Falling Into Ruin.

Guarded

[Ciaran’s POV]

“Eat and drink what you want; it’s on me.” I announce, keeping my gaze fixed on my little mate, who looks like a terrified rabbit that could hop away at any given moment. “Money is not a problem.”

After a bit of convincing, I managed to get my little mate and her companion to come out with me to have a meal and a drink. Of course, I wished that it was only my little mate and I, but I was pretty positive her friend wouldn’t allow us to be alone, or maybe he would since he let me steal her away the night before. However, I wasn’t going to push my luck. Not yet, not when we were still in the early stages of our relationship.

“Just a water and salad for me.” My little mate announces, pushing her menu away.

“That isn’t a proper meal.” I point out, knowing there was no way that was all she eats given the perfect amount of fat and curves on her. “If you won’t order something more, then I’ll order it for you.”

“She’s a picky eater.” Her friend offers, causing my annoyance to flare. “She has been like that since long ago.”

Since long ago. Was this this guy's way of telling me that they have known each other for a long time?

Frowning, I eye him, studying his features for any sign that he was attempting to warn me to back off, but I’m only met with a calm kindness that pisses me off even more.

“Sorry….” I say slowly, wondering what exactly this asshole's name was since neither he nor my little mate has bothered to introduce themselves yet.

“Miles,” he offers, smiling politely. “I suppose I’ve been rude in not properly introducing myself.”

“Miles,” I repeat, hating the f*****g prick immediately. “And you’re….?” I continue, turning my gaze to my little mate.

“Briar.”

It’s all she offers, no last name, nothing else, but that’s all I need.

“Briar,” I purr, liking the way it sounds, but knowing that I probably would never call her that. Little mate has a nice ring to it, and I wish to continue using it because it will remind not only her, but any fucker that hangs around her, that she belongs to me and to not f*****g touch.

“And how did the two of you meet, Angus?” I push, starting light conversation. “From the looks of it, you’ve been in touch for a while.”

“A friend of a friend,” Miles shrugs as our waitress arrives. “Could we please order….”

I zone out, watching while he orders not only for himself but also for my little mate, who remains silent, her cautious gaze on me at all times. It’s pretty f*****g clear that she has her guard up against me, and I guess I can’t blame her, not given our previous interactions, but I couldn’t say that in the future I would give her reason to open up to me. Not when it was so much f*****g fun to play with her.

Smirking, I lick my lips, earning myself a shocked gasp from my little mate, but nothing is said; it doesn’t need to be, especially right now.

For now, I would continue to play our little game, slowly luring her to me until she couldn’t stay away, and then I would have her in the palm of my hand. I know I intended to f**k her and reject her completely, but I was never good at staying away from things that weren’t meant for me, and right now, that was exactly what she was.

“May I ask,” Miles says after our waitress scurries off. “What is your name since we’ve introduced ourselves?”

“Ciaran.”

I didn’t mind giving my name. It wasn’t like it connected me to anything since any and all information on anyone in the world was erased from the moment they were born. It was a way to keep us and what we did hidden, and it worked f*****g perfectly. Only those with close connections could get their hands on things, and these two in front of me weren’t amongst those.

“How long have you been working with Angus, Ciaran?” Miles asks, eyeing me curiously.

“A while,” I respond, wondering what he was trying to get out of me. “I’ve accompanied him for a few deals here and there, but I don’t have any true connections to him.”

“So, you’re more or less a wandering man,” he chuckles.

“I don’t like connections,” I respond, peeking at my little mate again. “Getting too attached or invested in anything wouldn’t bode well for a man in my line of business.”

At my words, her expression shifts, just as I expected it to, but before I can really figure out what she is thinking, her look of indifference returns.

“Does that mean that you’re doing some pretty shady stuff?” She asks, taking me by surprise. “Maybe playing with someone or something and then just disappearing entirely.”

Oh ho, was she trying to scold me for my f*****g her and leaving her previously? She was quite a bold one, wasn’t she? Well, I guess I could play along.

“It’s what I’m best at,” I respond, leaning forward while my foot reaches out and touches her, causing her to flinch but quickly recover before her friend can see. “After all, I don’t want to deal with messy things.”

“Messy things,” she repeats, her gaze narrowing. “I can’t help but wonder how many women you’ve pissed off with that way of thinking.”

“Briar,” Miles hisses, reaching out to touch her, but stopping as she brushes him off.

“We’re supposed to be connecting, right?” She asks, growing bolder by the second. “Then shouldn’t we at least have an idea about the man we are going to be working with? If he’s like this, do you really think that he will be a good choice?”

“That shouldn’t matter,” I chuckle. “Angus will be the one that you’re going through, not me.”

“Then why are you even here?”

There it was. She was showing her complete and utter disdain toward me, and that was just drawing me to her even more. The more she tried to reject me and pretend like she didn’t give a s**t, the more alive I felt and the more impatient and possessive my wolf became.

“Maybe I’ve taken an interest,” I respond, pressing my foot between her thighs so her eyes widen and her cheeks flush a beautiful pink. “I have to admit, I find you rather interesting. You’re like a little kitten showing its claws after being cornered, and it’s quite amusing.”

“A kitten,” she repeats, her voice shaky as I slowly begin to move my foot against her cunt, teasing and taunting her so that she begins to come undone right before me. “I assure you that I’m no such thing.”

“I guess we will see.” I say, enjoying the show until I'm certain she's getting close, and I stop completely, my foot returning to the ground while a flash of disappointment shows in her beautiful eyes. “You’ll have to be sure to prove me wrong.”

Letting my smile grow broader, I watch as she opens her mouth prepared to argue even more with me, but she stops as our waitress returns with our food and drinks.

After that, we talk idly about the business that we will be conducting. No one offers any personal information, and no one questions anything further, and by the time the night ends and we have to say our goodbyes, I step behind Briar so that I can reach into her purse without her noticing and pull out her phone.

Let the games begin. I think silently, programming my number into her phone and quickly calling myself. I hope you’re ready, little mate, because I’ve set my sights on you, and I don’t intend to let you get away—not until you're completely and utterly broken and incapable of living without me. This is your punishment for not heeding my warning.