Restless. That’s the only way Alex could think to describe how he felt after he found out from his sister, Collette, that Francine was leaving. And sure, he’s normally thought of as a man who would never worry about a woman, but never had he been the victim of tensed muscles and pounding chest. He could always get any woman he wanted.
Francine Grimaldi was different from everyone else.
So, when Alex looked up from where his fingers have been tapping his pen against the conference table to everyone in the room staring at him with disgruntled looks, he became more anxious to leave.
“What?” he asked.
Lucas had set up the meeting in preparation for the upcoming quarterly shareholders’ meeting, and Alex knew he couldn’t bail on this one. His dad and Collette would kill him if he’d come unprepared.
“Do you have anything else to add?” Lucas asked.
“Nothing. Let’s wrap this up,” he ordered.
And so, Lucas did, and everyone was soon walking out of the conference room while Alex sat still in his chair. Lucas stayed behind as well, closing his laptop and watching his boss from the corner of his eye.
After collecting his things, Alex stood from his seat and left the room without another word. Lucas followed behind him, noting his odd behavior, his tensed shoulders, and how he jammed his fingers at the screen of his phone.
When they finally entered the comforts of Alex’s office, Lucas finally spoke, “Are you okay, Alex?”
“Why shouldn’t I be?” Alex warily responded as he sat in his chair, his fingers swiping vigorously at the screen on his phone.
“You look so tense.”
“It’s nothing. Do you need anything from me?”
“Harper’s resignation…”
“Yeah. What about it? Didn’t you approve her two-weeks’ notice already?”
Lucas sighed; lips tight. “So, we’re really letting her go?”
“This isn’t me against her, alright? She’s no longer happy, man. Just let her go. Let her chase after whatever it is she desires in her life.”
For a moment, Alex was reminded of his own desires―Francine, the aristocratic vampire, moaning underneath him, her scent intoxicating him.
“Did you know that Francine won’t be attending Collette’s charity event this weekend?” he asked.
“Collette’s college friend from Europe?” Lucas shrugged. “Is that why you’re acting weird?”
Alex was silent for a moment. “Maybe.”
“Alex, you do know that Francine is a vampire, right? And not just some vampire. She’s from a royal coven, one of Lord Vanklause’s nieces,” Lucas said, his face was immediately flooded with concern and fear. Fear for what he thought was already brewing inside Alex’s mind.
Alex smiled. “Or maybe because it’s almost full moon soon. I feel like I should, I don’t know, go for a run, maybe?”
“A run. Yes, perhaps that’s what you need. Or maybe you need Mira to take your mind off things. Off Francine.” Lucas strongly proposed. “Remember that The Elders’ Treaty―”
“Tell me something I don’t already know, Lucas,” Alex cut in, slightly irritated. He turned to look out the glass walls of his office. The sun was going down just beyond the tops of the tall buildings in Seattle.
He knew all about The Elders’ Treaty. He didn’t need to be reminded of every rule that the first The First Fours had mutually agreed on to keep and maintain peace between the clans and the covens. He had memorized its clauses like the back of his hand.
Lucas gave him an unconvinced glance before shrugging it off. “Well, you get carried away with your need to be in between a woman’s parted legs sometimes, Alex. You need to be reminded at times.”
This caught Alex's attention, his mind pausing for just a moment as he looked over to his best friend. Did his best friend think of him as a mindless fucker?
"Well," Lucas added. "I'm going to go ahead and book your flight to China next week, and I will have Harper call your designer to prepare for three pairs of new suits for your business meetings. Just let me know if you need anything.”
"I’m going to China next week?"
“Your business trip to China to discuss the expansion―Alex, are you sure you’re okay?”
Alex just nodded, his mind elsewhere, racing even faster than usual. “Yeah! I heard you.” He stood up and shoved his phone in his side pocket. “I’ve to go.”
Heading out of the door, Lucas stopped and turned back to him, “Go where?”
“I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”
“Fine,” Lucas simply said before exiting the office. He honestly had much more on his plate than taking care of his friend and boss’ personal affairs.
Alex soon followed and hurried out of his office. With the sun setting beyond the horizon, he felt like he needed to be somewhere else, so off he went to see her.
