Chapter 23 Cherry

Chapter 23 Cherry

I’d taken Dylan to a local bistro for lunch after I’d heard that he particularly liked the schnitzel he’d tried in Berlin. I contentedly watched him devour his lunch, and then we returned to the store and studio for the afternoon. Despite all of my assistant designer Maisy’s teasing, I wasn’t able to restrain myself from “checking in” on Dylan again downstairs in the store.

My sales assistants had already told me at lunchtime what a stellar job he’d done all morning. Apparently, the sales were noticeably up with Dylan working the floor too. As I lingered at the bottom of the stairs, watching his tall, muscular form strut across the room, I could well believe it. I was sure that all the female customers would only too gladly receive any attention my handsome mate gave them.

I studied the strong profile of his face, the edge of his jaw, cheekbones, and the slope of his nose. Already, I felt greedy for his attention, and I missed his dark stare on me.

But a customer had just approached him. She wore one of my claret dresses and had another one in hand. “I need a second opinion. I don’t know whether to go for the size 38,” she explained, gesturing to herself, “or the size up.”

“I think the one you’re wearing is perfect,” Dylan said.

He was right, I noted. The bell-capped sleeves kissed the woman’s shoulders perfectly, and the ruffled bodice accentuated her cleavage, narrowing down to highlight her slim waist as the satin skirt flared out around her hourglass figure. My claret dress was a bestseller this season and one of my favorites. So named for its color, the shade of a rich claret making it sensual, while the bell sleeves and flared skirt made it fun and romantic.

The customer smiled alluringly at Dylan, chuckling. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

Dylan shook his head. “I always tell the truth.”

The comment brought another smile to the customer’s lips, and she said, “Would you like my number?”

Anger simmered beneath my skin, and for the first time in my life, I momentarily hated my design. It was indecent.

“Thank you, but I have a girlfriend,” Dylan responded to the woman, making me let out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

But instead of backing off, the customer seemed to take his words as a challenge. She laid her hand on his chest, “That’s a shame.”

I couldn’t contain my rage. My wolf prickled beneath my skin, wanting to snap at this woman. I fantasized about tearing apart the very dress I’d designed because it was on her.

I marched down the stairs, sidled up to Dylan, and wrapped my arm possessively around his. “Dylan, can I see you in my office for a moment?” I asked.

Dylan’s dark eyes danced with amusement as they held me. “Of course.” He turned to the customer who’d touched his chest and said, “Sorry, excuse me a moment, would you?” doing a far better job at maintaining a professional air than I did. I still couldn’t look at the woman because my wolf was in danger of defending what was mine.

I tugged Dylan up the stairs, keeping my arm wrapped around his. We’d almost reached the top of the stairs when he let out a low chuckle. Leaning down, he whispered in my ear. “Someone’s wolf is jealous, isn’t she?”

Meeting his amused expression, I flushed but admitted, “She is. I am.” Only now did my heart rate calm as I laid my hands on Dylan’s chest as if to chase away the other woman’s touch.

He stared down at me, pulling up my chin so that I met his gaze. “I have eyes only for you, you know,” he said, thinking I needed reassurance.

My silver stare locked onto him. “I know,” I affirmed. “You’re mine,” I purred, my nails scraping down his shirt, drawing a hiss from him.

The next moment, he’d shoved me against the wall, his chest heaving as he looked down at me, and I felt the tell-tale sign of his arousal pressing against my stomach. I bit my lip but shook my head. “Unfortunately, we’ve got a few hours until we’re closed. Come upstairs. I want to show you something,” I suggested in an attempt to distract us both from our instincts. I knew that if Dylan was feeling our burgeoning mating bond in the same way that had made me enraged at that customer, he needed distraction too.

I enjoyed watching him swallow down his desire, trying to collect himself. Still, it was my turn to halt on the top step and for an ache to build between my legs as I watched Dylan adjust his trousers discreetly before following me to the top of the stairs. He grinned wickedly at me as if to say that he could scent my arousal, which only proceeded to addle my brain more.

“Hey, Maisy,” I greeted my assistant designer as I stepped out into our open-plan office. She was at a sewing machine, hard at work on one of the dresses for my fall collection.

“Hey, Cherry.” Maisy looked up and noticed Dylan following behind me. “How’s it going in the store, Dylan?”

Dylan’s smile was captivating. “All good, thanks. Nina and Kendra have been great at showing me how to make a few sales. Besides, the dresses are so beautiful they mostly sell themselves.”

I blushed at Dylan’s compliment.

Maisy beamed too. “That’s great. And I know what you mean. I feel so lucky to be working for such a great designer like Cherry.”

“Well,” I replied to my assistant. “I couldn’t do half of what I do without my super-talented assistant.” Even as I managed to compliment Maisy in turn, I felt an aggressive territorial urge rise in me because of the smile and attention Dylan had awarded Maisy. By Nuu-Chah, this mating bond was making rational thought and human interaction difficult.

