Chapter 1 ONE
Sophie's POV.
A loud yawn escaped from my throat as I glanced at the laptop in front of me.
The soft thump of rain splattering on the roof provided soft solitude. I shook my head, fighting the exhaustion that threatened to take over me. However exhausted I was, resting was not part of the bargain.
I winced as I eyed the multiple files staring right back at me. Once upon a time, being busy like this was nothing but a mirage. Now that I was living in the dream, it was suffocating.
I shook my head as another yawn took over my. My eyes burned with united tears from the sudden headache that assaulted me. I leaned my head over the table, closed my eyes, and willed the pain away.
"Sophie, you look stunning." Mr. Alfredo, the Beta of Night Crawlers Pack, said the moment he spotted me.
I smiled at him warmly, but said nothing to acknowledge his presence or even his praise, my eyes only on one target.
Dominic Steele.
Almost like he could feel my eyes on him, he turned around.
He was a handsome man, tall, broad in the shoulder with strong legs that looked particularly well in the training clothes he most often wore. Except he wasn't in training clothes this time. He was clad in a black shirt that was left open at the upper body, and jeans. The half buttoned shirt revealed his chest. He held a glass of alcohol in one hand. He held my gaze as his fingers caressed the body softly... gently... almost like he wasn't aware he was doing that.
He smiled at me before lifting the glass to his mouth, slowly gulping the content. He licked the edge of the glass cup, his eyes never wavering from mine.
The act felt as if he has been kissing me, I thought wildly. This is what he will look like when he holds me in his arms, when his body comes down over mine, pressing it into the bed. His naked body over mine, hot and hard and aroused.
I gulped and halted in my step. My wolf purred with lulips. I turned around and raced for the terrace, scared I would fumble. It only took a moment after I sat down before I heard heavy footsteps behind me.
"Who are we hiding from, dearest sister?" Dominic chuckled behind me.
I swirled around and frowned atbhim.
"You," I answered without pausing a beat. There was no use lying to him. His wolf would feel arousal already.
"I know." He said gently, coming to sit beside me.
We sat in silence for some seconds before I gathered the courage to look at him. His lids were half closed, his eyes dark, his parted lips a little moist.
"Why do you call me sister? Our parents aren't married yet," I asked with genuine curiosity.
He turned to stare at me. "They are getting married in a week's time. They are as good as married already." He leaned closer, his breath fanning my cheek. He grabbed my hand and lifted one if my finger into his mouth, sucking softly. "Besides, it helps keeps us in check as we promksed." He muttered to me.
The sensitive tip of my finger was encased in the wet heat of his mouth. I could sense the sharp edge of his teeth.
I needed to move, to squirm in the chair and push him away, drawing him closer. I needed...
Dominic lids lifted, his lips closed as he smiled and he stood up, looming over me for a moment.
"I guess it's time for me to retire for the night." He said. His crooked smile was teasing.
However, when he steadily got to his feet, he was aroused. Impressively, alarmingly aroused.
Just like my fantasy.
I watched him walk away, mourning the loss of him and his body.
Are we going to let him go like that? my wolf asked in agony.
"You know what he said. We can't be mates, remember?" I reminded her of his words a month ago after I found out we were mates.
"It will be morally questionabke." Je has said then.
But he gave us a green light today, Bree protested. Her words etched in my mind like a curse.
After a minute, I shook my head. "Doesn't matter, Bree. We are not doing anything," I concluded. My eyes fell back to the field where the rest of the Elite pack members were still clamoring around. Knowing my presence wouldn't be missed, I walked back to my room, ready to retire for the night as well.
After changing into my nightwear, I slipped under my cover and closed my eyes, frantic for a good night rest. Sleep never came, leaving my eyes wide open.
We want him. My wolf said after I closed my eyes for the fifth time that night.
I sat up straight in bed and hissed at her.
"But he doesn't want us," I clarified. "It has to be mutual."
A brief knock sounded at my door. Before I could ask the person to come in, the door flung open. I grabbed my cover and feud it tightly against my chest to cover my half naked body.
"Irs only me," Dominic said. He closed the door behind me, locking us in place.
"Oh," I sighed in relief. I looked at him and saw uncontrollable desire seeping through him. My heart thrummed, desire cozying through.
He sighed in defeat. His hands dropped his boxer, tye only piece of clothing he had on, on the floor. His eyes didn't leave mine through the action.
"By the moon goddess!" I cursed. I closed my eyes, then, when there was no sound of movement, opened them again. Dominic was still standing there, hands in lean hips, waiting, I supposed, for me to faint, scream, or dive under the covers. I did none of those things, just stared at his admirably flat stomach. When I thought my breathing was under control, I let my gaze slide over.
His cock stood up like the weapon it was.
"I can't keep you out of my mind." He said honestly.
"Youbare meltingly gorgeous," I mumbled, my eyes still fixed on his dick.
"Unless you want to fuck me, then don't tease me." He pleaded with a groan.
"I want you to fuck me till the inky name in my lips is yours," I breathed out.
His eyebrows lifted as I threw back the covers, reached for the hem of my nightgown and dragged it over my head in one ungainly movement. When I made myself meet his gaze, I found he had not moved, but the blue eyes were dark beneath lowered lids and his mouth was curved into a crooked smile that held both approval and a promise.
He stalked to the edge of the bed and held my gaze. "Melting gorgeous." He repeated my words, his eyes eating my breasts.
I was open-mouthed on a gasp of laughter and Dominic took advantage of my parted lips to the possession, his tongue sliding in to stroke mine, his lips warm and firm and demanding.
