Her Impossible Mate

15- My Love

...Raine...

Zander's public display of affection - or ownership- was both unexpected and wholly arousing. His kiss felt like home, a feeling I hadn't found in life, never mind in a man. And just when we had started to explore a casual ease to being around each other, we were abruptly interrupted by Arthur Blackwood.

I'm not stupid, despite what Arthur might have proclaimed on that fateful night in the club, so I have done my research. I've heard the whispers and the rumours circling the offices and decided to investigate the Blackwoods since they keep popping up. This task, along with Lena's work, had kept me occupied in Zander's absence.

This is what I had found: Arthur Blackwood, 56 years old, CEO of Blackwood's or Blackwood's Pharmaceuticals and Biotech, to give it the full title. He inherited the company from his father 30 years ago and has pushed the boundaries of pharmaceuticals and vaccine production further than any other company in the last 15 years. Ruthless in business and probably relationships, as his three ex-wives could attest to. Father of one, Evangeline Claudia Blackwood, listed as one of the countries 'hottest heiresses'. Yuck.

This is the information available to all, including humans. Behind the scenes, I gather that the Blackwood's are the Crescent's biggest pack rivals. I have yet to hear their true pack name, however, I have heard that they are not of pure lineage. In truth, that is impressive. Considering my pack were mongrels who lived in small shacks and foraged for food, the Blackwood's seem to be doing very well for themselves.

Arthur stands smugly before us, scanning my body, a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. I fight the urge to continue to shrink away from his gaze, Zander's presence allowing me to feel protected. A sickening grin forms across his wrinkled mouth as his eyes finally land on mine.

"I almost didn't recognise you in clothes. Nyx is it?" I shoot him a glare at his goading comment though it is Zander who is the most affected.

A low and menacing rumble rolls off his chest as he steps defensively in front of me. It's scarier than if he exploded or lashed out. This is a controlled kind of contempt, one where it feels like he is always fighting hard to not harm Arthur.

I try to calm the situation by placing a reassuring hand on Zander's arm and stepping from behind his defensive stance.

"Raine, actually." I extend my hand, a pleasant smile forced across my lips. Arthur takes it eagerly and raises it to his mouth to place a kiss. I fight the urge to squirm away.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl." His voice feels slimy as his breath washes over the back of my hand. Zander still stands furiously at my side.

"This is certainly an upgrade in careers for you." I don't bat an eye at his further prodding comment. I simply smile and nod in agreement.

"I'm thankful for this opportunity from Mr Heroux." He lets out a light, suggestive scoff.

"I'm sure you are." His eyebrow pumps, alluding to his ideas of why Zander offered me a job. I'm sure he doesn't know the specifics. He wouldn't believe a nobody like me could be Zander's mate.

I maintain my forced smile, unwilling to give Arthur the satisfaction of a reaction.

"Well, I'm here for business. You can run along now." He shoos me with his hand. I turn to Zander as he is the only one I'll listen to for my dismissal.

He appreciates the gesture, his eyes twinkling with pride at my confidence in conversing with Arthur. He leans in close, his hand reaching for mine subtly and gives it a light squeeze.

"Come to me at the end of the day." His warm breath sweeps across my exposed neck. My skin erupts with goosebumps, and I force back a lusty 'mmm' at the intimacy of his actions. That's clearly his intended response as he pulls back with a smirk. Arthur clears his throat to break our contact. Zander's playfulness fades to annoyance again as I nod politely and leave.

Reaching the other side of the office doors, I tip my head back at the relief of escaping that situation. Though I now realise I have to make my way back downstairs through the many witnesses of Zander's public display.

I sigh deeply, preparing myself for the long and lonely walk. I hear a soft cough and open my eyes to see the owner. Zander's assistant stands behind his desk with a soft smile.

"Miss Moore, would you like me to accompany you back downstairs?" His voice is gentle and friendly.

"Please, call me Raine." He glances at the door behind me.

"I know that Mr Heroux would not approve." He tilts his head and shrugs. I try not to roll my eyes.

"Then we'll keep it just between us." I wink and him, and he chuckles. "Some company would be nice." His face lights up as he makes his way around his desk.

"I'm Elijah." He says as he reaches me and reaches to shake my hand. I shake it with a friendly smile.

"This lot can be like vultures. The trick is to show your confidence." He walks at my side as we start to enter the main office space. I stand tall next to him, listening to his advice. Again all eyes are on me. Many of them showing their judgement and jealousy at my relationship with Zander, whatever that relationship might be.

"Y'know I can see a change in him." Elijah says as we enter the elevator and turn back to our spectators. As the doors close, I look over at him with a slight frown of confusion.

"Mr Heroux seems to be happier with you around. For once, he's not burying himself in work. I think you give him something to look forward to." I blush a little a look away. It's nice to think I have that noticeable effect, though all I've seen are his mood swings. I suppose I'm not one to talk, running hot and cold too. It feels like we could be moving past that now. My reluctance to explore this bond is fading fast. The walls I worked hard to build are crumbling rapidly.

