“Whatever you want, cher.” He turned to Alynna. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.” His tone was dripping with charm. “I’m Marc Delacroix, at your service. And you must be Mika’s older sister.”
“Ohhh, a charmer.” Alynna’s tone was filled with mirth. “I think I like you.”
Oh brother, just what she needed. Him and her mother getting along.
“Apologies if I interrupted your lunch, ladies.”
“I’m suddenly not hungry,” she groused. “You both can leave now. I have a lot of work.”
“Oh, this is good,” Alynna said with a chuckle.
She glared at her mother. “You find this funny?”
“I find it ironic.” She glanced at Delacroix. “Her father was my bodyguard too.”
“Then I hope she inherited both your beauty and intelligence.”
“Argh!” She was so mad she was shaking. “If you think—”
Alynna cleared her throat. “You know what? I have this appointment I have to get to. Enjoy the food.” After a quick kiss to her cheek, she dashed out the door.
Goddammit, was everyone conspiring against her? “What are you doing?”
Delacroix had reached into the paper bags and was opening the contents. “Tsk, tsk, this food isn’t good for you, cher. Too much artificial flavoring. Oil. MSG.” He glanced at the empty coffee cup on her table. “Caffeine? You shouldn’t even be having that.”
“Excuse me?” She snatched away the container in his hand.
“You should be having healthy food, with lots of calcium and folic acid—”
“Look, I don’t know who you think you are, but you can’t barge in here and start judging me on my food choices.”
“I’m your bodyguard, I need to look out for your well-being.” He plucked the box of fried rice out of her hand.
“You’re supposed to watch out for flying bullets or car bombs.” She took it back and placed it on the desk behind her. “Now, I don’t know what you and Lucas have cooked up, but this isn’t going to work.”
“If you say so.”
God, he was infuriating. “What do you want, Delacroix? Are you hoping Lucas would free you from your servitude if you played concerned dad-to-be?” A terrible feeling crept into her chest. “Is that it? Trying to sweet talk me and so then Lucas will—” She gasped when he suddenly lunged forward and trapped her between her desk and his body.
“This has nothing to do with the Alpha. Or anyone else except you and me.” Fury flared in his eyes, but then subsided just as quickly. “You know what I want.”
“No, I really don’t.”
“I told you that night. I want you.”
Fucking hell, those words sent a ripple of desire straight to her core. “For that night,” she huffed.
“No, not just for that night.”
She ignored the way her heart beat like a drum against her rib cage. “Well, I don’t want you.”
“Really?” He bent his head down closer, his breath skimming against her ear. “You wanted me just fine then. Or have you forgotten it already? I could remind you.”
“Damn you!” She pushed him away. “That will never happen again. Get out!”
His eyes stared at her defiantly, then lowered to her lips and down to the rest of body like a lazy caress. The heat from his gaze seemed enough to make her nipples tighten, and she bit her lip to keep from moaning out. All he had to do was touch her, and she would be a goner. “I’ll be outside. Just say the word if you need me.”
She couldn’t help but track him as he left, and when the door closed behind him, she let out an outraged scream. “Son of a bitch!” She fell back, bracing herself on the desk as her knees turned to jelly. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. But that only made it worse. His scent still lingered in the air, and her wolf just loved it, the tramp.
“Damn it!” Why was she feeling this way? She thought she’d gotten past wanting him. The ache that had been so keen when she first left had dulled in the cold Russian winter. In fact, she thought she’d all but conquered it. But all he had to do was come near her, and her body was all but panting for him, bringing back memories from that night.
Hormones, she told herself. Her mom had said her body was changing. Maybe she was getting to that time when her body was craving sex. Plus, it had been too long. Not like she had any chances of getting some in Russia. Yeah, that was it.
With a deep sigh, she walked back around to her chair and began unpacking the food. Lunch first, then a phone call to Lucas. Her cousin was going to have a lot of explaining to do, after she ripped him a new one.
It took about twenty phone calls, but she managed to get a hold of Lucas, but only by calling Sofia’s phone and asking to speak to him. Much to his credit, he let her rant and rave, but told her that he was not changing his mind, then hung up.
She fumed for the rest of the day and didn’t leave her office at all for the rest of the afternoon. It wasn’t difficult, but with Delacroix standing outside her door like some sentinel, there wasn’t much incentive for her to leave. Frankly, if she hadn’t run out of food, she would have been happy to stay inside here forever. She could order in, but that would mean having to open the door. If only Daric or Cross were around, but they were busy, and she doubted getting her a pizza was a top priority right now.
So, after turning off her computer and shutting off the lights, she yanked her office door open. “I’m done for the day,” she said before Delacroix could say anything.
He gave her one of those devilishly handsome smiles. “Let’s go then. I was getting hungry, and I’m sure you are too.
