Chapter 2 The Handsome Stranger

Grace

I turned around and tilted my head up to look into the man’s face. He was tall, towering over me. In a crisp green button-up, a dark vest, and dark wash jeans. He wasn’t so close to loom over me, but he was warm enough that the air between us was sizzling. It was the confidence in his tone and his easy expression that told me he was an older man, but I wasn’t sure how much older. His hair was dark and styled just short of messy, brushing his forehead. His face was clean-shaven and chiseled. He was handsome, but it was his eyes, a rich forest green that seemed to glow in the low light that got me. There was something about his face that felt familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

His lips twitched. “Though I would take your name in lieu of a seat.”

My face heated as I turned back. “It’s Grace, and the seat’s yours if you want it.”

My heart fluttered with anticipation and anxiety.

He settled into the seat beside me easily. The heat of his body so close sent a shiver of awareness through me.

“A pleasure, Grace. I’m Charles,” he offered me his hand.

He lifted my hand to his lips and brushed his lips across my knuckles. The heat of his breath sent goosebumps up my arm.

“Can I buy you a drink?” He glanced at my empty glass. “Whatever you’d like?”

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit flustered. “I… really shouldn’t. It’s… been a long time since I’ve drank, and I think that one was a little strong.”

He smiled and gestured vaguely as if calling the bartender. “I’m sure the renowned White Claw has at least one mocktail to your taste.”

I thought to protest, but he was already turning to the bartender and ordering with easy confidence. When the drink arrived looking suspiciously like the fruity whiskey thing I had ordered before, topped with a huge chunk of pineapple, I looked at Charles with a raised eyebrow.

“Your former drink had a non-alcoholic twin,” he said and lifted his tumbler to his full lips. “What brings you here tonight?”

I tore my gaze away and decided to play it safe. “It’s… my birthday.”

“Happy Birthday,” Charles said warmly. “Though you are dressed for the occasion, I noticed you hadn’t moved from the bar since you arrived.”

He’d been here the whole time? How had I not noticed him? Had he been watching me all this time? I scanned him. He didn’t look like a reporter. There was something a bit too dangerous about him that made me think that. Was he in security? Was he a lycan Enforcer?

“Does that mean you were watching me?”

He licked his lips. “It was hard to do anything else with all your lovely skin on display.”

He leaned close and murmured in my ear. “You also smell delicious.”

My heart started pounding. “You’re… a lycan, aren’t you?”

His eyes glinted. “What gave it away?”

I swallowed. “I used to be married to one. He was always talking about how I smelled.”

He sat back. “How long have you been divorced?”

I checked my watch. “Exactly twelve hours now.”

“Hell of a birthday present.” I lifted my glass and took a sip.

Without the whiskey, it tasted better, like a tropical punch. I smiled, drinking it, enjoying the tang on my tongue.

“Last I checked, a newly divorced woman should be celebrating,” he smiled. “How old are you today?”

“Thirty,” I said.

He leaned closer with a grin. He was so much larger than me, much larger than Devin had been. The spicy scent of his cologne filled my nose and made a mess of my head. I wanted to be closer, to press my face into his chest and breathe deep.

“I’m not usually so forward, but is there any chance I could convince you to come back to my hotel with me? This dress is too sexy to end up anywhere but on the floor tonight.”

My eyes widened. My heart jumped, and heat pooled in my gut that felt almost foreign. Desire. I had forgotten what it felt like to want a man.

“I’ll make it worth your while, birthday girl.”

I bit my lip, and despite the fear and the sense of wrong that twined through me, I closed my eyes. This was the distraction I needed, and I was going to take it.

“Let’s go.”

As we entered his top-floor suite, he cupped my face in his hands and pressed our mouths together in a searing, possessive kiss. I melted, whimpering as my back hit the door and he pressed against me, rocking his hips against mine so I could feel the hard, hot length of him against my stomach.

“Perfect,” he growled, slipping his hands under my dress and lifting me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and we kissed as he carried me toward the couch. I’d popped a few buttons on his shirt, desperate to get my hands on him, when his phone rang. He groaned, pulling back. He lowered me onto the couch as I stared at the mark on his chest.

“Don’t go anywhere,” he growled, stealing another kiss, and turned to take out his phone.

My body went cold with disappointment. The mate bond mark on his chest was whole and still a vibrant red like blood: he was still with his fated mate and cheating with me.

Fury filled me, but I pushed it down, glancing over at him as he fumbled his shirt open, revealing the sculpted planes of his body and the entirety of the mark that spanned most of his right pectoral. He was a beautiful fucking liar. The scum of the earth and so much like Devin, it made my blood boil. Were all lycans cheaters? Did they think being stronger meant that they had the right to play with other people’s emotions?

I wanted to lash out and storm out, but he was closer to the door than I was. He was a lycan in his prime. He was definitely an alpha lycan, bigger than me, and clearly intent on having sex tonight. I couldn’t afford to anger him. If he got violent, I’d fight, but I didn’t think I’d be able to fight him off. As he shot me an apologetic look and turned to leave the room, still on the phone and undressing, I opened my clutch and opened a text message to Eason.

SOS

I tucked the phone back inside my clutch and took a deep breath trying to get back in the mindset to fake it until Eason called me.

“If only I could count on Do Not Disturb,” Charles said, scoffing and setting his phone on the far bar. He smirked and reached for his belt. “I told him not to call back unless he’s dying, since he’s basically a recluse, we should be fine.”

He dropped onto one knee on the other side of the couch, staring at me with so much desire my stomach turned. How would his mate feel knowing he was here with me like this?

“Now, where were we?” He asked softly, dropping his gaze as he skimmed his hands up my thighs. “I think I promised to make it worth your while, hm?”

Then, my phone rang. His head turned to my clutch then back to me as I bit my lip. He bit his lip, taking a deep breath. His gaze dropped back between my legs. He looked starving. I almost wanted to let him continue, but my conscience wouldn’t let me be the other woman.

I had enough of that to last a lifetime.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, sitting up. “It’s my brother; he’s watching my kids…”

Charles grabbed my clutch from the floor and offered it to me. I couldn’t hold back my look of surprise. His lips quirked.

“You have young kids. I can wait to taste if they need you.”

He sat back on his heels and watched me as I pulled my phone out and answered.

“Eas’?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s the tiniest Wolfe,” Eason said. “I called the 24/7 line, but nothing’s working to get his fever down. He’s asleep now, I’m getting Cecil ready to go to the ER.”

I worried my lip and swung my legs over the edge of the couch. Charles placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I can give you ride home.” He got up to my surprise, walked around to grab his phone and call.

“I’ll be there soon, Eas’.” I stood as I hung up. “I really—”

“Don’t apologize,” he said. “Your pups come first; you’re all they have now… Would you be comfortable taking my car? George will drive you wherever you need with a bit of direction.”

I swallowed and checked the time. It was nearing midnight. Taxis would be swarmed. I nodded. “That would be very kind. Thank you.”

He cupped my jaw. “I’d like to see you again… Even if we’re not picking up where we left off. Can I have your number?”

I shuffled my feet, feigning shyness even as my stomach was in knots. He was being so surprisingly kind, but I guessed even cheaters had consciences. I rattled off the standard fake number I gave any guy too pushy to take no. He walked me downstairs and though the lobby in his ruined shirt and put me in the car like a princess.