Page 12 of Mysterious Mate

Deciding to push him just a bit further, she whirled around on the lounge so she could face him, “You know, Weston," she began, her tone light and teasing, "you're very un-butler-like."

He paused momentarily, so quick that had she not been looking directly at him, she might have missed it. But without missing a beat, he went back to his studied nonchalance. “Is that so, Ms. Carlyle?" His voice was calm, collected.

"Yes, it is." She took another sip of her mimosa, savoring the warmth that spread through her veins. "It's almost scary. Sometimes, I wonder if you're really here to kill me." She laughed, the sound brittle even to her own ears. It was a ridiculous suggestion, of course, but she couldn't deny the thrill that the thought sent through her.

Weston turned to face her, his expression inscrutable. "That's quite an imagination you have."

Willow shrugged, trying to appear blasé despite the rapid beating of her heart. "Maybe. But you have to admit, you're a bit mysterious."

He didn't respond, but raised his gaze and trained it on her. The silence stretched between them, taut and electric.

"So, tell me," she continued, her voice dropping to a near whisper, "are you attracted to me at all?"

The question hung in the air, charged and provocative. Weston's eyes darkened, but his expression remained impassive. "I don't think that's an appropriate question, Ms. Carlyle, and I’ll thank you to keep your curiosity and those kinds of questions to yourself."

"I think it’s a very appropriate question. Another interesting question is why do you consider it inappropriate?" She leaned forward, offering him what she hoped was a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage. "You're always so composed, so in control. It makes me wonder what it would take to break that calm."

Weston's jaw clenched, and she could see the conflict in his eyes. He was a fortress, walls high and impenetrable, but she was determined to find a way in.

"You should probably get out of the sun," he said finally, his voice low and firm. "You’ll burn."

Willow smiled, a slow, knowing smile. "Whatever you say, Weston." She stood and walked away, feeling his gaze on her back, every step a deliberate sway of her hips.

As she went inside and climbed the stairs to her room, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd struck a nerve. The idea of Weston as a dangerous, enigmatic figure was curiously arousing. The tension between them was a live wire, crackling with possibilities.

Later today or maybe tomorrow, she thought, her lips curving into a wicked smile. Yeah, that was the ticket. She’d give him a little time to stew and then see just how far she could push him.

As she reached her room, she realized there had been a time fear had outweighed arousal. That was no longer the case.

She was breaking free, and it felt good.

To break the silence and the tension, Willow called down to speak to him. "I’m bored, Weston. See if you can find something for me to do today, will you?" she asked, her voice a touch too bright, too casual.

She wasn’t sure, but she was fairly sure she’d heard him sigh. "Of course, Ms. Carlyle. I can show you the media room after lunch. Perhaps you can find a film you might like to watch."

Willow grinned. Yep, she was definitely starting to get to him. She walked over to the mini fridge she’d had them install in her room and removed a can of diet coke. She took a sip, feeling the cool liquid slide down her throat. As she watched Weston from her bedroom window, she couldn't help but wonder about the man behind the suit, the man who carried himself with the grace and precision of a royal butler but hinted at something far more dangerous and intriguing.

She wondered if he might try something all alone in the dark? With the darkness to shroud his movements, would he try to strangle her, or would those strong hands wrap around her, fisting her hair and pulling her close so he could ravage her in the best way possible?

God, she was really starting to lose it.

CHAPTER 7

CAGE

Cage sat on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his dark hair as he tried to push away thoughts of Willow. It had been a long day, filled with her presence at every turn. He would have liked nothing more than to be honest with her, but in order to keep her safe, he had to focus on that and not on how much he wanted to sink his cock into her. Her laughter echoed in his mind, her teasing smile refusing to leave his thoughts. The image of her pleasuring herself when she thought no one was watching seemed imprinted on his brain. She had a way of getting under his skin, of making him feel things he wasn't ready to take action on. After all, she was human, and he was a bear.

He stood up abruptly, feeling the need to cool down. A cold shower should do the trick. Striding to the bathroom, he turned on the water and let it run until it was ice-cold. The chill of the water should help him clear his head and focus on something other than the maddening effect she had on him.

Stripping off his clothes, Cage stepped into the shower, the cold water hitting his skin like a shock. He closed his eyes, trying to let the freezing temperature numb his thoughts. But even the icy water couldn't wash away the frustration building inside him. It was as if she was in the room with him, her presence inescapable.

Willow had become a challenge, a puzzle he couldn't solve. She wasn’t the pampered princess or bored, idle wife he thought they’d taken under their protection. She was infuriatingly independent, strong-willed, and completely unpredictable. He admired those qualities, but they also drove him nuts. Today, she had pushed him to his limit, her playful jabs and flirtatious glances making it impossible for him to concentrate. And the scene he’d watched—she was lucky he hadn’t claimed her then and there. He’d discovered her early on, and it had taken every ounce of his iron will to just stand idle and watch.

Cage clenched his fists, the water pounding against his back. He couldn't afford to be distracted, especially not now. He had responsibilities, things that needed his full attention. Yet every time he thought he had a handle on his emotions, Willow would do something to throw him off balance again. The team that had been training here before she had arrived were scheduled to depart today, but there was a new team coming in right behind them.

With a growl of frustration, Cage turned off the shower and stepped out, grabbing a towel to dry off. The cold had done little to cool his temper or his rising lust. His mind still raced with thoughts of her. He knew he needed to find a way to deal with this, to keep his emotions in check. But how could he do that when she seemed to take such delight in driving him to the edge?

Wrapping the towel around his waist, Cage walked back into his room, feeling no more at ease than before. He needed to get a grip, to find a way to keep Willow from affecting him so deeply. But as he lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, he knew it was easier said than done. Willow was like a storm, impossible to predict and even harder to resist. And deep down, Cage wasn't sure he wanted to resist her at all.

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