Page 22 of Cardinal House

“Wolf,” she says, and I hate how much I love the way she says my name, all low and rough and almost scolding, it makes me want to laugh. “You need to take these.”

The announcement to signal the elevator doors are about to close calls out, ‘Lift going down.’ So I reach out as though to take the papers and snatch her wrist instead, yanking her into the lift just as the doors close at her back. She stumbles, dropping into my lap as I pull her into me, capturing her around the waist with my arm.

Little loose hairs drift across her face as she exhales sharply, the papers from her hand slowly drifting towards the floor.

“Wolf,” she says breathlessly, and my entire body hums with satisfaction.

Her glacial blue eyes are locked on mine, and I can feel her heart beating like a drumming in her chest.

“I’ll be back here everyday until you tell me yes,” I say softly, speaking into her ear. “Everyday.”

She stares at me with longing, want and fear. And that bottom lip trembles again, the way it quivers, it’s like my undoing. I’m starting to wonder if the fear is all because of me, am I being too pushy, am I frightening her, intimidating, is all of this too much.

“Please,” she whispers, one of her hands coming up to touch the hollow of my throat, her body turning towards me so our noses almost brush. “Don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not…” Luna looks down, sadness in the pout of her lips.

“Because you’re not what?” I sigh, then breathe her in, her scent sweet and clean.

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with tears, real pain in the slope of her brow, she whispers, “Free.”

I’m scowling, I don’t mean to, but I can't stop myself, “Luna-”

The lift doors open, dinging as they do, interrupting us. Her head automatically turns towards the hall, and she throws herself out of my lap, stumbling to right herself as a large man dressed in all black is standing there, I assume waiting to use the lift.

“Miss Beaumont,” the man says, “you’re required to return home immediately.”

Her entire body trembles, Archer immediately pushes between her and the man, Thorne is next to separate them, and Hunter pushes me out next, the lift doors clattering closed at our backs.

“What’s this about?” I grunt, pushing to my feet, pain pulses inside my chest, and my legs feel like they’re about to buckle, but I get my arse out of the chair and push Luna behind me.

The big guy blinks at me, his dark eyes roving to the girl at my back, he can’t see her, but he stares at the centre of my body like he can.

“It’s okay,” Luna whispers behind me, stepping around to stand in front of me. “I’ll just go and get my-”

“No, I’m afraid you’re required to leave now, Miss Beaumont,” I glare at the big guy as he ignores the four of us blocking her, his eyes lazy in a way that has alarm bells going off inside my head.

I turn to face Luna, clasping her upper arms and spinning around with her, so I’m all she can see.

“Do you know this guy?” I ask her, her eyes on the floor. “Luna, look at me,” her blue gaze lifts, glassy with tears. “You don’t have to leave with him,” I tell her, meaning it, I’m already planning out our life together inside my head. “I can protect you.” She looks up at me, this fractured, sad smile curling her lips, I decide in this moment, I hate it, it’s all wrong. “I can keep you safe.”

“I know you would,” she smiles again and it feels even worse, even sadder. “I know you want to,” she breathes, her entire body still trembling, she lifts her hands to my wrists, circling them with her long, cool fingers. “But you can’t.” She squeezes them just once before dropping her hands, slipping free from my own. “It was really good to meet you, Wolf,” she whispers, dropping her gaze, she starts to move away.

My hand snaps out, grabbing her upper arm in a tight grip, that on skin as pale as hers, will probably leave a mark. I hate how appealing the idea is.

“Don’t walk away from me, Luna,” I whisper, breathing hard, staring at the side of her dropped head, eyes downcast. “Don’t walk away from me. I’ll find you.”

She swallows so hard I can almost hear the gulp, and then she turns to me, hidden by the wall of my brothers, she whispers, “You won’t,” with that same broken smile, but it feels more like she says, I hope so. “Please, let go of me.”

I release her arm like she burnt me, and I don’t turn around because if I do, I won’t let her go. And it feels important to me that I should. I can’t have a fight in the hospital, I can’t have a fight full stop, I’m in no fit shape to even put on my own socks for fuck’s sake. But Thorne is, he stops her without touch, simply turning to face her as she moves away from me stilling before him.

“If you ever need an unusual favour,” he says calmly, “for taking care of my brother, I owe you a debt,” his voice is low, hushed. “You just call this number and let it ring.”

I turn my head, watching as he slips a plain black card into her hand, the only thing on it is a number in gold foil. I have only ever seen Thorne give out a single other one of those cards, the man does not owe anyone a debt.

“Miss Beaumont,” the man says, summoning her again.

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