Chapter 10 - Miles
I looked up past the newspaper, and Laura walked by. She was wearing another pantsuit, this one cream-colored. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun. I watched her, my mind traveling to the other night and just how soft her lips were.
I could still hear her moan when I placed my hand on her throat. Laura was the type of person who liked to be submissive, and she enjoyed it when someone took control of her. I remembered pinning her down, holding her throat fucking her mindless so many times.
I couldn't say I wasn't disappointed last night, but I understood her point. She's a mom, and it probably wasn't a great idea for us to be humping each other in front of a busy restaurant like we were twenty again.
I quickly looked back at the newspaper, needing not to get a hard-up at work. I needed to stay focused.
"Miles?"
I lowered the paper, and Laura stood on the other side of the island. She smiled and batted her eyelashes like she wasn't a little vixen.
"Yes?"
"Do you know when Ayden is going to be in? I have a couple of questions to ask him about our accounts."
I stared at her for a moment, my mind once more traveling back. Her red lips and the soft moans.
Today was going to be a long day.
I shook my head. "I would ask Owen. Not sure when Ayden is going to be in today."
"Owen isn't here," she quickly added, scowling.
"I don't know….later?" I said, flipping the newspaper to another page.
She scowled. "You're not helping."
I gave her a smirk. "Never said I would."
She rolled her eyes and turned, heading for her office. My eyes watched her ass, and I internally groaned.
My wolf growled in my head, wanting so badly to have her.
I heard a snort and looked over towards the couch where Lucas was sitting, shaking his head. "Dude, you might as well mount her with the look you have."
"Shut up," I grumbled, rubbing my head.
Lucas got up walking over to the kitchen. He rounded the island. "So, how was the date last night? Did you tell her?"
"That she's my mate? No."
Lucas made a face, reaching for an apple. He took a bite and raised an eyebrow. "What are you waiting for?"
"Things to align." I tossed the newspaper down. "She has a kid. This isn't like it's clear cut. I can't just tell her she's my mate and confuse her."
"I don't understand why you didn't tell her before. You guys probably wouldn't be having this problem then."
I frowned. I'd wondered if that was true. I wondered how things would be if I never broke it off. "My folks would never accept her. They wanted me to be with someone who was a shifter, not a human."
Lucas opened the fridge. "Is that why you broke things off? Seems she's going with a different story. One that doesn't make you look heartless."
I rubbed my eyes. "I'm not heartless….I made a mistake all those years ago, and I'm trying to fix it. But it's complicated. She has Michael, and I have to think about him if I want anything to do with her. And telling her she's my mate isn't going to help that."
"Kids really something else," he said as he shut the fridge. "Smart, well-mannered, and respectful. She's done a good job raising him."
I was envious that he got to spend the evening watching after Michael. I had yet even to see the kid. I'd only caught him at glances when the school bus was dropping him off a few times here. Even then, they were quick.
"I don't want to screw this up," I sighed.
Lucas turned and leaned on the counter. A smirk pulled at his lips. "Shit...you're whipped."
"Shut up," I snapped. "You and I didn't have this conversation." I pulled myself up, needing air.
I went for a jog, hoping it would help ease my tension, but it didn't. My mind just kept wondering what life would be like if I hadn't broken things off with her. Would I be who I am today even?
I thought of that afternoon. I was pacing my bedroom, tense. I knew she was on her way over since we'd hardly seen each other over the past month with finals.
I remembered how she came in looking a little off herself. Maybe she knew something was wrong because I'd sent her so little messages. Or maybe it was something else entirely.
I'd engraved how she looked into my mind. I knew how hard it was going to hurt to leave her. She was wearing a peach-colored dress that hugged her curves. Her red hair was a little shorter, only going to her shoulders. She looked at me with such a soft expression, asking me what was wrong.
I stopped running, now in front of the fire station again. I squeezed my eyes shut and panted, trying to catch my breath.
My wolf growled. You can't run from the past.
