Page 8

Adrian

Monday morning.

I should be focused. The gala is in a week, security reports need reviewing, and the threat of True Humanity looms larger with each passing day. But none of that matters right now. Not when Maya Ramirez is walking through my office, her scent curling around me like a damn siren call, making it impossible to think about anything but the way she felt in my arms that night.

My wolf is restless, pacing beneath my skin, demanding that I go to her, that I finish what we started in the forest.

We hadn't talked about it—what it meant. What we meant.

I should have said something. Asked her if she wanted this. But I hadn't. And now, in the cold light of day, I don't know where we stand.

The fear coils in my gut like a cold, heavy stone—the same fear that's haunted me since the night I lost Sarah. My sister's death taught me that loving someone means giving them the power to destroy you. My wolf bristles at these human doubts, sees only the undeniable truth—Maya is ours to protect, to claim, to cherish. Since Saturday night, these primal instincts have been riding me hard, making it impossible to think clearly. Every molecule in my body screams at me to go to her, mark her, keep her safe.

I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her—pressed against me, her breath warm against my lips, her hands clutching my shoulders, pulling me closer instead of pushing me away. Mine.

The word hums through me like a drumbeat, primal and absolute.

I shove the thought down, gripping the edge of my desk until the wood creaks in protest. Sawyer and Eli are expecting a full breakdown of our intel later this morning, and I need my head in the game. The hunters are getting bolder, their presence near Whispering Pines an undeniable threat. The gala is a prime target, and if they plan on making a move—

Maya walks past my office again, oblivious to the way my eyes track her. She's wearing a fitted black blouse and a high-waisted skirt, her dark curls piled into a loose bun at the nape of her neck. Professional. Sophisticated. The sight of that exposed curve of her neck makes my wolf snarl.

She doesn't look at me, but I know she feels me watching. The way she tenses slightly, the way her pulse jumps beneath the delicate skin of her throat—it's enough to send my control slipping.

When she disappears into the copy room, I don't think. I move.

The moment the door closes behind me, I lock it. The click seems too loud in the small space.

Maya turns, startled, her amber eyes widening slightly when she sees me standing there. Beyond the door, I can hear the murmur of voices, the steady thrum of office life continuing just feet away. The forbidden nature of this moment crackles between us like electricity.

"Adrian—" Her voice wavers, uncertain.

I step forward, closing the distance between us until she's backed against the counter, my hands braced on either side of her, caging her in. The copy machine hums behind her, a steady counterpoint to our uneven breathing.

Her breath hitches. "We shouldn't—"

"Tell me to stop." The words come out rough, desperate. "Tell me you don't want this, and I'll walk away."

Footsteps pass by the door. We both freeze, hearts racing. Maya's fingers curl into my shirt, but I can't tell if she means to push me away or pull me closer.

When the footsteps fade, she looks up at me. The war in her eyes mirrors my own—desire warring with propriety, need fighting common sense.

"I—" She swallows hard. "I can't tell you that."

Something inside me snaps.

I cup her jaw, tilting her head up, and claim her mouth with mine. The kiss is deep, hungry, possessive—a battle for dominance that neither of us is willing to lose. She gasps against me, her hands fisting in my shirt as I press her back against the counter.

My hands skim down her sides, tracing the curve of her waist, pulling her closer until there's no space left between us. She's warm, soft, perfect against me. When she arches into my touch, a growl rumbles in my chest, too loud for our precarious situation.

"Shh," she breathes against my lips, even as she hooks her fingers through my belt loops, keeping me close. The gesture is maddening—telling me to be quiet while making it impossible to maintain any semblance of control.

Someone laughs in the hallway. Maya tenses, but I don't let her pull away. Instead, I trail kisses down her throat, feeling her pulse race beneath my lips. Her head falls back, giving me better access, even as she whispers, "We're going to get caught."

"Let them catch us." I nip at her skin, gentle enough not to leave a mark, but enough to make her shiver. My wolf snarls in satisfaction at her reaction.

Maya's hands slide up my chest, and for a moment, I think she's finally going to push me away. Instead, she tangles her fingers in my hair and pulls my mouth back to hers. The kiss is fiercer this time, demanding, like she's done fighting whatever this is between us.

The copy machine beeps loudly, making us both jump. Maya laughs softly against my lips, the sound both nervous and aroused. "Your entire office is going to know."

"I don't care." And I don't. Let them hear. Let them see.

I slip my hands under her skirt, feeling the smooth skin of her thighs. Maya gasps, her eyes widening as she realizes what I'm about to do. "Adrian, we can't—" she starts, but her words turn into a moan as I trail my fingers higher, brushing against the lace of her underwear.

