CHAPTER TEN

Sunlight spills into my office, highlighting my memories of what happened Friday night.

A laugh, low and tinged with disbelief, bubbles up from my chest.

I kissed Wyn Archer—and more.

Humans speak of Heaven on Earth, and I found it in her arms.

She's everything I've ever dreamed of—gorgeous, soft, passionate.

Thoughts of us together haunted me all weekend long.

Whereas most people mourn Sunday night, I couldn't wait for it because the next day would bring Wyn and me back together.

It's unhealthy, this obsession I have for her—one of my employees—but I can't help it.

She's in my blood.

I slump back, the leather chair creaking under me.

My eyes shut as the other night's escapades replay in my mind.

The feel of Wyn under my hands, the taste of her ravenous kisses, the sight of her stunning body.

Even now, I can imagine her body pressed against mine again.

Her supple curves mold to my own as I lay her across my desk.

Every detail of her is seared into my brain from her silken skin to her molten kisses.

The sting across my back from where her nails raked down me in a fervid display that matched my own unquenchable thirst for more.

How she clung to me, giving in to her orgasm, radiating pure sexiness.

Wyn has this allure—this power inside of her—that's more addictive than any drug.

She is everything that uplifts me and destroys me in the same breath.

The taste of her ecstasy still sits on my tongue, driving me wild with need.

All I can think about is fucking her on every surface in my office.

Opening my eyes, I groan, my tarse hard and throbbing, ready to claim our sawolkeh—mate.

The thought gives me pause as something clicks into place in the center of my chest.

My laughter booms around the room while I laugh at my own short-sightedness.

I knew before I ever touched Wyn that she wasn't just some office conquest or one-night stand.

She's my forever.

Whereas some men might panic at this acknowledgment, I embrace it with open arms.

Wyn is my destiny, and I am hers—no sense in running from our fates.

The only problem is convincing her of this.

"Well, damn," I moan, dropping my head to my desk.

My sawolkeh is amazing, wonderful, beautiful…and stubborn as fuck.

If I said the sky was blue, I swear she would find a way to prove me wrong just to spite me.

Even though the bet is over, and we've confessed our feelings to one another, I know this doesn't change anything between us.

Wyn's as much the yin to my yang as I am to hers.

When I pull, she pushes, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

But I also can't lose her, and telling her that she's my mate will definitely send her running for the hills.

The only logical solution is to let Wyn decide she's my sawolkeh.

Once that woman makes up her mind, everyone better get out of her way because nothing can stop her.

For now, I need to keep my hands—mouth, tarse, and tail—to myself.

It damn near kills me to decide this, but Wyn must come to me.

As if reading my mind, a knock sounds on the door.

It's an hour before our weekly Monday meeting, so I'm delighted when Wyn comes in.

"Morning," I greet with a little too much heat.

So much for keeping it under wraps.

She stares at me, her dark eyes shadowed, and my heart twists.

"Good morning, Mr. Ettin."

Wyn's use of my last name doesn't bode well for me.

"How can I be of service?"

I don't mean for the questions to be a double entendre, but it's out before I can take it back.

"Erm, I just wanted to give you this."

She slides an envelope across my desk and then turns to leave.

Foreboding sinks its claws into me, and my form blurs.

"Wait," I bark with more force than I intended.

Wyn freezes as I snatch up the envelope, yanking out the folded letter inside.

I open it, my gaze snagging on the words ‘two weeks' notice'.

"What is this?"

She doesn't answer, looking everywhere but at me.

"Wyn! What. Is. This?!"

Darkness creeps into the room as I shift into my shadow form.

But the woman before me doesn't shrink back like most humans would.

Instead, she puffs out her chest, baring her teeth.

"What does it look like?"

"You can't quit. I…I need you."

The woman who's become the sun in my solar system deflates, sucking away all her warmth.

"I—we—can't do this. Our relationship is just a catastrophe in the making."

