Page 35 of Examining the Bond

A muscle in her jaw twitches, and her gaze drops to my soaked shirt. “You’re a mess. I’m so sorry…”

“Don’t,” I cut her off a little too sternly. “Don’t be sorry because I’m not. Do you understand?”

Her throat bobs with a swallow, and she nods.

“Come back tomorrow, and we’ll continue your tests.” My tone softens, but it’s awkward talking to her like a patient and not the woman I just tongue-fucked into bliss. As much as I want her to come back today, I need space to clear my head. I’m not helping her case by fucking her; if anything I’m making it worse. “Call the office if you have any problems.”

She doesn’t say anything as she grabs her sweater off the chair by the desk, but her face falls as she pulls it on, once again hiding the spill of beautiful skin I was privileged enough to taste and touch.

She runs her fingers through her hair to fix it and adjusts her skirt, but that fucking strip of skin above her tights still shows.What I wouldn’t give to press my lips against it again, kissing and licking my way up to the apex of her thighs.

I hate myself for sending her away.

The entire room is saturated in a blend of marshmallows and smoke that sticks to every corner, and I know she’ll be clinging to my skin until I get home and shower. A depression forms in my chest at the thought of washing her scent away, but at least my office will smell like her for the rest of the day.

I know it’s not enough. It’ll never be enough if she’s not with me, but it’ll have to do.

Riann hesitates in the middle of the room, still staring up at me like she’s waiting on me to do something. “Skylar…”

The pain in her voice shatters my resolve, and I rush forward, kissing her like the starving alpha I am. She’s like a drug I can’t get enough of, setting my body on fire with a savage need I’ve never felt before.

I was an idiot for thinking I’d be able to just walk away. I shouldn’t have gotten involved, but it’s way too late to take it back now. The only thing I can do is solve her problem, figure out what’s going on with her designation, and send her home.

Then, maybe, we’ll have a shot at something more than an unbridled passionate romp in an office.

We could be something more if that’s what she wants…

“You have to go now,” I repeat, as much as it pains me to say again, forcing myself away from her.

“What happens when I walk out that door?” she asks, her jaw twitching as her eyes flick across the room. “Are we going to pretend like none of this happened?”

I catch her chin with my fingers and guide her gaze back to mine, locking eyes with her.

“No. But I need you to listen carefully.” I pack as much sincerity as I can manage into the words. “This doesn’t have tobe a one-time thing, Riann, but it has to stay between us. I will absolutely get fired for what just happened.”

She nods against my hold, and I lean closer until our lips are just a hairsbreadth apart.

“But I want you so bad my bones ache,” I say, my voice a low rumble. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough…”

I brush my lips over hers, and my head swims with her marshmallow scent.

“Go to the hotel,” I say, forcing myself to step away. “We’ll figure this out tomorrow.”

Her eyes linger on mine, brimming with questions and emotions I can only guess at, before she turns and walks toward the door. Watching her slip out of my office is worse than cutting out my own heart.

The alpha desire to chase after her lashes through me, violent enough to make me wince, but I fight against it. Rage follows, burning through me at my refusal to obey my instincts, and my control slips. In a swift motion, I turn and kick my office chair, which shoots across the room before slamming into a filing cabinet.

Shock floods my system as the noise echoes through the silent room, and ice shoots through my veins.

“Pendeja,” I curse, realizing just how reckless I’ve been.

I take a couple of steadying breaths before reaching for my lab coat, pulling it on and fastening it up to my neck to cover the mess that is my shirt. I run my fingers through my hair in an attempt to tame it and decide to deal with my office later.

My last rut was so long ago that I didn’t consider the possibility, but if I expect to be locked in a room with Riann tomorrow and not jump on her the second we’re alone, I need suppressants.

Otherwise, I’m going to do something unforgivably stupid.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN