Chapter 10: Unsettled Desires

Nathan

I scrolled on my laptop through the endless stream of numbers and contracts. I had so much work to do, but my focus was not on anything relating to work.

My eyes drifted up from my screen. She sat across the room behind her desk, her head tilted slightly as she studied the files I’d given to her earlier. The pen in her hand tapped once, twice, before she caught it in between her lips and started chewing on it absentmindedly.

I couldn’t help the small smile that played on my lips as a flicker of amusement crossed my face, but then something else caught my attention. Watching her subconscious actions, I found her cute… no, cute was far too small of a word. She was breathtaking. She was the definition of beautiful. She was a masterpiece.

Her dark wavy hair framed her face perfectly. Her hair caught the light anytime she shifted, and it gave it a different kind of glow.

And her eyes, those green, sharp, alive eyes. Just a look from her did things to me I couldn’t explain. They were the kind of eyes that could cut through armor if you let them linger for too long.

My gaze drifted lower, despite the warnings in my head. The dress she wore fit snugly, highlighting the soft curves of her body in a way that made my throat tighten. The V-neck dipped just enough to reveal the swell of her full breasts, smooth skin exposed to the air between us. Everything about her tempted me. It was maddening.

I swallowed hard, trying to return to the workload in front of me. I had contracts to approve, clients who needed my attention, but concentrating felt useless not when her scent filled the room. Concentration slipped through my fingers like water. My mind was on the woman sitting a few feet from me, doing so many things to my mind and body without even trying. She had no idea the storm she was pulling me into.

Her pen absently tapped against her lips, her brows pinched together as she puzzled over the papers. And all I could think was how much I wanted to close the space between us, to trace the line of her jaw, to find out what she’d do if I tilted her face up toward mine.

Damn it, Nathan.

I forced my gaze back on the laptop. I clenched my knuckles as I felt myself losing every bit of control I had.

Control was everything… but yet, her sitting here, chewing on her pen like it was the most casual thing ever, made me lose even the tiniest bit of control I was holding onto.

“Kaima, are you confused?” I asked before I could stop myself. My voice came out strained, lower than I wanted it to. “Is the paperwork giving you any trouble?”

Her pen slid against her lips for a second, but she didn’t lift her head up, her eyes still on the words in front of her. Then softly, but hesitantly, she nodded a little. She said, her voice small, “I’m still trying to get the hang of real estate.” She looked so innocent when she spoke, the thought did something strange to my chest.

I bit down on the corner of my lips, fighting the urge to go closer to her, but I knew I shouldn’t. My eyes lingered on the way her lashes framed those green eyes still focused on the page. She didn’t realize how much effect she had on me.

And then finally, she lifted her head and bit down on her lips, her gaze meeting mine. “I have dyslexia,” she said quickly, almost like she was ashamed. “Sometimes it gets so hard for me to understand some things. I… I don't know why it's affecting me this much now. It started when I was a child, but after since I got my wolf and started shifting, it subsided. But now…” she trailed off, chewing on the inside of her cheek, her expression, unsure “…I don't know what's happening. Maybe it's… it's because my wolf has been restless lately and it's… affecting my mind.”

Her honesty was something I didn’t expect. I should have said nothing and just gone back to work, but instead the question slipped out before I could stop it.

“Why… is your wolf restless?” I asked, my heart beating fast against my chest.

Her lips parted like she wanted to explain, to give an answer to my question, but no sound came out. The space between us was large, but just looking at her took my breath away.

Slowly, her gaze locked on mine. The air felt thick with tension. There was so much happening without a single word being spoken.

I wanted to tear my gaze from hers, but it felt like the most impossible thing in the world.

“I’ll get myself together, Alpha Nathan, I promise,” she said, tearing her gaze from mine.

“Kaima… Nathan is just fine.” I said, my voice coming out husky.

“Yes… alph… I mean Nathan,” she corrected herself, but avoided my gaze.

I leaned back in my chair, but I still couldn’t stop staring at her. She chewed on the pen again, eyes scanning the document like it had personally offended her.

The way she bent her eyes made something inside me twist. I hated seeing her struggle this much.

Before I knew it, against my reasoning, I pushed my laptop aside, stood on my feet, and walked toward her. “Here, let me help,” I said, lowering my voice.

She glanced up at me. “No, I can handle it,” she said, protesting. “It’s nothing, I swear, I'll figure it out.” She quickly looked back down at the documents, as if afraid to meet my gaze.

“I insist, Kaima.”

Instead of taking the paper from her hands, I just tilted it towards me. My fingers brushed against hers, and just that single touch shot heat through my entire body.

“This isn’t as complicated as it looks,” I murmured, pointing at the numbers. She leaned closer, shoulder brushing mine. My pulse spiked.

When I turned my head, I found her staring at me. Her green eyes locked on mine, and in that moment, there were no words. I felt all the air vanish from my lungs. Her lips parted, and my gaze slowly dropped to them. I was losing all the control I had left.

I wanted to kiss her. Goddess help me, it felt like the right thing to do.

We were close—too close. One more inch, and my lips would have locked with hers.

She slowly and subconsciously moistened her lips and that was it for me. I leaned forward, my lips a mere inch from hers.

And just then my phone buzzed.

The tone and vibration rang through the air, shattering the moment. 

“Damnit!” Zade cursed angrily from within me, clawing on the surface as I moved back. She straightened immediately, her cheeks red, her gaze locking everywhere except at me.

What the hell almost happened?