Page 18 of Her Wolf

A disgrace

“Let’s go upstairs,” Cora said, standing.

But Bailey caught her wrist as he rose. Was it his imagination, or could he feel her pulse quicken at his touch? All the more reason for them to be in neutral territory. “No. Someplace else.”

She pursed her lips at him. “Like where?”

He shrugged.

Cora glanced up at the ceiling, and then nodded at him. She led him from the room and turned down the hallway, pulling him through a nearby doorway.

He closed the door behind them, and spent a few seconds taking in the grandeur of the place.

It was a library, but like something out of a movie. Row upon row of books climbed to the ceiling where a sun roof cut a massive, bright square through to the sky. It shone its light over a small raised platform where three over-sized armchairs, a few stools, and a low table had been arranged. The place even came with one of those enormous golden globes of the planet, a map of earth scored onto its surface. A small stairwell led to a covered balcony where an expensive-looking telescope stood, ready to gaze at the myriad of stars.

At one end of the library stood a long table, encircled with enough leather-padded chairs to seat a small gathering.

“…you coming?”

He blinked, his eyes finding Cora. She was halfway to the armchairs, but looking back at him with a frown. He cleared his throat, nodded, and followed her through the room. The air smelled of musty books and furniture polish. The thick carpet underfoot muffled their footsteps, as if designed to reduce the noise.

It was also eerily quiet inside here, as if the place had been sound proofed.

To his knowledge, no one in the Martin family were big readers. Then again, Javier would have made sure he had an authentic library, just as he’d ensured his gym housed the latest equipment, even if it had only ever been used by Neo when Javier’s son was present at the villa.

Cora perched on the edge of an armchair, giving him a compressed smile as he climbed the steps.

Her eyes widened when he dragged a leather ottoman in front of her and sat on it.

Her hands gripped the chair’s armrests, and her smile turned nervous.

“What is it?” she asked quietly.

His chest grew tight. Fuck, he’d had the nerve to do this earlier, but after hearing about Gabriella…

He wiped his palms over his jeans, and took hold of Cora’s hands. She shivered a little at his touch, but then calmed as soon as he’d wrapped his fingers around her slim palms.

“I should have told you this sooner,” he said, and immediately knew they were the wrong choice of words.

Cora’s confusion transformed into frustration. “Just tell me.”

“When we were at Swan Manor, when I was…”

“Yes?” she prompted, leaning forward a little.

“Javier had me bring hair samples to him.”

Cora’s frown deepened, and she gave her head a little shake as she narrowed her eyes at him. “Hair samples?”

“Your hair.”

“Wh—?” Her lips formed the letter, but then relaxed again. “My hair?”

“For a paternity test.”

Cora snatched her hands out of his with a hiss. She was halfway to her feet before he could grapple her back into the chair. She fought him, but then subsided with eyes so wide she looked shell-shocked.

“Don’t,” she whispered fiercely. “Don’t you dare tell me that fucking monster—!”

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