Chapter 165
Cecilia’s pov
The text message hovered in my notification bar, deceptively casual: *Don’t want to come upstairs? I can bring it down to you p>
My heart suspended in mid-beat as I stared at those words.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally typed back: *Already ate. On my way to the office p>
I sent it and immediately tossed my phone aside, as if it might burn my fingers.
The summer sun blazed mercilessly even in the early morning, scorching my face until I could barely keep my eyes open.
My head felt foggy, my breathing shallow… Moon Goddess, I hated this feeling.
Hated it. *Hated* it.
Squinting against the light that threatened to bring tears to my eyes, I reached a breaking point in that strange, floaty moment of emptiness.
With one swift movement, I yanked down the sun visor, my expression carefully controlled as I started the car.
I refused to be held hostage by my emotions.
By anyone.
When I arrived at the office, it took less than thirty minutes before Sebastian and Beta Sawyer showed up too.
I grabbed my laptop and walked out to greet them, trying to appear casual and professional.
“Where are you off to, Ms. Moore?” Sebastian’s eyes flicked to my computer before returning to my face, his gaze lingering a beat too long.
“Heading to a department meeting with the secretarial staff,” I replied with practiced smoothness. ” Call if you need me, Alpha p>
I immediately shifted my attention to Sawyer, deliberately avoiding Sebastian’s intense stare. ” I might be down there for a while today. Sorry for the inconvenience p>
“It’s… fine,” Beta Sawyer replied, looking slightly uncomfortable.
The exchange should have ended there, but Sebastian remained rooted to the spot, forcing the three of us into an awkward standoff.
I felt myself growing increasingly tense under his scrutiny. Those eyes seemed determined to strip away my defenses layer by layer.
“If there’s nothing else, Alpha, I should get going,” I said, unable to bear his penetrating gaze any longer.
I walked away with deliberately measured steps, fighting the urge to run.
After yesterday’s behavior, who wouldn’t be wary?
My evasion was as much a gentle rejection as it was self-preservation.
By noon, I was having lunch with a few coworkers from my department – nothing fancy, just a cozy bistro a few blocks from the office.
The kind of place that served overpriced salads and called fries ” frites” to justify the markup.
We were just about to grab our coats when my phone buzzed.
Sebastian.
Great.
I gave my colleagues a tight, apologetic smile and held up the screen like a hall pass.
“Sorry, guys. It’s the Alpha. I’ve gotta take this p>
Instantly, they perked up like teenagers spotting a celebrity in the wild. Brows lifted. Elbows nudged. Someone actually squealed.
I stepped a few feet away to answer before they could start placing bets on whether we were secretly dating.
“Yes, Alpha?” I said, trying to sound professional and not like my stomach had just flipped.
“That place makes great butternut squash soup,” came his voice, cool and clipped, like he was reading a grocery list. “Bring me some p>
“And make it quick. I’m starving p>
“Understood p>
Click.
I stared at my phone for half a second, then turned around and walked straight into a wall of grinning coworkers.
I cleared my throat. ” Alpha, uh… wants me to bring him lunch. You guys go ahead p>
Eventually, they left and I stayed behind to collect the damn soup.
Back in the office, I dropped the takeout bags on the breakroom table with a dull thud.
My heels clicked toward Sebastian’s office. I paused outside that imposing door for a few heavy seconds before I finally knocked.
He was still working, of course.
No lunch meeting today – usually Beta Sawyer handled his meals, knowing his preferences inside out.
Sending me was just another one of his fucking power plays.
“Your lunch is here,” I said, voice tighter than I intended. “You should eat before it gets cold p>
Sebastian closed his laptop and rose, his presence immediately swallowing the room.
I moved to open the door for him, my fingers inches from the handle, when his arm snaked around my waist and yanked me backward.
I stumbled against that solid chest, all heat and hard muscle, his towering frame pressing me into the door.
The hand on my hip spun me around like I weighed nothing.
His scent – clean, masculine – flooded my senses.
Our faces were inches apart. Our breaths tangled.
I turned my head away, trying to sound unaffected. “You should eat. It’s getting cold p>
He leaned in, voice low and razor-sharp against my ear. “Convenient, isn’t it? Since it already went cold once – this morning. Waiting for you p>
My breath caught.
Oh. So we were talking about that now.
I turned my head away, trying to sound unaffected. “You should eat. It’s getting cold p>
I pushed lightly against his chest, trying for space and failing. ” I told you – I had already eaten p>
“And I never said I was coming,” I added, a little softer. ” You didn’t have to cook p>
“I didn’t cook for myself p>
That shut me up for a full second. His tone wasn’t angry. It was worse – disappointed.
I swallowed hard. “Look, there are plenty of people who’d jump at the chance to bring you breakfast – or anything else. You don’t need to get hung up on one no-show p>
He didn’t answer.
He kissed me.
Hard.
His hand cupped the nape of my neck, tilting my head back as his mouth claimed mine.
This wasn’t gentle. It was hungry, almost violent, his tongue plunging deep like he wanted to devour me.
I could barely breathe, my lips going numb, my whole body trembling.
I pinched his side. Hard. Or tried to – the bastard was built like a brick wall.
My fingers did nothing but ache.
Meanwhile, his palm slid down to my ass, gripping and kneading until my knees turned to water.
Heat pooled low in my belly, a wet, aching throb starting between my legs.
Fuck. My resistance melted away, and I let him take what he wanted.
When the kiss finally gentled, his lips still hovered over mine.
“See?” he rasped, breath ragged. ” Sampling me lightly… isn’t fucking enough p>
Then his mouth was on me again, swallowing my gasp, his tongue exploring every corner – deep and rough, then soft and teasing, like he was determined to learn me by taste alone.
By the time he released me, I was dizzy and weak, clinging to him just to stay upright.
I felt like he’d dragged me into the ocean depths, showed me some breathtaking wonder, then deprived me of air until I forgot my own name.
His arms stayed loosely around me, his mood visibly improved.
He rubbed my back in slow, apologetic circles. “Do you need to lie down in the restroom p>
“My lunch break is over,” I snapped, shoving away from him.
I slipped out of his grasp and bolted like a scalded cat, my heart hammering against my ribs.