Dimitris inhaled deeply. Her cinnamon and coffee scent was calling to him. He inched even closer. He could smell her arousal. She wanted him. He felt drunk with the knowledge. His wolf urged him to rub against her. He wanted to cover his body in her aroma. The woman stepped back.Ask her name. Ask her name. Ask her name.His mind implored him to speak, but his mouth would not cooperate. He moved even closer. His chest was to her chin now. She pulled her head back a bit to look at him.
“So, if you could just tell me what to expect for service, that would help out my students a lot.” Cate fought the urge to turn and run. He had edged as close as he could to her body, but she stood her ground. She could feel the heat radiate from his skin. His warmth beckoned to her. She longed to sink against him.You really need to get out more,her mind mocked.
Cate swallowed. “Dimitris — Mr. Volkov — Please, I just need this one small answer.”
“Wait staff,” Dimitris whispered just before he lowered his lips to hers.
The kiss caught Cate off-guard. A million chastisements ran through her brain.He’s technically your boss. He’s too young for you. He doesn’t even know your name.In the time it took her brain to rationalize that kissing Dimitris Volkov was a bad idea, a very bad idea, her body decided that kissing Dimtris Volkov was a good idea, averygood idea. He opened his mouth further, his tongue exploring the edges of her lips. Her lips had a mind of their own, allowing him entrance. He pulled her closer with a soft growl. She could feel the outline of his erection on her stomach. Unable to resist, she wrapped her arms around him, allowing her fingers to explore the sinews of his back. Her hands inched lower, slowly grazing the curve of his ass. Dimitris pulled away and Cate was momentarily confused.
“You are so beautiful,” he breathed. “I didn’t imagine that you would be so beautiful.” He pulled her back to him grazing his teeth over her jaw and down the line of her neck. She turned her head, giving him greater access. His wolf growled, urging Dimitris to mark her so that the world would know she was his. He pushed the wolf away. His mate would know what he was before he broke her skin.
Cate kneaded his buttocks as he ground his hips against her stomach. His left hand pulled at the hem of her shirt while the right cupped her ass, jerking her hips up and into his erection. She could feel the size and heat of him through her pants. His dick stroked her slowly, rhythmically, insistently. He growled, the low rumble vibrating her chest. Without a doubt, sex with this man would be immensely satisfying. She grabbed his ass and rubbed her throbbing pussy against him.
Dimitris had never been so aroused in his entire life. This magnificent woman was fated to be his. He had waited over 150 years for her to arrive and he could not wait a second longer. With as much gentleness as he could muster, he picked her up and carried her to the patio table near the corner of the pool. His wolf was wild with anticipation. A small part of his brain told him to wait, to take her upstairs where they could have privacy, but his wolf would not listen. He was going to take her right there on the table.
“Mom, are you out here?” A high pitched voice called from the area near the kitchen. Cate jerked. In one swift move she jumped from the table and straightened her shirt.
“ I’ll be there in just a second, Peter.” Her voice shook as she responded to the child on the other side of the tall hedge. “Go inside and find your coat.” She looked sheepishly at Dimitris. “I — this —” she gestured between the two of them. “It shouldn’t have happened.”
“Who is Peter?” He had not contemplated that his mate would have found someone before him. Had she really had a child with another man?
“My son. He’s six, far too young to stumble on what he might have stumbled on.” She could feel the heat of embarrassment stain her cheeks. This was most certainly not one of her finest parenting moments. “I have to—” she pointed toward the area beyond the hedge wall and then she turned and left.
“Wait!” He held his hand up, beckoning her back. She didn’t stop. When she rounded the hedge he could hear her running toward the kitchen. “I didn’t even get your name,” he said to no one at all.
two
His wolf raged.Why did you let her go?He struggled to rein in the beast, but the animal was seething. Dimitris sympathized. That was not exactly the most opportune time to be interrupted. She was clearly catering the event, which meant he knew where to find her. He would give his libido time to cool and then search her out after she had time to send her son with whomever was picking him up. He heard the sliding door near the back corner of the courtyard open. A quick sniff told him it was Alek.
“Yuck, brother. I can smell you from across the pool. It seems you have found your mate. Please tell me you were as naked when you met her as you are now.” Alek laughed at the image.
Dimitris looked down. He probably should put on some pants before someone on staff found him. “Who is she?” he asked his brother as he headed for the lounger where he had laid his clothes.
“Who, your mate?” Alek wrinkled his nose again. “Honestly, I can hardly stand to be near you now that you smell like a bottle of cheap cologne.”
“Stop. You know I have no control over it. The scent acts as a warning to all other males. And it’s not a cologne smell, it’s just a strong musk. It won’t go away until she mates with me.” Dimitris sniffed his shoulder and he buttoned his pants. All he could smell was the faint scent of pool water covered by the delicious scent of cinnamon coffee.
Alek grimaced. “You can’t smell it, but I promise you, it’s terrible. Please make this a quick courtship.”
“She’s the mate of an alpha which means she’s an alpha, too. I would have marked her already and have it done, but I suspect she will be the one who decides the length of the courtship. Besides, I can’t make it a courtship at all if I don’t know her name. Who is she?”
Alek huffed out a laugh. “You didn’t get her name? That’s perfect. The invincible Dimitris Volkov was so overtaken by his mate’s presence that he failed to get her name.” Dimitris growled low and deep. “You seem to think I should know her. Why?”
“She was looking for you,” Dimitris ran his hand through his hair. “She wanted to know about tonight’s wait staff.”
Alek rolled his eyes. “You have not given me much to go on, Dimitris. There are approximately forty women inside at this moment preparing for our party. I need a bit more information.”
“She was beautiful. Tall, athletic, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. And she has the most incredible fawn colored eyes I’ve ever seen. She smelled like cinnamon coffee, if that helps.”
Alek’s shock was visible. “Cate? Cate Darling is your mate?” He stopped, considering the idea, “Actually, now that I’ve had a second to think about it, it makes perfect sense. I even teased her earlier that I needed to introduce the two of you. She’s bossy.”
“Careful,” Dimitris warned with another growl.
Alek held up his hand in a show of surrender, “No offense, D. She’s absolutely lovely, I just meant that it makes sense for the two of you to be mated. You’re bossy, too, you know. I had plans to dance the night away with her, both on and off the dance floor.” His growl was lower and more menacing this time. “But I suppose that’s off the table now,” Alek smiled. “You will have to wine and dine her this evening in my stead. She’s coming to the party, after all. Thankfully, as a human, she won’t know you smell like a bottle of cheap cologne.”
Dimitris was surprised. “I had assumed that she was catering the event.” He sniffed himself again. Nope, he still couldn’t smell it.
“Well, she kind of is. She’s a culinary instructor at Coyen. Her students are catering the event, but I convinced her to attend. She is far too lovely to be hidden away in the kitchen, don’t you think? She also agreed to enter a private cooking lesson in tonight’s charity auction. You should try to win that.”
