The Syndicate’s Bride

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Vanessa

There were two things I just couldn’t believe in their possibility; first, was magic - which made sense as a scientist - and second, the mere thought of Ryan kissing me.

Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t blind to the attraction between us, but never in my life would I have thought that Ryan would be the first to act on it.

To be honest, if anyone of us were to make such a move, it would have been me, not because I had suddenly developed a crush on the guy, no, but because Ryan always seemed more cool headed and calculating than I was meaning he thought things through at all times as opposed to me who could be quite hot headed and stubborn and easily made ill fated decisions.

Well, I guess I was wrong

Shocked at the sudden contact, I stayed frozen but my rapid heart beat betrayed my stillness and my cheeks felt hot and flustered.

Maybe it’s a mistake, I thought. He was drunk, and drunk people did all sorts of things they didn’t mean, right? Like suddenly kissing the woman you hated, right?

Right?

Knowing Ryan’s temperament, he was bound to pull away any second and storm off like he usually did when annoyed, But, instead of doing just that, he used his free hand to pull me closer to him, and to my surprise, swept his tongue over my lips as if seeking my consent to deepen the kiss.

Every protest in me died with that action as my lips parted and a gasp escaped them. Satisfied with the opening, he finally claimed my lips with a moan, darting his tongue into my mouth, finding my tongue and taking his time to caress it.

An involuntary moan left me at the rigor he used to kiss me , and I knew the alcohol finally kicked in when I kissed him back, hard, matching his rhythm.

He hummed approvingly against my lips, causing a pleasant flow of vibration around my body and a small sigh from my mouth. With our lips still locked, he ran his hands down my waist and lifted me on to his lap in a straddling position. Willing my legs to open further, I wiggled up, stopping just below his crotch area, before locking my legs beside his hips.

Finally, I pulled away for air, panting in ecstasy. Considering our relationship, I still wasn’t exactly sure how we went from eating his birthday cake to me straddling him and panting like an animal in heat, but I was so into the moment that logic became a blurry haze somewhere at the back of my mind.

Ryan took my breathing break as an opportunity to latch onto my neck, kissing and sucking hard enough to leave a hickey on my pale skin. I gasped, holding on to the back of his head with one hand and finding the buttons of his shirt with the other.

A displeased grunt left my lips at my failure to undo the buttons. And to think they easily came off a few hours ago, I groaned internally.

Noticing my displeasure, Ryan took a hold of my hand, stopping me from further failed attempts and I groaned at the interruption.

“Be patient,” he breathed on my neck, causing a whimper from me at the warmth. He let go of my hand and I immediately held on to the end of the shirt to try another attempt, and he chuckled.

He actually chuckled.

Suddenly feeling dizzy at the pleasant sound, I closed my eyes as if relinquishing it and waiting for another to follow, but it never came. In its stead was his warm breath and sultry vibrations of his words as he spoke.

“I didn’t tag you as the impatient type, Vanessa.” My name rolled off his tongue like honey and I found myself wishing he called it again. He held onto the shirt and tugging on it, all the buttons came flying out. I mentally thanked him as I peeled the rest of the fabric off his shoulders, revealing his chiseled frame. A hum of approval vibrated in my chest.

This is going to be quite the night.

Ryan

I sucked on Vanessa’s neck with the vigor of a man who had almost starved to death. In the heat of the warm atmosphere, when I first kissed her, a part of me expected her to recoil in confusion or even anger, and given our relationship, I wouldn’t have faulted her.

But when she finally returned my kiss, I didn’t even have the time to express my shock as the desire that enveloped me swallowed every sense of logic and I moved based on both our desires.

Her moans stirred my wolf to the surface so many times than I could count, but thankfully, I managed to put him under check because the last thing I needed was to mistakenly mark Vanessa without her consent.

That was a damage that couldn’t be reversed.

A bit obsessed with her moans and whimpers, I continued the assault on her neck, nipping and sucking on her skin, leaving red marks in a trail. Willing my hands in motion, I ran my hands along her thin shirt, feeling up the curves of her waist, and landing on the soft curves of her ass.

Tucking my hands under them, I caressed the skin, squeezing a little, causing her to moan to my satisfaction, before lifting her up and flipping her over so that she laid flat with me on top.

I found her lips again as her head gently touched the bed and she locked her legs around my waist. She ran her hand over my back, slowing her rhythm around my scars, while her other hand wrapped around my neck, gently squeezing.

Smiling at the subtle act of dominance, I moaned against her lips.

