“I’m going to hold you to that. I’m going to leave you with one crucial piece of information. The Alpha is always watching. There are spies everywhere waiting to pounce on their opportunity to climb into a position of power. Don’t give them the satisfaction.”
“I’ve known for quite some time there are eyes and ears everywhere.” I was careful, but being reckless with abandon was becoming a guilty pleasure. “We may not be able to see them, but the Alpha has in the past used humans to trap unsuspecting prey. I’ve always considered myself as strong as the Alpha. I could easily take his position when he vacates it.”
The only way that was going to happen was with his imminent death. I wasn’t even the first in the line of succession. It would’ve taken a hostile takeover the likes the bears had never seen before. I wasn’t ready to maneuver myself into a necessary battle to the death.
“I wouldn’t say that too loud. He might consider you a threat and have this need to eliminate you before you become more than a voice in the crowd. He has the numbers and we are barely on his radar. I would like to keep it that way.” Logan was apprehensive about taking on an entity like the Alpha. I couldn’t blame him for his reaction.
“Those who have tried to take it from him by force have regretted it. It’s just talk.” I moved closer to him and whispered into his ear. “It’s only talk until my plans come together. We’ve always been about looking at the bigger picture. The pieces on the chessboard are going to take some time to maneuver in our favor.”
Logan was always happy to make sure my feet were firmly planted on the ground. He nodded and we touched foreheads in a bond that was deeper than brothers. There was only one I could trust with my grand scheme. I could only hope his friendship would persevere regardless of my self-destructive streak.
I wanted to be free, but it wasn’t that easy. The only way to get out from underneath the Alpha’s thumb was to pry it loose by bodily force. This relationship with Roseanne came with some pitfalls yet to be discovered.
“Tread very carefully. You are walking on thin ice and you don’t even know it.” He closed the door, but I knew he wanted to emphasize his feelings by slamming it.
He wasn’t about to make a scene and have rumors swirling about dissension amongst the ranks. His words stung like somebody had slapped me across the face.
It came over me suddenly and without warning. I stumbled and knocked over a priceless artifact from the Ming dynasty. The vase shattered upon contact with the floor, scattering into a million pieces. It was one of my favorites. The colors would change during the course of the day.
My bones began to crack and the transformation was more than just painful. It was excruciating. I was always able to control it, but this time it rivaled the full moon. I felt the effect of the beast clawing its way to freedom.
My body began to expand, stretching against the material of my suit. It would’ve been quite problematic had somebody walked in at that moment. The door wasn’t locked and the possibility of getting caught was making things impossible to contain.
The sound of my shirt and my jacket ripping down the middle had me falling on my knees. I looked down at my hands to see the claws stretching from my fingertips. I slammed them down onto the floor, digging in and leaving behind a reminder of what happens when I didn’t hold things back.
“Mr. Snowdon… is everything all right in there?” Clara must’ve heard something when she was walking by the door. I stared at the door with my eyes ablaze in yellow.
“I’m perfectly fine. There’s nothing to worry about. I tripped and broke something.” I could still hear her heartbeat outside the door. She must’ve been debating on whether or not to come in. She decided against it.
Her footsteps receded and then they returned. She swung the door open and found me sitting at my desk, shuffling the papers in front of me.
“I don’t appreciate you barging in unannounced. I would rather not be disturbed.” I was hiding my features.
She took a few tentative steps forward before deciding to air on the side of caution. “I apologize. It will never happen again.” She left and I was able to calm the chaos in my mind.
It was a good thing the windows were tinted so that nobody could see from the outside. Anybody with a high-powered pair of binoculars or telescope would’ve gotten a rude awakening.
Chapter Thirteen - Roseanne
I met him at the restaurant and he was sitting with a glass of champagne. Lying on the table was one white rose. It was uniquely perfect and had me picking it up to look at it from every angle. The petals were soft to the touch. One perfect white rose was better than a bouquet of twelve. It showed he understood how the flaws of each individual flower could stand on its own.
“I feel we have something to celebrate. I took the liberty of ordering a bottle of champagne. We won’t be driving, which makes it easier for us to indulge a little. The chef has informed me his homemade pasta is to die for.” He had on a blue sports coat making his shoulders look even bigger than they were when he had no clothes on.
I was wearing a purple leather skirt. His eyes told me his favorite color was exactly what I was wearing. The white blouse didn’t exactly hide the girls from being discovered by his greedy eyes. The pink bra and panties to match were going to be his to see, but only if he played his cards right.
“I don’t know about having something to celebrate, but I do need something to take the edge off. You make me nervous every time that I’m around you.” I sat down trying to avoid eye contact. “I’m not saying that to insult you. It’s the exact opposite.” I somewhat regretted what we had done already, but at the same time felt this need that only he could satisfy.
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. I’m not going to attack you right here in the restaurant. I do have a modicum of restraint when it comes to my overactive libido. There’s always time to explore sexually.” He was being nice and giving me room to breathe.
