Chapter 2

Aurora POV

My hair is what caught his eye? I admit it’s different than most people, but it’s never been the reason someone approached me… or at least not that I know of.

I look down at my hand on the man’s chest and think about the words that just came out of my mouth. That was bold. I didn’t mean to say it, but they came out before I could think.

The man watches me, his eyes moving over my face as he lifts his own hand and lays it on mine. The tingle heightens, and I gasp.

“Anything?” He asks, his eyes sparking with interest and heat.

I’m surprised that someone like him wouldn’t push me away immediately. Instead, he almost seems to hold me tighter.

“Anything you want,” I find myself saying again. “I’ll let you have it.”

His hand at my waist stiffens and the hand on mine holds tighter when he asks,“Do you know what you’re doing?”

I merely look up at him, letting everything else fall away as I take in his handsome face. He’s gorgeous. The most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

“What am I doing?” I ask, my words light and flirty. Who am I? Where is this coming from?

The man chuckles and moves. I move with him, letting him lead us until my back is against the wall.

“You’re losing your only chance to let go.”

“Why would I want to let go?” This new, flirty version of me asks. Scratch that. Not flirty. Drunk. I’m drunk.

His eyes narrow on me as I continue, wanting him to accept my offer, “I’m inviting you to have me for the night.” His body stiffens further at my words, the heat between us increasing. “Is there a problem with that?”

The way he looks at me and the way he has me pressed to the wall makes me wonder why he’s hesitating.

“I gave you a chance, little human,” he growls, watching me closely. I nod, understanding. A rumbling growl falls from his lips as he pulls back, grabs my hand, and tugs me toward the door, saying, “Come with me.”

As we reach a large, expensive looking house, my head is still spinning. The luxurious house is bigger than any I’ve ever seen, making me wonder just how rich this man is.

He pulls me into the house and closes the door behind us, before he leads me further in. A little thrill runs through my drunken body as he takes me to a bedroom.

Then, his hands are on my hips and my back is pulled to his chest. He growls, “It’s too late to stop this.”

Lips trail up my neck, and I merely nod, unable to say anything when the sparks from earlier start up again. Strong hands hold me steady, keeping me from falling when my knees begin to shake.

A gasp flies from my lips when he suddenly lifts me and tosses me to the bed. I bounce on the large mattress and the energy in the room shifts when he climbs on and crawls over me.

His eyes flicker gold and I watch as he leans in and slams his lips to mine in a brutal, hot kiss.

I whimper and arch into his hand when it lands on my thigh, pushing my dress up. Cool air brushes across my exposed skin, followed by the heat of his fingers as they climb higher and higher up my thigh.

One touch, just a brush of his fingers, across my aching center has me moaning and bucking my hips.

“Please,” I whimper.

“Please what?” He growls, making me whimper with another brush of his fingers. One hand keeps me pinned to the bed, not letting me move against his fingers as he stares up into my eyes.

Somehow his pants disappeared, and as he slides my panties down my legs, I buck into the fingers circling my clit.

“Take me. Please!”

Those two words set something off in him. He lurches forward, slamming his lips back to mine and swallowing the cry that falls from my lips when he enters me.

Heat razes my body as he thrusts, and I can’t hold still. I lift my hips, meeting his movements and moaning at the pleasure that burns through my body.

“D-Don’t stop,” I beg as our pace quickens. I meet his every movement, moaning and digging my fingers into his shoulders.

Then, everything explodes. I fall over the edge, letting him lead me into the abyss of pleasure.

***

I curl further into the silky pillow before I pause and open my eyes. Dark, silk sheets greet me, catching me off guard. My sheets are white and five years old with a hole near one of the bottom corners.

Confused, I turn over and find a handsome man sleeping next to me.

A werewolf. I bite back the gasp that threatens to escape me as memories from last night slowly filter back into my mind. The drunken haze doesn’t fully distort the memories, and heat fills my cheeks.

The things I’d let him to do to my body… the way I let him fuck me… I’ve never let anyone touch me like that. Jackson was the only other person I’ve been with and comparing him to this man would be insulting to the man laying next to me.

Another moment from last night pops into my head. The faint memory of this man flipping me over and taking me from behind makes me bite my lip to hold back the heat and embarrassment rising inside me.

Regret also fills me, and I move as quietly as possible. I gather my cheap dress and pull it over my head quickly before slipping my shoes back on.

“Leaving so soon, beautiful?”

Gasping, I spin around to find the man standing not even a foot away. I nearly bump into him as I do.

“Um, I was just… I need to…”

“You don’t want to stay for another round?” He asks while grabbing a pair of pants from the floor. I watch him pull out a wallet, his eyes never leaving me and mine never leaving him.

“I need to leave,” I say pathetically.

“Fine,” he mutters, digs in his wallet, and pulls out a large wad of cash. “Take this, and buy yourself some better clothes.” I look down at the dress I’m wearing and remember that it’s one that I’ve had for years. It’s worn and a bit plain, but I didn’t think it was ugly.

When I don’t accept the money, he grabs my hand and slaps the bills down in my palm. A consuming sense of shame falls over me. It doesn’t feel like he’s paying for my clothes. The thought has my face heating up.

He’s the typical arrogant werewolf, thinking everything they do is to be accepted.

“I don’t want your money,” I tell him, shoving it back into his hands. He stares at me for a moment before grabbing my wrist, turning my hand over, and putting the money back in my hand.

Knowing I can’t win a battle of strength, I fold the money and put it back in his wallet. Then, before he can do anything else, I turn and dart out of the room. I need to leave this house before anything else happens.

He’s a werewolf, someone so much stronger than me. He could have easily forced me to take the money, or he could have easily torn me apart for offending him.

Though, as I walk, I can’t bring myself to care. He slept with me and then basically wanted to pay for it.

It’s clear he didn’t see me as anything other than a plaything.

My phone rings, bringing me back from my thoughts. I answer.

“Is this Aurora Roberts?”

“This is she.”

“I’m calling with a reminder that the last day to pay off your loan is today...”

I stumble at her words. I borrowed ten thousand before, and now the loan term is already over? It hasn’t been long since Jackson helped me get the loan, so I thought I had more time. My sister’s kidney disease worsened suddenly a few months ago, and I didn’t have enough money to pay the bills. That’s when Jackson’s family recommended a loan.

Since then, I’ve been saving money from what Jackson paid me for being his assistant.

The woman hangs up without a greeting and leaves me to panic on my own. I don’t have ten thousand dollars.

Shoving my phone in my pocket, I take off running toward Jackson’s house. All my remaining money is there. I’d planned to save it for the wedding, so I kept it with Jackson.

Now, I need to take it back.

“Jackson!” I bang on his front door until he opens it.

“Shut it. Why are you so loud?” He grumbles in irritation, but he pauses, looks me up and down, and growls. “Who the hell did you sleep with?!”