His Sinful Cravings

Little cupcake

Emery POV

Warm hands cupped my cheek and made me lean against his touch.

My eyes still remained on the man who's meant to be nothing more than my uncle, yet my knees felt weak from his gentle touch.

The electrifying feelings between us were real and left without denial. We are, mate.

Xavier's intense gaze made me wonder if he could feel what I was feeling. Does he know the effects he had on me? My body was urging me to close the distance between us and claim him regardless of every eye that was watching.

Xavier let out a soft laugh and suddenly pinched my cheeks.

I noticed the shift of emotions in his gazes; it was subtle and well hidden.

He looked over his shoulder at my dad, who had an arm crossed over his chest.

“I can't believe it.” Xavier's voice was light and cheerful as his eyes moved back to me. It ran over my features as he gave my cheek another pinch. Treating me as though I were a baby. “Is this really Emery?” He asked in a breathy tone that made me convinced he was hiding something else. “You were just a little girl the last time I saw you.” His soft voice made me temporarily forget about my aching cheek he was still refusing to let go of.

His gaze turned dark with hidden intent as his eyes moved through my form, caressing me in a way Asher never has. For a split second I saw raw hunger, and then it was gone.

“You are so grown up now.” He gave me a toothy smile and took his hand away from my cheek. “Green looks cute on you.”

I blushed and stared down at my feet, suddenly feeling nervous while wondering, ‘What the hell is going on?. Why is Xavier my uncle?’

Inaudibly I heard him mumble, “my sweet little cupcake.”

His voice was low and silky, and strangely, I was the only one who heard him. Dad and Asher both seem clueless. His words drew my eyes back to him, but his attention was on Dad. His broad back faces me.

“So the media still doesn't know about your divorce with Paisley?” Dad asked in a doubtful tone and raised one brow up.

Xavier uncomfortably scratches the back of his neck. My eyes moved to his fingers, and there was no wedding ring. He always had his wedding ring on whenever she posted a picture of him.

My mind went back to the change in Paisley's social page; suddenly I'm starting to realize why she deleted his pictures. It's because they are no longer married.

Paisley is my icon. I have loved and supported her for years, but hearing the news of her break-up with Xavier doesn't make me feel sad for her. I feel strangely happy.

“Calm down, brother. I'm not staying here to cause you any trouble. Paisley is a public figure; she wants to wait until she's done with her current contract before she lets out the news of our divorce to the world.” Xavier said.

Dad gave him a blank look.

“Don't worry, I just want to hide away for a while; I'm not going to get myself involved in any of your business.” Xavier's voice was calm. His hands fell at his side.

Dad's shoulders visibly relax, and a slightly wary expression appears on his face. “You make it sound like I don't want you here. This is also your home. You can stay as long as you want.”

“Don't worry. I won't be staying for too long.”

Dad and Xavier shared a strained laugh that was humorless.

“Wait…” I said, trying to wrap my head around what was happening. It felt like too much was happening at once.

Xavier has a wolf; he's supposed to be able to feel the mate bond between us, yet from the way he's acting, I doubt he feels a thing. Maybe I'm mistaken about us being mates.

I'm his niece; he's my uncle. We can't be, mate. We just can't.

I must have confused things since I have been secretly crushing on him for years.

I cleared my throat and tried my best not to get lost in Xavier's blue eyes that were now on me.

Dad is watching. I can't let my attraction to this man show. “Uncle Xavier is going to live in this house with us?” I pinned my gaze on my dad, who gave me a sorry look because he hadn't let me know about this earlier.

“Yes, sweety. I was supposed to have told you over the week, but I have been so busy that it left my mind.”

“Don't you want me to live with you?” Xavier asked, his lip pulled in a little smile. Knowing fully well that I have no right to chase him away, not that I wanted to.

His smile was harmless, but it felt like it was tempting me to admit that I want him here. And I don't want to give in.

“You finally get to spend some time with your uncle.” He winks at me. His voice was set in a playful tone that made me feel offended for a reason I didn't understand.

I crossed my arms over my chest, hardening my expression. “I'm not excited about living with a man I have never seen before.” I lied, narrowing my eyes at him.

Xavier places his hands into his suit pocket. “Don't worry. Starting from today, you are going to know a lot about me.” His words weren't vulgar, but they sounded so damned seductive that I'm left wondering once again if we are mates.

I want us to be mates. If I had a wolf, I wouldn't be so confused about what we are. His nonchalant attitude wasn't helping.

“You have seen him.” Dad muttered, leading the way towards the dining room.

Asher quietly followed; he hasn't said a word. Probably waiting for the right time when he feels it would be appropriate to talk. I have been so completely captivated by my uncle that I have forgotten about my fiancé.

“Xavier attended one of your birthday parties years ago before he left the country.” Dad placed a hand on his chin, lost in his thoughts, before shaking his head like he wasn't sure about his memories. “How old were you at that time?” He muttered to himself. Asking no one in particular.

“She was sixteen.” Xavier pulled out a chair for me at the dining table before taking a seat on the other side, facing me.

He gave me a kind smile as I looked at him. His smile made me turn my gaze away from him. His kind gesture and smile were melting me on the inside. Feeling my stomach with butterflies. He's my mate. There is no way I would feel this way for just anybody.

He attended my birthday party, and yet I don't remember this handsome man. He has a face no girl ever wanted to forget.

Asher places a hand on the small part of my back, calling my attention before exchanging his plate with mine. He had cut the steak on his plate.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him. Even though I know that he was using me.

Asher has forced himself into being my fiancé again even though he was still angry with me. The warm expression on his face contrasts with the storm in his eyes. I haven't apologized for the stunt I pulled earlier. He won't let me off until I apologize to him. But as for now, he wanted to be introduced as my fiancé.

He wants Xavier to know that he's not just a stranger without a voice.

“Ahhh,” Dad exclaims, suddenly remembering Asher. “This is beta Asher; he's Emery's fiancé.”

Asher gave a wide smile. His sweet touch that still lingered around my back to mark that we are together made me nervous.

Xavier's fist was pale against his fork. The intense rage that radiated off him made me feel as though Asher's life was in danger.

I thought my step-uncle was going to stab my fiance with his fork, but then he controlled his rage, but this time he wasn't quick enough to control himself. He has given himself away.

“Sorry about that. I thought there was a dead ant in my steak.” He gave a light laugh. His lie was weak, and it confirmed what I already know; this time I'm sure that he's aware.

We are, mate.