Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Leila’s POV
It was the first day of working with Luca on the design for the Grand Summit, and I couldn’t have been more anxious.
I’d literally spent a whole thirty minutes shuffling through my closet for an outfit.
Which was ridiculous—because, no, I wasn’t dressing to impress him.
I didn’t want to draw any attention. Nothing that would warrant that heated gaze that made common sense fly out the window and left me wanting him—left my wolf aching for him, blurring the lines of the boundary I’ve drawn between us.
Being around Luca was like wanting a taste of something that could, would hurt you, something you shouldn’t—but still wanted it anyway. Even if it burned your tongue.
I didn’t know how I was supposed to get through an entire week working in close proximity with him, especially since my body seemed to have a mind of its own now—betraying all the bravado and resolve I tried to keep up.
But as much as it made me anxious, it also made me…excited in a way I hadn’t felt in years.
I walked into the staff lounge of Vaughn Industries, and just like that, my presence trumped all the noise and chatter.
Conversations fizzled into hush whispers and half-stifled giggles that curled under my skin mockingly.
They’d been doing it all morning. Passing me with mocking stares, judgment in their eyes as though I was a plague.
I tried to force their voices out of my head as I approached Jasmine.
“I’m here about that key card.” Since I was working here now, even though it was temporary, company protocol still required I sign it with the key card and clock out with it.
“Right,” Jasmine said. “Please hold on a second while I process that.”
As I waited, I tried to busy myself with tapping my feet on the floor—anything to drown out all the gossip. But it was futile.
Two women stood behind me, their voices barely above a whisper as they spoke.
I can’t believe she had the guts to show her face here.
Ugh. Look at her, dressing all professional. You’d never guess she’s a thief and a slut.
A slut. Seducing the boss just to steal from him? Why is she even here?
Mr. Vaughn should know better than to associate himself with—
And then…silence.
The whispers died mid-sentence. The air in the room shifted like a cold wind blowing through an open window. I watched Jasmine’s face pale as she suddenly started typing faster, her fingers trembling ever so slightly.
Then came his voice. Low. Cold. Razor sharp.
“No, go ahead. Don’t stop on my account.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see the women standing ramrod straight, their heads buried on the floor, their bodies stiff with tension.
Luca walked toward them, and with every step, a ripple moved through the room—like fear had taken on a body and was walking right beside him.
“What department do you work in?”
“S–sir?”
Anger sparked in his eyes. “Don’t fucking make me repeat myself.”
“F–finance, sir,” the first woman stammered.
“Marketing, Alpha Vaughn,” the second one replied with trembling lips.
“Jasmine,” Luca called, not looking in our direction, “inform HR of two vacancies in the Finance and Marketing departments.”
Their eyes flew wide. Color drained from their faces. Their spite was replaced by raw, desperate panic.
Luca took another step toward them, his voice like ice cracking. “I pay you to work. Not to waste time gossiping. Now get out.”
They didn’t dare beg. That would’ve only enraged him more. With tears threatening to spill from their eyes, they gathered themselves and rushed out of the lobby. And just like that, the room snapped back to order. Everybody scrambled to their various work stations.
My wolf purred inside of me. She liked the way he defended us. The way his power silenced the room. And she wanted to go to him and curl against him.
Luca came up to me. His voice was soft—a clear contrast to what it had been moments ago—as he asked. “Are you okay?” I could hear the concern in his voice.
My heart did a flip.
I nodded quickly, trying to steady my voice. “Yes. Thank you.”
He regarded me for a moment, but then turned to Jasmine. “Have the keycard sent up to my office.” And to me, “Let’s go, Leila.
Luca held the door open when we got to his office. I gave him a small smile, trying hard—too hard—to control my wolf, who was practically doing cartwheels inside of me, and walked in.
But the moment I stepped into the office and caught sight of his desk, a memory slammed into me like a wave at full tide.
I remembered that Monday morning I’d come to see him. We hadn't seen each other in three days as he’d been out of town all weekend.
When I walked in, and when his eyes met mine, he lit up. A wide grin spread across his lips, the kind that melted all my logic.
He didn’t wait a second. He crossed the room to me and slammed his mouth against mine.
He kissed me like he’d been starving. Like his body had gone three days without oxygen and I was the only air left.
