Crossing Paths: A Brooklyn Shifters Romance Book 1

by Daphne Snow

  No, she wouldn't let him, she would just keep the long coat on the entire time. Then he wouldn't be able to judge what she wore.

  “Are you alright Miss?” Carl asked his eyes filled with worry. He looked at her through the rearview mirror.

  “Just a little nervous I guess.” She tried to chuckle but it came out strangled mixed with anxiety. He smiled.

  “So is Mr.Benson, I've never seen him this excited for something in a long time.” The old man confessed like he was telling her a secret he shouldn't have. But Frannie ever so anxiety ridden and cautious asked. “Does he take women out a lot?”

  He chuckled a moment. “No, not at all. I was worried he would never find a lovely lady honestly.” The idea of Benson with any other women really hadn't crossed Frannie's mind up until now. It made sense though. He was wealthy and handsome, he could have his pick. Any woman he wanted any model or starlet would fight for his attention. The idea made her growl. He is ours. Fey urged her thoughts. Alexander Benson belonged to them and only them.

  Could she really trust what Fey was telling her is true? Her bear had given her pause to believe her over the last few years. "Well, this is strictly a meeting." She told Carl trying to sound strong. He just smiled at her and continued to drive. She pulled out her phone looking at the text exchange between herself and Alexander.

  It was bare and seemingly unfriendly. She typed a quick text to him making sure she got her point across to herself and to him.

  This is just a dinner.

  His reply was quick.

  No it’s not.

  Chapter 8

  Francesca hadn't really thought about the dinner part of this. Not the food nor the idea of sitting down with a man in an intimate setting. Her mind had been solely on just seeing his face again. She hadn’t assumed they would pull up to the most expensive looking restaurant she had ever laid her eyes on.

  Sports and luxury cars were lined up outside. Socialites and wealthy people streaming out of them in fancy clothes. Though Fran was more of a diner kind of girl she couldn’t deny she was excited to have dinner here. She had never even stepped foot in a place where it cost more than ten dollars to have a meal. In big bright cursive writing was the name Un Méli-Mélo. She rolled the words in her mouth finding them difficult to pronounce.

  They had pulled up to the valet who had helped Fran out of the car. The wind hit her harshly and she started to see more snow falling onto the ground. She sighed, just as everything had melted a little it was snowing again. Fey shook within her disgruntled from the cold. She just hoped it wasn't a whole storm coming. She waited a moment for Carl to appear. He had handed the keys to the young man and a tip. He guided Frannie in the building and out of the blistering cold.

  Warmth surrounded her as they entered a line of folks who were waiting to be seated and speak to the Maître d. Carl just passed them all. She was taken aback feeling rude for not acknowledging the scowling faces looking at them. They approached the Maître d’s stand. He looked at us scrutinizingly.

  “Can I help you?”

  “There is a reservation for two for Benson, Alexander. Mr.Benson should already be here.” He said calmly the nerves in Frannie reigniting. If he was already here she wasn't sure she was ready to see him not after last time and not after the voicemail he had sent her. The skinny flamboyant man behind the stand scoffed and barely glanced at his book.

  “No one by that name is here. Maybe you're looking for the grab and go down the street buddy.” Carl huffed his grey mustache bristling just a bit. So he wasn’t here yet, good. She could breathe even if it was just for a few more minutes. Frannie figured she would run to the restroom while they hash this out. She needed to get her nerves together.

  “I'm going to run to the ladies room real quick.” She smiled at Carl who returned her grin before frowning back up at the insulting skinny man.

  After roaming around for a moment she finally found the bathrooms hidden behind a large curtain.She entered the female bathroom. The artfully tiled walls of red and gold were gleaming and the mirrors over the oval sinks were sparkling. The whole place smelled of lavender.

  One woman with her upturned nose and what she hoped was a faux fur coat passed by her leaving but other than her the place was empty. She tossed her little black handbook on the counter and pulled out her phone.

  She quickly texted Mina, I can't do this!

  Mina had texted her back within seconds. You can do this girl. Go get your man. There is no way he can resist you looking fine like you are!

  She was right. About her being able to do this for sure still though Benson was not 'her man'. He will accept us no matter what we are his and he is ours. Fey flooded her with reassurance Frannie didn’t know she needed from her.

  She put the phone down on the counter and looked at herself. The long coat she wore though cute was swallowing her making her look a little like one big triangle as it flared out on the bottom.

  She started to unbutton it revealing the tight dress she decided to wear that night. Much better. Tonight was gonna go one of two ways. She was either gonna blow his mind as she hoped or he was just toying with her. At least she would look sexy as fuck and he'd regret fucking with her.

  Her confidence rejuvenated, she grabbed her coat and purse and left the bathroom. Her head held high, she didn't notice the hunched back of a man passing by. She ran into him abruptly, causing a loud crash to the ground.

