In that moment, I did what any rational woman might do**my hand slid up his chest, trying to appear casual, but honestly, I was savoring every contour of his muscles beneath the fabric of his suit. My fingers finally came to rest at the nape of his neck, where his hair was cropped short. The softness of that spot sent an unexpected shiver racing through me.
He pulled me closer, and oh, dear heavens, the sensation of him pressed against me was overwhelming. I think just feeling what he carried with him completely spoiled me for any other man. We had barely started moving to the rhythm of the music, and I was already a flushed, sweaty mess. And his cologne**ugh! I realized it was the same scent I’d been sniffing along the hallway earlier, and it only made me more undone. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stand steadily or walk straight once he finally released me.
We swayed together, lost in the music, and honestly, I couldn’t tell you what day it was or how long we’d been there. Somewhere in the back of my mind, my usual sharp intellect was just idling, waiting to be called upon, but this man rendered me utterly foolish. Is this what it’s like to be around all Alphas? Do they effortlessly captivate women like this? Suddenly, it made sense why so many women throw themselves at them. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been close to my own guys**their charms never worked on me because I’d grown used to them.
But then, just as the song ended, Alpha Ryker stepped away from me, releasing me slowly like he was reluctant to let go**or maybe he noticed me wobbling slightly. That same pained expression returned to his face, as if dealing with me required more effort than he’d expected. Without a word or even a backward glance, he turned and walked away.
What the hell was that? Now that I had some breathing room and a break from his intoxicating cologne, my brain finally kicked back into gear. He hadn’t said a single word to me the entire time and then just left like he was desperate to escape.
I’m so exhausted trying to decipher what guys are thinking. I glanced around the room, taking stock of who was still there. Danny had left earlier with three women**so much for all his flirting. Rayna and Jeremiah remained, looking disgustingly adorable as they lost themselves in each other. None of my other guys were visible. They must have found their own entertainment for the night. Near the door, Beta Josh and Gamma Bennet stood like bouncers rather than party guests. They were probably on Rayna duty, which made sense for Bennet since the Gamma’s role was to protect the Luna, a position she’d take over since Alpha Ryker didn’t have a mate. But Josh’s presence puzzled me. He should be shadowing the Alpha, unless he was still around somewhere and I just hadn’t noticed. Who was I kidding? I’d definitely spot him if he were still in the room.
The emotional rollercoaster of the day had drained me. Scratch that**I was both tired and incredibly turned on. With no one around to help with the first problem, I decided it was time to head to bed and take care of it myself. At least I had some vivid, firsthand visuals to work with. I was sure I’d be able to finish quickly tonight**maybe even more than once, considering how worked up Ryker had left me. Even his name sounded sexy.
Making my way toward the door, I offered polite goodbyes and “see you at training” to people as I passed. But then, once again, I was stopped in my tracks. Ryker was standing just in front of the stairs I needed to use, a brunette woman clinging to his arm, petting him like a loyal dog, whispering something in his ear. His expression was unreadable**neither clearly pleased nor annoyed by her attention**but for some reason, my stubborn, jealous nature flared up fiercely. Since when did I get jealous? And over a guy I’d literally just met, who hadn’t said more than five words to me?
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, determined to approach calmly instead of like the crazy woman inside me, itching to rip out the girl’s fake hair extensions.
“Oh! This is perfect!” In my blind fury, I hadn’t even noticed who I was walking past when someone grabbed my arm. I yanked it free, probably looking like I was ready to kill. The woman raised her hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean to startle you, Miss Kennedy. I’m Robin, the house manager.”
Blinking a few times, I forced myself to calm down. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention**you startled me.” I tried to mask my reaction, though I doubted Ryker bought it. “Hi, Robin. Nice to meet you. I was just heading upstairs.” I glanced toward the stairs and swore I caught Ryker smirking, as if he knew having the brunette on his arm had gotten under my skin. Cocky bastard.
“Would you mind terribly taking a picture for me?”
“Huh?” I blink, momentarily caught off guard. Not my brightest moment, but I couldn’t help it**the man standing before me was so striking, it felt like my brain had melted into a puddle.
“I need a photo from tonight’s party,” Robin explained, “and Alpha Ryker? He’s a bit too… rough around the edges. You’d help soften his image, and honestly, you two look perfect together. Please? It’ll only take a moment.”
Before I could respond, Amy, the brunette, chimed in with a whine, fluffing her hair like it was the most important thing in the world. “What about me? I’d look way better as Alpha Ryker’s arm candy.”
“That’s exactly why I’m asking you to take the picture, Amy,” Robin said smoothly, not missing a beat. “I want Alpha Ryker to be the arm candy this time. Miss Kennedy here is a warrior and can match his dominance. Thanks for offering, though.”
I smiled inwardly at the idea of the big, imposing Alpha being considered a decoration of any kind. Robin’s approach was subtle**no direct insult, just a clever twist of words. Amy probably didn’t even catch it.
Amy turned and stomped off, clearly pouting, her bubblegum-pink dress deflating like a sad disco ball. I fought the urge to laugh out loud at the ridiculous image.
Robin gestured for me to follow, and I did. Ryker was right behind me, silent and imposing, while Amy’s disgruntled sighs faded behind us.
We wound through a hallway, passed through a door, and then down another corridor. I suspected Robin was deliberately trying to lose Amy, and honestly, I was completely disoriented by now.
“Okay, I think we’re safe here. Amy wasn’t going to let you go without a fight,” Robin chuckled, and this time I joined her laughter. “So, you don’t need pictures of someone dominating your Alpha? You’re sneaky**remind me to stay on your good side.”
We both laughed, and I felt a comfortable warmth spreading inside me.
“No, but since you’re both here, I should grab a couple of photos**just in case I need to prove my point later. Let’s do it here.”
“Why my office?” Ryker’s voice carried a hint of whine. That was a new one. I filed it away for later.
Robin opened the door and led us inside. “Because I keep your office immaculate. Now, go stand in front of the desk.” She beckoned us with a wave, and we obeyed.
She took her time arranging us. I felt like I was back at some cheesy prom photo shoot, but I let her enjoy herself. I think Robin was dragging it out because Ryker looked just as uncomfortable as I felt. So I decided to lean into the fun, playing it up for both our sakes. I linked my arm through his, leaned my head against his shoulder, and even grabbed his forearm, tilting my face up as if to plant a kiss on his cheek, one leg popped behind me like a clich? pose. Robin snapped away, giggling like a schoolgirl.
Ryker’s expression remained unreadable**neither pleased nor annoyed, just stoic.
“That was fun, but I really should get to bed. I promised Greta and some of the guys I’d be at training in the morning,” I said, moving toward the door.
I paused after a couple of steps and turned back. “Can someone point me to my room? Your packhouse is like an endless maze, and I have no clue how we ended up here.” I laughed softly, hoping they’d understand I wasn’t trying to insult anyone**I just didn’t want to look foolish getting lost, or worse, run into Amy lurking around.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.