Chapter eighteen
787 Words
Casey pushed open the glass doors, her heels clicking against the floor. She was late, but she barely cared. Late meant less time to spend in his presence. Yet as soon as she stepped inside, she felt dozens of eyes following her, and her wolf shifted uneasily under her skin.
A young man greeted her with a polite smile.
“Miss McRory, the boss is waiting.”
Boss. She already knew who it was. Her pulse jumped painfully against her ribs. Straightening her blouse, Casey forced her face into the coldest mask she could muster and walked inside.
The room smelled faintly of ink, wood, and a hint of his cologne. Riley Satton stood by the long table, surrounded by drawings and blueprints. His sleeves were rolled halfway up his forearms, exposing tanned skin and strong veins. One pen was tucked behind his ear, another between his teeth, while his hand drew quick, precise lines.
The sight made her breath stutter. Why is my wolf reacting like this? Her knees nearly buckled, and she coughed to stop the tremor rising in her chest.
Riley looked up. For a second, his dark grey eyes softened, as if her arrival pulled him out of a dream. Slowly, he removed the pen from his mouth and nodded toward the desk in the corner.
“Congratulations on your first day. That’s your space.”
Her lips parted. “This room… mine?” She meant ours, but the words died in her throat.
“My office is down the hall,” he said, lowering his sleeves, fixing his cufflinks with practiced movements. Each motion was deliberate, controlled… devastating. Casey’s throat went dry watching his fingers. She dropped her gaze quickly, afraid he would catch the hunger flickering in her eyes.
“I’ll stop by from time to time. To check your progress.”
Her wolf whimpered, a desperate sound inside her head. Progress? He’s progress I don’t want but can’t resist.
“I understand,” she murmured, hiding behind papers she pulled from her bag.
“Good.”
He grabbed his jacket, but before leaving, his gaze lingered on her. She wasn’t looking at him. Not even once. And that rejection burned more than it should have. He clenched his fists, forcing his wolf back down.
“Mister Satton,” she called softly, and he froze.
When Riley turned, her green eyes shimmered with something dangerous—something golden. His heart stopped.
“Can I ask you something… personal?”
“Always,” he said too quickly, too eagerly.
Her voice trembled. “I don’t like… strangers hovering around me. It makes me… anxious. If I’m to work properly, I’ll need the door closed while I’m inside.”
Riley’s jaw flexed. The request was reasonable, but the way she said personal had his wolf clawing for release. He nodded slowly, though disappointment cracked through his composure.
“I can text you for updates. Or schedule meetings. Would that help?”
Relief softened her lips into a tiny smile. “Yes. Thank you. Here’s my number.”
When she handed him the slip of paper, their fingers brushed. Sparks. Pure, uncontrollable electricity.
Casey froze. Heat rushed to her cheeks, to her chest, down her spine. Her wolf pushed forward, begging her to lean in. Her pulse thundered in her ears. She couldn’t breathe. And when she dared to look up, his eyes—once grey—now glowed silver.
Mate. The word shivered through her bones.
Riley felt it too. His mark burned as if on fire, his wolf howling to claim her, kiss her, pin her to the desk until there was no doubt she belonged to him. He even raised his hand, his fingers trembling, wanting to trace her cheek.
And Casey leaned forward, just a fraction. Enough to make his breath hitch. Enough to make him believe she wanted it too.
But at the last second, he jerked back, hand covering his ear instead, pretending to scratch. His chest rose and fell violently. She was his brother’s fiancée. Forbidden. Untouchable.
Casey swallowed hard, stepping back to her desk as if burned. The air between them vibrated with all the words they couldn’t say.
Riley stormed out before he betrayed himself further. His assistant blinked at his expression and coughed nervously.
“Sir… your pants.”
Riley glanced down. Damn it. His arousal was obvious. He cursed under his breath, snatching a file from Ethon’s hands and slamming into his office.
His phone rang immediately. His father’s voice filled the silence, sharp and furious:
“How long did you think it would take me to find out she works for you?”
Riley closed his eyes. The storm had begun.
- Writer
