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He turns his head to look at me, but I don't meet his gaze. Instead, I watch out of the corner of my eye as he studies me closely enough that I shift uncomfortably in my chair.
I don't know what he's thinking, but after a second he takes the papers out of my hands and stands, returning to his desk. I sit silently staring at my hands, feeling a bit embarrassed. I get that he didn't want my opinion, but taking the papers away from me completely makes me feel like a child caught snooping where she shouldn't be.
"Tess."
"Hmm?"
"I'll ask the team to change the location," he says calmly, as if the words don't completely baffle and shock me. I was fully expecting him to lecture me for being too opinionated. Not that anyone has ever done that, but then again, I've rarely felt as insecure as I do with Dominic. Not since high school, at least.
"Just like that?" I swallow hard and make myself look up at him. That feels like a lot of faith to put into a virtual stranger.
He meets my eyes from across the desk. "Just like that."
Chapter Eighteen
Dominic
Playing nice is getting old really fast. It seems no matter what I do, Tess is jumpy and suspicious. I don't want to push the idea of letting me mark her because I'm not sure that's what I even want. But something has to give before I snap.
Respect is everything in my pack. I'm known for garnering a great deal of it. If anyone realizes the full extent of how insolent Tess has been with me, it could fracture everything I've built.
Not to mention it's a serious blow to my ego.
By the time Luca comes strolling into my office, hands deep in his pockets, it takes everything in me not to snap at him to get the fuck out. Especially when Tess sits up straighter at the sight of him.
His eyes flicker her way briefly, then right back to me. At this point, I have no doubt he knows better than to be caught looking at her for more than that. Even that flicker is enough to make my blood boil. Am I a possessive asshole? Absolutely.
"Callum Cross is here for you. I've asked him to leave, but he's practically camped out on the sidewalk at this point. Do you want me to send security out or—"
"No," I cut Luca off. "Send him in."
Tess's head snaps in my direction, her eyes wide and fearful. I'm not sure what the hell the guy did to make her like this, but I'm ready to be done with him once and for all. If that takes him seeing Tess by my side, so be it.
At this point, if she wanted to go with him, he wouldn't still keep coming back trying to reason with me. He'd be working on a plan to get her out.
"I don't want to talk to him," Tess whispers angrily when Luca goes to retrieve the East Terrace Green Pack Alpha.
"A Luna does what's necessary," I tell her, testing her reaction.
She rolls her eyes at me. Little brat. In no uncertain terms, she looks me right in the eyes as she tells me, "I'm no Luna."
Not yet,my wolf wants to tell her, but I force him to keep that between us.
It's important I don't lose my head and do anything I'll regret later. I need to decide how to handle the situation with Tess with a clear head. Something that's proving more difficult than expected. Especially because I can't get the image of her bare legs out of my mind. There's nothing sexier than a woman dressed in my shirt and nothing else. And Tess has great legs—something I didn't expect considering her size.
I shake my head to clear those thoughts away. Now's not the time.
"Bring your chair over here next to me. We need to keep the upper hand.” I offer her the most simplified possible explanation.
I'm expecting her to argue the point, but she stands and slides the chair across the floor toward me. She pushes it all the way up against my chair before sitting. She looks uncomfortable, her body full of tension as she sits ramrod straight next to me.
"Relax," I urge her, and she nods, but she doesn't relax.
I know we're down to maybe a minute or two at most before Cross walks into view. Taking one hell of a risk, I grab her by the chin, turning her face toward mine, and kiss her. She stiffens for a second but then finally relaxes. It takes every bit of control I possess not to take things further.
When her lips start to part naturally for me, I release her.
"Tess." She tears her eyes away from me to look at the door and the man saying her name all too sweetly. Cross is easy to read. His face flickers through a range of emotions—relief, realization, and jealousy.
