Page 7 of Creed

He looks pleased by my interest—though it isn’t exactly for the reason why we’re all here. “Sophie Demeanus. She’s a freshman but hasn’t declared a major yet. Exceptionally bright, as all our students are at the Knauss School of Business,” he adds quickly with a chuckle.

I’m about to excuse myself to hunt down Sophie Demeanus, but three people join us, and I politely smile as Dean Barlowe introduces us. I promptly forget their names.

“You specialize in real estate, right?” one guy asks.

“It’s a piece of what we do," I answer. "Construction was where we initially had a foothold and entrepreneurship with restaurants, clubs, and hotels. But yes, real estate is something I’ve been developing more aggressively over the past few years. You can never go wrong with investing in real estate and being the owner of the buildings.”

“That’s the gift that keeps on giving, right?” one of the others jokes.

I laugh at the appropriate times, nod, and half-ass answer their questions while I do quick scans, looking for my angel. My scanning goes unnoticed as this is an awareness skill I learned at a very young age to always be aware of my surroundings forpotential threats to me or my family. I might not be an active member in the criminal parts of our family, but I have all the skills. It’s surprising how often I use those skills in my non-mafia corporate work world, which has as many sharks, vipers, and wolves as in the criminal underworld.

My scanning and attention pay off, and I spot Sophie across the room.

Possessive anger shudders through me when I see her put her hand briefly on another man’s arm. He looks like a fellow student—he’s a bit older, maybe a sophomore or junior, and is blonde with a nice suit that fits well over a build that skews more to the athletic lean side of muscular. She says something to him, making the guy laugh, and then they flit away from each other. He mingles well with others as he circulates the room, whereas Sophie looks less inclined to.

That works just fine for me. I’m a bit of a lone wolf myself.

Finishing my bourbon, I decide its time to meet Sophie Demeanus officially, and I excuse myself from the dean and the others.

A tingle trills up my spine as I approach Sophie. I’m not sure if it’s a hunter’s instinct narrowing in on his prey or something entirely different. I’m not going to question it, though. Not when instincts this strong are catapulting me toward a woman unlike any other I’ve previously had.

I know I’m about to jump into unchartered waters, but it doesn’t matter or make me hesitate. Even with my hands and feet bound, I’d still jump if it meant I got her.

Chapter 3

Sophie

I knew I shouldn’thave come tonight. Socializing isnotmy favorite thing, especially with stuffy suits. Which is ridiculous, I know, because, duh, I’m enrolled in business school.

But then I ran intohim, and the world just stopped—the rest of it fell away as my eyes locked with his.

In those minutes of being in his gaze, I felt stripped bare and exposed, but I felt no vulnerability or hesitation.

And dear lord, the lust that roared through me was…Shocking.

I had never had a one-night stand before. I wasn’t even all that sexually experienced, but standing in front of him, staring up at his tall, broad body and stunning face and eyes, I wanted to climb him like a tree.

When the dean had distracted him from pulling me further into sin and mayhem with that piercing icy-blue gaze, I regained control over my raging hormones and got the hell out of there.

That guy screamed danger. Not the kind where I worried about my physical safety, but rather the safety of my pulsing core. He was sin on legs, that much I knew for sure. And I was here, in San Diego, for one purpose—my family. I didn’t need any distractions from my goal.

So, I slipped into the crowd even though my body wanted to fight me every step of the way. But it was the right move because each step away from him allowed my head to regain control to rule my decisions rather than my lust and hormones.

I chatted with Zac and a few other classmates, but I had little interest in talking with any of the industry leaders present tonight, even though I knew that was specifically the reason I had dragged myself here.

Sighing, I stiffen my spine with resolve.Have two conversations, then I can leave.

With that decided, I scan the room for Audrey and Luc Augustin, successful investors and philanthropists. I would love to talk about the organization they support, which helps women and children flee domestic violence. As I look for them, my skin tingles, and a shiver runs down my spine as if fingers have trailed its length in a caress.

I turn. And instantly, I’m caught like a rabbit ensnared in the wolf’s gaze. Warning bells clang in my head.

Oh God, he’s coming for me.Looking ready toconsumeme.

Rather than flee like my brain is warning me to do, my hormones and lust gleefully jump into the decision-making seat to take control, shoving logic and self-preservation aside.

Holy hell, my body hums, each pulse synchronized with his every step toward me, like the rhythm of a dark, forbidden dance.

He stalks with intent toward me, his beautiful eyes hard and hot on me. I’m trapped, waiting for this man to devour me whole.Wantingthis man to devour me whole.

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