Chapter 18
ALEXANDER
I was still in my office with Cole, trying to get through the last of the reports for the day, when there was another knock on the door.
The sound grated on my nerves. I was already in a foul mood because of Faye. I had gone out of my way–personally–to have something sent to her, something that I knew would fit the occasion perfectly, only for her to send it back without a reasonable word. That kind of defiance, subtle as it was, could get under a man’s skin, and mine was already thin today.
So when the knock came, my tone was anything but welcoming.
“Who is it?” I snapped.
I was ready to send whoever it was away without even hearing their reason, but then-
The scent hit me.
It came softly at first, teasing the edge of my awareness, then flooding in until there was nothing else in the room but that smell. It was… intoxicating. Stronger than anything I had ever perceived, but not overwhelming in the way you might expect. No…this was the kind of scent that worked its way into your head, made your lungs greedy for more, made you take deeper breaths without even realizing it.
I know that smell, it was hers.
I didn’t even have to open the door to know. My mood shifted–just enough to soften my voice.
“Come in,” I said, in a much calmer tone than I’d used a moment ago.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cole straighten, the way only he could when he caught a scent he respected. Gentleman to the core, he adjusted his jacket slightly, his movements careful, expectant. He knew as well as I did that the Luna was about to walk in.
And then she did.
Faye stepped inside as if she had all the time in the world, her posture relaxed, her chin lifted just enough to meet my gaze but not enough to challenge it.
My eyes went to her outfit immediately. She hadn’t worn what I’d chosen, but damn it all if what she was wearing didn’t suit her perfectly.
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It fit her in a way that seemed almost deliberate…soft fabric that moved when she walked, subtle details that drew the eye without trying too hard. She looked… warm, calm. Like the chaos she stirred in me wasn’t even on her radar.
I didn’t let my approval show.
Cole stood as soon as she entered. “Luna Faye,” he greeted, inclining his head with that polite, understated tone of his. “I’ll be in my quarters,” he added as he turned to me, then back to Faye.
She gave him a faint smile…barely there but enough to be noticed, and Cole slipped out without another word, closing the door behind him.
That left just the two of us.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. I stayed in my seat, watching her quietly, letting the silence stretch. She didn’t fidget, didn’t try to fill the air with meaningless words. She just stood there, waiting.
Finally, I stood.
My chair scraped softly against the floor as I rounded the desk, my eyes never leaving her. She followed my movement but didn’t step back. I stopped in front of her, close enough to take in every detail of her chosen attire, the curve of the collar, the fall of the fabric, the way it framed her neck.
Without saying a word, I moved around her.
I could feel her turning her head slightly to follow me with her eyes, but she didn’t speak. I took my time, deliberately letting my gaze travel from her shoulders to her shoes and back up again. I wasn’t just looking–I was assessing. I wanted to see if she’d gotten it wrong. If this outfit of hers, no matter how well it fit, fell short of what I’d intended for her to wear.
I hated that I couldn’t fault it. Still, I kept my expression neutral.
By the time I came back around to face her, she still hadn’t said a word. That surprised me. In our earlier encounters back in Silver Hollow, she had been quick to jab at me–sharp remarks, subtle challenges, anything to prove she wouldn’t bend. But here, in my territory, I half expected her to be different.
And maybe she was. For a second, I thought she was holding herself in check. That maybe she had learned to keep her tongue.
I should have known better.
The moment I stopped, she tilted her head, her mouth curving just enough to hint at trouble.
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“Well?” she asked casually. “Are you done inspecting me, or should I take off the dress too so you can check the innerwear? You seem to be enjoying yourself.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, though my jaw tightened to keep from reacting too obviously. She had the gall to say it with a perfectly calm expression, looking at me like she’d just asked whether I wanted tea or coffee.
“You think you’re funny,” I said, my voice low.
She shrugged one shoulder, the movement infuriatingly graceful. “I think I’m honest. You were circling me like you were checking for contraband.”
“That was me deciding whether what you chose to wear is good enough,” I said flatly.
Her smile didn’t falter. “And? Did I pass your… inspection?”
I took a step closer, letting the silence answer for me. Her scent filled the space between us again, almost too rich now, as if the air itself was trying to test my restraint.
“I’ll decide after the meeting,” I told her.
She tilted her head again, studying me. “Meaning you haven’t decided now, or meaning you just want an excuse to look me over again later?”
I let out a slow breath, not rising to the bait. “Meaning you’ll be in front of people, and you represent me now. How you look is not just about you.”
Her brows lifted slightly. “So this is about appearances.”
“This is about everything,” I said sharply. “Every choice you make here–what you wear, what you say, who you speak to–it reflects on me. You don’t get to pretend it doesn’t.”
Her lips pressed together briefly, but I caught the flicker of something in her eyes…thoughtfulness, maybe, or calculation.
“And what about how you speak to me?” she asked softly. “Does that reflect on you too?”
I paused, realizing she’d shifted the conversation in her favor. “Don’t push it, Faye.”
She smiled again…small, infuriating, and completely deliberate. “I’m just making sure we’re both aware of the rules here.”
I held her gaze for several seconds before stepping back. “You’ll have plenty of time to test them. For now, you’re going to be where I can see you.”
“That sounds… possessive,” she said lightly.
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“That sounds like common sense,” I countered. “If you have a problem with it, too bad.”
She didn’t reply right away, instead, she glanced toward the desk, then back at me. “So… what happens now?”
“Now,” I said, walking back around to my chair, “you sit down, and we talk about the meeting. Who will be there, what to expect, and what not to do.”
Her brows rose in mock innocence. “Oh, so there’s a don’t–do list too? Should I take notes?”
“If it will help you remember,” I said dryly.
She crossed the room without being told, taking the seat opposite mine. “Go ahead then. Tell
me how not to embarrass you.”
I didn’t look at her right away. I could still feel her scent pulling at the edge of my focus.
And that was the problem.
Because no matter how I tried to keep the conversation about business, I couldn’t ignore the fact that just having her in the room made it harder to think straight.
“I didn’t really come here for the lecture though,” she said.
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