Chapter 10

Hunter

I leaned over Maya, trying not to get too close. Trying not to fall even harder at the way she narrowed her gorgeous eyes to squint at the supply list. The wrinkle in her nose as she concentrated, wanting to please me.

The way she needed me.

I adjusted my body so our arms weren’t touching. I felt an electric current of energy radiating between our skin.

I wanted her.

I gritted my teeth. It was infuriating that she undid me like this. I’d never wanted to feel this way.

But I wouldn’t act on it. Not until she was older.

I startled as she stood up quickly. Her chair fell backward and she whipped her head toward the doorway.

My eyes followed hers. Kara was standing in the hallway, looking in. Her face was impassive. Blank.

Why was she just standing there? As soon as I wondered, though, she moved silently away.

Emotionless.

“Oh no,” Maya said breathlessly. “I think she was just starting to like me. I hope she doesn’t misunderstand.”

I narrowed my eyes and hardened my tone to reply:

“There’s nothing to misunderstand.”

I wasn’t sure why I felt so frustrated. I wanted Maya. And I didn’t want to upset Kara.

But there was a part of me that couldn’t stand that my chosen mate and secret wife was indifferent to find me here with another woman.

I returned late to the Alpha suite, hoping Kara would be there.

She was, but she didn’t rush to greet me as she normally did. She usually walked to me, standing close and asking how my day had been. I knew she tried to be composed and calm, but I knew she was always glad to see me. Always concerned about me.

Instead she remained on the sofa across the room, lifting a hand in a slight wave, but barely looking at me.

She glanced back down at the document she was reading.

She was wearing a blue satin nightgown that gently grazed her figure.

My eyes tracked upward: long legs, gently curving hips, taut waist, lush breasts barely constrained by the straps of her camisole.

Did they always look that full?

I needed her.

I walked toward her, cock hardening in anticipation.

I took the documents from her hands and tossed them onto a side table, and lowered my mouth towards hers.

She put a hand on my shoulder, keeping me an arm’s length away from her.

“I’m too tired tonight,” she said quickly. “Sorry.”

This is why I’d never wanted a real romantic entanglement. Even when it was uncomplicated—like it was supposed to be in my arrangement with Kara—it was complicated. Distracting.

“Are you upset that I stayed late helping Maya?”

“I understand the difficulty of resisting a fated mate. Besides, Maya does still need help learning our operational procedures. I appreciate you taking the time to instruct her.”

She spoke coolly. Her tone of voice was the same as it would be if she was instructing her assistant to do some banal task. It was maddening.

And now that I was standing over her, looking down on her breasts as they rose and fell with each breath, I couldn’t resist her.

I grasped her behind her shoulders and kissed her, biting her lower lip and tangling my tongue into her mouth to find hers. I reached for the hem of her nightgown with my right hand as I twined my left into her hair. I moved my mouth downward, eagerly sucking at the side of her neck.

She sniffed and pushed me away.

She gagged.

My teeth gritted and fists clenched. She was rejecting me.

Had she smelled Maya on me? Why did she care so much?

“My stomach has been feeling strange today, so I don’t want to do anything tonight.”

She spoke casually. Her tone was cool and composed. But I knew her well, and had noticed that her nostrils flared just slightly as she spoke.

She was lying.

Why, though? We both knew where we stood with each other. It worked for us.

I’d needed a partner who was competent and obedient and could work behind the scenes to handle the responsibilities of a Luna. She’d needed money to take care of her family, and I’d never been stingy with it.

I needed her body. I knew I satisfied her as well.

It worked for us. It had never mattered that we weren’t fated. That we weren’t in love with each other.

I wasn’t sure why I found this behavior so infuriating. I opened my mouth to ask her to explain herself, but didn’t know how to phrase my question.

I shook my head. I was probably just reading too much into it. She probably was actually coming down with a stomach virus or something.

Everything would be back to normal in a few days.

Kara

Maya walked quickly toward my desk the next morning before I even had a chance to sit down. She must have been here early.

I wasn’t sure how her eyes looked so bright and alert. I knew she’d had a late night with Hunter.

She stood tall, posture straight. She looked proud of herself.

“Here you go,” she said chirpily as she passed me a new set of forms. “I think I’ve finally got it this time.”

She smiled and hovered over me as I flipped through the stack.

I didn’t spot any errors. Hunter’s tutoring must have finally gotten her to understand.

I felt my expression darken.

“What is it?” She asked breathlessly. “Did I get something wrong? I thought for sure this time I had it perfect.”

“No, it’s not that—” I started.

She cut across me, seeming to have decided something.

“Listen,” she started. “I know what you’re thinking. I know we were alone there late, but it’s the only time he was available. He’s just taking care of me because I’m so young and inexperienced. He just sees me as a new member that needs to be taught and looked after. I promise. Please don’t be upset.”

She was breathing heavily after she finished, having spoken quickly. She must have been meaning to say that for a while.

“You don’t need to explain yourself to me. It’s not my place to interfere in my boss’s private life.”

I expected her to grow calmer at my words, but she still looked tense.

Something clouded in her pale eyes.

She was looking at my neck.

I bristled, resining the urge to cover the side of my neck. That would only make it more obvious.

But did I have a bruise from where Hunter had roughly kissed me last night?

Her expression darkened further. She seemed to struggle with herself again, hesitating before she spoke.

The words burst from her mouth.

“Is it true?” She asked, leaning toward me. “What the others are saying—about you and Hunter?”