“I know I can trust you, but I’ve had problems with boyfriends who think that I’m some sort of possession. I wish that sometimes they would take a page from your book.” I didn’t want to talk about the elephant in the room. He already knew too much, but maybe it would be better to put all of my cards on the table.
“I would never treat you like I own you. I can’t condone those men who feel insecure and need to enforce their will on a woman. I'm confident, and I don’t have to show it by manhandling a woman. I will say, the possibility of being with a woman more than once has only been in the back of my mind. Nobody truly makes me feel like you do.” His voice was melodic, but I didn’t want to get caught into thinking he was the one. It was a dangerous path and one that was fraught with disappointment.
“I wish I could believe you. I know I can tell you anything.” I took a few more sips from the glass, savoring the taste and letting the alcohol give me the courage to continue.
“I know you’re trying not to say something. Does this have anything to do with your ex-boyfriend? To be honest, he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy you would be interested in. I don’t know what happened to make you settle for somebody like him, but maybe you didn’t see the true face of the man until it was too late.” He was pretty good at putting the puzzle pieces together.
All I could do was nod in confirmation to his assumption. “I’ve always believed everything happens for a reason. I don’t necessarily hate Jason. I’ve come to some painful conclusions. We will never be right for one another. There’s something inherently wrong with him and I hope that he finds someone who will be able to stand with him in this life.” I was giving him excuses. I was getting a little sick and tired of making myself look like the bad guy.
“I hate to say this, but men like him will never change their outlook on women. We might be different, but we click where it matters. In business, I have to admit you have become something of a blessing in disguise. Mrs. Wilson won’t say it, but I see it through her eyes that she has vastly underestimated you.”
&
nbsp; We ordered our food and I took my cue from him. I actually didn’t mind him ordering for me. The idea of trying something new appealed to my palate. I still appreciated what he said after the waiter left.
“I don’t want to be presumptuous. If there’s something that you would rather have on the menu then you won’t offend me. I never want to be that guy who tells you what to wear and what to eat. This is something I want to share with you. This will be an experience to whet your appetite for the rest of the evening.”
He was getting ahead of himself. I hadn’t even decided how the evening was going to end. The sex was amazing and no doubt would be even better the second time around, but…
The first time was a feeling-out process and he was able to find those hidden gems to make me hungry for more. The act itself was demanding. The foreplay was a nice buildup to the main event.
“I would have said something had I felt you were overstepping your authority. I admit sometimes I don’t take the time to smell the roses. These last few months have always been about Jason. His obsession has grown. He wants what he can’t have. I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up at my doorstep again.” I wasn’t suggesting that he become my personal bodyguard, but having him near made me feel safe.
“I’ve already proven no man is a match for me. Your safety is my main concern. Those who consider you weak will find out how strong you really are. I can protect you, but I don’t think I have to. Jason was the cause of your insecurity. Once you had the courage to let him go, you finally opened up your eyes to how you can be stronger on your own.”
He sounded like a fortune cookie, but everything that he said made sense in my head. My heart, on the other hand, was still a little gun-shy when it came to throwing caution to the wind.
We talked about how he would keep an eye on me, but also on those feelings we had been unable to voice without expressing ourselves physically. It was a little awkward and he stumbled over his words trying to find the right ones to convey to me the way he felt.
“I’m glad you said that. There are times I feel weak, but I know deep down I don’t have to give any man that kind of power over me.”
“Jason needs to learn women are not defined by the man they are with. A relationship is supposed to be a two-way street with compromise and affection. I would be glad to teach him how important it is to be more connected to his partner. I don’t mind making the sacrifice of beating some sense into him.”
I cringed at the notion of him tangling with Jason in his beastly form. “I thought for sure he was going to come back with the police to charge you with assault. He’s probably trying to grasp the concept of what he saw. If he’s thinking straight, he won’t want to have anything to do with you, and in turn, he won’t darken my doorstep again.”
It wasn’t just the meal, but the companionship was a pleasure. I didn’t feel I had to measure up to expectations. I was happy to report the meal was absolutely divine. There was nothing I would have changed except for a little less garlic.
“I should always try something new, but the ravioli is too good to pass up. I tried to bribe the chef into giving me the recipe to the sinfully delicious sauce, but he was not very receptive. I always thought everybody had a price, but some things are priceless.” He took my hand and he made me believe that I was one of those priceless artifacts.
He fed me from his plate and it was a little cheesy like Lady and the Tramp, but it still left me blushing two shades of red. I was a little embarrassed by his behavior, but also felt like a woman should be treated on a date.
The white linen tablecloth with the prerequisite candlelight was a perfect way to bring some romance into my life. I thought that I was immune to candlelight dinners and long walks on the beach. I was getting the feeling I had never discovered the true art of romance until Tom came into my life.
