Ryan’s POV
The second Aurora’s hand accidentally brushed against me, my whole body tensed. She had no idea what she’d done, what she’d awakened in me. The warmth of her touch lingered like a spark, igniting something deep inside me. I wanted her. Not just to hold or kiss her, but to claim her, to mark her as mine in every way possible.
But I knew I had to wait. Patience wasn’t my strong suit, especially not with her so close, her scent teasing me, her soft blush making me want to devour her. She didn’t know it yet, but soon enough, she would be mine. Completely.
I held her hand through the rest of the flight, not caring if it was too much or too obvious. I didn’t let go, even when we ate. Her small hand in mine felt so natural, as if it had always belonged there. She didn’t pull away, and I could tell she felt safe. That thought made my chest tighten in the best way.
The flight wasn’t long, just two hours. When we landed, I guided her to the door of the jet. I couldn’t stop looking at her. She was stunning, even in the simplest outfit. Her beauty wasn’t just in how she looked, but in the way she carried herself. Innocent and unknowing, yet graceful.
As we stepped onto the tarmac, she took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling in a way that caught my attention. It was loud enough for me to hear, so I asked, “Are you okay?”
She turned to me, her eyes sparkling. “Yes, I’m okay. It’s just… being in the air, it felt surreal.”
I smiled at her, not sure how to respond. Words often failed me when it came to her. She had a way of making me feel things I couldn’t put into words.
I nodded toward the driver waiting for us. “He’ll take our luggage to the suit. Another car is ready to take us to the company.”
Aurora looked at me and nodded. “Okay,” she said softly.
We got into the car, and as it started moving, I glanced at her again. She was staring out the window, her lips slightly parted, a look of awe on her face.
“Is this your first time traveling for work?” I asked, breaking the silence.
She turned to me, her cheeks flushing. “Yes. I’ve never been anywhere like this before.”
I leaned back, watching her. “You’ll get used to it,” I said, though part of me hoped she wouldn’t. I liked seeing her amazed, seeing her take in everything as if it was brand new. It made me want to give her the world, just to see her reaction.
When we reached the company, I helped her out of the car. Her hand in mine felt so small, so delicate. I didn’t want to let go, but I had to remind myself that this was work.
Inside, the meeting room was already filling with people. Tomorrow was the big day, but today was just about making sure everyone was here and ready. As we walked into the room, I kept her close by, introducing her as my personal assistant.
I could feel the stares from some of the men in the room, their eyes lingering on her for too long. It made my jaw clench, but I forced myself to stay calm.
Soon, Aurora would have no doubts. Soon, everyone would know she belonged to me.
As we entered the meeting room, every single person stood, one by one, to greet me. Their voices echoed with respect, and I could feel Aurora’s curious gaze on me. She looked amazed, her eyes wide and searching as if trying to figure out why they were all acting like this. She should be amazed. After all, I wasn’t just anyone, I was a high ranked billionaire, not just the Alpha of some wolves present at the meeting. Though, of course, she didn’t know that yet.
I smirked inwardly at the thought and made it a point to introduce Aurora to everyone. They couldn’t possibly greet me and ignore her. My little one deserved to be acknowledged. She looked slightly overwhelmed by all the attention, but she didn’t falter. She was strong, even if she didn’t realize it yet.
The meeting began with introductions. Naturally, I was introduced first. It was only right. Then the head of the board stood and apologized for the last-minute changes to the schedule, extending the trip by two more days. I didn’t mind; more time with Aurora wasn’t exactly a punishment.
While the meeting progressed, Aurora sat beside me, scribbling notes in her little notepad. I watched her out of the corner of my eye, curiosity prickling at me. What was she writing? Was she trying to remember every face and name in the room? She didn’t need to, not under my care, there was no reason for her to keep track of these things.
Draven stirred in my mind, his deep voice laced with amusement. You’re the one losing control of yourself, thinking about her like that.
I ignored him, as always.
The meeting wrapped up faster than I expected, and everyone started leaving. I guided Aurora out, keeping her close as we headed to the car.
When we reached the suite, the receptionist greeted me, her tone dripping with something she probably thought was seductive. Her eyes lingered far too long, and I could feel Aurora tense beside me. I didn’t even bother acknowledging the receptionist’s behavior, it was beneath me.
When I asked the driver for the keys, he looked nervous. “The keys are with the receptionist, sir,” he said quickly.
I turned back, waiting for her to hand them over. She smiled too much, and finally handed me a single key.
“One room?” I asked, my voice calm but firm.
The receptionist hesitated, then replied, “Yes, sir. Only one room was booked, and unfortunately, all other rooms are fully occupied.”
Aurora’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait… I have to stay with him?” she asked, turning to the receptionist.
The woman shrugged, a fake look of regret plastered on her face. “I’m sorry, miss. Yes, you’ll have to share the room.”
I glanced at Aurora. She was staring at me, waiting for me to fix this. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.
I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. “Looks like we’ll have to share for now,” I said. “We’ll figure it out later.”
Aurora didn’t look happy or upset…. just blank. She was trying to process it all. I turned to the driver, who stood nervously to the side. “What happened?” I asked.
“Alpha, please forgive me-” he began, but I cut him off with a sharp look. Mind your tongue, I mindlinked him. Don’t call me Alpha in front of her.
His eyes widened in realization, but I continued. Still, thank you for this… mistake. I told him through the mindlink.
The driver bowed deeply before leaving us. Aurora watched the exchange but didn’t ask any questions.
I turned back to her. “Let’s go up to the suite.”
She nodded silently, and we headed for the elevator. I noticed how tense she became the moment the doors closed. Her breathing was steady, but her body was stiff, her shoulders tight.
“You need to relax,” I said, leaning slightly closer to her. “You’ve already seen me without clothes, haven’t you?”
Her cheeks turned the lightest shade of pink, and she quickly looked away. Her reaction made me smirk. I loved how easily she gave herself away.