The soft chirping of the birds filtered through the floor-length windows as Ian headed down the hallway to step into the guest room where Diana had spent the night.
She was sprawled across the bed, sound asleep, the duvet barely covering her. Her long, dark brown hair was tousled like a halo around her face.
Ian walked over and kept aside the bouquet of roses he'd brought on the glass table near the bed.
His gaze tilted as he crouched down and he reached his gloved finger, pushing off the few strands of hair off her face.
Maybe she was dreaming, he wasn't sure, but her lips twitched into a smile.
He cocked a brow of surprise.
She was actually smiling.
He had never seen her smile before, at least not at him, and for the longest time, he'd assumed her smile must've been ugly—why else hide it so stubbornly?
But it wasn't. Not at all.
Diana's smile was beautiful. The two deep dimples. So painfully beautiful, it made his chest ache for no reason.
Her smile faded quickly and she writhed on the bed, fingers scratching against her scalp. She never woke up though.
Ian's gaze drifted downward to her neck. The spot near her ear, her mating gland, was visible, begging for him to bite and he was almost giving in.
His gums tingled like they'd never done before and for a second, he'd lost control of his canines which extended without warning, sharp and jade-white.
He swiped his tongue across the tips and swallowed hard.
One mark. Just one.
She was his, stolen, and married to another man. And the longer she stayed unmarked, the more it drove his wolf mad.
She didn't even have his scent because he never got to scent her and there were others like him, alphas, hidden among humans. The possibility was low, but what if someone took her from him? He'd already had to deal with the bastard Stefanos and—
"What…are you doing here?" Diana's voice was a soft scratch as she pushed herself up on the bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Ian retracted his canines and grabbed the bouquet. "Here, it's for you."
She blinked at the flowers, brows lifted at the gesture.
"The florist told me that morning roses bloom only for beautiful people," he said with a charming smile. "So I figured I'd get them for you, because well…"
"I don't like roses," Diana deadpanned flatly.
"Oh."
Ian looked at the roses, blinking.
"Well, I thought they'd suit you well. Tell me, what do you like?"
She ran her fingers through her hair.
"Mr. Basti, have you lost it?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure." He shrugged.
Her exasperated sigh rolled off her. "First of all, I don't want your roses—"
"Then tell me what you like."
"—or any flowers for that matter," she completed. "And, aren't you going to work? What are you doing here?"
Ian leaned in, bringing his lips dangerously close to the corner of hers as he whispered, "I can always work from home."
"You are crazy," she snapped.
His chuckle was low and rich.
"Did you have a good night's sleep?"
He rose to his feet, hands falling to the pocket of his slacks.
"None of your business. But if you must know, yes, I suppose I did and I have you to thank for that. So, thank you." Diana settled her feet on the floor and walked over to slip into her shoes.
"Now, where are you going?" Ian asked.
"Home," she said. "Spending a single night in your house is already enough. I have to go."
"But you don't have anywhere to go."
Her head snapped up. "How would you know that?"
"If you did, you wouldn't have stayed the night here."
Diana didn't disagree. "I'm grateful I didn't spend last night in the rain because of you, Ian. But I have to leave now."
Ian frowned. He'd been curious why she'd been under the rain like some stray cat and had to find out through Harlow that her father had frozen everything she owned.
Her credit card or even her house, she had no access to them.
But Diana would never admit that. Not to him.
"I know you don't have anywhere to go, Diana. And I won't ask you to go."
She shot him a look. "I don't need you to ask me to go. I want to go."
"Fine." He stepped into her space in seconds. "But like that?"
She looked down at the oversized sweatshirt drowning her frame. It obviously belonged to him because it smelt everything like him.
"I don't think anyone is going to be happy to see you home in my clothes."
She swallowed.
"So won't you stay?"
Her jaw tightened. "Give my clothes to me, Basti, I'm sure they're dry now. Don't make me ask a second time."
She shoved past him towards the door but paused.
"One more thing." Her voice was sharp. "Stop getting too close to me, Mr. Basti. In case you've forgotten, I am married. I have a husband."
Ian froze.
His gaze turned to steel, fists clenched inside his pocket at the sound of that word 'husband.' But he didn't say a word.
"Whatever you're thinking, it is never going to happen," she added. "Ever."
Diana stepped out to leave, only to halt as her phone vibrated suddenly with a message.
Dad:[Come to my restaurant. We have a meeting with Stefanos Rassi and a lot of talking to do]
Her brows furrowed. What meeting? What talk?
"What is it?" Ian's voice came behind her, and she spun, bumping right into his chest.
He stared down at her.
"It has nothing to do with you," she responded.
He grasped her wrist and peeled the phone off her palm. She tried to reach for it, but his height was an advantage.
"Give it back."
Ian took a look at the message and handed the phone back to her.
"Let me help you," he said.
"I don't want your help. I just need to leave."
Diana went back into the room for any of her stuff she might have forgotten. Ian, however, pulled her back, slamming her back into his solid frame.
She tried to wiggle out of his grip. "Ian, if you don't let me go, so help me, I swear…"
"What?" His fingers cupped her jaw, craning her head back to stare into her eyes. "What is with you and your stubbornness? I mean I don't exactly mind it, but fuck, can it get irritating sometimes."
"Stop cursing," she scolded.
"Oh now, I can't curse?"
"Yes."
"You little…" He took a deep breath. "Would it be so hard to shove down your pride for once and let me help you?"
"P-pride?"
She grabbed at his hand on her chin.
"This has nothing to do with pride. It's family…stuff. A-and I'm not going to involve a stranger. I'll solve it myself. What's so hard to understand there?"
Ian's jaw ticked at the word 'stranger' and he released her.
"Fine then, you rocked-headed little shit. Be my guest!"
"You're cursing again."
"Oh, fuck it. Fuck fuckery fuck!" He stormed off, hands in his pocket.
She was confused. "What are you even mad about? I don't understand. Why do you—"
"I said, be my guest. The exit is all yours."
He didn't look back once as he stalked off.
Rejecting his mate was officially on. This human was going to drive him out of his mind!"