Finally, I brought Dylan over to my desk and opened up my sketchbook. “Remember the reason you came to Berlin?” I asked with a smile, showing him the design I’d sketched last week for him. There were suit designs in pencil, then some in color. I knew the dark blue tone would bring out the chocolate hue of Dylan’s eyes.

He laughed. “Of course. The suit I ordered,” he said, an enigmatic smile on his face as he looked at me. He studied the designs. “It’s wonderful. You do have exquisite taste.” Amusement crept into his voice as he added, “I mean, that claret dress is a real stunner.” His comment had me picturing the customer in it again and the way she’d laid her hand on Dylan’s chest.

Mine, something deep within me, growled, and my hand instinctively shot to his chest, stroking Dylan as his eyes danced with amusement and… desire. I knew what he was trying to do. He was teasing me to try to draw out that primal side of me that wanted to mark what belonged to me: him.

Aware that my employee was still in the room and would be for another couple of hours, as well as those in the store downstairs, I suggested sweetly, “I could murder a coffee right now. Any chance you’d grab me one while I finish off some stuff here, Dylan?”

His dark stare burrowed into me, and with the heat in it alone, he told me that he wasn’t done with drawing out my primal side, but he answered readily. “Sure, one hazelnut latte coming up. Maisy, would you like anything?” He offered considerately.

Maisy politely declined, and Dylan went off to secure me a caffeine hit. My assistant designer couldn’t help but declare once he was out of earshot, “Oh my god, Cherry. You have to marry that man. He’s god-damned perfect.”

I couldn’t help the lovesick smile from spreading over my face. Maisy had spent the morning quizzing me about the tall, dark deliciousness who I’d brought to work with me. So when I hadn’t been distracted by going down to check on my heart-stoppingly gorgeous Alpha mate, I’d been listening to exclamations of just how handsome he was up here. The truth was, I really hadn’t gotten much work done over the day at all.

Even as I settled down to, hopefully, finish a design while Dylan was out hunting and gathering for us, I had to admit that even with slacking off here, having my mate nearby was absolutely worth it.

When Dylan arrived back, we took a break to have coffee, and he mentioned that he’d made a dinner reservation for us this evening.

Looking downcast, I said, “I’m afraid I can’t. I need to put in a bit of overtime tonight here in the studio.”

“That’s fine,” he said. “I’ll cancel it. We’ll do it another time.”

Soon, he’d left me to get on, and I heard him helping Kendra and Nina cash up and tidy the store for the night. When Maisy packed up and left for the night, too, I descended the stairs to see whether Dylan wanted to get some food yet.

As soon as my foot touched the store floor, Dylan swept me into his arms, crushing me against him. His lips crashed against mine. As he surfaced for air, he walked us back into the small room where my clients had their fittings, away from the open storefront. He backed me against the wall, moving his assault to my neck, biting and sucking. He drew gasps and whimpers of need from me.

“I want all of those sounds,” he demanded, kissing me again. “I want to drink them down,” he murmured against my neck, his breath hot on my neck. “I want to hear how much you want me, mate.” He licked my collarbone, trailing his fingers up my arm and making me quiver with anticipation and longing. Suddenly, he cupped my ass forcefully, and a heady moan escaped my throat. He growled possessively, his hands becoming rougher as he lifted my skirts and dragged my knickers down.

Heat pooled between my legs, and then his pants were loosed, the delicious pressure of his cock already at my entrance. I gasped with want and longing to feel more of him. With a rumble from deep in his throat, he obliged, rolling his hips and thrusting into me.

With abandon, I cried out as his fullness stretched me out and obliterated the ache that had built over the day. As he rocked and ground into me, I moaned, desperate and needy, as the delicious pleasure built in my body. Once again, he fulfilled my desire as his thrusts and rocking pushed me over the edge until I cried out in a blinding climax. Then with a growl, Dylan pulsing and throbbing inside me came. His seed filled me in hot waves, which only had me quivering and shuddering again.

As we came down from our highs, our heaving breaths calmed, and I felt deliciously tired and sated. Eventually, we untangled ourselves from one another, and somehow, I managed to do the work I needed to finish while Dylan ordered us some Chinese takeout.

The late-night dinner that we shared in my studio office felt better than any candlelit dinner I’d ever had out before, the sight of my mate opposite me nourishing me even more than the food.

By eight o’clock, we made it back to my apartment, just in time to tuck Fern in and tell her a bedtime story.

After browsing the various books our daughter had, Dylan returned to sit on the other side of the bed with a book and a smile, “I think I like the look of this one. Positively Preternatural.” He held the book, The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt, in his hands.

I stifled a smile, knowing that the shifter topic of conversation was definitely soon going to come up between us. But the thought melted away as his deep voice resonated through the room, and I watched Fern become entranced by the story and… her father.

But as we turned Fern’s light out, worry crept in. Eventually, my mate would have to return to the Starsmoon Pack.

The thought was like a blow as I realized the devastating hollow that Dylan would leave in my now full life.