Page 39 of Obsessed Wolf Daddy

I'm on my feet, and before I can think, I'm around the desk and standing directly in front of her. She smiles, satisfied that she thinks she got a rise out of me. My wolf is pacing. Unlike Jonah, I'm not afraid of witches. Carmela is powerful, no doubt, but so is my wolf. She has a healthy respect for powerful shifters. Should that ever change, I already benefit from the most powerful protection spells available—something that has always pissed Carmela off. I haven't made my billions without making a few enemies, including supernaturals far worse than my ex.

I lean forward, invading her space. Her eyes widen slightly, and her lips part. "I think you know that's bullshit, Carmela," I say, my voice barely a whisper against her cheek. "Do you think I would ever settle for less than complete domination and pleasure? You know what I'm capable of, don't you? I think if you're honest with yourself, this is just your way of saying you miss it. You miss what I can do to you."

My hands move to the armrests of her chair, my much larger frame caging her in. Looking down, I watch her ample cleavage rise and fall, and I know I'm affecting her. I step it up a notch, my thumb stroking her arm, sending shivers throughher body. "No one has made you feel the way I have. No one has made you scream the way I have. You know I can't live without wild, unabashed, dark, and dirty sex..."

She turns her head slightly, her soft skin grazing my stubble. Electricity practically crackles between us, and I know she wants me to kiss her. To take her hard and fast on the desk like I have a thousand times before.

Instead, I straighten back up and lean on the desk. "...I just don't want it from you,” I finish.

She stares at me for a moment, her eyes flashing with rage, though the rest of her face is carefully neutral. After a pause, she pushes her chair back and puts some distance between us. "You are a fool, Cole. You don't even see it. However, try not to be a fool in business, too." She grabs the discarded tablet. "I'll go through the Franklin details. I'll present the new software, too, but if I think Brite Corp is no longer up to the challenge, there are others waiting to claim it."

"I thought we weren't confusing business and pleasure?" I say with a chuckle.

Walking toward the door, she turns slightly and flashes me another dazzling smile. "Be careful, or you'll have neither."

Chapter 20 - Saffy

"You listen to me,” Mrs. Roberts scolds. “You're working far too hard."

I smile at the older woman when she tells me off, as she always does when our shifts cross over at the store, and she finds me working on my laptop between customers.

"I promise I'm not. I was only skimming some numbers," I reassure her as I put the memory stick into my bag with the laptop. I'm so glad I decided to download the project onto the stick so I can finalize the presentation over the weekend.

She rolls her eyes but gives me a gentle hug as we complete the handover, and I grab my keys. "Are you back in on Tuesday, dear?" she asks.

"Yes, and I'm going to pull out all the seasonal décor for the shop window. I can't wait.”

She laughs. "Better you than me. I can't even reach the top of the display shelves anymore. I don't know what we'd do without you."

"You know I love it." I laugh, meaning every word. While I know cyber security is my future, I can't imagine a world where I'm not helping out at the general store. It's the center of the town, and I feel so connected to the pack just being here.

I give Mrs. Roberts one last wave as I leave the store and head to my truck across the road. I'm in a world of my own until I hear footsteps and someone calling my name. "Saf, wait up!"

I recognize the voice immediately and spin around to see Terrance bounding up to me, his trademark friendly smile in place. I instinctively take a step back, and he slows down. "Whoa, Saf! I don't want to upset you, okay? I just want to talk."

"I-I really don't think there's anything to say," I stumble over my words. "I don't think we should talk at all, really."

I turn to continue walking, but Terrance reaches out to touch my arm. When I look back at him, I'm shocked to see tears welling in his eyes. "Please, Saf. I know what I did, and I'm so sorry. I don't know why I did it. I've lost everything. Everyone hates me."

The tears threatening to fall begin trickling down his face, and I stop walking. "Don't cry, okay?” I say. “I'm sure you can sort it all out with your pack. I'm sure they don't all hate you."

He sighs heavily, looking broken. "Let me buy you a coffee. I just want to talk." I begin shaking my head, but he pleads, "Let me just say sorry properly, and then you'll never have to see me again. I promise."

I'm shocked by how disheveled and devastated he looks. Biting my lip, I cast my eyes to Miller's Coffee Shop across the road. It looks really quiet, and the street is deserted. "Come on," I say, jerking my head to the shop. "One quick coffee."

The man behind the counter smiles at me as we enter but obviously doesn't recognize Terrance. I know Terrance isn't welcome in my pack anymore, so he's taking a huge risk being here. It makes me think he must really want to apologize to me properly.

I find a table in the corner where it's dimly lit and quiet. Terrance slumps into his seat, running a hand through his unusually unkempt hair while I try to calm my nerves with a few deep breaths. The scent of freshly ground coffee beans fills my nostrils, calming my wolf slightly. I remind myself how safe I am on my own pack land. We're just talking.

"Thank you," he mumbles to me, taking a sip of his coffee, his knee jerking nervously. His hands shake as he brings the cup to his lips, and I can see the strain of the last couple of weeks etched on his face. "I've been so stupid, Saf," he whispers. "I don't know what got into me. I would never want to hurt you. Ever. You've got to believe me."

His eyes search mine pleadingly, and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, everyone deserves a second chance.

"I was going through such a rough patch," he continues. "I guess I didn't think the internship was going so well. I wanted to fit in with Jonah and all the West Coast people at the party. I thought some shifter juice would help. I thought we were into each other. I thought…" His voice catches, and it sounds like he's on the brink of crying.

I almost reach out to comfort him but stop myself. I don't want to touch him, and I find that although I feel sorry for him, I also don't want to let him off the hook. Conflicted, I keep my voice barely above a whisper. "I never gave you any reason to think we were more than just friends. I said we were friends. I said I didn't want any shifter alcohol." I pause, taking a breath. "If Cole hadn't—"

Terrance snorts. "Yeah, what a great guy."

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