I hate that I was forced into the office today.Last night was the best night of my life, and instead of remaining tangled in Rosalind’s arms; I’m here in this stuffy conference room, going over date analysis with my team. Everything about being here feels wrong. My tie is too tight around my neck. The sleeves of my button down are making my arms feel as if they’re trapped.It’s infuriating.“The FDA is pushing back against Red Pharmaceutical’s most recent trial drug, which gives us the advantage to market ours first as it’s made it through the first stage of approval,” a man whose name I cannot remember says, pushing his thick rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose.“How soon can we get the seal finalized?”“I’d say by next week, we will have their seal of approval if nothing with the clinical trials changes,” the older doctor in charge of our most recent human trials answers my question.“Perfect. And a breakdown of production cost vs consumer cost?”I didn’t go to college for bu
Marina’s expression sours when I glance up at her, tucking my phone into my pocket, but she says nothing. Her dark, pin straight long her moves with every step she takes towards my desk. Her eyes narrow, “Is this why you called me here?” she scoffs. “So you can rub my nose in your happiness with your wife?” The way she says the word wife with so much disgust angers me. Since the moment she woke up from her coma; she’s been hateful towards Rosalind. Hell, I’m disgusted with myself for how I treated her. “She’s not just my wife,” I growl, feeling Onyx simmering just beneath the surface, but I hold him back. If this is going to go as I expect, that’ll be a tool for later. Marina rolls her eyes, shaking her head, “You are unbelievable. You spent years with her and the moment I wake up, she’s your mate. That makes no sense, and you know it,” she grits her teeth, “She’s a fraud and you are a fool.”Her words grate against my nerves. I have so many questions, but right now, I need to ask
“Stats are dropping again,” Riley, one of my nurses screams from behind the curtain.My legs are moving before I can think. My eyes scan over the monitor, “Blood pressure is dropping rapidly. His heart is out of rhythm. “Two milligrams of Atropine,” I shout, and the nurse scurries away quickly.James’ grandfather’s body begins convulsing, and the shallow sound of his gasps drowns out the bustle of the hospital. I can’t let him die.The flatline of his heart pulls me back into the moment, and without thinking, I climb on top of his eerily still body, pressing my palms to his chest.One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. I make it to thirty before his heart shows any signs of life. My panicked eyes meet Riley’s as she’s thrusting the syringe into his line. My arms are tired, but I don’t stop. Right now, the only thing keeping his heart from stopping is the rhythmic pump of my hands.“Sir, you can’t be in here,” I hear a nurse shout as the curtain draws behind me. I pay no mind, smelling Jam
“James,” Marina’s voice grated against my eardrums. “Thank goodness. Tell them to let me through.”My eyes lose focus as I stare at her and the reoccurring headache that just won’t go away intensifies.How did she know that James was here?James remains quiet behind me, almost as if he can tell I’m slowly putting the pieces together.During our phone call, he’d mentioned having a meeting with someone.“Was she with you at the office?” I turned around slowly, feeling my heart practically gallop like she was participating in a race.“She was my meeting, but I swear,” James gripped my shoulders, staring into my soul, “It’s not at all what you think. I’ll get rid of her and explain everything.”I nodded slowly, feeling numb. Every single time something like this happens, James pulls away and all the progress that we’ve made crumbles to dust.“She’s not welcome anywhere near this room,” James growls as he walks towards the nurse’s station. “Until I figure out whatever the fuck you’re up to
“Why did he want to speak with you alone?” James growled as I walked back into the room. His eyes looked crazed as he stared at me expecting an answer.“He just wanted to congratulate me on successful compressions and ask me in private if I felt like I could remain as your grandfather’s doctor considering he was my family.” My brows pinched together as I watched his shoulders relax, “What’s going on with you?”“What do you mean?” he fired back, almost too quickly. As if he were expecting the question.“You just seem really angry,” I whispered, walking towards him.“I am angry,” he ran his fingers through his hair. “Today has been a nightmare, and it shouldn’t have been. I planned my day out perfectly. First, with you in my bed. Then, getting to the bottom of whatever the hell has been wreaking havoc on my life, and then finding myself back in bed with you.”A half-hearted smile grazed his face, making him look forlorn. The way his eyes held mine made me feel as if he were apologizing
“What’s the prognosis looking like?” James’ grandfather arches a brow, glancing out to the hallway at James’ retreating back before meeting my gaze.“I don’t have all of the answers for you yet, but you’ll be going in for an echo,” I started, but he cut me off with the shake of his head.“Women, I aint talking about my health. I’m healthy as an ox,” he smirks.My lips purse as I pin him with a confused stare, “I’m not sure I understand what you mean..”“You and my boy out there,” he chuckles softly. “I had to get him out of here to talk to you.”A warm flush creeps up the length of my neck before settling on the tops of my cheekbones. “Things are going….. well.”He snorts, “Well? That’s it.”James’ grandfather has this way of making someone feel as if they’ve known you your entire life. He speaks with the warmth of a father, and despite not having much of a relationship with him; It doesn’t feel that way.“How much do you know?” I walked around to the side of his bed with the bag of f
