The Loft
Jordan stared through the tinted glass of his limo at Morgan’s brownstone, tapping his foot. It was already six-fifteen, and neither she nor his driver had returned. “What’s taking so long?” he asked Klaus.
“She’s still gathering her things, sir.”
He exhaled deeply. She was really pushing him today, and it was taking everything in him to control his temper. Exiting the limo, he slammed the door and made his way to her apartment. Klaus opened the door and leaped aside. “Where is she?” Jordan demanded as he took in the chaotic sight of the apartment. Clothes were thrown about, and there were so many things covering the floor, it resembled a Black Friday sale more than someone’s apartment.
Morgan rushed from her bedroom with her arms draped in a mess of clothing. “I’m coming!” she shouted at him while throwing items into what he was sure was her fortieth bag.
“I asked you to be ready by six,” he responded, his temper already flaring.
“I know, it’s just that you didn’t tell me how long I would be gone.” She sat on the suitcase to close it. “Not that you even gave me a say in whether I wanted to go in the first place,” she mumbled under her breath.
The muscles in his jaw twitched. “As your Alpha—”
“I know, I know. I’m just saying…maybe you could have given me a heads up, and then I would have known what to take.” She rolled her eyes, causing a fire deep within him to ignite. Walking over, he reached down, picked her up, and threw her over his broad shoulder. “Put me down!” she screamed, but her squirms were useless as he carried her towards the door.
“Please grab Ms. Pierce’s bags and bring them downstairs, Klaus,” he said over his shoulder, letting the door slam behind him.
A very pissed off Morgan sat opposite in the limo to an equally nonchalant Jordan. Not wanting to look at him, she gazed at the passing scenery as they made their way to his home. After what seemed like an eternity, she heard his deep voice.
“Let me be clear, you’re only staying with me because you’re a novice and it was I who turned you.” He adjusted the fit of his vest. “And as for the attitude, lose it before the pack arrives tonight. You need to make a good impression. Besides, I asked you to be on time, and if you had, you wouldn’t have been manhandled.” She whirled around and glared at him, and he stifled his laugh. As much as she irritated him, he had to confess that an angry Morgan was proving to be quite entertaining.
“We’re here, sir,” Klaus said, and Jordan winked at her, causing her to shoot more daggers his way. He could see Elijah had already arrived, which likely meant he had news. As Klaus parked the limo, Morgan grabbed her purse and stormed from the car.
“Hey Morgan,” Elijah greeted her, smiling.
“Hi,” she grumbled back, stomping her way past him in a flash. Stopping momentarily, her bottom lip dropped as she stood in front of the enormous loft. Gray, red, and white paint covered different portions of it, separated only by the brown wooden stairs of the entranceway. Several large black windows seemed to observe her in return, and she squinted, trying her hardest to see what was inside. There were freshly manicured hedges, multiple cars in the driveway, and an enormous garage. She might gawk, but had she truly expected Jordan Wolf to live by any other means?
Who the hell needs this much house?
She thought as she made her way to the front and turned the knob. Sighing, she realized it was locked.
Elijah turned to Jordan with his arms folded across his chest. “What did you do?”
“I beat Ms. Pierce at her own sarcastic game. She wanted an asshole. She got one.” Cupping his hands around his mouth, he called out to her, “I have the key, Honey.” He smiled devilishly in satisfaction when she cut her eyes at him again.
“Are you sure this is a good idea? I thought you agreed to let her stay in her own home. I don’t know if putting you two under one roof unsupervised is safe,” Elijah said, smirking. “She’s already got a nickname from you. A sarcastic one, but it’s definitely a nickname. I can tell by the way you said it.”
“Because she’s ours.”
Jordan heard the wolf say, and he rolled his eyes. “I don’t need you to harp on my nerves, Elijah. Ms. Piece is already doing a fantastic job.” Elijah pressed his lips together, and Jordan changed the subject before his anger got the best of him. “Do you have an update on what I asked for?”
His face hardened. “Yes, Alpha, but it’s not a good one.”
After being escorted to her new room, Morgan found herself too distracted to unpack. She’d never been inside a loft, much less one with an open floor plan that included multiple bedrooms. It was clear Jordan had designed his house himself.
Typical rich Alpha male. Never satisfied with the way things are made.
She chuckled at the irony of the sentiment. Walking around, she entered the large adjoining bath. The sight of it caused her to jump up and down. “I live here! I live here!” she sang, returning to the main part of her room. The cool gray and white tones of her room matched perfectly with the posh furniture and were very reminiscent of Jordan’s office. “If I’m staying here, though, some of this needs to change,” she said out loud.
“Change whatever you see fit,” Jordan said from behind her, startling her. She noticed a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “You’ll be here for a while, at least until you’re able to keep up with the rest of the pack, so make yourself as comfortable as you need to.”
“Why is he being so nice to us?” her wolf whimpered.
Walking farther into the room, Jordan fixated his eyes on her every move, seeing her thoughts all over her face. “I would prefer I didn’t have to fight with you in my home the same way I do at work, Ms. Pierce. This is my personal space, and I need to wash the hectic days off here.”
Nodding, she stuck out her hand. “Deal,” she said, and he chuckled lightly, causing her to laugh in response.
“I really like the way his face lights up when he laughs.”
Jordan coughed, retracting his hand, and Morgan covered her mouth briefly. “Shit. That was supposed to be a thought. I’m still getting used to this linking stuff,” she said.
Way to go, Morgan. That just made it worse.
Mouth closed or thoughts open, she never could stop talking.
Jordan folded his arms across his chest, eager to change the topic. “Something urgent has come up, and I need to take care of some things with Elijah. Unfortunately, your pack meeting will have to wait.”
“You’re leaving me here alone on my first night?”
“It’s only for a few hours. Unpack, watch TV, and order anything you need. Klaus will also be nearby if you require help.”
She averted her eyes to the ground. “I don’t think I could afford anything in your neighborhood, Mr. Wolf.”
Reaching into his pocket, Jordan pulled out his wallet and handed her his black card. “Who said anything about you needing to?”