Page 27 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

A hand waved in front of my face, breaking my focus from the numbers on my screen. Startled, I looked up at Miranda as I pulled out an earbud.

“Sorry,” I said.

“Dress and shoes,” she said, lifting both bags.

“I really appreciate you shopping for me. Would you mind hanging them up in Bennett’s bathroom when you give him back his card?”

Her gaze slid to Bennett’s open office door as I put my earbud back in and looked down at my screen. Could I have done both of those things? Yes, but I didn’t want to. She did.

She moved away, and as tempted as I was to remove an earbud and listen, I didn’t. The blinds were open, and I’d caught Bennett watching me several times already this afternoon. So I focused on my spreadsheet and waited for some kind of explosion.

Miranda passed my desk several minutes later. Although I didn’t look up to gauge her mood, it seemed like a relatively peaceful exit.

My phone pinged with a new message. I glanced at it.

Bennett: Don’t you want to check what she bought?

Me: I’ll check after five.

Bennett: What if it doesn’t fit?

Me: Then I’ll ask Mom to pick a different restaurant.

Had I not already upset her, I would have made that suggestion first, but I was playing nice. I really wanted tonight’s conversation to go well. It was no longer about permission but about acceptance. I was going to attend the university I chose.

At five on the dot, Bennett came out and knocked on my desk to gain my attention.

“Go change,” he said as soon as I pulled my earbuds out. “Let me know if you need help with anything.”

Miranda came around the corner just then.

“Miranda can help me,” I said quickly. “Right?”

She looked from me to Bennett

“That’s why I came back here,” she said, offering him a sweet smile he didn’t even notice.

“Thanks. I’ll call if I need anything.”

I darted around Bennett and claimed his bathroom for the next ten minutes.

My hands weren’t in the best shape for the dress that Miranda picked out.

The apron neckline had a tiny button at the back of my neck that I couldn’t quite manage, and the snug mini skirt required a little tugging to get it into place, but the dress itself wasn’t awful.

With the exposed shoulders and the entire back cut out, it required me to ditch my bra, which I didn’t mind. Thankfully, the sheer front slit overskirt helped me feel less exposed.

“I need help with the button,” I called.

Instead of Miranda, Bennett opened the door.

“Where’s Miranda?”

“Not here. It’s me or nothing.”

Play nice, I reminded myself.

With a sigh, I lifted my hair and turned away from him. His fingers skimmed my back, dragging up toward the neckline at the same time as something brushed my neck above the button.

Panic exploded inside of me.

Pivoting, I raised my hands, ready to push him away, but he was just standing there, hands at his sides like nothing happened. I knew something had happened, though. My neck was still tingling from the ghosted brush of his lips.

I wasn’t crazy. I knew what I’d felt.

“I’ll figure out the button on my own.”

He spun me around and had my wrists pinned against the wall a second later. This time, I was facing away from him. My breath whooshed out of me.

The only thing stopping me from freaking out was the fact that he wasn’t pressing me against the wall. Just carefully holding my hands there.

“This is why I don’t trust you,” I said, my voice shaking.

His other hand brushed my hair over my shoulder and expertly fished the button through the tiny hole.

“This isn’t why you don’t trust me, Wrenly,” he said close to my ear. “You haven’t trusted me since you came home. Why?”

His fingers trailed over my shoulder, and my panic spiked. I tore a hand free from his hold and drove my elbow into his ribs without thinking. Pain exploded.

“Dammit!” I yelled, immediately cradling it.

He spun me around and tried extending my arm.

“Stop manhandling me.”

“I just want to make sure it’s?—”

“Not your problem. Back off, Bennett, or I’m going to have a lot worse than a bruised elbow.”

He inhaled deeply. “Why are you afraid, Wrenly? Do you think I’m going to hurt you?”

I closed my eyes, willing myself not to give away more than I had.

Be angry, Wren. Angry is safe.

Focusing on the pain, I let anger take control.

“Why is my elbow bruised, Bennett?”

“Because you elbowed me instead of using your words.”

My eyes snapped open, and I glared at him. “Take me to dinner before I try strangling you and hurt my hands more than they already are.”

His gaze swept over my face, and I saw a hint of his frustration, but he moved aside instead of getting angry.

“Thank you,” I said.

Miranda was sitting at my desk when I strode out. I glared at her, knowing she’d heard it all and hadn’t done anything. Although it may have been a little ridiculous of me to expect her to. Likely, it would have gone against whatever Bennett had told her to do.

