BlakeOpening the door for Zoe, I hold my hand out to help her from the car. She hesitates for a moment before placing her hand in mine. I follow the direction of her gaze and see Jenna waiting at the top of the steps, wearing a scowl on her normally cheerful face. Hiding my annoyance, I give Zoe a reassuring smile as we walk toward the house. That Zoe even agreed to come with me is a blessing. I want her to feel comfortable here. Jenna isn’t exactly rolling out the welcome wagon with that scowl on her face as she continues to stare at Zoe.As we reach the steps, I fix Jenna with a hard look.“Is there a problem, Jenna?”My sharp tone seems to snap her out of it, and she immediately turns to face me, a warm smile now spread across her lips and the icy look gone from her pale blue eyes.“No Blake, sorry! The council are in the boardroom already. They’re ready whenever you are.”I nod at her but don’t smile back and she fidgets under my scrutiny, tucking her platinum-blonde hair behind
ZoeBlake’s touch calms me, but I’m still irrationally angry. I can tell my visit means something to him, so I’ll bite my tongue for the time being and we can have a conversation about Jenna later. She hasn’t done anything overtly hostile toward me, but if she touches him once more, I can’t be held responsible for what I do or day.Because there isn’t a doubt in my mind that she has designs on him for herself. Who wouldn’t?My initial instinct was right. When I first saw her staring at us, I thought she looked jealous. After she explained it was a shock seeing what she thought was her boss kissing another alpha’s wife, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. That was a mistake I could understand. After that, she was friendly as she offered to show me around and led me away from Blake.But the second he was gone, her body language changed completely. That version of Jenna was clearly for Blake’s benefit only.The smile vanished as she took me on a tour of the property not to make me welco
BlakeJust as I’m fastening my cufflinks, there is a gentle rap on the door, and it opens slowly. Zoe peeks her head in to make sure I’m alone, before pushing it open and stepping through the doorway. I knew she was on her way, but despite that, the sight of her smiling face makes me melt.Her honey-blonde hair is down for a change and flows over her shoulders, teasing the bare skin of her chest and back as she moves. She’s wearing a form-fitting red dress that shows just enough cleavage to render me speechless, but remains classy. It shows her long legs off to perfection, finished with a pair of nude heels that look like they could be lethal weapons in the right hands.“You look stunning,” I say as she walks inside.Zoe steps near to me, standing toe to toe before reaching for the cufflinks, which I drop into her hand silently. She turns my wrist over and fixes one, then the other, without looking up. The sensitive skin tingles from her touch and I watch, mesmerized, as she concentra
ZoeBlake looks much healthier than he did when I left him a couple of hours ago, but he’s still not radiating the normal level of confidence that I’m used to from him. He might hide it, but he’s still not well enough to be leaving the clinic.Parking the car, he rubs the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger, blinking hard.“Are you ok?” I ask, reaching over to stroke the back of his neck. He should be resting. Blake tips his head back further into my touch and closes his eyes. He doesn’t need to say anything. I know he’s not.“Just tired.” He fixes me with a dazzling smile, but it’s forced for my sake. He doesn't even believe that himself. “Let’s get this over with and go to bed,” I say, and he perks up at that suggestion, raising an eyebrow and making me blush.Shoving the door open, he climbs out into the quickly darkening evening and walks around to my side to open the door. I could get used to this.Once again, I find myself admiring how handsome he is. His dark
ZoeThere’s silence as I reach the bathroom door, and I rest my fingers on the handle. This is definitely where the noise came from, but none of the pack have come to investigate.“Blake?” I whisper as I push the door open gently. There’s something behind it, and I have to use my weight to push it open far enough for me to slip inside. My first thought is that Blake has fainted and knocked something over, and the shattered remnants of a vase on the floor suggest that I’m on the right track. Stepping over the flowers and the shards of porcelain, I close the door over behind me to give us some privacy. As I turn, though, I realise my mistake. It’s not Blake. Or rather, it is Blake, but not in his usual form. “Blake, are you alright?” I can’t believe I’m now talking to this massive animal and fully accepting that it was my date for the evening a few short minutes ago. His beautiful suit lies torn on the floor. Glowing silvery eyes assess me coolly as I reverse slowly, edging backward
Blake Lights and colours dance in front of my eyes as I try to get my bearings. I’ve lived in this territory my entire life. I know this place like the back of my hand but somehow, I’m struggling to get a fix on exactly where I am. Disorientated, I trip over a log, landing on my snout in the cold, damp leaves. Climbing back onto four paws, I growl in frustration. My physical prowess is something I take for granted. The thought that even this is being stolen from me is terrifying. As I turn around, my heart racing, I concentrate on trying to work out exactly where am I. I spot the old tree, toppled over but still alive twenty years after the storm that we all thought had destroyed it. No longer lost at least, I can’t help but take some comfort from the thought that things might not always be as bad as they seem. And right now, they look pretty fucking bleak. I know I saw someone outside the window. I recognised his scent. Then why the fuck can I not find him? Could the madness reall
ZoeBlake stands, running his hands up my bare thighs as he does, before gripping my hips and turning me toward the open bedroom door and the bathroom just inside. For the first time, I take in his suite, and it’s not decorated how I imagined it would be. I pictured dark, rich tones and masculine, oversized furniture, but it’s not like that at all. It’s bright and airy, with an enormous wall of glass at one end. The stars shine brightly, and the still almost full moon is big enough in the sky that it floods the open plan space with plenty of light to see by.Blake steps past me and leans into the luxurious shower to turn it on, the hot skin on his chest tickling my skin as he leans in close. He rests a hand on my waist as he tests the temperature, and I tip my head back to rest on his shoulder, sighing contentedly. After today, I crave being near him. He might have slowed down my plans, but I’m happy to be close to him.He keeps his hand on me as he straightens and drops the shorts t
ZoeBlake growls quietly in approval. I reach between us and take his thick length in my hand, eliciting a grunt from him. I ache for him to be inside my body, one with me, but he shifts out of my grasp, picking up the speed of his thrusts, adding another finger, and using his other hand to rub my clit in sync. He’s not willing to give me back control just yet.I tilt my hips to give him better access, savouring the feeling of the warm water running over my heated skin as it continues to rain down on us.“That’s it, Zoe,” he whispers, making my head spin with sensual kisses and his body pressed up to mine. He brings me closer and closer to release. I gasp and squirm, trying to escape the sensations washing over me. One of which is his overpowering desire for me. To own me and make me his. It makes no sense that I can feel it, but I know in my mind it’s real. It’s so intense.“Stop Blake, stop,” I call out and he immediately halts, pulling his head back and looking down at me with conc