002: The Rooftop

Lara

For some reason, I feel my blood pooling at my feet and I grow dizzy. I stumble out of the elevator when it opens and hold onto the wall next to it to catch my breath.

I only give myself a few moments before I keep going. Finch saw me, so he's probably going to come after me. I can't face him, not after what I witnessed. I take the stairs to the next floor and then keep going until I reach topmost floor which leads to the rooftop.

I need all the air I can get. I can't breathe.

I push through the metal doors and they swing closed behind me. I take deep breaths of air but they don't make me feel less breathless.

Finch and Vaughan?

I'm reeling. I move to stand near the rooftop wall. There are potted pants along the wall, which gives this place a botanic vibe. My view of the surrounding landscape is limited because of how dark the sky is tonight. I've been coming here for the past two nights for the simple purpose of relaxing, but that isn't happening tonight.

What am I supposed to make of the fact that my brother and mate-to-be are lovers? Who could've ever guessed something so crazy? Goodness gracious, what am I going to do? This mating can't happen.

It just can't.

I know I didn't want this but why wouldn't Finch tell me about this? I feel betrayed, not because they're together, but because he would let me mate with his lover, one he never planned on leaving, knowing well that I never wanted it. He's my brother and one of my best friends. Why would he do this to me?

I exhale sharply. The tightness in my chest is only getting worse. The more I think about, the more horrible everything seems.

How am I supposed to confront this situation?

I hear the swinging sound of the metal doors and squeeze my eyes shut for a few seconds, mustering the courage to turn around and face my brother. Before whirling around to look at him, I ask, "Why wouldn't you tell me?"

I hear him stop, and then I'm surprised and horrified when a strange voice asks me, "What was I supposed to tell you?"

I turn around so quickly that I feel something in my neck crack. The man standing before me isn't Finch or Vaughan.

It's my mate, the one I recognized only a few minutes ago.

He saunters toward me, his dark eyes intently on mine. They're the same shade as his hair, with a layered look and shorter sides, if not slightly darker. A lock of hair is falling over his forehead gently, giving him a charming look. I step back until my back hits the wall. I feel hot and cold at the same time.

What's he doing here?

"I had to come looking for you," he reveals. His voice is smooth and enrapturing, with a surprising depth and rasp to it that makes me want to listen to him all day. "I couldn't stay away."

I gulp when he gets close to me. I can feel the heat emanating off his body and it's dizzying. I remind myself that this shouldn't happen; that I have enough troubles. Now isn't the time to get acquainted with a fated mate. But the pull. I can't deny it. It's tethering me to him, making the attraction I have for him undeniable.

My mind is rational, but my heart...

"Please," I say before closing my eyes. "I can't do this."

"It's your engagement," he states. His words serve as a reminder that I have to go. "You're going to be mated to another?"

"Yes," I say because I can't tell him the truth. I struggle with the words. "I am. Which is why this can't be happening! You shouldn't be here. You shouldn’t have followed me here."

"You're my mate," he says firmly. A stitch forms between his thick eyebrows, drawing them together. "Mine. You can't be with him. I'm not going to let that happen."

I hate how a part of me becomes excited at this display of possessiveness so I frown. "You can't decide what I can or can't do. I don't even know you!"

His hand closes around my upper arm. He stares intently at me whereas my face is a mask of shock. Is this really happening? Am I dreaming? I stare at his hand, his big, strong hand, on my arm. My heart starts racing.

This physical contact sparks something within me that travels down my spine and settles between my legs.

"Lara," he says my name. I'm shocked that he even knows it. I don't know his. I have no idea who he is, as a matter of fact. Our faces are so close to each other. I’ve never been this tempted into doing something I might regret, but this situation is different and it doesn’t matter how many times I try to convince myself that it isn’t.

He continues, “I've been searching for my mate my whole life. Now that I've found her, there's no way I want to let her waste away alongside someone who's not fated to her like I am."

I shake my head. "It's not your call to make."

His gaze intensifies and his grip around my arm tightens. "Why wouldn't it be?"

I say, “It just isn’t,” then finally manage to free myself from his iron grip. I'm shocked at his audacity. I don't even know him, yet he feels so entitled to me! I walk past him, my heels clicking against the concrete. I feel his eyes on the back of my neck. I reach the metal doors, and something stops me.

I can't seem to open the door.