That's certainly how it was feeling right now. I was trying hard to run.
I headed inside and took a cold shower. After my shower, I headed upstairs and found Laura sitting at the island with a folder in front of her. She looked up and smiled. "Hey, where have you been?"
"Run," I said, grabbing a glass of water. I turned and stared at her. My eyes paused on her neck, knowing I had my fingers wrapped around it a few days ago.
She cleared her throat, and I realized she was watching me. She was tapping her pen on the island, her head tilted as she raised an eyebrow at me. "Did you even hear what I said?"
"No, what did you say?"
She scowled. "I asked why you were staring at me."
I didn't know what to say but was saved when Ayden walked up the stairs.
"Ayden's here," I said, turning away. "Didn't you have some questions for him earlier? You should ask them now."
She made a face as I turned, heading back down the stairs. My chest felt tight. I so badly wanted to tell her I loved her and I wanted her.
I was starting to lose my cool. I took a few deep breaths as I made it down by the fire trucks. I looked at my phone, seeing it was still early. But I could head home, which was probably a good idea.
I grabbed my gym bag and shut my locker. When I turned, Laura stood a few feet away with crossed arms. My stomach dipped, and I stiffened up.
"You've been watching me and hovering over me all day. What the hell has gotten into you?"
"I have not."
She raised an eyebrow. "Don't try lying. It's not a good look on you."
She walked over, and I caught a whiff of her perfume. She frowned. "Is this because of the date? Are you freaking out because of it?"
"No," I said, shaking my head. "That's not it."
"Then why the sudden obsessiveness to be near me? Why do I keep catching you staring at me randomly throughout the day."
"Maybe I was like that before, and you're only noticing it now."
She rolled her eyes. "Miles, if you keep watching me, I won't go on another date with you."
I raised an eyebrow. "So, you were thinking of us going on another?"
She blushed, and I took a step towards her. "So, I'm not the only one who's been thinking about yesterday?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Is that why you've been staring?"
I shrugged. "Possible.
She stuttered for a moment. "Well, quit it. It's making me uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable, how? Like... it's creepy, or it's making you hot and bothered uncomfortable."
Her face grew even redder. "We aren't talking about me."
"Maybe we should be."
"Miles," she said the word as a warning, but it came out breathy.
I leaned down, smirking as I stopped just an inch from her face. "Yes, Laura?"
Her face grew an even darker shade of red. She squirmed, and I smirked. "What's going through your head now?"
"Nothing," she said, unable to look me in the eyes.
I enjoyed the look on her and whispered. "Do you want to know why I've been staring? My mind just keeps traveling back to the last time we fucked."
I could see she had stopped breathing.
"You were so impatient."
She swallowed. "I remember you being just as impatient, Miles.."
I remembered. When it came to Laura, I couldn’t wait to have her.
I leaned closer, her nose just an inch from mine. "I just keep thinking about that and just how good the sex was. Can't say we didn't know how to wrestle in the sheets."
She shook her head. "Miles, I'm a mother. I won't be….I…" She stammered to collect herself. She pulled her hands up, gently pushing on my chest. "I can't have a sexual relationship right now. As much as I enjoyed that life before, that isn't me anymore."
She was flustered, and I reached a hand up, cupping her chin. I smirked. "I know, but I enjoy seeing you all flustered. If you would like to know, I've been staring because you have a fine ass, and I just wonder what life would have been like if we never broke up."
Her eyebrows went up. "You wonder about that, too?"
I froze. Had she been thinking about it?
I opened my mouth to ask her when the fire alarm blared, and Laura jumped quickly, covering her ears. I turned, watching as the guys stared down the stairs.
"Shit," I grumbled, heading over to where my suit was.
"What do I do?" Laura yelled over the noise.
"Stay here," Ayden said as he grabbed his suit, pulling on his helmet.
I suited up quickly and got into the truck. The guys all followed, and I flipped my speaker on. "What's going on?"
"Fire down on South Union. Apartment building. Three inside."
My stomach sank.