Chapter 144

Agnes

Elijah’s grip on my wrist was firm as he pulled me out of the design department. My heart hammered against my ribs, not knowing what to expect. Was he angry? Had he seen the article? Had Olivia done something else?

The blood from my pricked finger trailed down my palm, warm and sticky. Without a word, Elijah led me down the corridor and pushed open the door to the nearest bathroom. I stumbled in after him, surprised and confused.

“Your finger,” he said simply, nodding toward the crimson droplet forming at the tip.

I blinked down at it, almost having forgotten in the confusion. “It’s just a prick. Happens all the time when I sew.”

He ignored my dismissal and guided me to the sink, turning on the cold water. “Let me see.”

His touch was gentle as he held my hand under the stream, washing away the blood. The sting of the water made me wince, but I didn’t pull away. There was something oddly intimate about the moment—Elijah washing my wound, his fingers wrapped around mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles as he examined the damage.

After rinsing my finger clean, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small first aid kit. Of course he would have one with him. Elijah was always the practical one. Or maybe he’d just gotten used to me acting like a fool after yesterday.

“You came prepared,” I said with a small chuckle.

A half-smile tugged at his lips. “Life of an Alpha. Always ready for emergencies.” He glanced up at me. “Most of them, anyway.”

He opened the kit and pulled out an antiseptic wipe. I hissed as he cleaned the cut, the sting momentarily distracting me from the warmth of his hands around mine. With practiced movements, he wrapped a small bandage around my fingertip, his touch tender and warm.

“There,” he said once he was finished, but he didn’t release my hand. Instead, his thumb traced small circles on my palm, sending shivers up my arm.

I swallowed, suddenly aware of how close we were standing. My back was pressed against the edge of the sink counter, and Elijah was just inches away. Did he intend to stand so close to me? Had he just seen Olivia? Was the mate bond still thrumming, just as it had that day he’d kissed me in his office?

But when I glanced at his neck, his mating mark was covered by the collar of his shirt. I swallowed and met his gaze again.

“I saw the article,” he said, clearing his throat. “Congratulations.”

I huffed out a surprised laugh. “Congratulations? For what? It’s not like I actually intended to create some profound ‘performance art piece’. I was just… falling apart in public.”

Elijah shrugged. “Intention or not, it worked out. People are talking about your designs. More importantly, they’re believing you about your daughter.”

The mention of my daughter sent a fresh pang through my chest. I’d been stunned by the outpouring of support, the sudden validation after years of doubt and dismissal. But it still felt surreal, as if at any moment I might wake up to find it was all a dream.

“I’m just glad it worked out for the best,” Elijah continued, his thumb still tracing patterns on my palm. “And I’m sorry I couldn’t do better for you before now.” He paused, then added, “By the way, I know Mother’s Day was a bit of a disaster yesterday. But we’re going to make up for it. I promise.”

The sincerity in his eyes made something warm unfurl in my stomach. This was the Elijah I’d fallen for—kind, protective, taking responsibility even when he didn’t need to. His sweetness combined with the weight of his body so close to mine made heat crawl up my neck and settle low in my belly.

But Mason’s words from last night echoed in my head, dampening the growing desire. A mate bond doesn’t break. Not really. And if Elijah is still tied to Olivia after everything she’s done—to Thea, to you—he’s not letting go.

I bit my lip, trying to silence the doubt. But the question burned in my throat.

“Do you still intend to try and break your mate bond with Olivia?” I blurted out, then immediately regretted my bluntness.

Elijah’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t pull away. “Of course I do. Why would you think otherwise?”

I glanced down, unable to meet his gaze. “No reason. I was just wondering if… after everything…”

“Look, fighting with her yesterday wasn’t your proudest moment, but I still don’t trust Olivia one bit,” he said. “Not after what she did to Thea. Not after what she’s done to you. I trust you far more. And I want nothing more than to be happy with you, to build something real, something lasting.”

The tenderness in his eyes made my knees weak. Or maybe it was the blood loss from my finger, however minor. Either way, I suddenly felt light-headed, swaying slightly on my feet.

Elijah caught me immediately, his strong arms wrapping around my waist. “Whoa,” he murmured, pulling me against his chest to steady me. “You okay?”

I nodded, my face pressed against his shirt, inhaling the intoxicating scent of him. “Just a little dizzy.”

When I looked up, his eyes had softened even further, filled with concern and something else—a hunger that mirrored the one growing in my own body. Without thinking, I rose on my tiptoes, closing the distance between us.

Our lips met in a gentle kiss, tentative at first, as if testing the waters. But the moment of hesitation didn’t last long. His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer as he deepened the kiss. My bandaged finger forgotten, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my body fully against his.

Heat surged through me as his tongue swept across my bottom lip, asking for entrance that I eagerly granted. The kiss intensified, his hands sliding down to grip my hips. With one fluid movement, he lifted me up, setting me on the edge of the sink.

I gasped against his mouth, the cold porcelain a shock against my bare legs. Taking advantage of my parted lips, Elijah claimed my mouth more fully, his tongue sliding against mine. His hands moved to my skirt, pushing the fabric up to expose my thighs.

My pulse raced as his fingers traced patterns on my skin, each touch sending sparks of pleasure through my body. I melted into him, forgetting completely about Mason’s warning, about Olivia, about anything beyond the feel of Elijah’s hands on my skin and his lips against mine.

This felt right. It felt familiar, like coming home after a long day. I wanted more—wanted all of him again, as if our one night of lovemaking an eternity ago wasn’t enough. And it wasn’t, truly. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, feeling the hard evidence of his desire pressed against me.

A moan escaped my throat as his lips left mine to trail kisses down my neck. His hand slid higher up my thigh, his thumb tracing the edge of my underwear in a way that made me shiver.

But a flicker of doubt cut through the haze of desire.

“Wait,” I whispered, pulling back slightly to look at him. “What about Olivia? You said before that if she found out about our true feelings, she’d retaliate...”

Elijah’s breathing was ragged, his pupils dilated. He pressed his forehead against mine, closing his eyes briefly as if gathering his thoughts.

“I can’t stop wanting you,” he admitted. “Even if Olivia is going to cause trouble in the future. But for now, I’m not worried about her.”

He leaned in to kiss me again before I could answer, but the bathroom door suddenly swung open. Someone gasped loudly.

I jerked back, my face burning as I recognized Maria standing in the doorway. Quickly, I hopped down from the sink, smoothing my skirt over my thighs.

Elijah seemed far less embarrassed than I was. His eyes flashed with something sultry, almost challenging, before he cleared his throat and nodded to Maria. Without another word, he left, brushing past my stunned coworker.

I stared after him, a pang of disappointment settling in my chest.