Chapter 174 174
She gasped as her body slammed against the wall, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. Staggering, Jacqueline took a step back, steadying herself. Her gaze lifted slowly, traveling up the broad plane of his chest until it finally collided with his olive-colored eyes.
God, he looked infuriatingly good.
He wore a crisp white button-up that clung to every powerful flex of muscle beneath it, paired with tailored black dress pants and polished black shoes that gleamed under the lights. His hair had been slicked back neatly, though one rebellious strand had fallen forward to brush his forehead. Thick brows were drawn into a harsh scowl, and those sinful lips were pressed into a thin, unforgiving line.
Hot. Hot. Hot.
His jaw was locked tight, rage simmering in every rigid line of his body. Yet when he released her wrist, he did so carefully almost deliberately making sure not to hurt her the way he had before.
“Where were you?” he rasped, his voice flat and low. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Wait. What?
“Are you serious?” Jacqueline asked, disbelief lacing every syllable.
Instead of answering, Damien slid his arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his side. The hold was firm, unmistakably possessive, his presence radiating an intimidating aura that rippled through the air around them.
Jacqueline stood there, stunned into silence.
She wasn’t naïve. She understood exactly what he was doing.
He was staking a claim on her.
But… why?
Across from them, Rafael blinked at his Alpha. His gaze dropped briefly to Damien’s hand resting protectively on Jacqueline’s waist, and the meaning of the gesture landed loud and unmistakable.
“Sir,” Rafael said carefully, opting for the safer title instead of calling him Alpha.
Damien gave the faintest nod, as if merely acknowledging a subordinate.
“Rafael,” he replied coolly, tipping his chin in greeting.
Jacqueline watched the exchange with wide eyes.
Sir?
What was that supposed to mean?
“Small town, I see,” she muttered under her breath.
Rafael chuckled lightly. “Well… he is my superior.”
Don’t, Damien warned sharply through the mind-link.
Rafael caught the message instantly and clamped his mouth shut.
“Superior?” Jacqueline echoed, glancing between the two men. Her gaze landed on Damien, who was currently glaring daggers at Rafael. “What are you?”
The question was innocent enough, but it made both men stiffen.
“Mom asked me to get you. Let’s go,” Damien muttered gruffly.
Without another word, he guided her back toward the manor, leaving Rafael behind fortunate enough to escape the situation unharmed.
The moment they stepped inside, Damien slowed his pace and released her. Even so, she could still feel the heat of his body brushing against her back. He remained close, too close.
With one hand, he adjusted the collar of his shirt while the other slipped casually into his pocket. His hawk-sharp eyes swept the room, scanning every corner, every person, assessing for threats.
Ironically, the men around them seemed to sense that he was the most dangerous thing in the room.
Good.
“Where’s Aunt Sofia?” Jacqueline asked lazily.
For now, Damien preferred getting her away from the crowded hall. He reached for her arm and steered her down a quieter corridor until they reached the empty dining hall.
Jacqueline leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms.
“The big brooding guy was stalking me?” she teased with a sly smile.
Damien took a slow step toward her, towering over her as his dark gaze swept down her figure.
“This dress is too short,” he muttered.
Her jaw nearly hit the floor.
She blinked at him, then glanced down at herself.
This was one of the most modest dresses she owned.
Rolling her eyes, Jacqueline lifted her hand and poked the center of his rock-hard chest with the tip of her finger. The unexpected shove forced him to take a small step back while she advanced.
His gaze dropped to her finger pressing against his chest before rising again to meet her bright, mischievous eyes.
Jacqueline suddenly looked away, almost shy.
Then she spun in a small twirl.
The movement nearly stopped Damien’s heart.
Her silky hair whipped around with the motion, brushing across his lips, his neck, the front of his chest. His eyes slid shut for a brief moment as he inhaled deeply, drawing in her intoxicating scent. It helped steady the storm raging inside him…
…but it also ignited something far more dangerous.
Her melodic laughter snapped his eyes open again.
She grinned at him, clearly amused. Her delicate hands slid down from the graceful curve of her neck, gliding over the swell of her breasts before settling on her hips.
Torment.
Pure, illicit torment.
“What are you doing?” he forced out through clenched teeth.
His molars ground together as he struggled to keep control. And here he’d thought staying away from her would be easy.
“Duh,” she replied innocently, her face completely serious. “I just showed you how good I look.”
God, she looks so damn tempting.
His wolf growled inside him.
Damien swallowed thickly. “You should be more careful around men,” he warned.
Jacqueline frowned and folded her arms across her chest.
The movement pushed her breasts together, and his traitorous eyes dropped instantly to the sight.
His throat went dry.
He remembered exactly how soft they had felt in his hand… how perfectly they had filled his palm.
Before he could stop himself, his mind wandered to how they might taste.
His body reacted instantly.
His jaw clenched as he mentally snarled at his wolf for filling his head with those images.
“Is it concern,” Jacqueline mused slowly, “or jealousy?”
She had seen the look in his eyes earlier when he yanked her away from Rafael. For a split second, Damien had looked ready to kill. Still, she had to give him credit.
The man possessed terrifying control.
“I’m not jealous,” he growled.
The words came out sharp, irritated… and far too defensive.
“Oh. Okay.” She shrugged lightly. “Maybe Rafael will still keep me company then.”
She turned and started to leave.
She barely managed two steps.
Suddenly her arm was seized in a rough grip, and she was yanked backward. Her body collided with his chest before she quickly stepped away again, glaring up at him.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he muttered.
Her nose scrunched up in annoyance.
Cute.
And sexy as hell, his wolf added unhelpfully.
The creature inside him seemed practically drunk probably intoxicated by the dangerously addictive substance known as Jacqueline.
“Excuse me?” she snapped.
Damien leaned closer, his face hovering just inches above hers. His warm breath brushed against her skin.
If he leaned a little closer…
Just a little…
He could capture those soft, plump lips and drain every breath from them.
They were painted a tempting shade of cherry pink.
His gaze lingered on them far longer than it should have.
Then Jacqueline nearly gave him a heart attack.
Her tongue slipped out, slowly tracing across her bottom lip.
She did it deliberately.
Fuck.
She was playing with him.
His eyes shot upward, colliding with hers.
Bright brown eyes sparkled up at dark olive ones, the tension between them crackling like a live wire.