"How can you say that when you haven't even given us a chance?"

"Mr. Ettin—"

"Bash!"

"No, it's Mr. Ettin because you are my boss—and I'm your employee. It will never work out between us because we're worlds apart."

I get up, skirting around my desk to shut my door before whirling back to my infuriating sawolkeh.

"What are you talking about?"

"How can you be so obtuse? Aside from the fact that you're my boss, you're a successful billionaire who likely lives in a penthouse with a bidet on every toilet! I, on the other hand, am a single mom with a fucked up past."

"You're scared."

I state it bluntly, tasting her fear.

"No, I'm not scared—I'm fucking petrified. I have everything to lose while you don't."

A humorless smile graces my lips. My mate is clueless because I've already lost my heart and soul to her.

"Wyn, listen to me. I understand the issue about me being your boss and you my employee, but everything else doesn't matter—to me. Is your past important? Yes, it's shaped you into the brave, remarkable woman you are today, but it has no bearing on what I think or feel about you, nor does the amount of money you have in your bank account."

"And what about Jake?"

"What about him? Our relationship doesn't change yours with your son. He will always be your first priority—as he should be—but if you let me, I could help. It couldn't hurt to have me as part of your support team."

"And when you're done with me? When everything fizzles out? I can't let you break Jake's heart like that, or mi—never mind."

"This is scary, any new relationship is. It means putting yourself out there when there's a chance you might get burned. Having a child only adds to this risk, but Wyn, what if you're denying both Jake and you the most precious thing ever?"

"What?"

"Love."

She snorts. "You don't love me."

"Why don't I—why couldn't I?"

"Because…because…I don't know! All I do know is that I can't work here anymore."

"Deoring, you're essential to this company, and I promise that when you're on the clock, I'll adhere to our work roles. But don't run from me—from us. You think I couldn't love you because you're still learning to love yourself, but you're wrong."

Wyn trembles when I back her into the wall. I cup her face, staring into her eyes.

She licks her lips, and all I want is to kiss her senseless.

"It won't work out," Wyn whispers.

"Bullshit. Your mind is steel. It doesn't bend. If you decide to make this work, it will—just as if you decide it doesn't, it won't."

"But what about our jobs?"

"We'll set boundaries. You're all about the rules."

"And you're all about breaking them!"

"Guilty as charged, but you'll keep me in line, won't you?"

"This isn't a game. If this blows up in our faces, you have money to make your problems vanish."

"I said this before, and I'll say it again—I'm just as accountable as anyone at this company, regardless if I'm the CEO and owner. If this ‘blows up in our faces' as you suggest, I will not let you take the brunt of it. I will take responsibility for my actions."

Wyn bites her lip. "Fine…we can try."

"Excellent," I purr, snatching up her two weeks' notice letter before vanishing it in a puff of smoke.

"How in the world—"

A playful smirk lifts the corners of my lips, and I wink.

"Magic—and don't ask. Neither a magician nor a Boggart ever reveals their secrets."

"I'll figure it out."

I snicker. "Good luck. Before you go, I do want you to know I've emailed the head of HR. Since I'm not your direct boss—the CAO is—we're still within company policy. I simply can't promote you to a position where I would be your direct superior."

Wyn sighs, running a hand through her braid.

"I suppose that was smart of you, even if I hate the idea of someone knowing."

"Don't worry. Toni is almost as professional as you. She won't breathe a word about us."

My sawolkeh rolls her eyes. "Well, considering how I let you make me come in the stairwell at work, I won't hold my breath about Toni's ‘professionalism'."

I pinch her chin. "Smart alec. I prefer it when you're my good girl."

Wyn's cheeks darken.

"Not at work!" she hisses while the scent of her need perfumes the air.

"Later?"

My tone is wistful—desperate, even.

"Maybe."

With this, she slips out of my office, shutting the door behind her, and I sigh.

Maybe isn't much, but it's enough to give me hope.