“You really are something,” I breathed out.

She pulled me back to her lips , licking my tongue, and ending it with a bite to my bottom lip before replying breathlessly. “So I’ve been told.”

I chuckled against her chin, nudging it up with my nose in silent request to access her throat.

It didn’t escape me how easy it would be to tear into her skin and claim her as mine. And he’d make it pleasurable for her all the while she’d writhe with pleasure under me, begging me to continue, to take her. Even the thought caused a strain my groin, but I held myself back because I couldn’t do it without her consent and,

We weren’t fated mates.

Pushing that thought aside, I slowly licked the skin of her throat, causing her to shiver and pull me closer as she held on to the back of my neck. I repeated it again, and this time, a sigh escaped her swollen lips and she thrust her hips up, meeting my lower abdomen and barely missing the growing bulge in my loose pants.

I felt my wolf stir sighed. She didn’t even know the line she was crossing.

Immediately, I grabbed her by the hip to cease her thrusts.

“Vanessa,” I warned

She mumbled a reply and pulled me closer, causing the unexpected force of her pull to catch me off guard and my hands to slip from her hip to the bed, freeing her hip movements. She seized the opportunity, and with her head thrown back in pleasure, she thrust her hips again and the walls of her v****a met my groin in a kiss before she rolled her hips, grinding against it.

Fuck.

My body began to heat up and I felt muscles stretch abnormally. My growing fangs grazed the flesh around her throat, and oblivious to my changing state, she moaned sweetly. I got bolder, pressing the tip of my fangs on the skin of her throat, enjoying her little moans of desire, but just before my fangs could go as deep as my desire, I stopped.

What the f**k was I doing?

I jerked away from Vanessa like I had just been burnt with silver and rested my and on the bed frame. Sensing something was wrong, she gently peeled her legs from my waist and looked up at me questioningly.

“We should stop, before we go too far.” I said as smoothly as I could.

I could still feel my wolf at the surface, clawing to break free, so I got off the bed completely. The pressure behind my eyes kept building and I understood what was coming. So at the very last minute, I turned away from her just as my eyes flashed blue.

“Ryan, are you okay?” Vanessa’s voice came from behind.

I managed to fight my wolf for control, pushing him down with my mental force until gradually, my eyes returned to its normal blue and my fangs disappeared.

Vanessa was sitting upright in bed when I turned back, her hair in disarray, her shirt hanging loosely over her shoulders, and her lips a swollen mess. Her brows burrowed in growing concern as I approached her.

“I’m going for a smoke,” I said, ushering her into the blanket I held open. She looked unsure but slipped in either way, resting her head against her pillow.

“Night.” I said and basically dashed to the other side of the room where the balcony and bathroom was. I skipped the balcony and headed straight into the bathroom for a much needed cold shower.

By the time I was done showering and re-joined Vanessa on the bed, she had already given into the wine and was fast asleep. I stared at her in thought, heart still pounding vigorously.

Today, I let her in closer than anyone had ever been in the longest time. I enjoyed the intimate moments we shared as she treated my wounds and asked me if I was happy with my cake. I enjoyed the feel of her body against mine, a little too much. I enjoyed being around her. This was dangerous, very dangerous.

I was playing with fire and I was going to burn.

Pressing my hand to my still pounding heart, I turned to the ceiling with a sigh. I sure wasn’t going to get a wink of sleep tonight.

The next morning, Vanessa was still asleep when I woke up, a little fact I was grateful as I still wasn’t completely down from my high. And with her still asleep, I had some time to figure out how to face her without any awkwardness or tension.

After getting ready for the day, I headed down to my study, meaning to look through some pending files Owen sent me the other day, when a maid approached me with something akin to a document in her hand.

Bowing her head, she held out the document which looked more like a card up close. “Mr. Winchester, an invitation for you and Miss. Logan from the Rossis.”

I collected the card and quickly read through. Turned out the invitation was for a banquet held to welcome the Rossi heiress and my former fiancée, Tia Rossi. I scoffed.

Who gave a f**k?

I handed the card back to the maid and continued on my way.

I was just entering the office when I felt a familiar force in my head. I sighed, frustrated and attempted blocking my mental link to avoid access but the man pushed right past it and his voice echoed in my head.

“Do not disrespect me like that again, Ryan.” He hated it when I blocked him from gaining access to my link but I did it every time because all he did was nag or boss me around or both, and I hated it.

“Morning, Father.” I greeted dryly.