“I can’t stop thinking about last night. I’m not the kind of girl to sleep with a man I barely know. It’s funny, but I feel I already know you in a way that nobody else can. I told you your secret was safe, but it doesn’t mean that I haven’t been mulling it over. I’m guessing you’ve tried to find a cure or maybe you were born with this affliction.” I had so many questions and I wasn’t sure how to pose them without invading his personal space.
“We could talk about it, but wouldn’t you rather have a repeat performance of last night? I have never been so damn hot for someone. It’s painful to sit here with this fucking erection wondering how I’m going to get you on your back with your legs in the air.”
I looked around, afraid somebody was going to overhear, but it was as if we were in our own little world at the back of the place. “You really don’t mind saying what is on your mind. I admire the way that you don’t find it necessary to play games. It was rather sexy to hear you say those words in public. I’m having these images which I would like to make into reality.”
He raised my hand and dipped my fingers into what was left of the sauce on his plate. “Life is too short for regrets. I find something I like and I’m not afraid to say what is in my heart.” My index finger was summarily sucked into his mouth, sending a shiver of excitement down to my lower extremities. “I’ve never been in this position, but I feel you deserve more than lip service.” He licked clean my middle finger. “I’ve always been a big believer in action speaking louder than words.” Then my ring finger was sucked slowly, making my body imagine other places where I wanted his tongue. “I think last night gave you a pretty good idea of how you have affected me.” Finally, he cleaned my pinkie. It drove me wild. “Jason is a name I never want to hear cross your lips again.” Hearing that name put a bit of a damper on my libido. Tom didn’t seem like the kind of person to lie to me, not after everything that we had been through. But just that name brought back some difficult memories.
“He was the one I thought I wanted, but I know that you can treat me better than some Neanderthal pounding on his chest. I’m sure you are wondering why I wasted my time with the likes of him. There must be something damaged about me to get together with a man who treated me like shit.” I was appalled by the curse coming out of my mouth, but it was the only way to make my feelings abundantly clear.
Chapter Fourteen - Tom
I watched her nervously sit there with her compact in her hand applying just a whisper of makeup. She had this natural beauty that was hard to ignore. I wanted her to know everything. I didn’t care about the consequences or the possibility of the Alpha having somebody watching me at all times.
“You had some questions I was reluctant to answer. I haven’t always been a shifter. I don’t remember what happened, but I was very young at the time. I was changed into something that wasn’t human. I remember blurs of an attack on my family during a camping trip. The Alpha was responsible. I was raised knowing he had my parents’ blood on his hands.”
I didn’t want this relationship to end up in disaster like all the others. Something was nagging at me. I knew being with Roseanne would give the Alpha a reason to step in where he didn’t belong.
“It must’ve been hard to be raised by those who killed your family. I can’t even imagine.”
There was no way I could find vengeance. The closure I was looking for was left out of my reach. “It was worse when I was living with them. I can’t say the idea of killing him hasn’t entered into my mind from time to time. Logan has always been there to keep me from doing something reckless and impulsive. I credit him for keeping me breathing.”
Roseanne was the only one to ever crack into the real reason of my animosity toward the Alpha. Not even Logan had any idea what kind of deep-seated hatred burned in my veins.
“I know I’m probably going to regret asking this, but why would you let him get away with it?”
I clearly knew how to fight, but the answer was more complex. “Fighting him was never the problem. I’ve always suspected I was a more accomplished warrior. I could kill him, but then the vacuum of power left behind would have to be filled by someon
e. It is sometimes better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.”
It was an excuse to avoid the inevitable. I knew the cost of killing the Alpha. I wasn’t sure I wanted to pay the price. I wasn’t afraid to die, but I was afraid to leave him behind gloating. I made him believe things between us were amicable.
“I hope you don’t take this the wrong way,” she said, “but that’s a cop-out. I can’t begin to understand the loss of your parents. Nobody can unless they have walked a mile in your shoes. History has a tendency to repeat itself, though.”
I did wonder if the Alpha was waiting for the right opportunity to finish the job. I was an experiment. He thought I was complacent. He was wrong.
“There’s a part of me that wants him to come after me. I want the chance to make my parents proud of me. This has been a curse and a blessing.” I could feel the beast itching for the chance to do battle in its natural form.
“What stops you from showing him there are consequences for his actions?” She was peeling back the layers to see the truth underneath. Getting me to open up was something no woman had ever been able to do.
“It’s what I see in his eyes every time he looks at me. I swear he’s waiting for the day to come when we finally air our dirty laundry. I have him looking over his shoulder, waiting for me to come. I want him to taste the anticipation of battle in the air.” I was starting to understand the reason why I lost myself not only during the full moon but also during passionate encounters.
“You definitely have some unresolved issues. I’m willing to listen, but I can’t judge you for how you feel. Anybody would feel the same way.”
There were others who had been sired by the Alpha. Those who faced him for their pound of flesh were never ready for the ice water running through his veins. He was cold and calculating. There was no wasted motion.
Daddy In Charge_A Billionaire Romance Page 8