I stayed where I was.
After a few minutes, I descended.Slow and unhurried.Each step measured and controlled.
She stood in the entrance hall, looking around at the grand staircase, the paintings worth more than her father’s debt.Her suitcase sat at her feet like a surrender flag.She looked smaller here than she had in my office.Younger.Out of place among all this cold grandeur.
And then her scent hit me.
Apples and cream.Sweet and fresh and untouched.Overlaid with something sharp, something bright with fear.But underneath that, something else.Something warm and alive that made my mouth water and my cock stir.
The combination went straight to my hindbrain, made the wolf howl with recognition.
Mate.Mine.Take her.Now.
I ignored him.Barely.
“Miss Hughes.”
She turned.Her eyes were dark-circled, exhausted.She’d been through hell today, and she was still standing.Still holding herself together with nothing but willpower and pride.Something about that pleased me more than it should have.
Brave little mate.The wolf’s tone had shifted.Admiring now.Strong.Worthy.
“Mr.Antonov.”Her voice was steady.Points for composure.
“Alice will show you to your quarters.You have one hour to settle in.”I turned away, already walking.“Then you come to me.”
I didn’t look back to see her reaction.I didn’t need to.I could hear her heartbeat skipping from here, could smell the spike of fear that sharpened her scent.
Let her wonder.Let her dread.Let her imagine all the terrible things I might do to her.
None of them would come close to what I actually had planned.
The hour passed slowly.I returned to my quarters and sat in the leather chair by the window, watching darkness settle over the garden.Somewhere in the east wing, she was unpacking.Showering, perhaps.Choosing what to wear.Steeling herself for whatever came next.
I could have summoned her immediately.Could have dragged her to my room the moment she walked through the door.But anticipation was its own pleasure, and I wanted her nerves frayed, her imagination running wild with possibilities.
When the clock struck nine, I heard footsteps in the hallway.Hesitant.Stopping outside my door.
She knocked at exactly nine.
I made her wait.Counted off thirty seconds in my head, savoring the anticipation.She would be standing outside my door, hand still raised, wondering if I’d heard, if she should knock again, if this was some test she was already failing.
“Enter.”
The door opened slowly.She’d changed since her arrival, into something simple and modest.Dark jeans, a plain white blouse buttoned to the throat.A shield.As if covering herself completely would protect her from what was coming.
The wolf wanted to tear it off with his teeth.
“Close the door behind you.”
She did.The soft click of the latch sounded very final.
“Come here.”
She crossed the room.Her steps were careful, measured.She stopped a few feet away, close enough that I could see the pulse jumping in her throat, the way her hands were clenched at her sides.Close enough that her scent wrapped around me like a physical touch.
I let the silence stretch until she shifted her weight, uncomfortable.
“Kneel.”