Elijah walks me to my desk. Although the stares are reduced on this floor, there are still a lot of questioning looks. I understand Zander wanted to show that my presence here wasn't just some whim. But I'm not sure it has done me any favours. If anything, it might have increased the target on my back.

"Raine! There you are. Where did you go?" Lena steps out of her office, looking a little flustered. I hadn't even thought about what leaving my post would do. No employee of the month badge for me.

"I'm sorry, Zander-" I stand sheepishly, but she holds her hand up to halt my explanation.

"Say no more. I should have known he had a hand in this." I smile awkwardly, but she is her usual warm self. "Now you're back, would you mind confirming my appointments for next week?" Of course, the fundraiser was happening next Saturday. I nod and pull up her calendar as she heads back to her office. She stops at the door and spins back to me.

"The dress fitting on Wednesday, I need you to come and select a dress for yourself." My jaw falls slack at the suggestion.

"Uh, I can't... I don't need-" She holds her hand up to silence me again.

"You will be representing us on the night, so you have to look the part. Think of it as uniform." She smiles and nods with finality before I can respond.

I return to my work, spending the afternoon confirming the details of Lena's appointments for hair, nail, makeup, and more. I watch the clock waiting impatiently for the end of the day, which was also the end of the week. And my chance to see Zander again.

Luca bounds happily into the office just before five. He's a frequent visitor for Lena, and we have built up quite the banter over the last week.

"Hello, Sunny!" His smile and playful personality are contagious. He calls me Sunny because my name is Raine. Like sun being the opposite of rain.

I chuckle then roll my eyes.

"Any plans for the weekend? Big date?" His eyebrows rise and fall rapidly in suggestion. I feel awkward at the implication and a little sad that I don't have anything planned, especially with Zander.

"Leave her alone, Luca." Lena's voice is firm as she exits her office with her bag and coat, signalling the end of her day. Their relationship fascinates me. From the outside, it would be easy to assume they were a typical married couple. They bicker and laugh together and are so attentive to each other's needs. Luca frequents the office more than Lena's girlfriend Bella and takes her for dinner and coffee as if they were a couple. And yet, they don't share the... I don't know what to call it as I see their connection as intimate, just that there is no s*x.

"Don't stay, Raine. Head off and enjoy your weekend. You can have a break from us, and my brother, finally." Luca looks to protest, but she is quick to prod him and signal him to get moving. She waves as they depart.

I watch everyone start to pack up and get ready to leave. Once things have calmed and people have dispersed, I gather my stuff and head towards the elevators.

Little butterflies form as I approach Zander's office. The quieter atmosphere feels more comfortable, with fewer eyes judgingly fixed on me as I walk through the floor.

I feel positively giddy as I reach Elijah's desk, excited to see Zander again. Previously, these feelings would have scared me. But I'm starting to think that there could be something really perfect about this bond, no matter how impossible it is.

I smile brightly at Elijah, who is still busy at his desk. He looks awkward and chews at his lip.

"I'm sorry, Raine. He left." My mouth forms into an 'oh', and my shoulders slump in disappointment. His eyes dance around mine, obviously feeling bad at having to communicate Zander's absence.

"He said... never mind. Have a nice weekend." I try my best to hide my disappointment though it's pointless. Just when I thought we were making good progress.

I leave Crescent Corp defeatedly, hail and cab and head home. Jumping out a few blocks early, I stop at the liquor store to stock my fridge for a weekend of moping around.

In my apartment, I dump my bag and jacket by the door. In the hopes the alcohol would take off the edge, I pour a large glass of wine. The sweet liquid rushes down with my first big gulp but only brings slight satisfaction.

I thought we were past this whole hot and cold thing. I was just settling into the idea of us, and now when I was so excited to meet him after work, he disappears. Perhaps he is the one running now. Maybe making whatever this is public made him realise it's everything he doesn't want. My stomach twists at the thought, and I gulp back the rest of the glass to settle it.

With a deep sigh, I place down the empty glass. I head to my bedroom to get changed out of these constricting office clothes. Surprisingly, I find it more comfortable to wear underwear to work.

Just as I change into the closest lounge outfit, a firm knock echoes through the apartment.

I've heard more knocks on my door in the last week than probably the rest of the year. Cami and I kept ourselves to ourselves, never really having visitors. Latterly, Kevin had his own key, so he would come and go as he pleased. So sharp and unexpected knocks are ominous and anxiety inducing.

I tiptoe my way over to the door, trying not to alert the visitor to my approach. Peering through the peephole, I see Zander's powerful frame. He stares directly through the hole like he's already aware of my presence. I step back and look down at my shabby shorts and tank top combo, sighing defeatedly at the fact there is no time to change.