  She looked down worried, the man hadn't fallen but he was carrying a large stack of dishes. “I’m so sorry!” She immediately dropped to her knees to help the man clean up the shards of glass and porcelain.

  “You don't have to.” He whispered his voice was callous and uncomfortable. Still, Frannie wasn't going to be an asshole just because they were surrounded by the snobby and rich. She reached for a few shards to have a large hand come down and stop her wrist.

  The feeling of him was pure bliss. As if all the stars in the sky glowed ten times brighter than before. He was gentle with his hold as he lifted her from the ground. His emerald eyes capturing hers.

  “No” was all he said. He picked up where she left off picking up the pieces of porcelain and tossing them in the busboy's bucket.

  “Are you alright?” Frannie asked as the man straightened, his appearance causing her more concern than his voice. He reminded her of those adverts that would talk about stranger danger on the television.

  His spindly arms and hands with bulbous fingers stuck out with fingernails that were broken and chipped everywhere. His face, though she wasn't one to pass judgment normally, was a sickly color. He had a patchy unibrow with a few wild strands sticking every which way.

  “Yeah, thanks.” He said, winking at her she tried not to but she cringed. The man walked away and she sighed grateful he was uninjured and that he wasn’t around anymore.

  It had taken mere moments after that sigh for the overpowering feeling of Alexander Benson to shroud her. She stood still unsure of what to do.

  “Francesca, look at me.” His words were dark and heady. Frannie considered defying him but only for a brief moment. Her resolve was there and she wouldn't allow him to think he won.

  She turned to look at him. Her skin aflame with how he gazed at her. Their eyes met, his glowed bright emerald she was sure hers had turned amber. Her nipples ached and she had the urge to reach for him.

  His hands were balled tight at his sides one of them fisted her jacket she had dropped. She could see his very visible erection behind his pants. A smirk played on her lips. As soon as this man came to view her inhibitions went away.

  If he was going to humiliate her tonight at least she knew she could make him suffer too.

  She took a few steps forward, her eyes never leaving his. His bright green eyes were beautiful, seemingly wise and enchanting. Alexander's face was hard like steel. His black suit making him look mysterious and sensual. His hair was slicked back but looked soft, her finger ached to run along his scalp. Frannie wanted all o
f him.

  She stood in front of him barely a breath away.

  "This is mine." Her words were breathy and tempting as she reached up grazing his knuckles gently to reach for the neck of her coat. She looked down to see his knuckles white.

  You will kill our mate. Fey started with a smile. Let us see how much control he has.

  Frannie liked that idea. She reached up unable to stop herself as she gave him a barely there caress on his slightly stubbled cheek. He closed his eyes seeming to sink into that touch.

  His hand rose to grab her by the back of the neck and she very elegantly escaped before he was able to. Despite his plans for tonight if they were really mates he would have a hard time dealing with his need for her. At least she hoped.

  "You promised you wouldn't touch me, Mr.Benson." Earlier she allowed it, it had just been her wrist after all but even that was dangerous. She loved it too much.

  His eyes scanned her heat passing through her with every inch he looked at. Did he hate her appearance or did he love it? The chatter from the restaurant faded as he stood there. He was all her mind could handle all it wanted. She couldn't even think to breathe as he approached her. She clutched her jacket tightly ready to avoid any caresses he may try.

  She looked up at him his size dwarfing her even in heels. But he didn't touch her, his hands going to the sides of her head trapping her against the wall.

  “You'll be begging me to fuck your pretty little cunt before you know it.” He growled “Miss Bianchi.” Her legs turned to jelly and her excitement was evident as she felt how wet she’d become. She wanted to kiss him so badly to finally taste him.

  Frannie held her ground, well she stayed upright though she wanted to fall to her knees and take him into her mouth. If this was still part of his plan she had to be strong. She could clearly get under his skin the way he got under hers. She just hoped she got out of this with her sanity intact.

  ❅❅❅

  “You're sure those were his words, Alexander. I can't take this to the council without accurate information.” The dark silver haired man sat in front of him trapping Alexander to his desk for the last half an hour. He had hoped since they were friends he could just call or text him. But damn Blackwell wanted a full documented meeting.

  “I'm sure. You know I’m a man of my word.” And he was, unless of course when it came to putting his hands on Francesca Bianchi. He couldn't help himself there. His hands ached to touch her soft sweet skin again. It had been days, too many days since he laid eyes on her.

  But he had men staking out her friend's house making sure she was safe. He had Rodolfo following her being a driver if she needed one. Though from what he had heard she refused every attempt. It was all he could do to not march over there and demand to see her.

  “Well, this is all rather disturbing. I don't really know the guy but I was familiar with his brother, he was a good man. Helped take down Granada the Lion shifter with the nasty drug habit.”

  “I remember.” He had a vague recollection of it, Benson had not been directly connected to the case but Blackwell filled him in. Kaiser's brother Fredrick was a part of the council's task force. They took out the big names threatening shifter lives. Fredrick was killed or taken. No one really knows he just disappeared in the middle of the investigation that led to Granadas downfall.