James appeared with a cardboard tray of coffees just as his grandfather had finished telling me that I needed to be careful when it came to Onyx. But I’ve met him…. He seemed far more interested in me than anyone I’ve ever met. And he’s my mate, so he wouldn’t hurt me… right?James reached up, scratching the back of his neck nervously, “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I guessed.” A deep sigh left his lips, “I hope you like it.”I noticed the lighter color peeking through the tiny hole in the lid and a smile graced my lips. “As long as it’s not black; I’ll be fine.”His eyes lit up as he watched me take a sip, and I felt like a teenager all over again. The thought of knowing that someone pays attention to the little things makes me feel special. “We were supposed to sit down for lunch the other day, but you stood me up,” James’ grandfather narrows his eyes, wincing as he adjusts himself on the bed. “Joan tells me you’ve been a bit busy getting into trouble.”“Let’s not do this now,”
The blush that spreads up the length of Rosalind’s neck before painting her cheeks with a rosy hue sends a flurry of emotion through my veins. Since Onyx has returned to me; Every feeling with Rosalind has been heightened. I don’t feel the need to hold myself back from her. Before, I felt as if I was teetering on the edge of who I really am. Shielding her from my true personality was like an armor that I’d built in the event that she wasn’t our true mate. ‘You are a fool for every thinking otherwise,’ Onyx snarls in my head. I didn’t disagree with him, but I still found myself trying to make sense of it all. He’d felt my bond with Marina back in Blackwood. While it was delayed, I assumed it was due to whatever had happened with Onyx before I’d turned eighteen. A shiver rolled down the length of my spine as I remember how dark those days were. I felt like a prisoner trapped in my own mind. I could see everything that was going on in my life, but Onyx was piloting my body. The pa
One Year Later“I’ll never get over seeing you like this,” Shawn wrapped his arms around my body, his hands smoothing over the growing bump that used to be my toned stomach. “And this dress makes you look even more ravishing.”My cheeks heated as he thrust his hips against my backside to show just how much he actually enjoyed seeing me swollen with his child. Six months ago, I found out we were pregnant. Fear gripped my soul at the prospect of becoming a mother, mostly because this came out of left field. We’d been married for six months, and hadn’t been actively trying, but life seems to have a way of paving the way for surprises. “Later,” I peck his cheek, bringing my thumb up to wipe away the light red stain from my lipstick, “We are going to be late.”“Are you sure you want to do this?” Shawn stood up straight, adjusting his tie, while I smoothed out the bunching in my glittering red dress. He wore a black suit with a matching red tie, and we were about to be going to our first G
How?I stare at the card on the ground. Scribbled letters stare back at me in writing that I’d never forget. I memorized the way his pen strokes over paper. I can see where he wrote softer versus where the pen dug deeper into the cardstock.Our door was still closed, but I didn’t know how much time I had before Shawn returned.My heart was in my throat as I reached for the card, staring at the words written inside until my eyes blurred.Rosa, I am not writing you this to hurt you more than I already have, and as you already know, I’m not very good at articulating my feelings. I hope you’ll understand what I’m trying to say despite knowing that this will be a string of words that probably won’t make sense by the time I’m finished. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, nor do I expect it. I realized after Marina and I destroyed your wolf that I had made the wrong decision. I knew that Marina had used a powerful spell on me, and I didn’t care. I allowed the anger and pain from
I let out an emotional chuckle, fighting the urge to cry.“I remember the first time you and I met. Chris practically dragged me over to your house to hang out, but I was terrified. The thought of being with someone famous made my skin feel itchy. I was just a poor kid with a shitty family life, and I was walking into a pristine mansion. But the moment I walked through those doors, your pale blue eyes, that reminded me of the sky when you look at it through the clouds, met mine, and you said, “You look like you could use some tea.”I let out another laugh, the memory coming back to me like it was yesterday.“You grabbed my hand and dragged me to your bedroom, ignoring Chris’ shouts, and pushed me into one of your chairs beside Mr. Giggles and Sir Pounce-A-Lot. We spent two hours talking over imaginary tea like we were old friends,” Shawn looked up towards the sky, his throat bobbing before returning his gaze to mine. “I didn’t know why I wanted so badly to have a tea party every day f
