Chapter 22
Chapter
Twenty-Two
The cool air was something of a shock after the warm interior of the hotel.
Mallory pulled her hand away from Alexander’s and rubbed her arms vigorously, partly because of the change in temperature and partly because of her nervousness.
She tightened her toes several times but, for once, her calming technique didn’t appear to be working.
‘You’re cold?’ Alexander asked. He’d taken off his jacket when they’d first sat at the table and it was still on the back of his chair. ‘I can go back and get my jacket for you.’
‘No, I’m fine,’ Mallory replied quickly. ‘I just need to acclimatise.’
He nodded. ‘Okay. There’s an impressive rose garden round the back of the hotel. It’s more sheltered from the breeze. Why don’t we take a wander through it?’
She swallowed. ‘Sure,’ she said shakily. Her stomach was doing somersaults. She cleared her throat. ‘Sounds good.’
They strolled around the huge building, leaving the bright lights and glowing corridor of fire behind them. The rose garden wasn’t pitch dark as Mallory had expected; instead it was illuminated by tiny dancing lights. She couldn’t prevent a gasp from escaping.
Alexander smiled. ‘Magicked fireflies,’ he explained. ‘They’re brought into existence whenever there’s an event, even though few of the guests will bother to come here and see them.’ He tapped the side of his nose. ‘You have to be in the know.’
Mallory licked her lips. ‘And why are you in the know?’
‘Because I’m Alexander MacTire,’ he said simply. He took her hand again. ‘Do you want to get closer?’
Mallory nodded. The effect of the small lights on the flowers had been extraordinary from a distance; close-up they were equally impressive, except now Mallory could smell the heady scent from the roses, too.
‘It’s early in the season and these are the last of winter roses. In summer, when the bushes are in full bloom, it’s something else. We’ll have to come back again in August and you can see for yourself.’
She turned to him. ‘In August?’ she asked faintly.
He reached out and cupped her face. ‘If everything goes to plan.’ He drew a single ragged breath. ‘Mallory,’ he said hoarsely, ‘I…’
Fuck it. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was the scent of the roses. Maybe it was the aching longing in the centre of her chest every time she saw him and knew he would never be hers. Either way, fuck it.
Mallory grabbed the front of his shirt, pulled him towards her and kissed him.
His mouth was surprisingly warm and soft to begin with, as if he were unsure of himself, then he let out a low groan and pressed against her with greater urgency.
His hands threaded through her hair, loosening the curls that Gia Vanderlan had tamed so carefully, as she moved her fingers to his cheek and brushed against the soft stubble that was already appearing across his jaw.
Desire kicked through Mallory’s veins and tightened her belly. Alexander’s hunger seared her and she could feel his heart thudding against hers. For this one perfect moment, nothing else mattered. There was only Alexander MacTire. There was only this.
But not even this could last forever.
When they finally broke apart, Mallory wasn’t the only one trembling. ‘You’re shivering,’ she whispered, gazing into his eyes.
‘So are you.’ He touched his mouth, then hers. ‘You taste of sunshine and magic and honey. Exactly as I imagined.’
Mallory’s breath caught: fifteen minutes earlier he’d been dancing with Isadora Jones. How had it come to this? She shook her head. ‘What’s happening, Alex?’
He swallowed and took a step back, his amber eyes sweeping across her. ‘Well, it’s obvious that—’ He stopped mid-sentence and his gaze darkened.
‘What?’ she asked. ‘What’s obvious?’
Alexander had gone very still. His nostrils flared and Mallory sensed a deepening, ferocious anger. ‘Your arms,’ he bit out.
She blinked. ‘Pardon?’ She glanced down and realised that the glamour spell Gia had placed on her earlier had worn off. Perhaps she’d rubbed her skin or it was merely the passage of time, but either way there was no denying the blue-and-purple splodges circling her biceps.
‘Who did this?’ he growled. ‘Who dared to put their hands on you in this way?’
‘It’s nothing,’ she said, dismissively. ‘It looks worse than it is.’
‘Tell me who did this, Mallory.’ Every word vibrated with fury.
She released an exasperated sigh. ‘Just an old man with a bee in his bonnet. It’s been dealt with.’
Alexander shook his head. ‘I won’t allow this.’
Whoa. ‘Back up,’ she said sternly. Whatever lusty, romantic atmosphere had existed between them had evaporated. She had no idea what was happening now but she knew she didn’t like it. ‘It’s nothing to do with you.’
