Page 50 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

“Good.”

My chest tightened with regret and something I couldn’t name but felt a lot like panic…but not.

“I sold them. All the other clothes you gave me. I’ll do the same with these. So don’t buy me anything else, okay?”

His mask was in place as he studied me and slowly nodded.

“Okay. I’m sorry I didn’t ask first.”

“No, it’s fine that you bought these. You’re right about dressing the part for a while. I just…I wanted you to know nothing’s changed. I still want to leave for school.”

His gaze swept over my clothes.

“I understand.”

“Good. Then can you leave so I can get dressed?”

My back was against the wall, and my hands were pinned over my head a second later. I scowled up at Bennett and tried to stomp on his foot. He was ready and faster than me.

“I thought we’d moved past this,” I said.

He dipped his head, his lips brushing my ear, which sent a jolt of hyper-awareness through my nervous system.

“I thought you didn’t want to live in an apartment with me at school. Weren’t you trying to kiss me last week? I’m ready to start the timer.” His lips skimmed my neck, and heat burst inside my chest at the contact. My eyes started to close as the warmth spread outward, stealing my breath.

He growled and trailed a path of light kisses along my jaw, getting closer to my mouth. The heat increased along with my confusion and a growing panic.

“Wait,” I breathed.

His lips immediately left my skin.

Panting, I opened my eyes and found him watching me.

“The timer doesn’t start until my lips are on yours, Wrenly.” His gaze dipped to my mouth.

“No. No timer.”

His slow smile sent another pulse of heat through me.

“I mean, no kissing.” I pushed at his chest with mine since he had my hands, but he didn’t budge.

“Your towel’s loose again. Close your eyes.”

I listened.

He stepped away, and the towel fell.

Why did I listen?

His lips skimmed my collarbone, then the top of my breast.

My next inhale was more of a wheeze than a breath.

“Shh. It’s okay. You’re safe with me, Wrenly. Always.”

His lips moved to my forehead.

“I can smell your nervousness. Then your desire. Do you know what’s missing?”

“My fucking towel!”

He chuckled. “Fear, baby. You weren’t afraid.”

“You’re going to be if you don’t let go of my hands now.”

His hold disappeared. The door to my room clicked shut, and I opened my eyes. He’d actually left. On trembling limbs, I bent and grabbed my towel.

It took three tries to get my underwear on, and my bra tried to strangle me, but I managed to dress myself in what Bennett had set out. I even applied some makeup again and styled my hair in a loose yet artful bun.

He was waiting in the hallway when I opened the door. His gaze swept the length of me. The intensity of his gaze stirred the memory of his mouth on my skin, and I felt my face start to flush.

“Would it upset you if I said you look beautiful?” he asked.

“No. Why do you think it would?”

“Because I know you don’t like those clothes.”

“I guess then my reaction depends on if you’re complimenting me only because of the clothes and the makeup I put on.”

He took a step toward me, and I quickly retreated. Rather than backing away, he moved super fast and had me against the wall with my hands over my head again.

My pulse spiked, but not with annoyance. Why was I liking this? Was I that twisted? I hated being held down. But he wasn’t really holding me down. He was holding me still so he could dip his head toward my neck and breathe in my scent.

I shivered.

He groaned.

“I wish you were bribable,” he said. “I would give anything for you to say yes to a kiss right now.”

My thoughts scrambled as he breathed in deeply again, lightly brushing his nose against my skin, then his lips.

“Bennett…”

“Tell me what you want,” he said.

I wanted him to touch me, which didn’t make sense because he already was.

“I don’t know…”

He swore under his breath, and his lips covered mine a second later. Gentle. Testing. Teasing. Kiss by tender kiss, he coaxed me until I opened my mouth and let him in.

He growled a second before his tongue swept against mine.

My head swam with how it felt to be kissed by Bennett.

It felt like I was falling but being caught at the same time.

My senses were in chaos, but centered, too.

On him. On the sweep of his tongue. On the heat building inside of me, and the gentle way he was holding my hands and my cheek.

When he pulled away a few minutes later, I was breathing heavily and dazed.

He looked into my eyes, searching for something. Whatever he saw there had his mask slipping back into place.

I frowned at him.

“I hate when you do that.”

“You’d hate it even more if you knew how desperate that kiss made me.”

His hold on my wrists loosened, and he brought my hands between us, rubbing his way up my arms from wrists to shoulders. It evaporated any annoyance that had risen.

“Can we try again?” he asked.

Confused, all I could say was, “Huh?”

“We were short of the five minutes.”

My pulse stumbled a beat at the thought of kissing like that again.

“We’re going to be late,” I said.

“We can work from home today.”

“What? No way. You said?—”

He sighed and kissed my forehead.

“Then we should leave now before I change my mind and try to convince you that a day in bed with me would be more pleasurable than what’s waiting at work.”

He threaded his fingers through mine and led me from the room.

The touching didn’t stop there. He brushed my hair back from my face once I was in the car. He buckled me in, too, and kissed the side of my neck before he retreated. Every touch left a subtle tingle in its wake.