My arms curled around his neck, pulling him closer as my tongue stroked against his. My hands slid over his shoulder and the right one encountered a long, rough track of scar tissue.
When Dominic broke the kiss, gathering me against his chest, I rubbed my cheek against the dusting of coarse hair, sniffing his scent. Citrus from the soap he washed with, a faint hint of leather, a distant tang of brandy, and a musk that was very much him.
"I've waited so long for this." His lips closed over one aching nipple and I moaned, arching up against him.
I felt his lips curved into a smile, and then shivered with nerves as he shifted and pressed one hand gently between my thighs, opening me.
His teeth nipped my breast gently as he slid one finger into me. Then his thumb found my clitoris. He was gentle, and teasing.
"Oh my goodness," I moaned. The raw, almost intolerable sensation became one of pulsing sweetness mixed with desperation that had me squirming against his hand.
"Shh. Slowly... slowly." He murmured against my neck.
My right hand moved from his hips, stroked down, touched his cock and stroked again until he let out a groan.
Dominic shifted, lifting me against him. The pleasure built until I was curled around him, my ankles locked at the small of his back, striving desperately to catch hold of whatever it was that was tormenting me so deliciously, promising something that was just out of reach.
"Relax. Let me take care of you." He said. He kissed my forehead gently. "I will take care of you." He promised. He hoisted himself between my legs, his cock in hands. He filled me instantly.
"Hmmm!" I groaned out, my eyes glazed over.
When he began to move, it was slow at first, so gentle, that I hardly realized that my own body was rocking with his, yielding the slow thrusts, the need building again as I released the hard dick only to accept him back with a soft gasp of pleasure.
Suddenly, I broke apart, heard myself cry out. I felt Dominic tense and arch over me, and then the world went black save for the lights in the darkness behind.
That had been... I let myself drift in utterly relaxed drowsiness, my body boneless with sensual pleasure.
"Sweet," Dominic murmured against my ear before he pulled himself up from my body shd collapsed at the other side of the bed.
I curled against him now, warm and soft.
"Mom!" A distant childish voice called, drawing me back from the dark abyss I was in. I shrugged and whimpered, my body refusing to leave the warmth of Dominic's body.
"Mom, wake up." Tiny hands slapped me gently at my back. "I'm hungry." The owner of the tiny voice cried.
The warmth from Dominic's body was gone in a flash, as well as the bed and the room and the pack. I gasped as reality reared back.
"Mom!" Ethan, my six years old son, called again.
I sighed in defeat. I used the back of my hands to quickly wipe away the drool that formed at the side of my mouth.
"Are you okay, honey?" I asked. "Why are you up by this time?" I queried.
Ethan rolled his eyes at me before moving to the window. He flung the curtain to the side, revealing the stream of morning light. Birds sang in the distance, their early morning call for nature.
"Shit!" I muttered under my breath. How could I have slept through the night?
"I already bathed myself. I'm hungry," Ethan said, breaking into my thoughts.
"Sure, honey." I stood up and began to walk toward the door. "I'll just make you something for breakfast," I promised. "Woukf you like omelets and—"
"—Who is he, mom?" Ethan asked, cutting off my speech.
I glanced back to look at him and saw him holding the magazine I bought impulsively last night. I closed the short distance between us and yanked the magazine from him. I threw it into the trash can before facing the boy.
"How many times have I warned you not to touch my things? Especially on this tavje?"
Ethan shivered at my angry voice but he didn't back down.
"I'm sorry, mom. It was only because his eyes looked like mine." He explained.
The anger in me dissipated. "Its okay. He's a novody," I said, dismissing the question. "Lets get ready for school and work," I said jovially.
"Good morning, Angela," I greeted my secretary with a smile.
"Good morning, Ma'am." She responded, getting up from her seat. She grabbed a file from her desk and rushed after me. "You have a meeting with Mr. Jay by 9AM. Another one with Mr. Nathan by 12. And there's that boardroom meeting with the owners of Ricky and Rocky Co. at their office." She read.
"What time is it?" I asked, stepping into my office.
"By 5PM." Sve clarified.
I glanced at my wristwatch, noting that it was already 8:45 AM. "The moment Mr. Jay comes, please send him in," I told her.
"Yes, ma'am," Angela answered. She brought out a brief envelope from between her file and held it out to me. "This came in for you this morning."
I took the envelope from her, frowning a little. I wasn't expecting a letter from anyone.
"Did you check?" I asked her.
She shook her head. "It said, strictly confidential, ma'am." She explained,pointing out the red ink on the lower side of the envelope.
I tore the envelope open, my eyes skimming through the content. My hand flew to my mouth to suppress the sound from escaping.
How could he be dead?
My hand shivered as I read through the letter again.
Dear Miss Sophie Hart, this is to inform you that Mr. Richard Steele passed away from a serious illness, and his funeral will be held in three days. It was his last wish and in respect to his will that you be present for his funeral. As his lawyer, I would also like to request your presence at the will reading as stated in the deceased's will.
The letter dropped from my hands to the floor unceremoniously. A lone tear slid down my face at the thought of Richard gone just like that.
I knew I owed him my presence even if he didn't demand it. The man was more of a parent to me than my own mother ever was.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" Angela asked, concerned about etching her voice.
"Cancel all my appointment for the day, Angela," I instructed, my vice still squirming.
I walked out of the office without waiting for a response.
Six long years.
After six long years, I would be facing Dominic Steele once again. After settling down in Los Angeles and making a home for myself and my son.
But the question was, what exactly would be waiting for me over there in New York?