  Blackwell had just joined the council then. It was a shock to the shifter community throughout the world. No one younger than fifty had joined a council since their inception. Blackwell had just turned twenty five at the time.

  Now twenty nine just a year younger than Alexander, he had proved himself time and time again. Of course though and it didn't hurt that Blackwell was an Arctic Wolf, a rare breed. They were thought to be extinct for a long time at least as shifters. It made the Brooklyn council look pretty good to have such a character.

  Blackwell came onto the scene and made fast friends with the local shifters. A trait Benson had been slightly jealous of. Blackwell was his closest friend. The only person that if he really felt like it, which he never did, he could confide in.

  He liked to think he was the only person who really knew him as well. The man just came out of the blue. He was a mystery who hadn’t shared his past with anyone except Alexander.

  He saw how his friend would be surrounded by people all the time but he stood there detached from his smiles and false identity. None of them knew him, not the real Dominik Blackwell.

  He cleared his throat drawing Benson's attention once more. “Well, I'm sure the council will deal with this accordingly. Or I’m sure I can take matters into my own hands.” Alexander knew what that meant. Kaiser's plans were enough for an execution by council standards. And since it seemed like his friend had a particular distaste for the case if the council drew it out, Blackwell would take care of it in his own way. A more brutal way.

  Both of them knew that which was why Blackwell was so adamant on making sure he got accurate information. They wouldn’t allow a shifter to walk the street with a mind set like Kaisers. It'd take them a while to bring him in however, the politics of the council as of yet seemed more important then actual justice.

  That made Benson question why his father hadn’t reported the man years ago before his own death. He would have been executed then to. The laws had hardly changed. Maybe he hadn’t had such a deranged mind then. Maybe whatever proposal he approached his father with wasn’t as unrepentant. MAybe it haf nothing to do with what he was trying to do now.

  “Well, I'm glad Kaiser will be put in his place. Now if you'll excuse me I have other business to attend to.” Blackwell looked at him with a brow lifted in question. They had known each other for a long time and Benson was never the type to cut his meetings at least not with him, short.

  Benson glanced at his watch and saw that he had gotten dangerously close to the time he was supposed to meet Frannie at the restaurant. He needed to wrap this up quickly. He didn't want to leave his mate waiting. He never wanted to leave her waiting.

  “I guess no drinks tonight?” The raven haired man just huffed a no feeling antsy.

  “Wow! Giving up a boy's night for Miss Bianchi. I knew you were gonna be tight lipped about it but I’m just as informed as you.” Benson just frowned, irritated knowing it had to come out sooner or later.

  “She’s my mate.” He mumbled and Blackwell’s eyes widened. “Why didn't you just tell me we could have done this tomorrow or well whenever you decided she finally needed to visit a doctor, cause you broke the poor girl's back.” He smirked at his own joke and Benson rolled his eyes. His inherently grumpy nature washing over him.

  “I didn’t want Kaiser to become a problem. I admit though I would have preferred if you came tomorrow or next week.” He grunted, standing to his full height angry with himself as he could have put this off for another day or three.

  His friend stood with his hands in the air as if he was giving up. The man's hair looked like dark shards of glass in the light. “Well it's taken care of now.”

  Benson nodded grabbing his coat and keys in his hand, nearly pushing Blackwell out the door. The automatic lights came on as they stepped out into the hallway and Alexander locked his office behind him. He pushed his fingers into his eyes as they stepped onto the elevator, Blackwell still smirking at his own joke. The guards had gone home for the night and it was just the two of them in a vastly dark building.

  He finally calmed down and patted Alexander on the back. “You know though you're lucky, she's beautiful. You could have gotten stuck with some snaggletooth bloodling. Honestly, that's the direction I thought you were headed. “ Axl reached for the surface at Blackwell's words.

  It's not that Benson and Axl didn't like the acknowledgment that he had a beautiful mate. Until he marked her though he would be fighting his beast at every point. Even over the course of the last two days he had been irritable and changing form randomly. First a hand then a foot. Axl was clearly done being patient, as was Benson.

  The short
texts to Francesca had been the only thing keeping his bear in check. Knowing she was okay helped them both to breathe.

  The morning he had called her however he couldn't hold himself back. He had to hear her voice. The ache had been all over his body, however it settled intimately in his groin and his soul.

  He had run his beast for hours and taken more than one cold shower that night. But sleep hadn’t come to him. He was rock hard and uncomfortable. So he sat in his bed stroking his cock imagining his mate there beside him. But it still wasn’t enough so he called her. Not at all expecting her to pick up he just wanted to hear her voice.

  After what had felt like hours with each agonizing ring her soothing voice washed over him. “ This is Frannie, sorry you missed me. I'll call you back when I get a chance.” With those words he came, a torrent of emotions and lust rocketing through his body at high speed.