My optimism did not win out. The beautiful day I'd intended to have was soured by Tandan storming into the office a few hours after Angelica and I. He didn't so much as glance in my direction, and I half expected Lorrie to come rushing in after him again. I wondered what she saw in him.
Aside from the fact that he was easy on the eyes, I still didn't know much about him. I knew he was intelligent and business savvy, mostly through things he had done and gone through to make his real estate firm succeed. Angelica adored him. I still wasn't sure if she knew about his other side, but considering she hadn't been surprised about his growling tantrum last Friday, I assumed she had to know something.
Nevertheless, I had pushed my dreaded mate from my mind and tried to work through the day without thinking of him, even though his scent lingered on everything everywhere in this office. The heat came, too, as it always did. Sweltering and painful, wrenching my guts. I wondered why males didn't have to suffer this too. It seemed unfair.
Shortly after lunch, Angelica came up to my desk to check on me. I had been talking with some of our clients who were waiting on Tandan to take them for a tour. We were making small talk about the town, and they were telling me about places to go, as they had lived here much longer.
"Lee, may I speak with you for a moment?" she politely asked.
"Sure." Turning back to our clients with a smile, I told them, "Excuse me for one moment, please."
We stepped into the conference room we never used down the hall, but Angelica didn't bother to close the door. I held my hands in front of me and smiled, waiting for her to explain.
"I can see you're getting on with our clients really well," she said. "Mr. Coulter is running behind today, so would you mind taking Mr. and Mrs. Melody to see the house?"
My smile fell. "W-What?" I stammered with a blush. Then, realizing my unprofessionalism, I cleared my throat and lifted my chin. "Of course, Angelica. I...um, I just have to unlock it and let them walk around?"
Her own lips curled up as she replied, "Yes. Don't be nervous, Lee. They already like you, and the house is a steal. You'll just have to wait for them to walk around and fall in love."
"Okay." I smiled again, even though I was nervous about this.
The most I had done was schedule appointments and file papers. Actually visiting a house and spending more time with our clients felt like a tremendous leap. Then again, it was more action and I wouldn't be trapped in this office with my mate's scent.
After she gave me the keys to the house and her minivan, I explained to the lovely elderly couple that I would be taking them. I used the navigation system on my phone to locate the address and we set off towards their hopeful future home. We pulled up outside a two-story Spanish gable with a red and brown tiled roof, dark brown doors, and a surplus of double windows. Flowers and vines crawled up the sides of the creamy stucco walls in romantic twists and knots. It elicited a feeling within me that spawned my heat.
Clenching my teeth, I parked the van and stumbled out to help the couple. They were sprier than me by this point. The stabbing in my abdomen only seemed to increase as I led them up to the wide, arched front door. I wondered if somehow the beauty of this house was making my heat worse, or if it was the idea of being here with Tandan that was doing it.
The inside, as we found out, was just as magnificent. Tan tiled floors and rustic brown accents marked every room. The Melodys had wandered off to study the house while I stared around in awe. This house was perfect. Every room was spacious and every detail was ornate, the entire house planned to a tee. My mind ran away with itself, picturing little blonde girls or little brunette boys scuttling around with baby dolls and trucks. I felt the distinct yearning to have little pups.
Then a voice, deep and sensual, broke me from my dreams.
"I thought I was giving them a tour," he grumbled, knowing I could hear.
I spun around to face Tandan. His broad torso was dressed in a white button-up and black sports coat. He stood in the threshold of the kitchen with his hands clasped behind his back, dark eyes taking in every inch of my body. The heat rolled up through me, and I found myself backing away, clutching my stomach.
He reached me as I backed into one of the counters. Before I could stop him, or even think about it, his gentle hands were gripping my shoulders.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I looked up into his face and felt the primal stir. His lips were deep red and swollen. The thought of him kissing someone else made a growl roll out of me. Gasping, I cupped a hand over my mouth.
"The clients," I groaned.
"I'll take care of them," he said, voice breathy and low. "Just stay here, okay?"
Nodding, I slumped down against the cabinets. My canine senses always seemed enhanced with Tandan around, so I was able to listen to his conversation with the clients. He sounded so smooth, so confident. Each of their questions was answered with a certain response, and it only boosted their affections for him. I felt a spasm in my lower region and let out a low moan.
In spite of my heavily thumping heart, I heard him curse under his breath. It made me smirk. He was struggling, too, perhaps? Their conversation sounded rushed after that. He told them that Angelica was waiting for them in the car outside, that I was unable to take them back to the office.
Angelica was here? Why would they leave the office unattended? I pressed my lips into a frown. She must have changed her mind about letting me do this. She somehow, with her all-knowing wisdom, knew I would screw things up. Stupid heat. As if just to spite me, my muscles seized tightly. The moan this time sounded strangled, hurt.
In a blink, Tandan was crouched down beside me. I glanced up at him through squinted eyes and scowled at how swollen his lips still were. Lorrie must have really been having her way with him this morning. My throat rumbled with a snarl that I weakly contained. Tandan backed off a little, thinking I was growling at him.
"Should I take you to the hospital?" His face held genuine concern, and I thought he might actually care for me if only just a tiny smidgen.
"No," I hissed. "I want..."
Even though there was more to the sentence, I had to stop. I couldn't keep going. I would only hurt us both and Lorrie if I did. The only thing keeping me from jumping on top of him right this instant was her face and knowing I would want the same respect if I was in her shoes.
"You want what?" he asked, the concerned look giving way to hunger. His fingers twitched.
"Nothing," I groaned. "I need to get out of here."
"Let me help you." Tandan was swiftly pulling me up to my feet by the waist with zero warning.
His unexpected touch made me whimper. I wanted him so badly. This was more than lust, though that certainly had to be part of it. I wanted more than to conquer his body—I wanted his heart and soul, too. Not to slay, but to hold and protect.
Our bodies were pressed flush as he steadied me against the counter. I dug my fingers into the granite countertop to ground myself, to keep myself from grabbing his collar and sucking on his lips. Even after I was steady, though, his body remained against mine. I heard my own gasp at feeling his erection on my lower abdomen.
"Lee," he whispered, voice tight while he planted his hands on either side of me. "I can end this heat for you. If you want me to."
My first impulse was to cry yes so loudly that my vocal cords ripped. I was so close to doing it too, but that sliver of a conscience left in me displayed Lorrie's damn gorgeous face. Jealousy tore its way up into my heart, making my core swell larger, harder.
"Lorrie," I growled out, feeling the shifting ache of my bones. It had been years since I'd shifted. The impulse hadn't come upon in nearly just as long.
He responded with his own growl, much deeper and fiercer. I felt my hands move to his chest on their own accord, move over his expansive chest and shoulders. What was I doing? I needed to push him away.
"We can't—" I started weakly, knowing my self-control was rapidly dwindling.
The words were sucked from my lungs as Tandan latched his mouth to mine. When I remained still for a moment, shocked, he growled again.
"Do you want me?" he demanded.
"I..." My eyes were trained on his brewing black orbs, which made it hard to breathe and think. "Yes."
And it all went downhill from there.