Part 31

I took a trembling breath as I held his gaze, lifting my steady hands to reach for his shoulder. The fabric underneath my palm was soft, luxe, almost slippery, and probably Italian. My gaze flickered between his eyes and his lips, urging him to make a decision I could not.

"Look at me, Erin."

I did. Because a single touch seemed to undo my will, and this was not how it's ever been, not how it's supposed to be.

"Moons!" Rowan cursed under his breath, a barely-there whisper that sent a wave of heat up my spine nonetheless. "Could I," The Alpha breathed and stopped, the unspoken question lingering between us.

I nodded, almost imperceptibly, but he caught it with ease, the air coming out short.

My omega did not fight Rowan when he tilted my head and dipped in. When our lips crushed together, it's shockingly familiar, achingly so, and I sank into the kiss with far too much ease, letting my eyes shut.

My lips were dry and chapped, slightly numb, but the Alpha's lips were soft and warm. He threw his entire body into it, one of his hands sliding down my spine to the small of my back.

Rowan's kiss was firmer, though; his tongue flicked determinately across my lips when I gradually recovered from my dumbfounded state. I brought my hands to the back of his neck, needy in tangling my fingers in the surprisingly silky long waves of curly hair.

I felt the need to pull him even closer but couldn't act on it as I was afraid of what it all would lead to—the Alpha was so passionate, his want for me evident in the way his pulse hammered against my palm.

As a low whine escaped my lips, it only spurred on, deepened the kiss with demanding urgency, all but trying to consume me as I let out little whimpering sounds in the back of my throat.

As he pulled back, I could feel hot puffs of air against my face but refrained from opening my eyes. Shutting off this particular sense helped me detach this situation from actual life and the storm I could hear raging inside.

I stayed still, encircled by his touch burn my skin even through layers of clothing. Opening my eyes, I peered at him, watching the repercussions of my racing heartbeat on his face. His lips were glistening wet, and there's the beginning of shadowy stubble on his defined jaw. How in the world was I supposed to put distance between us now?

"Rowan..." I weakly said, barely able to recognise my voice, but the Alpha dipped in again, catching the next word on his tongue and inhaling it before it could form. And from one beat to the next, he's flipped us over, making my head spin in more ways than one.

His body covered mine entirely, pressing against me in the most electrifying places. A shiver ran down my spine when his fingers found a sliver of skin between my shirt and trousers. He moved in to brush his lips along my cheekbones to the curve ear, and he licked at the sensitive skin right beneath it.

Only when he tightened his fists did I realise he had them tangled in my shirt. Rowan kept pressing open-mouthed kisses to the nape of my neck. My toes curled around as if all strings had been cut loose, and my head dropped forward.

I cursed under my breath, the pulse practically hammering in my throat and between my legs. Rowan seemed to be working hard to give me a love bite in the crook of my neck. Like he wanted everyone to know that I belonged to him.

My ears perked up as I heard the soft shuffle of feet coming closer. Immediately the hair on the back of my hair rose, body stilling in spot. With a firm tug, I pushed at his muscular chest and put much-needed distance between us. He gave me a confused look as I positioned myself, back resting easily against the desk, ankles crossed in front of me and arms protecting my chest.

Renee knocked on the door, her stiletto visible through the glass door. I ran a hand down my hair, clearing my throat and permitting her to enter.

There was an obvious tension in the air, grating against my skin as she came to a halt. Her eyes shuffled between the both of us, cheeks turning bright red. Could she sense the heat between us or the thing we did a few minutes ago?

My lips stung as I swiped a tongue across my bottom lip.

"Is there anything you need, Renee?"

She dumbly nodded, gripping the file tightly in between her hands. "Uh...I wanted your signature on this document. I can come back later if you want."

"No!" I said a little too louder. "I mean, hand me the file. I'll sign it now."

My fingers trembled as I held the pen, breathing shakily. The Alphas eyes bore into my side as I signed the paper.

"Here!"

"Thank you, Erin." She gave me a nod and bowed to Rowan.

I loudly exhaled as Renee walked out of my office. My knees buckled, and I crumbled to the nearest chair, hardly noticing that I had gone down until finding myself staring up at the ceiling. My body was burning, flames licking over my skin and penetrating it, setting the veins alight. I could feel my toes go numb and start twitching, and I could not stop it, especially when a gust of cold, damp wind hit my side.

Regardless of everything, feeling his intense eyes on me made hackles rise and defences go up. I was too unsettled to deal with in the confines of my office.

"Rowan." I shook my head stiffly. "I want you to go."

His face fell visibly, the corners of his mouth pulling down, and I could see Adam's apple bob. "You don't mean that."

"I do."

"You don't," The Alpha insisted, taking a hesitant step forward and extending an arm, but I shrank back, wrapping my arms around my upper body and feeling the heart beat erratically and painfully, making it hard to breathe or focus on anything else. "Is this about the kiss?"

I refused to look at him.

"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want, but please don't push me away."

I watched the vulnerable look on his face, nostrils flaring as he took a deep breath. Rowan's jaw was

firmly set, clenching with tension, and he looked genuinely distressed.

I regarded him silently for a minute or so, twirling the cup on my desk.

Rowan appeared warm and soft, and my fingers twitched with the urge to touch, but I have been anti-social so long that human contact wasn't ideally part of my routine anymore. It's strange because I used to be so tactile, especially with Rowan and Reed, and to feel an echo of that now was like touching a heated plane.

"Fine!" I exclaimed, putting a hand on my temples and rubbing it profusely. "You can sit here, I guess."

He pulled the chair in front of me, his sudden weight making it creak. "So, how far is the progress of the event?" Rowan cleared his throat, hands folded together as he blinked at me. There was no malice in his voice but actual curiosity regarding our work, so I indulged him.

***

As lunchtime rolled in, the Alpha lingered around the office. He went as far as checking in individually on every cubicle and their monitor. It should be annoying, but I couldn't help but be endeared by his commitment.

Stepping out of my office, I stood by the doorstep, a sudden silence spreading around. I raised my brow in the direction of Isabella, the only one who I could trust. She shrugged in response. What a traitor! I shook my head and walked in Rowan's direction, my heel clacking against the floor aggressively.

The Alpha leaned against Renee's desk, half of his upper body pressed against it, arms crossed. I tapped on his shoulder, almost feeling him relax under my touch.

"Oh...hey!" He breathily turned, his eyes gleaming under the light. "Is there anything you need, my dear?"

I ignored the shivers those last two words sent down my spine; a lump lodged in my throat. Wiping the hands down the sides, I met his eyes in a challenging glare.

"It's lunch time. How long are you planning to stay here, Rowan?"

I watched with bated breath as he stalked forward and stood by my side. A heavy arm wrapped around my waist, the heat of his fingers sinking in through layers of my clothes.

"Oh, I don't have anything on the schedule. Don't worry, honey, we can go back together."

"Awe, aren't you both the cutest?" Isabella cooed from behind, and I tried everything in me to not scream loud.

***