Her gaze bounced between me and Bennett as I passed her.

“Thank you for your help, Miranda,” Bennett said behind me. “The dress looks good. Mom will be happy.”

“Glad to help,” I heard her say.

Him, but not me, obviously.

But what did I expect? We both knew that was why she’d gotten the dress—to impress him.

Bennett followed me to the elevator and didn’t say anything until we were inside alone.

“You look really pretty,” he said.

“Gee, thanks. I’ve now achieved my purpose in life, looking pretty,” I said.

In the reflection of the polished metal, I saw him close his eyes and tip his head back. Why did seeing his exposed throat make me want to karate chop it so badly?

The doors opened, and more people got on. I was forced to move closer to Bennett as it grew more crowded. My pulse jumped each time his fingers brushed my skin, and I was ready to push my way out the doors the second it reached the lobby.

He held me back by snagging my collar. I glared at him. He scowled in return, and I realized I needed to calm down.

It’s just a casual touch. You’re overreacting. Allies, not enemies, Wrenly. You need allies.

I relaxed my jaw, then my tongue, setting it lightly against my teeth, and focused on each inhale and exhale as we made our way to the next elevator.

He touched you while buttoning your dress. It happens. That brush you felt was probably a stray piece of hair, not his lips. Your imagination is overactive because of last night’s paranoia.

Bennett watched me closely as we rode the elevator down to the parking garage with a few other employees. Those few minutes were what I needed, though.

By the time we reached our car, I’d talked myself into a more positive mood.

“Thank you,” I said as he opened the door for me.

“You’re welcome.”

His mask was back in place, probably because I’d given him whiplash with my fast mood swing.

“Did Mom talk to you about dinner tonight?” I asked once he was on the road.

“She did.”

“What are the chances they’re going to hear what I have to say?”

“I’d say very good.”

“Good.”

“Mom said you applied to several colleges already. Any in the city?”

“No.”

“Why not? Hildcrask is one of the best in the country. It has a Social Science degree and the best graduating employment rate for the program.”

“It does,” I said calmly, glad I could practice my counter-argument on Bennett first. “However, Hildcrask is too connected to the power players in the city, including the Wulf family. Even though my last name is Belak, I’m still tied to the Wulf family and want to go somewhere where the Wulf name isn’t well-known.

That way, I know without a doubt that my association with a powerful family doesn’t influence the people around me.

“I want to know I can stand on my own.”

“Is it really that bad to be associated with the Wulf name?” Bennett asked.

“It’s not about being good or bad. It’s about having the freedom to choose my own path in life.”

The steering wheel crackled, and I looked over at his white-knuckled grip.

He knows I’m going to upset Mom again by wanting to leave. That’s all that means. Don’t panic. You need to coax him to your side, or you will never leave this place.

I slowly let out a breath and smiled, attempting to evoke a calm, happy state of mind.

“Do you know what I’m looking forward to? Walking to a gas station and buying junk food. I like the idea of stockpiling some chips, chocolate, and cola and then studying for hours.” I turned toward him. “If you had to pick three items from a gas station to help you study, what would you pick?”

His hold on the steering wheel didn’t relax as he frowned at the road ahead.

“I don’t think anything there would help me focus,” he said. “I need my mate, Wrenly. That’s it.”

My stomach dropped, and I faced forward again, losing my smile.

“How long until we get there?” I asked.

“Soon.”

The rest of the ride passed in silence. When he pulled in front of one of the grand buildings on the other side of downtown, I wished the night were already over.

A valet jogged around to Bennett’s side of the car as soon as he parked in front.

Bennett got out and handed the keys to the guy as another valet moved to open my door.

“She’s mine,” Bennett said with a growl in his voice.

My stunned gaze met the man’s through the window before he quickly backed away.

Bennett didn’t mean it like that. He’s just protective because I kept getting hurt.

I loosely fisted my trembling hands in my lap and focused on my breathing while staring at the door handle and debating opening my own damn door. Bennett walked faster than I could decide, though.

He opened it and held out his hand. I moved to get out on my own, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my way.

“Take it, Wrenly,” he said.

Play nice. Just get through tonight.

I reluctantly placed my hand into his and pretended like it wasn’t shaking like crazy. His warm fingers closed over mine, steadying me as he backed up a step so I could stand.

Then he leaned in until his mouth was close to my ear.