"Shh," I murmur, capturing her mouth in another kiss. She melts against me, her body responding even as her mind protests. I hook my fingers into the side of her panties, just enough to give me access.

She's already wet, already ready. I run my fingers along her folds, feeling her shudder against me. Her grip on my hair tightens, her eyes fluttering closed as she tries to keep quiet.

I circle her clit with my thumb, applying just enough pressure to make her gasp. Her hips buck against my hand, seeking more friction, more contact. I oblige, sliding two fingers inside her, curling them slightly to hit that spot that makes her breath hitch and her body tremble.

"Oh god," she whispers, her head falling back against the wall. I can feel her tightening around my fingers, her body coiling with tension. She's close, so close.

I lean in, capturing her mouth with mine, swallowing her moans as I pump my fingers in and out of her, my thumb never leaving her clit. She's writhing against me now, her body tense and shaking, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

And then she comes. Her body convulses, her inner muscles clamping down on my fingers as she rides out her orgasm. I can feel her pulsing around me, her wetness coating my hand. It's the sexiest thing I've ever felt.

I slow my movements, letting her come down from her high. When she opens her eyes, they're glazed and satisfied, a small smile playing on her lips. I can't help but smile back, a sense of male pride washing over me. I did that. I made her feel that good.

I withdraw my fingers, and she watches as I bring them to my mouth, licking her taste from them. Her eyes darken, her breath hitching again as she watches me. I can see the desire building in her again, the need for more.

I reach for my belt, ready to give her what she wants, what we both want.

A sharp knock on the door shatters the moment.

"Mr. Blackwell?" It's Sarah from accounting. "The investors are waiting in the conference room."

I rest my forehead against Maya's, both of us breathing hard. Reality crashes back in, but I can't make myself move away from her. Not yet.

“Come with me tonight.”

Maya hesitates. “I have a last-minute catering meeting after work.”

My grip on her waist tightens for a moment before I force himself to release her. “What about after?”

“Okay,” she whispers, smoothing down my shirt with trembling hands. “Now, go.”

I catch her wrist, pressing a kiss to her palm. "This isn't over."

Her eyes darken. "It better not be."

???

An hour later, I'm in my office with Eli and Sawyer, going over security plans for the gala. The conversation is serious—we still don't know what True Humanity is planning, and that uncertainty has us all on edge.

"Something's coming," Sawyer says, frowning at the scattered reports on my desk. "They're too quiet. When hunters go silent like this..."

"They're planning something big," Eli finishes, his usual playful demeanor replaced by focused intensity. "Question is, what?"

I'm about to respond when Maya's scent hits me—lavender and pine, growing stronger. My wolf stirs, and I force myself to remain still as she enters without knocking. As always.

She approaches my desk with the file I requested earlier, and something in her walk—that slight sway of her hips, the determined lift of her chin—makes my mouth go dry.

"Here's the property assessment you needed," she says, extending the file.

Our fingers brush as I take it. The contact is brief, barely a whisper of skin against skin, but electricity shoots through me. Maya tenses, her breath catching. Her pulse—which I shouldn't be tracking but am—speeds up slightly.

Her amber eyes meet mine for a fraction of a second, and in that moment, I want nothing more than to pull her closer, to—

She breaks away first, turning quickly. "If that's all..."

"Thank you," I manage, my voice rougher than intended.

The door closes behind her, but her scent lingers, tormenting me. I grip the file too tightly, leaving slight creases in the corners.

Eli lets out a low whistle. "Damn, brother. You've got it bad."

I shoot him a warning glare. "We were discussing security."

"Oh no," Eli leans back, crossing his arms with that infuriating smirk. "We're definitely discussing how you're completely obsessed with your assistant."

"I'm not—"

"Your eyes follow her everywhere," Sawyer interrupts, his tone matter-of-fact. "Your wolf responds to her presence before she even enters a room." He pauses, studying me. "She's your mate."

It's not a question. I don't deny it.

The silence stretches between us, heavy with understanding. They both know what I'm not saying—what I'm fighting against. The memory of blood and gunshots, of arriving too late to save my sister, still haunts me.

"You can't protect her by pushing her away," Eli says quietly.

I stand, pacing to the window. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across Whispering Pines, the town I built to keep others safe. "I can't lose anyone else."

"Do you trust someone else to protect her better than you?" Sawyer's question is blunt, cutting through my brooding.

The answer comes without hesitation. "No."

"Then stop fighting it," Eli says. "You're all in, whether you admit it or not."

I turn back to face them, decision crystallizing. They're right. I've been holding back, letting fear dictate my choices. But Maya... she deserves more than my hesitation. She deserves everything.

Tonight, when I see Maya, I'm done holding back. She'll know exactly where we stand.

And may the gods help anyone who tries to come between us.