Chapter 6 UNCONTROLLABLE DESIRES

Kai

Mabel was the only woman I had ever loved. I couldn't tell if it was her piercing blue eyes, or her voice, or her smile, or if it was how perfect she was and how she was easily mine that made me love her as much as I did.

The thought of her sent light pangs through my chest, reminding me of the void that has been present since she died five years ago.

The most painful part of it was that I was on a business trip when she suddenly lost her life to heart failure. I wasn't there when she needed me the most.

And till this day, I've thrown myself into an abyss of work, growing my empire in England after giving up on the idea of ever finding another mate.

But in this moment when Bella placed her hands in my extended one, time froze. I felt that familiar spark. My wolf howling was the confirmation I needed. She is my second chance.

I suppressed the groan that threatened to spill from my lips. Fuck. Our eyes met and I know she felt it too. The strong urge to pick her up, throw her over my shoulders and take her to my bed, kiss her, unravel her, and do things to her surged through me and it took every restraint I had in me to fight it off.

Moreover, this wasn't right. I couldn't do this to Mabel. I couldn't disrespect her.

When Ralph spoke to me about her earlier, with the pity and all other emotions in his eyes and voice, one would think she was broken, scattered.

She was a far cry from the picture of her that I had painted in my head.

“We'll leave you two to speak. I'll be back with snacks.” Amelia said, cutting through the palpable tension in the room as she pulled her husband away.

“Do I keep standing, or will you ask me to sit?” I asked, and she let out a breathy laugh that sent tingles down my spine.

“You can sit, of course.” She said with a smile, patting down on the space beside her. I moved towards her, plopping down on the soft surface.

“Now, what?” She asked when after a few seconds.

“Well, we can stop pretending that we didn't feel that.” I replied and she smiled shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Or didn't you feel the connection?”

“I did.” She affirmed, nodding her head.

“But, I'll be honest with you.” I turned towards her, clasping my hands together. “My wife died five years ago, and I'm not ready to mate with any other person just yet.” I said, searching her eyes in hopes that she'd understand where I was coming from.

“He cheated on me, and I rejected him only a few days ago. I'm also not ready to move on yet.” She replied and I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.

Way easier than I thought it'd be.

“I'm sorry about that.” I offered condolences and she smiled sheepishly before muttering, “it's fine. I'm over it.”

“So what are we going to do about it?” I asked her, feeling a little less tense.

“What about what?” Her forehead was creased in confusion.

“Our mate bonds. I'm sure Ralph and Amelia noticed it and that's why they left us all alone in the room.” I explained and her mouth formed the O shake as realization dawned on her.

She then went on to stroke her chin as she stared into nothingness, her feet lightly tapping against the floor.

“I think I might have an idea.” She said after a while. “All ears.” I urged her on.

“Well, we could pretend.” She started. “We could get together, but pretend to be a couple in public and then in private, we can just go about each other's businesses without the intimacy and all of that.” She finished, her shoulders rising and falling in a casual shrug.

“So, you're willing to do this with me because you trust me?” I asked, my eyes peering into her hazel orbs.

“I don't even know you.” She retorted almost immediately and I couldn't help the throaty laughter that spilled from my lips.

“Exactly.” I affirmed.

“So, let's make it a signed contract then.” She suggested.

Impressed by her wits and confidence and of course, her mastermind plan, I agreed on the spot.

“So in the contract, there would be clauses that…” her voice faded off as I took her in for the first time today.

Jet black hair that fell over her shoulders, hazel almond shaped eyes, a cute button nose, perfect bow shaped pink lips, and the way her skin gleamed underneath the illumination white lights.

One look at her body and even though she was seated, her curves were very visible. I felt blood rush to my groin and before I could stop myself, I pressed my lips against hers, shutting her up.

Her lips were just as soft as I had imagined them to be and just as I was about to slip my tongue in her mouth, she pushed me off with strength I didn't think she had, her palm colliding with my cheek in a resounding slap.

“Well, I deserved that.” I said, the corner of my lips tugging up in a smirk.

“What on earth do you think you are doing?” She asked with furrowed brows and I wondered why I found it strangely alluring.

“I have to admit that controlling my emotions would be harder than I thought,” I spoke and I saw she shift uncomfortably before rising to her feet.

“I think I should leave.” She announced and before I could say anything else, she was out the door.

I heaved a sigh.

Funny how all it took was one mate bond to ruffle the font I spent years putting up. I wondered if she was at the verge of losing all her control just like I was. I wondered if she would pretend that I didn't have an effect on her just like she had an effect on me.

Her lips moved against mine, she kissed me back and maybe if I hadn't tried to slip my tongue in her mouth it would have lasted longer. I wondered if she would pretend like the kiss didn't happen.

I wondered how it took only one kiss to make me want to make her mine. It was now like a driving force, pushing me against my will towards her.

I paced the length of the room, trying to control the urges that were during through me, trying to push away the thoughts that clawed at my mind—thoughts of the things I would do to her, trying to fight the need to want to own her. Fuck.

The more I tried, the harder it became to suppress the feelings and thoughts.

I clenched and unclenched my fists. I needed to be out of this room before anybody came looking for me, but I needed to calm myself down for a bit.

I knew right then and then what I wanted and I was t sure I would be able to keep myself from going after her. She was perfect; her face, her hair, her eyes, her body. She was fucking perfect and she was mine.

I was going to do anything it took to make sure that she belonged to me.

“I'm willing to do anything that I have to, and it wouldn't be long before she's completely mine.” I muttered to myself and the soft creaking of the door announced a presence. I shipped my head to the side to see her standing at the enterance with a sky smile spread across her lips.

I just laid my plans bare to Seraphina.