“That kiss wasn’t an invitation to do what you wanted,” I said as he drove us to work. “Please keep your hands to yourself once we reach the office.”

He parked in his parking spot and, instead of getting out, turned toward me. I saw his intent as he reached for me, but he was too fast to avoid. One hand cradled the back of my head while his mouth devoured mine. His free hand kneaded my side, adding to the heat of his kiss.

The contact overwhelmed me and fried any logical thoughts. Clutching his shoulders, I held on for dear life, sinking into the desire he was coaxing from me with each swipe of his tongue.

When he pulled away this time, he was breathing just as hard. He set his forehead against mine. I felt the fine tremors running through him.

“If you shift in here, I’ll be hurt,” I said.

He nodded but didn’t let go. I held still as he took a few deep breaths and worked to bring himself under control again.

With a final kiss to my brow, he released me and got out to open my door.

I was quick to step away from him when his gaze dipped to my mouth.

“If you kiss me again, you sleep in your own bed tonight,” I said.

He chuckled and held up his hands.

“I’ll try to restrain myself.”

I gave him a doubtful look before heading toward the elevator.

The main elevator banks were still crowded when we reached them. A few women from the office were present, including Olivia. Her pupils dilated when our gazes locked. She looked away first.

Bennett kept me close in the elevator. He trailed a finger down my bare arm. I brushed his touch away and shot him a warning glare. He smiled, and his hand settled on my lower back. I elbowed him.

He grunted as if I’d hurt him, but I knew better.

“So Wrenly is your mate?” Olivia asked when the elevator emptied of everyone but the three of us.

“Yes,” Bennett said at the same time I said, “No.”

Olivia’s gaze shifted to me. “I thought you were supposed to be smart. Say the word, and I’ll willingly take your place.”

I opened my mouth to tell her to go for it, but Bennett's hand covered it.

“We’re still negotiating terms,” Bennett said. “For your safety, please refrain from interfering.”

“When you’re ready to consider more cooperative options, let me know.”

The doors opened, and she got out. Bennett waited for the doors to close before pinning me to the elevator wall and leaning over me.

“No sending other women to me, Wrenly. It’ll be dangerous for everyone involved now. Do you understand?”

I snorted. “More dangerous than before? I doubt that.”

His free hand settled on my side, gently kneading a path upward toward my breast.

My lips parted. From shock or sensation, I couldn’t be sure.

He ducked down and kissed me swiftly before releasing me and walking out the now open doors. He paused, waiting for me to follow. The fog his kiss had started disappeared when we reached the cubicles, and every woman there was staring at us.

Internally sighing, I kept my head up and walked past without a backward glance.

Bennett had no idea what kind of target he’d painted on me by declaring me his mate.

If I were lucky, the worst I’d face is a bucket of water thrown over the bathroom stall.

If I weren’t, I would likely wear another scar before I headed off to university.

Walking past my desk, I went straight into his office and closed the door behind me.

He stopped and watched me warily, sensing the shift in my mood.

“Why did you tell Olivia I was your mate?” I asked.

“She could smell me on you. It’s safer for you if she understands that I see you as a mate rather than her thinking that you’re trying to seduce me.” He tucked his hands into his pockets. “But you’re welcome to seduce me if you’d like.”

Even though the first part made sense to a degree, I rolled my eyes at him for the second part.

“No thank you. And I’m not sure potential mate is any safer than seductress. They’ll see me as competition either way. Calling me your sister would be safer.”

“You’re not my sister, Wrenly,” he said without heat. “You’ll never be my sister.”

“Still noted. Keep your blinds open from now on.”

I opened the door and found Miranda on the other side. She looked from me to Bennett and back again.

“I’m here for charity details and to find out why Olivia is telling everyone you’re on your way out.”

“Big mouth said I’m his mate.”

Bennett let out an aggrieved sigh. “I kissed Wrenly in the car and knew Olivia could smell it.”

Miranda’s brows shot up. “You’ve progressed to making out in vehicles since Friday? I’m not sure I can wait until lunch for details.”

“No skipping out of work today,” Bennett said. “I need Wrenly close by.”

Miranda smirked. “I bet you do.”

I turned her around and pushed her toward my desk with me. His chuckle followed.

“Close your door, Bennett.”

He did, and I faced Miranda.

“Did you change your mind?” she asked.

“No.”

“Ah. Then you’re meeting his?—”

The blinds snapped open. She grinned and waved at Bennett.

“Why does he need you to stick around today?”

I turned on my laptop and put my purse away.

“Because the charity auction was a disaster. The main villain from my origin story arranged for people to drug and rape me. Bennett stopped the rape but not the drugging.”

“Sweet moon goddess…how is he so calm?”

I shrugged. “Probably because he’s already paying back the person responsible, which is why he wants me here. He thinks she or her parents will show up today.”

“Okay, I don’t know the backstory, but I’m already invested in the outcome.”

She strode to the door and opened it without knocking. I saw Bennett look up in surprise.

“You okay with me moving my stuff next to Wrenly for a few days?”

“Yes.”

She closed the door. “Make some room. I’m sticking to you like glue. This is going to be better than the dramas I watch after work.”