He ignored my greeting. “The Rossi family is hosting a banquet and they plan to invite you. You will attend.”

I scowled at his authoritative tone. “I don’t see why I have to.”

“Because I said so.” He boomed. “The Rossi family must believe you and Miss. Logan are a real couple to dissuade their sabotaging means.”

I rolled my eyes. This again.

“Plus, they are continuously threatened by this alliance so this may be a good opportunity for you to clip their wings permanently. You’re an Alpha, Ryan, you need to present yourself as one and not have other Alphas behave as they wish around you.”

With that, he disconnected the link.

The man was a controlling bastard but he did have a point this time. If I could shut Rossi up once and for all, there would be no need to worry about spies or Vanessa’s safety anymore.

It was time to remove these targets off our backs.

I sighed in defeat. “You win this time, old man.”

Vanessa

The next morning, I woke up and was ready to return to sleep. After yesterday night with Ryan, I couldn’t sleep a wink.

Even when he left to smoke and came back, I pretended to be fast asleep but I never really fell asleep until around four in the morning. My rapid heart beat and burning cheeks just wouldn’t let me.

Relieved to see Ryan’s side of the bed empty, as I was unsure how to face him after grinding against him and moaning like an animal in heat, I tucked myself back in bed, ready to catch up on my lack of sleep, when my phone rang.

Groaning, I rolled to retrieve the device and quickly sat upright when I saw the caller ID. Clearing my voice, I picked the call.

“Mr. Logan.”

“You have a new assignment,” he said, skipping the greetings as usual. “Attend the Rossi banquet with Mr. Winchester. Make sure no one has any doubts about your engagement. Do I make myself clear?”

I swallowed. The last thing I wanted was to be in a gathering hosted by the family who planted spies in my house. But none of that mattered to Mr. Logan. To go against him meant to expect punishment.

“Vanessa, don’t make me repeat myself,” he said sternly at my silence. “or do I need to remind you what happens when you defile me?”

I paled. He didn’t need to. I remembered every single punishment he had ever put me through when I acted in a way he didn’t like. If not for his cautiousness, I would have had enough marks to show for it.

“No, sir,” I swallowed. “I’ll do as you have said.”

I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding as he ended the call.

I sat in silence for a while, trying to collect myself before taking a shower and going to find Ryan to inform him about the banquet.

Given it was still the early hours of the day, I figured he’d still be having breakfast and was satisfied to find him in the back garden sipping on his coffee.

He looked up as soon as I arrived, pulled out a chair and gestured me over. Then, he waved a maid over, told her something and she left quickly

I wonder what that’s about.

Despite the warm reception, I hesitated, already dreading the awkwardness that I was sure awaited us after last night but to my surprise, Ryan led the conversation like it was just another day.

“An invite came from the Rossis. I was going to decline but I think it’s important to go for appearance sake.”

Oh, so he already got the invite.

“My father actually just called me about that,” I said. The maid he sent earlier returned with a cup containing green liquid. I looked at her, confused, but she merely bowed at us and disappeared.

“It’s for hangovers.” Ryan simply said, looking at the drinks. “I figured you’ll need it after last night.”

After last night.

My cheeks involuntarily heated at that and I grabbed the drink to cover the evidence and gulped it down in one go.

“Thank you.” I said, a little embarrassed.

Ryan’s eyes twinkled amusingly. “You’re welcome.”

I cleared my throat, wanting to change topics. “So, the banquet.”

He peeled his eyes away from me slowly and sipped his coffee. I suspected he knew I was trying to change the topic but as far as he didn’t mention it, I was grateful to be saved from embarrassment.

“We should go shopping after breakfast. Is that okay with you?”

I nodded.

“Great, after breakfast then.”

Breakfast ended fifteen minutes later and after that, we went to the fashion shop.

The owner of the store, Esmeralda, an Italian woman in her late fifties was ecstatic to see Ryan, and even went as far as closing the store for the period we were in there. It made me curious as to just how many times he had visited the store in the past.

All the staff lined up, waiting patiently to assist Ryan and I with our fashion desires. I was walking behind him and Esmeralda, partly watching the old woman chatter happily while Ryan gave his usual one word replies and partly admiring the luxurious building, when I felt a sudden sense of danger.

I looked around, scanning the staff but no one looked downright suspicious. I checked the rest of the building, looking as far as my eyes would let me, but there was no one else in sight.

Still, I let my guard up even higher. I had a feeling something bad was about to happen.