Halfway through my walk, I came to a slow and painful realization. Out there, the only thing that awaits me is pain. I'll have to confront my brother and fiancé, and this whole fiasco will come to an abrupt end. Family ties will most likely be broken. Arguments will ensue.

Is that what I want to run to so eagerly?

Standing behind me is my mate, mostly likely the only mate I'll ever have. I'm missing out on an opportunity that I've been waiting so long for. And all for what?

For Vaughan? He was never worth it. I never loved him. Now, it makes sense why.

I turn my head to look at him. He's standing with his hands on his sides, his eyes hopeful. Even now I can't deny the attraction I feel for him. It's like my body is forcing me to go to him the same way it forced me to stop.

He senses this because he makes his way toward me. I watch him helplessly, knowing that this time, I've lost the battle. The decision has been made. Why should I be the responsible one? Why should I run to resolve this matter with Finch?

Why can't I do what my heart desires for once?

I was forced to be with Vaughan. I did everything to please my father. Now, it’s time for me to do what I want.

He puts two fingers under my chin, tilting my head back. His eyes then travel down my face and settle on my lips before he kisses me, a kiss so hungry that my knees weaken. I wrap my arms around his neck, fully aware that I’ve lost this fight to temptation.

I’m going to go as far as this is willing to go.

Fire courses through my veins. He pushes me against the wall, his mouth dominating mine. His hands roam my body, not missing a single curve or swell. He touches me with a feral need that I sense deep in my stomach, and in his arms, I feel like someone born to be worshipped.

He rolls his body against mine and I gasp at the suddenness of the contact. He eagerly swallows the sound as his hands slide up my sides before his thumb grazes the aching underside of my breasts. I’m burning from the inside out.

When his hands move over my breasts, I moan more loudly. My nipples are straining against my bra painfully, begging for his attention. But this isn’t meant to be tender lovemaking. This is rough and impulsive. This is me abandoning my restrictions and living for once. I think of all the years I spent holding out and waiting for my mate.

Vaughan was going to my first, as crazy as that sounds, but now, this man—my true mate—will be the one to take my virginity.

And right now, I’m okay with that. I don’t even care about the consequences. Damn them all.

He rolls the hem of my dress up my thighs until the material is bunched around my waist, exposing the most intimate part of me to him. I can smell my arousal, and so can he. He takes a deep breath, and then continues kissing my neck.

Things happen so quickly that it’s like I’m in a fever dream. He hooks his fingers in my panties and pulls them down. I kick them away as he undoes the buckle of his belt. Once those barriers are gone, I look between us and see his cock, the tip of it glistening with pre-cum. It excites me so much that my mouth waters.

He picks me up, using the wall for support. I squeeze the thick muscle in his arm as he slowly guides himself inside of me while parting my folds with his tip. It’s so exhilarating that I’m breathing hard and audibly.

Slowly, he pushes into me, the contact so delicious that I can’t help but scream out. We moan at the same time. I clench the muscles in my legs, securing them around him. The deeper he goes, the better it feels. There’s no significant pain, not right now. Not with this level of excitement. He slides easily into me; that’s how aroused I am. Then, he’s still for a few seconds as we get into a more comfortable position and get used to the feel of each other.

Then, he begins thrusting.

I bite his shoulder to keep myself from moaning too loudly as he rams into me. The pleasure hits me in unpredictable waves. At times, it’s so intense that I feel tears pricking my eyes. Other times, it’s much less mind-shattering. His fingers dig into my hips as he rocks against me.

It’s so good. So freeing.

“Yes!” I moan. “Yes, yes, yes!”

He groans against my skin. The pressure in my core is building and I have no control over it. I’m going to climax.

“I’m…” the words die on my tongue when I orgasm. It’s so powerful and intense that I close my eyes as I hold onto him. Warmth spreads through me, and it’s such a foreign feeling. I hold onto him, breathing heavily still. He pulls out of me, his semen shooting out of him and ending up on my bare stomach. We’re both sweating—even the chilly night air couldn’t cool us down.

I just had sex with him. I can hardly believe it.

He puts me down and I roll my dress down, ignoring the semen. I have no way of cleaning it up. He turns away from me to zip himself up, and I’m not sure why, but I feel something drop in the pit of my stomach, something that feels a lot like regret. I brush this off, maybe I’m just imagining things.

When he finally looks at me, I realize that I’m not.