Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
R onan
“This isn’t a good idea,” Noah tells me for the second time this morning.
My only acknowledgement of his comment is a brief sideways glance before going back to fixing my breakfast plate.
Even after last night, Montgomery managed to come in early this morning, prepare breakfast, and leave before any of us got out of bed.
My hold on my plate tightens as I recall the feral look in his eyes last night as he stalked toward Serafina. Everything in me wanted to react. It took all of my strength to hold my wolf back from attacking my own brother.
“Did you hear me?” Noah asks, breaking me out of my thoughts. “I usually go along with your plans because I know how well thought out and analytical you are, but taking her to work with you today sounds like a fucking disaster waiting to happen.”
A muscle in my jaw ticks.
My wolf prowls in my chest, daring me to tell Noah he is right. My wolf wants to spend the day with her, good idea or not.
The fact is, though, I have thought about it.
“My office is the only place with cameras, security at all exits. The building is secure.”
I am not taking another chance leaving Serafina again. She has proven too risky and determined to get away.
That is not the only reason.
I ignore my wolf.
“Have you tho?—”
“I am going to go wake her up,” I say, cutting Noah off. I do not want to hear any more questions. The decision is made. She is coming with me to work.
The closer I draw to Serafina, while climbing the stairs to her bedroom, the more resolute in my decision I become. My body begins to tingle just from anticipation from seeing her. Still, I keep a blank expression on my face.
I know she will not be too happy to see me or any of us this morning. She will especially become agitated once I let her know the plans I have for her today.
It is a good thing most of my colleagues will be out of the office today for an out-of-state conference. I have not quite figured out what will happen once my coworkers return to the office, and I hate not having a plan in mind.
But I will figure it out before they return.
“What?” Serafina yells through the door after I knock on it a couple of times.
She surprises me by throwing the door open, leaving her standing there in a light blue satin pajama shorts set. Different from what she had on in the middle of the night.
The long sleeves of the button-up top cover her top half fully, but the satin fabric appears regal against her skin tone. The shorts stop midway down her thighs, exposing the incredible length of her legs.
Mate!
Wolf mate!
Mine!
I force myself to take a step back while my wolf goes crazy inside of me. I nearly lost it twice on her yesterday. It is her attitude and sass that drive me up a wall and make me want to kiss a trail down her entire body until she is screaming my name.
Total chaos.
Desire like this can only bring about one thing, which is total and complete destruction.
“Did you need something?”
You.
I close my eyes. Did she have to phrase it like that? Because my wolf and I start conjuring up any number of things that we need her to do.
“Get dressed,” I finally say, before clearing my throat.
“I’m not hungry.” She starts to slam the door in my face, but my hand stops her.
“You are going to eat breakfast. And then you are coming with me to work.”
Her lips, along with the space in between her eyebrows, pinch. A low growl starts at the back of my throat. I barely manage to hold onto the growl to prevent it from escaping out of my own mouth.
I brace myself for her spicy reply. I had hoped not to have to carry her over my shoulder into work with me today. That would not go down too well with the security staff at my job.
“Okay,” Serafina suddenly replies, smiling from ear to ear.
I jerk back in surprise, but then quickly cover it up.
“Okay?”
Her smile, fake as it is, widens. “Yeah, okay,” she replies like it is me who is the idiot in this situation. Which I am because I cannot figure out her angle.
“Just like that.”
She actually pouts. “I thought you of all people would be content with my compliance.” She places a hand against her hip, making one side of her shorts hike up just an inch or so higher.
My wolf purrs like a bitc— No, I do not swear.
Clearing my throat, I lift my chin. “You need to eat breakfast first. Please get dressed, and I will have your plate waiting for you once you come down.”
I take a step back, just waiting for her to expose what game she is playing and tell me she will come with me over her dead body or something akin to that.
“I’ll be down in twenty minutes. Does that work for you?”
“Yes,” I manage to answer before turning my back on her and heading downstairs. Though this was my idea, the feeling that I am the one who somehow just walked into a trap plagues me with each step.