Two Years LaterThree years ago, my ex-husbands mistress woke up from a coma. Three years ago, I asked James Wood for a divorce. Three years ago, my life changed drastically. I fell apart, picked myself up, rinse, and repeat. But today; I’m healing. “You look so beautiful,” Chris’ girlfriend Sienna covers her mouth with both of her hands. Her chocolate brown eyes shimmer with tears, and mine instantly well with my own. Fanning my face, I take a deep breath, “Is this real? I still don’t think it’s real.”“Girl,” she steps closer to me, placing her hands against my arms, and spinning me around to look in the mirror. My hair has grown back out, even longer than before and falls just below my breasts. It’s finally back to blonde, but I keep a shadow root to remind myself of the hell I’ve overcame. A small nod to the time I spent in that cabin pretending to be someone else. I chose a subtle smokey eye for a more natural look. Warm browns bring out my blue eyes, highlighting the flecks
Chris is whistling in the kitchen, the aroma of coffee making my mouth water as I step into the open living room. Shawn came out first, walking down to the bathroom for a quick shower. “Coffee?” Chris already has a mug prepared, offering it out to me, “They didn’t have the creamer you liked when I was at the market. I hope you don’t mind plain vanilla.”It wasn’t my favorite, but I couldn’t complain much. “It’s fine,” I grabbed the mug, lifting it to my lips to bid myself an extra few seconds. “Thank you.”“If only I’d have bought ear plugs instead of that creamer,” he shakes his head, sighing dramatically.I choke, sputtering coffee over the side of the mug, and my hand, “You… You heard all that?”Chris sits his mug on the counter, crossing his arms over his chest, “Unfortunately so. The walls in this place are thinner than a fucking sheet of tissue paper. I’m half tempted to file a formal complaint against the builder.” I snort. I had heard Chris watching porn a few times through
I wake to the feeling of eyes on me. My heart begins to palpitate, and panic seizes me. “Rosie,” I hear the faint sound of a voice, but I’m terrified to open my eyes. “I don’t want to go back,” I whisper, feeling emotion clog my throat. “Please.”“Rosie, it’s me,” Shawn’s voice filters through the panic, and I quickly throw my head over my shoulder. It takes a few minutes for my heart rate to slow as I lock eyes with Shawn. Memories of last night hit me like a freight train, and the panic settles beneath my skin once more, but it’s different. I’m safe, and that’s what matters. “What’s going on, baby?” Shawn’s fingers hesitate before he reaches up, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I thought he found me,” my voice breaks. “Hey,” Shawn’s fingers cup my chin, holding it with such delicacy, “He won’t get to you again. I’ll make sure of it. You don’t have to worry anymore. I won’t hesitate next time.”“I hate that he still has this effect on me.”“There is no timetable to hea
Another growl bubbles from his chest as he scoops me up, my legs wrapping around his waist, and my heart nearly jackhammering out of my chest. I’ve dreamed of this moment since puberty. Maybe not this exact scenario, but Shawn wanting me. His lips on me. And I as I grew older, those innocent desires turned into something more sensual. The first time I ever touched myself was to the thought of this man who has his lips pressed against my throat. My back hits the thick quilt covering my bed, and I whimper as Shawn pulls away, looking down at me with a mixture of longing and fear in his eyes. “Are you sure about this?” his voice is bathed in fear, and I can practically see how fast his heart is beating from the pulse point on his throat. “Make me forget him, Shawn.” My voice is low and hoarse. “I want you.”“Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear those words?” Shawn hisses through gritted teeth, his strong body hovering over mine. My fingers found the hem of his shirt, slowly lift
“You have to be kidding me,” Chris groans at Shawn, his face twisting with annoyance. Flour clings to almost every surface, and the kitchen is going to need a deep clean, but this is the most fun I’ve had in months. It’s my life by Bon Jovi blares from the small radio set up on the countertop. “What?” Shawn shimmies his shoulders. “This is a classic, sir. You not enjoying it is just a sign of your bad taste.”“My tastes are modernly defined,” he narrows his eyes.“That’s just a fancy way of saying they’re crap.”“Says you,” he waggles a finger in my direction. A bowl of brownie batter is wrapped in my arms, but Shawn snags it away, sitting it atop the counter before lacing his fingers with mine. Our arms moved back and forth, palms attached, and I felt my lips pull into the first real smile since we’ve been here. “It’s my LIFFFFEEEE,” Shawn sang off key, “It’s now or never.”“I AIN’T GONNA LIVE FOREVER.”“I just wanna live while I’m alive,” Shawn spins me in a circle, tipping me
We’ve been here for six weeks. Six weeks I’ve spent staring at the walls of this cabin expecting the boogeyman with shimmering green eyes to pop out at any moment.Once the shock of being flown here wore off, fear settled beneath my skin like a poisonous snake. I plastered a smile on my face for Chris and Shawn, but the days have been long, and the nights… even longer.I’ve learned the sounds of the forest surrounding us. The calls from the birds that chirp from the trees and the geese on the lake. Some days, the wind pushes the water against the shoreline, the sound of crashing startling me.I hate what I’ve become. It’s sickening to think that once upon a time, I was just a girl with the ambitious thought that she could convince her husband to love her.Now I’m afraid of my own shadow.“Rosa-lindddd,” Chris singsongs my real name, and I ignore him.Rosalind was dead. I was Rose now.I hated both versions of myself.The hopeful one that was naïve enough to believe in fairytales, and