The Dark Wolf

The day after (Embry)

The next day I could barely walk. I was so sore I didn't think I could ever go back. I waddled after the girls and counted down the hours until Aunty Ania would come watch them. But I wouldn't get any rest today while she was here with them, I had an interview to head to. I decided to see if I could get the job that Ania had talked to me about. It was what I needed. I would be working just a few doors down from my girls, it was good pay and to top it all off I would get to work with my best friend. I figured that was probably as good as it could get.  

Ania walked in the door and greeted the girls and offered to bake cookies with them which of course delighted them.  

I checked my appearance one last time and told Ania "there's snacks in the fridge if they get hungry, you can help yourself to anything you want." She interrupted me and said "I know, go! Before you're late!" 

I made it to the office with 5 minutes to spare, but this wasn’t at all what I expected. I must have had the wrong address. This was a house. Well, more like a mansion. This couldn’t be right. I looked down, double checking the address Ania had given me. It matched.  

Well, I guess there was only one way to know for sure. I hopped out of the car and walked towards the front door. The whole outside of the house was made of large stones with two large windows on either side of the entrance. They were framed with black trim and perfectly neat shrubs. Bright yellow roses the size of my hand, grew along either side of the windows. And on either side of the stone pathway leading to the door, were the most gorgeous dark burgundy Lily’s. It offset the yellow roses and green shrubbery perfectly. Someone had put a lot of work into the upkeep of this place.  

As I walked through the door, I looked to my right to see that the ceiling opened up several stories high. The light that shone through the windows across the foyer, was breath taking. Cream colored furniture graced the foyer on a brightly polished hardwood floor with olive green and soft yellow accent rugs and pillows. The walls were painted a honey gold which reflected the light coming through the vast windows. This place felt ancient. Sacred. And yet it had a slightly modern feel to it. Caught up in my awe of this beautiful place, I hadn’t noticed the woman to my left. “Hey you!” she greeted me. “long time no see, huh?” she said with a grin. I couldn’t help but laugh at that. I whispered to her “I am so sore!!”. She just giggled, put her hand on my shoulder and said “it gets better, just hang in there”. I was doubtful but I nodded anyway.  

“Ready to see what your job is?” I nodded. She smiled and led the way. As we walked, I noticed this house wasn’t like other houses in one main aspect. There were many families and people living here. I decided not to ask and to just wait and see. Maybe she would explain. She led me to a door and knocked loudly. I could hear someone walking and then the door opened. My eyes widened. It was non other than Gage. 

As I looked over his muscular body under flawlessly dark skin, I couldn't think. I knew I should say something. But what? I had never been good with words, or guys for that matter. And here I was with the most perfect man I'd ever seen in my life and not one coherent thought in my mind. I was consumed by thoughts of him pushing me up against the wall and kissing me until I couldn't breath. I shook my head bringing myself back to reality. No way would a sexy man like him would ever fall for someone like me. 

Besides, I was damaged goods, so to speak. I had two kids already and had already been rejected by one man. 

But the look on his face said otherwise. It was like he was looking at some gorgeous model. The look of admiration and the teasing, flirtatious glint to his eye, said that he liked everything about me. I must be imagining it.  

"So how do you feel?" he asked with a mishchevious smile and twinkle in his eye. 

"Umm, a little sore to be honest" I instantly blushed, realizing how erotic that sounded.

It wasn't lost on him, unfortunately. He chuckled and nodded. His laugh was amazing, I couldn't help looking up at him the second I heard it. It was contagious and I smiled back and laughed with him. Why couldn't I have met him 4 years earlier? 

He walked over to his desk to pull out a file, I realized at some point that Lilly had left us alone. 

"So you're here for the job?"

"yes, but I'm not really sure what the job is, Ania didn't really tell me very much about it"

He looked surprised but quickly hid it. "Well, I actually need some help around here with some bookwork" 

"It's kind of personal, so it has to be someone I trust"

I blushed, well maybe I wouldn't be getting this job after all. No one ever fully trusted me. I was always too quiet.

At that moment he walked over to me and looked into my eyes, I could tell there was a hint of mistrust and a war of emotions swirling in his dark eyes. But I couldn't quite tell what those emotions were. 

He seemed to decide something and he handed me the papers in his hand, "So do you want the job?"

I looked at him in surprise but quickly nodded my head "Yes". 

He smiled that smile that made my heart skip a beat and then said "Good, I'll see you tomorrow at the gym and we can talk some more"

I left feeling more confused than ever and yet something deep within me started to awaken. A deep desire that had been hidden for so long, I had forgotten I had it. I never thought anyone would ever look at me the way he does. It was too good to be true. And yet I couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips as I thought of him and the lightness in my step as I walked to my car.