Chapter 11
POV: Cain?
As soon as I heard the echo of a male’s voice on Kiera’s phone, I knew I had to listen.
I pressed my ear to the door, using my wolf hearing to listen in on her muffled conversation.
The voice was young, so it couldn’t be her father or grandfather.
Maybe a brother? Hopefully a brother.
But as the conversation progressed and I heard Kiera giggle I knew this was someone interested in her.
A man interested in my mate.
Then I heard, “I’d love to hear all about it over dinner tomorrow night, if you’re free?”
Fuck no. Not happening.
She cannot go on a date without another man, I won’t allow it.
Say no, Kiera, tell him to fuck off.
She started speaking again, her voice softening in the way that undid me. “Yes, I’d love to get dinner tomorrow night.”
I couldn’t control it any longer.
I snarled loudly.
I’m going to kill this fucking guy. I’ll rip him to shreds. I’ll bury him in a shallow grave and show her his body until she gets it through her head who she belongs to.
Me. Her Alpha. Her mate.
I stared at her dead on from the doorway.
She cowered slightly, slumping her shoulders and looking back and forth between me and the phone. “Sorry Jason—” she whispered.
My jaw ticked. “Yes, please inform Jason that you have to go.”
“See you later,” she whispered before ending the call and pushing the phone back onto the desk. “Sorry, Mr. Naughton. I was just—”
I cut her off, not wanting to hear another word about that filthy human who had the hots for my mate. “Don’t forget to make a reservation for us at Irvine’s for tomorrow night at 6 pm.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “Tomorrow?” she squeaked out.
I let out a sigh, pretending as if I was aggravated. “Yes, tomorrow. Did you forget about our dinner arrangements?”
“No—well—I,” she paused, her jaw ticking as she tried to remember something that never occurred. “Yes, I must have forgot because I just made plans—”
I cut her off. “Well then you’ll have to cancel your little date. I’m sure he’ll understand.” My eyes flashed to golden as I thought of another man taking her out—another man kissing her—another man touching her—another man inside her.
I fought back a deep growl.
Without another moment of waiting, she picked up her phone, “Hello. I’m calling on behalf of Cain Naughton. I’d like to make a reservation for—”
“2.” He mouthed.
“For 2, for tomorrow at 6:00 pm. Thank you.” Then she ended the phone call and looked back up at me.
“Thank you, Miss. Lorens.” My smile was cunning and calculated. “Wear something nice to work tomorrow,” my gaze tracked over her body, stopping at the bare skin of her upper thighs and the way her dress clung to her curves.
She nodded.
“We’ll go straight from work. You may come in late tomorrow, at 10 am.”
“Thank you,” she replied, glancing down at her phone on her desk.
“And make sure you call your date back to inform him you’re otherwise occupied,” my jaw ticked when I said the words. Otherwise occupied—-for life, I wanted to say but refrained.
The next day, I tried to avoid her as much as possible, up until dinner. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off of her if I didn’t, and dinner would take the entirety of my control.
I thought about cancelling the dinner all together, wondering if it was a good idea or if I could handle being that…close to her and completely alone with her again without feeling the need to touch her or kiss her or take her. But I knew I couldn’t cancel, if I did then I would risk her going out with that douchebag and ending up killing him if she did. So, by arranging this dinner date, I was essentially doing damage control prevention.
I loosened the tie around my neck and tossed it onto the table then glanced down at the time.
5:00 pm.
I should get going soon. Traffic during this hour would be horrendous.
Kiera was sitting at her desk when I exited, and got to her feet immediately as I exited, with wobbly and unsteady legs.
“Are you ready?”
She nodded, offering a strained smile. “Yes, thank you.”
I stepped beside her, opening the door for her and guiding her out, my hand hovered around her backside—without touching her, but giving the feeling of closeness I was so desperate for. The scent of Jasmine was fragrant on her skin. She must’ve just sprayed perfume.
I glanced down at the dress she changed into, the color was as deep as red wine, the hem stopped right before her knees, and the neckline was modest, yet showed the curve of her breasts.
She noticed my preoccupation and reddened. “I hope this is alright. I wasn’t sure what you wanted me to wear.”
“That’s fine. You look…nice.”
She blushed a crimson color then tried to hide it behind her light blonde hair.
The car ride felt incredibly long. Her scent was the only air I could breathe in. I wanted desperately to touch her, to mark her and end this charade but I still couldn’t bring myself to make that choice—to choose a human to help me lead my pack.
So, I did what any normal human man would do—-I disguised my intentions, my true desires with the ruse of dinner.
Kiera thought we were going out to a formal work dinner—to go over business. But the reason for this dinner was a far cry from business—it was for my own pleasure—of seeing her across from me—of other men seeing that she belongs to me—of learning about bits and pieces of her life and the woman she was beneath her fragile yet defiant exterior.
It was one more step towards my decision. If she would be my mate or if I would sever the bond.