***** * *****
After trying to get into Collette’s mind undetected, Alex was finally able to get the information he needed. In less than an hour, he was already standing outside a penthouse suite of The Diamond Grand Hotel that Collette and her husband owned.
“You finally came,” Francine said as soon as she opened the door, the tip of her tongue grazing the lengths of her retreating fangs.
“Collette wouldn’t tell me where you’re staying without making such a big fuss about it, so I had to hack her mind.” Alex’s brows furrowed, and for a moment, he looked genuinely baffled. “You were expecting me?”
“I smelled your desire toward me the first time I stepped in your office, Alex,” Francine said, cocking her hip. “And how sweet of you to hack one of my closest friends’ brains just to know where I am.”
Alex’s eyes drift down to the curve of Francine’s waist in the thin fabrics of her white nightgown. She was wearing red lace lingerie. He noted.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he immediately said as his eyes snapped guiltily back to Francine’s.
For a moment, Francine was taken aback by his forwardness. “And how lucky then that we have the door frame to separate us from each other.” Her lips thinned as she thought about the power of invitation written and agreed by the elders to set boundaries between their kinds.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in,” Alex asked lamely.
“You and I both know what would have happened if I did. One invitation is all takes. You wouldn’t need any of it anymore if I’d let you in now.”
“Don’t you want me too?”
Francine smiled. “I know you have little to no regard for the rules that our elders had created. And even when we both come from strong and powerful clans and covens, we aren’t so much alike still. Unlike you, I respect and observe rules.”
At her straight-up honesty, Alex sighed. “Does being different beings automatically make us enemies?”
“Alex, just because we’re not fucking each other doesn’t mean we’re enemies. Your sister is one of my closest friends. Didn’t you listen to what I just said earlier? And trust me, if I were your enemy, you’d know it.” Francine bit her lower lip. “I like you, too, Alex. And I never thought I’d enjoy your fantasies of me more than I thought I would.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Alex asked; his face flushing for the first time.
Francine smelled the air and her lips spread into a sexy grin, delighted to know that Alex’s blood now started to hum in his veins with arousal.
“If I allow us to be friends, you will soon find out that I have a very interesting capability,” she whispered, stepping a foot forward to tease Alex with her scent. “Just like you.” Slowly and teasingly, her hand brushed against Alex’s pants. She let out a soft moan as soon as she felt his hard length.
Alex smirked, finally caught up with Francine’s teasing. “Don’t you want to experience my fantasies now?” His hot breath moist against Francine’s skin as his head dipped down, soft strands of his hair brushing against the woman’s cheek.
“You’ve already satisfied me enough without breaking the treaty.”
“You have no idea how you’re fucking my brains right now, Francine,” Alex let out a dangerous growl.
“I know. And I think you better leave now,” Francine breathed.
“What?” Alex took a forcible step back. “Why are you doing this?” he asked, eyes narrowed accusingly.
“You’re a lycan, and I’m a vampire.” Francine’s seriousness instantly reappeared as she hissed. “Need I say more?”
“But you want to want fuck me, too!” Alex shut his eyes; his face twisted into a pained expression. “And your scent! Fuck! It’s driving me nuts! I need to have you! Invite me in now.”
“I can’t believe what a smug you are,” Francine calmly, like Alex’s cockiness was something she had seen before. “I’d love to see you on your knees, begging for me to spread my legs for you.” She chuckled condescendingly. “I’d love to drive you insane, which would actually serve you well for being a spoiled brat. Your blood might be the sweetest scent I’ve smelled in centuries, Alex, but trust me—it is not the only thing I dream of sucking.”
When realization dawned that he might have just met his match, Alex’s fists clenched at his sides, as if he’s threatening to let his wolf go. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“Not everyone is a slave to your dominance, Alex.” Then Francine’s face went serious. “And unlike you, I actually do care about the treaty. It’s what has kept me alive until this very day.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“My stay here has been cut short. I have to prepare for my flight. Goodbye, Alex.” Without letting Alex respond, Francine closed the door behind her.
“Dammit.” Alex hissed.
“Thanks for sharing your fantasies with me, Alex,” Francine told him through the door.
He glared and cursed at himself some more. He really needed that run now, so off to their family-owned nature reserve he went.