Suddenly, his senses were on alert. It hadn’t been his imagination yesterday—her scent was changed, which was why he didn’t notice as she approached his office yesterday.
He released the security doors to his floor and then forced himself to return to his desk and stare at his laptop, fingers on keys as he attempted to look busy.
When there was a knock at the door, his damn heart nearly stopped. He’d already seen her yesterday, so what the hell was this fuss about? He cleared his throat, struggling for calm. “Come in.”
The door edged open an inch at a time. She entered the room, hair flowing around her shoulders, slimming her face until it almost resembled that of the teenager she had been years ago. And that dress…it clung to every line. Her lush curves made his wolf long to get its hands on her…lift that dress and feel the soft skin under it.
He dragged his eyes away from her and back to the laptop. “Take a seat.”
She sat, and as he’d anticipated, that briefcase was immediately on the desk. Two clicks later it was opened, and she pushed documents across the table, toward him.
“No need for that,” he said, “My assistant has looked into the project, and we’re going ahead with the funding.” If any project needed help, this one did. It had barely begun before it was on the verge of closing. But despite limited funds, it had done a lot of good so far, mainly due to the hard work of its staff. Even if she hadn’t brought the proposal to him, it was a venture he would have supported. “I’m happy to provide the project with the full funds requested in the proposal.”
Her blue eyes widened. “Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to us.”
“I’m not doing it for you.” A half-truth. “I’m doing it for families that need help…families like mine.”
She nodded. “I understand…”
“No, you don’t.” And again, for a moment, the old anger returned. “You’ll never understand how it feels to be in my place…” What was the point of even going there? “But tell me—how does it feel to be in your place right now? How does it feel to accept help from the same beast your father drove out of town?”
“I’m so sorry for that, Damien,” she said, “You don’t know how—”
“Of course you’re sorry.” He leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “Because you had no idea things would turn out like this. You’d always expected me to end up a loser, didn’t you?”
“It wasn’t like that.” She lowered her eyes, her voice barely audible. “I truly cared for you…”
Her words pulled him, his beast urging him toward her…wanting him to believe her…forgive her and let the past go…
But no, he would not fall for her soft eyes, trembling lips, and gentle words…not again. He wouldn’t even go there.
“What about you?” he asked, “Things didn’t quite go as you and your father expected, did they?”
The times Damien’s heart had sank as Iris mentioned her father’s plans for her bright future. And Damien himself had often overheard Bill talk at community gatherings about the son-in-law he expected…a rich businessman, or even better, a successful politician. Someone worthy of her. Someone unlike Damien.
And now look at her…
“What happened to college and your bright future?” He was being an asshole, and this wasn’t the reason he called her here, but he couldn’t control his words. “The politician of high standing you were supposed to end up with?”
“I understand you’re upset, Damien, but there’s no need for this.” And now her eyes brightened as if she was on the verge of tears, but she lowered her head instead. When she lifted it again, her smile was frozen into place. She stood, briefcase in her hand. “Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Kareel. You can speak to Fatima to finalize the details and transfer the funds—”
But before she could leave, he strode around the table and then stood before her, his mind and body torn in two. One part wanted to comfort her—do what was in his wolf’s nature and take care of her, but the other part…the human part that was badly hurt…wanted to punish her.
“What is it?” he said through clenched teeth. “Now you’ve got the money, you can’t wait to get away?”
She looked up at him, her mouth firm. “Why the hell are you being so hurtful, Damien?”
“Why?” She took a step back, but he didn’t relent, crowding her until her body was against the desk and she couldn’t move any further. He placed his hands on either side of her on the desk so he was closer…too close. “Why do you think, Iris? We have a past.”
She swallowed. “The past…it’s over.”
“It is?”
“There is nothing between us now but a business relationship.”
He almost laughed out at her pathetic words. “Because we’ve been behaving so professionally since you walked into my office yesterday, haven’t we?” He edged even closer until he could feel her breath on his face. The soft caress drove heat straight through him, rousing something he had buried for long.
I want you. Even after everything, he couldn’t stay away from her. Why the hell can’t I let you go?
“Damien,” she murmured, “I need to get back to work.”
An excuse. “Your boss wants this funding. She won’t care if you’re gone the whole day.”
Her pupils dilated at his words, lust flaring through them. Part of his mind warned him to keep away from her, but his body was having none of it. When he edged closer, her eyes widened and breathing turned shallow even though he hadn’t touched her yet.
In an instant, those memories returned…both of them in hotel rooms…in the back of her car…in the restrooms of exclusive parties thrown by her friends…wherever they got a chance to be together…
He didn’t just want her out of his system. Before then, he needed to relive those days…he needed to feel the freedom again…of a time when he had no worries and cared for nothing more than being with her.
He moved his face closer, slanting his mouth over hers. She gasped against his mouth, and there was a thud as her briefcase landed on the floor. His caress was at first tentative, testing her response. When she stiffened, he thought he had misunderstood her reaction to him yesterday, but then she kissed him back, a low moan leaving her lips and making desire fire up his insides.
He pulled her up against him as he kissed her harder, releasing the angst of years. As he pressed his lips against hers, he inhaled deep, the scent driving his lust a notch higher. Her hands were frantic as she twisted them through his hair, as if she also couldn’t get close enough. Palming her backside, he brought her against him, and she moaned again when his erection pressed into her belly. She moved her hands down to his shoulders, pulling at his jacket as if she wanted to get it off him. He also needed it off. Heat had fired up every inch of him, making the clothing unbearable.
Yes, he had wanted her, but he didn’t intend for it to be like this…so sudden and overwhelming. His mind was in a haze as he pulled his jacket off and threw it over the chair.