropped to my mouth. “There’s nothing to be scared of, Meadow. I’m not your enemy.” He smirked.

“You sure about that?” I whispered. “Why am I here with you then? And why are you looking at me like… like you want to ruin me?”

He took a step forward, hands in his pockets. “If I wanted to hurt you, I would’ve already.”

That should’ve made me feel safer. And it did.

But even worse, his words caused heat to pool between my thighs.

I rubbed them together.

Something was definitely in the drinks the bartender gave me tonight. Either that, or something was in the water I was given to drink.

Alaric turned away from me, heading to one of the tables to grab a bottle of bourbon. And then he poured it into his glass.

I decided to take that as my cue to run.

However, before I could reach for the handle, his voice rang out. “You walk out that door, and you’d have ruined the best chance you have at getting back at your unpleasant fiance.”

I froze. “Ex-fiance,” I snapped again, without turning to look at him.

Alaric hummed. “And what about your sister?” he asked smoothly. “Is she your ex-sister now?”

That had me whipping my head around to look at him. He stood by the table, glass in his hand, which he raised to his lips to sip his drink.

“How do you…” My voice cracked. “How do you know that? Have you been following me?”

“Like I said, I know everything about my employees.”

I scoffed, walking away from the door and toward him. “What is this? You staring at me like I’m some kind of prize? Sending your creepy bodyguard to come fetch me? Calling me by my full name and giving me some bullshit excuse about knowing everything about your employees?”

I was seething, shaking my head. “And what do you mean by getting back at Tyler? I don’t need saving, if that’s what you—”

“You looked like you were drowning, Meadow,” he cut me off. “And I don’t like watching people drown.”

This man was insane.

Completely, utterly insane.

I swallowed hard. “That’s rich. Coming from the guy who was getting head when I walked in.”

I was standing right in front of him now. “That was… unfortunate timing.” His voice didn’t waver. “You weren't supposed to see that.”

My lips curled in disgust. “Bullshit.” My words slurred. “You wanted me to walk in here and see it.” I glanced briefly at his mouth. “See you,” I whispered.

Okay, now it was definitely the alcohol talking.

Because why the hell did it sound like I was flirting with him?

And why was I looking at his lips?

I had to get out of here.

I started to turn away again but my knees wobbled, so I held onto the nearest hard surface to steady myself.

Problem was… that hard surface was Alaric’s exposed chest.

My hands landed flat against his bare chest, and the second it did, something changed.

His entire body tensed beneath my palm.

The glass in his hand froze halfway to his mouth.

Alaric’s eyes snapped down to where we were connected, and then, slowly rose to meet mine. And what I saw in his eyes this time was… unguarded. Unhinged.

His jaw clenched, his breath hitched enough to make mine catch in response.

Slowly, I pulled my hand back.

But something about the expression on his face made me want to touch him again. Forever.

Alaric reached for my wrist, placing it back on his chest as his eyes searched mine.

And when he spoke, his voice was low and hoarse.

Tortured.

Straight from the bottom of his heart.

“You were right, Meadow,” he said. “I do want to ruin you.”