I slowly open the door, using it as a shield to cover the inappropriate clothing. Ridiculous, I know, as the first time we saw each other, I was in my sexiest lingerie.

I force my face into a frown, despite my delight that he came here. He looks a little sheepish in the door frame, a stark contrast from the last time I opened the door to him. My face almost falters at that thought, but I stay firm and wait for him to speak.

"Something came up." He's still a little quiet, not his usual dominant self. It's endearing, really, and I have to fight even harder not to melt.

"I'm here to make it up to you." He raises his hands in surrender, and my heart literally swoons for him. This sweet, cheeky side to him was so alluring. Don't get me wrong, dominant Alpha Zander is so f*cking hot, but this side has me all soft and gooey.

"How?" I still try to remain cross, stepping from behind the door and folding my arms over my chest. I see him gulp at the sight of bare legs, these shorts barely covering my ass cheeks. I raise my eyebrow at his shameless gaze. He only responds with a smirk, not even trying to hide his lingering stare.

"Pack a bag." His demanding tone returns, and my face forms into a frown again.

"Why?" It's his turn to fold his arms, my lack of instant compliance bothering him.

"I want to take you somewhere. Give us a chance to get to know each other, away from the chaos of the city." He says it as if it were the most normal thing in the world. We've only known of each other's existence for a few weeks, and he already wants to whisk me away on a minibreak.

"I can't go away with you for the weekend!" I throw my hands down and pace in exasperation.

"Did you have plans?" Now he mocks me, and I stop a give him a firm glare. "I promise, no funny business. Separate rooms. Hell, separate buildings if you request. Just time for us to really get to know each other without the threat of interruption." The thought is sweet, I suppose. But still feels rushed. I chew at my lip in thought as his eyes wander obviously over my body.

"Fine." Finally, I give in to curiosity. He smiles, and that warms my heart, along with other less wholesome places. "Come in while I pack." He steps past, his hand brushing over my waist deliberately. I gesture for him to sit before rushing off to my room to grab some stuff.

"Preferably pack clothes with a little more fabric unless you don't want me to keep my hands to myself." I chuckle as his voice booms through my apartment. I throw a few jeans and blouses into a bag. I smirk to myself while picking out the lingerie to go underneath. My smirk widens further as I look over the options for sleeping. I pull out a set of similar design to what I have on now, tiny shorts and a little tank top in red. You never know, I might just want those hands all over me by the end of the weekend.

I grab my toothbrush and a few beauty products, then quickly change into leggings and an oversized shirt. I pull out the clip that held away my waves and run my fingers through to help tame it. Taking a calming breath, I head back to the living room with my bag.

Zander is browsing the pictures I have on a gallery wall by the kitchen. The photos are mainly Cami and me, as I don't have many others to call friends.

He turns around, sensing my presence.

"You're still living alone?" I assume he recognises Cami as my old roommate, a fact I had spilled in the club when we had our moment.

"Yeah. I haven't really made an effort to find a new roommate. I don't like people." He lets out a snort, a new and even more adorable trait.

"I know the feeling. Ready?" I nod, and he extends his hand for me to take. He takes my bag to carry and pulls my hand into his. Holding his hand earlier felt amazing, even if it was for show. But holding it now as we walk out of my apartment and down to the street felt so right.

He guides me over to his car and places me in the passenger seat before putting my bag in the backseat and getting into the driver's seat.

"You're driving?" Confusion laces my voice.

"Despite what you've seen, I can drive myself." I chuckle as he switches on the ignition, and we set off on our way.

I don't even quiz him on where we are going. I feel absolutely safe in his company and sit comfortably in the silence. There is something so attractive about watching a handsome man drive an expensive car. His large hands wrap firmly around the leather steering wheel, the veins on his arms rising as he tenses and releases with each turning movement. From the side, the acute chisel of his defined jaw is clear, and the sight of him running his tongue over his lip in concentration does strange and lusty things to me.

After a while of admiring him and watching over the road, my eyes start to feel heavy. It feels easy to drift off into a peaceful sleep with the security of Zander by my side.

I feel the car pull to a stop, although it's a struggle to open my eyes. Zander's strong arms wrap around me as he pulls me into his body and out of the car. My sight is still in darkness, my awareness not at full capacity in my half-sleep.

Zander's feet crunch over what sounds like stones with me still in his arm. Inside wherever our destination is, Zander places me down gently into what I can recognise as the comfiest bed I've ever felt. I let out a hum of approval as he sweeps the cover over me and tucks it around my tired body.

Barely awake, I wiggle myself to get even deeper into the cloud-like mattress, little mmm's of satisfaction escaping my lips.

Before I surrender completely to what I imagine will be the comfiest sleep of my life, I feel Zander's hands press down on the bed at either side of my body. He leans forward and presses a soft kiss on my forehead.

As I circle the abyss of deep sleep, I hear the sweetest words to fall from his lips yet.

"Good night, my love. Sweet dreams."