Chapter 60 60
Roman's POV
Margaret kept me preoccupied for most of the time I spent in the pack.
As much as I wanted to accompany Maisie to her photoshoot, I had things to oversee and border protection laws to negotiate. But as evening dawned, I couldn’t stay away any longer.
I rescheduled my meetings, bade Margaret my goodbyes and shot my pilot a text. As soon as we arrived at the BlackRock Pack, I drove to where Maisie’s last shoot was taking place.
I stopped at the edge of the set, my eyes scanning the crowd for a certain brunette.
I found her.
Maisie stood on a blue platform. She wore a white cotton dress that fell to her knees. Her hair was curled like a cloud around her face and on her neck was an emerald necklace matching her engagement ring. Fake engagement ring.
‘We both know it isn't fake to you.’ My wolf teased.
I ignored him and continued watching her.
Maisie was too focused on the camera to notice me yet, so I soaked her in.
The floodlights gilded her skin and formed a halo around her gentle curves. But that wasn't what caught my attention. It was the fact that she had no makeup on. Just her brown eyes, lush lips and smooth porcelain skin that my teeth ached to mark. She looked remarkable. If anything, a goddess in her natural element
This was her first ever photoshoot, yet she was handling it like a professional.
‘This woman is too good for you.’ My wolf added.
“Don't you think I know that?” I sighed.
“And that’s a wrap!” The photographer shouted after a short while.
I took that as a cue.
I'd barely taken a step when a familiar dark short hair interrupted my view of Maisie.
What the hell is he doing here?
“You were absolutely gorgeous, darling. Absolute perfection,” Xavier took Maisie's right hand and planted a soft kiss on her knuckles.
What the hell?
Maisie responded with a shy smile and leaned in to whisper to him.
Xavier pulled away and chuckled. “I bet. The Healer wristband will be a big hit.”
A lethal spike of possessiveness surged through my blood.
Why was Xavier talking to her? Why was he touching her? Why was he breathing the same air as she?!
I allowed my eyes to linger on Maisie for a second longer before I dragged them away to assess Xavier with a cold stare.
The bastard had more flaws than an impure gem. For a man who had a bad cocaine habit, a failing marriage, no sense of direction, and a secret gambling problem, he doesn't let those flaws stop him from getting what he wants. This time, they won't. I will.
“Beta Jason!” Emma finally noticed me.
Her greeting attracted the attention of everyone in the studio, including Xavier, whose head whipped around to me. His jaw tightened as we locked gazes but he said nothing. Maisie hadn’t moved from her spot on the platform, but she’d turned to face me. Surprise, pleasure, and a hint of something unidentifiable passed through her eyes when they caught mine.
My anger towards Xavier fell to the wayside, drowned out by the electric hum in the air.
I've met plenty of beautiful women in my life. Women with perfect hair, perfect skin, and perfect bodies. Supermodels and movie stars and heiresses molded by the best money could buy. None of them held a candle to Maisie. She glowed in a way that had nothing to do with her outer beauty.
Darkness was always drawn to light, but I wasn’t just drawn to her; I was fucking obsessed. I would throw myself into her flame and let it burn me alive if it meant her warmth was the last thing I felt before I died.
Her lips parted on a sharp exhale, like the force of my need was so great it pulled a physical reaction out of her.
“...didn’t realize you were coming.” Xavier’s sycophantic voice buzzed like an irritating gnat in my ear. “Closed the deal already?”
Xavier probably thought sending me away to negotiate a border protection law was the right thing to do. If only he knew the one of the packs he'd signed a deal with was mine.
“Yes.” I didn’t take my eyes off Maisie as I replied to him.
“Good.” Xavier flashed me an oily smile. “Well, if that isn't much, I have something for you —”
“Excuse me but I'd like to speak to my fiancee.” I returned his smile with my very own and left before he could utter another word. Call it what you will but I held more power and respect in the pack than he ever did.
The crew ignored us and began to pack up.
I ignored their fanatic movements as I made my way to Maisie.
“You came.” She said, breathless.
“I couldn't leave without seeing you.” I replied, gesturing for her to come to me.
Maisie smiled. “Well, you're breaking the rules. We're not supposed to act all lovey-dovey.”
She stopped in front of me, so close I could smell the faint scent of coconut sunscreen and green florals mixed with the salty kiss of the ocean.
“Really?” I brushed my fingers over the sun-warmed jewels draped around her neck.
“Yes. Xavier's probably watching.” She whispered.
“So? Let him.”
A gentle breeze whipped a curl across her face. I brushed it away before she could.
It’d been less than 24 hours since we last saw each other and I was already craving her closeness like an addict hungering for his next hit.
At this point, it wasn't an infatuation. I was genuinely obsessed with her. I needed her.
“But if you want to know the truth…” My hand skimmed from her necklace onto the delicate slope of her shoulder. “I didn’t come to watch the photoshoot.”
A gentle shiver rippled through her body when my touch trailed down her forearm.
“Then why did you come?” she whispered.
“For you.” I lingered on the soft, bare skin above her elbow.
She turned those slumberous green eyes on me, looking so innocent and content it formed an iron fist around my heart.
This woman has me wrapped around her fingers and I don't even mind.
“Kiss me.” It was spoken in a whisper. Like a soft plea. But I heard something else. I heard a command, an order I couldn't defy, a desire I shouldn't cage.
I let out a low curse before I groaned, fisted her hair, and slammed my mouth down on hers.
I'd planned to ruin Maisie but the second her lips met mine, she ruined me instead.