His mouth was wild and urgent, and when he finally pulled back—enough to press his forehead to mine—I was breathless. Lipstick smeared his mouth.
“God, I’ve missed you, Leila,” he beamed. “A second more in Vancouver and I might’ve died.”
I laughed, warmth spreading through every part of me—especially between my legs.
“I missed you, too, Luca. This place was a little less…grumpy without you.”
He chuckled, his eyes fluttering shut as he inhaled my scent. For a quiet moment, we stayed like that—breathing in each other.
“As much as I want to stay in this moment forever,” I started, pulling away from him. “I’ve got a meeting with the design team in five minutes. And I think you’re supposed to be in that meeting too.“
Luca groaned at the thought of yet another meeting. I imagined he had enjoyed an endless mouth of those in Vancouver.
“Look, you’ve got lipstick all over your lips. I don’t want them thinking we’re late because I dragged you off to make out with the boss.”
I reached up to wipe the gloss from his lips, but he caught my wrist.
His gaze darkened, his pupils dilating, turning his steel grey eyes almost black. I knew that look all too well. It was the one that always came right before he ruined me.
“Five minutes, huh?” he said. “That’s enough time.”
I arched a brow. “Enough time for what?”
Luca’s answer was to lift me onto the desk in one fluid motion. With his leg, he nudged mine open, and threaded his hand between my thighs. He smirked when his fingers brushed my already soaked panties.
“Enough time to smear my lips with something other than your lipstick.”
Then he dropped to his knees.
He tugged me to the edge of the table, peeled off my panties like they were gift wrap, and without hesitation, buried his face between my legs.
“…coming out with a new concept for the design.”
Luca’s voice pulled me violently out of the memory.
I blinked, only now realizing he was beside me, so close that his scent was all I could breathe in. And if my cheeks hadn’t already turned scarlet from that little mental detour, this would’ve sealed the deal.
“I’m sorry—what?” I asked, stepping away from him, needing space. Oxygen. Sanity.
He frowned. “Are you okay, Leila? Is this about what happened in the lounge?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Their words don’t bother me.”
That was a lie. Of course, it bothered me. I hated the venom in their voices, the judgment in their eyes. But I’d learned to pretend it didn’t matter.
Still, he watched me for a second too long. Like he could see straight through me—to the dirty, dangerous thoughts I’d just had about him.
His gaze dropped to my lips, and I felt my pulse spike. And ever so slowly, he dragged his eyes back to mine.
“Good,” he said. “Let’s go through the details of this design, shall we? We’ve only got a week to pull off a winning miracle.”
I exhaled in relief when he finally stepped away and moved toward his desk. My wolf, however, let out a disappointed sound.
After he sat, he pulled out a folder from one of his drawers. “Did you go through the folder?”
“Yes,” I said, settling into the seat across from his table. “I’ve begun working on a few drafts already.”
“Perfect. As much as the Alpha Regent is seeking a new, modern layout, he doesn’t want compromises on a few things.
” He flipped open the folder. “This is the present design for the headquarters. The places marked green…” his perfectly manicured fingers glided across the page, “…are the spots that shouldn’t be compromised.
Every other thing can be changed to however best you see fit. ”
He looked up at me—and did that thing again. The thing where his eyes dropped to my lips, lingered there a second too long, like he was remembering something…or imagining it all over again. Then slowly, rose back to meet mine.
“I, um…I understand.” I struggled for composure, voice tight.
“Good.” Luca flipped the folder closed and set it out before me. “I’ll be expecting that draft on my desk first thing tomorrow morning.”
As I reached out to collect it, our hands brushed against each other. And without meaning to, I dropped the folder.
It hit the desk with a soft thud. My breath caught in my throat—not because he startled me, but because of what that small touch did to me. How it lit up every nerve ending, how my wolf practically howled inside me.
Luca smiled slightly, like he noticed my reaction. “It’s nice to have you on board this project, Leila.”
My breath hitched—and I was so damn sure he heard it.
Fuck, I was losing my cool. I needed to get out of here before I did something really stupid. Like lean into the heat and tension buzzing between us like a live wire.
I snapped my hand back and grabbed the folder. “Yeah, sure.”
And with that, I scurried out of the office like a rat being chased by a cat. A very tall, very smug, dangerously attractive cat.