He glared. ‘It’s everything to do with me!’
‘No, it’s not. And I told you it’s been dealt with so put a stop to all this alpha growliness.’
‘No. Somebody hurt you. Now I’m going to hurt them.’
Mallory rolled her eyes. ‘For fuck’s sake, Alex. We’ve been through this already. I can look after myself.’
‘You might know a few self-defence moves, Mallory, but you’re still just a squib.’
She folded her arms and stepped back. ‘Just a squib?’ she asked icily.
‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ he snapped. ‘What I meant was that you don’t have magic and…’
‘I know exactly what you meant.’
She’d been weak. Maybe he fancied her a bit – she knew he enjoyed a chase and maybe he’d decided to chase her – but Alexander MacTire didn’t want just a squib. Not really.
‘Mallory.’ He ground out her name but she was already walking away.
‘I’m going back inside,’ she said. ‘There are plenty more blonde werewolves with power and strength and magic in there for you to speak to.’
‘Wait!’
She didn’t stop and she didn’t turn around.
The remaining hour or so of the Wolf Ball was very uncomfortable.
Mallory had felt the sting of failure before, especially in her early years as a broker, but it had never been so closely coupled with the pain of humiliation.
She’d failed to find Alexander MacTire a First Mate and she could hardly sidle up to him and suggest that he should chat up another woman, not after she’d kissed him like that.
She squirmed and twitched and castigated herself over and over again.
Every time she glanced in Alexander’s direction, her cheeks burned.
Eventually she couldn’t take it anymore.
When a tuxedoed werewolf alpha from yet another pack appeared in front of Alexander for a power chat, Mallory leaned in to Isadora.
‘I’m not feeling very well,’ she said. ‘I’m going to head home. Can you tell Alexander that I’ve left?’
Isadora took one look at her face, frowned, gave a long sniff and stood up. ‘I can do better than that,’ she said. ‘Sean,’ she told her companion, ‘tell Alex that I’m taking Mallory home.’
The younger werewolf looked suddenly terrified. ‘What?’
‘Just do it. He won’t hurt you.’ She paused. ‘He probably won’t hurt you.’ She glanced at Mallory then returned her attention to her date. ‘Don’t tell him until we’ve left the room.’
‘You don’t need to help me,’ Mallory began.
‘Do you have transport?’ Isadora asked.
‘No, but…’
‘Well then.’
Mallory pulled back her shoulders. ‘Just because I’m a squib doesn’t mean I can’t get myself home.’
‘It’s not because you’re a squib, it’s because you’re a person.’ Isadora put her arm around Mallory’s shoulders. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said more quietly. ‘I can see he’s broken your heart just like he broke mine.’
They were almost at the door when Alexander caught up with them. Isadora scowled. ‘I told Sean to wait until we’d left before he spoke to you.’
‘He didn’t say a word – I saw you walking out.’ Alexander turned to Mallory. ‘Can we talk before you run away? Please?’
‘No,’ Isadora told him. ‘We’re leaving.’
‘This is not the time, Dora!’ he snapped.
‘It’s okay,’ Mallory said to her quietly. ‘I’ll only be a couple of minutes.’
‘You’re sure?’
Mallory nodded.
‘I’ll wait right outside the door.’
‘Thank you.’ Mallory turned to Alexander; he didn’t look angry any more; if anything, he looked defeated.
He ran a hand through his hair. ‘You don’t have to run away without saying goodbye. You don’t have to be scared of me.’
‘I’m not scared of you.’ That wasn’t what was happening, not even close. ‘I just need to get out of here. I’m sorry I’ve not found you a First Mate. I’ll make sure Boris voids our contract tomorrow. You’ll receive adequate compensation.’
‘I don’t care about the fucking contract!
’ He grimaced and several heads turned towards them, curious eyes wide.
Alexander hissed and turned his back on them.
‘I said the wrong thing and I’m sorry – but I’m not sorry that we kissed.
I’m not sorry that you came here with me.
Let me come to see you tomorrow and explain when it’s just the two of us.
I want,’ he drew in a breath, ‘no, I need to explain.’
Mallory’s heart contracted painfully; the last thing she wanted was to draw out this unmitigated disaster for longer than necessary, but neither could she deny him. She’d brought this on herself. ‘Okay,’ she whispered.
He smiled shakily. ‘Thank you. Around eleven? At your place?’
‘Okay,’ she said again. She managed a tremulous smile then glanced at Isadora who was hovering by the door and caught her eye. It was time to go home.