Free Obsession by Bonnie Vanak Page B

boy. She couldn’t look him in the eye. “Maybe.”
    A firm hand upon her chin, lifting her to meet his dark gaze. Raphael’s eyes were liquid onyx, dark, fathomless. A girl could fall into that gaze and drown there, awash in sexual pleasure.
    “Tell me the truth, little Red. Was I pleasuring you with my mouth?”
    Holy hellfire. Jessica blinked, unable to maintain eye contact beneath that impervious gaze that scorched like fire, threatened to burn like fire through her veins. She managed a nod.
    Dropping his hand, Raphael muttered a quiet curse. She rubbed her mouth. His gaze glittered with desire. “You would taste delicious. More succulent than peach juice. I remember…how you ate the fruit during your last visit.”
    Jessica swallowed hard. She remembered how he’d stared at her as if he’d wanted to be the peach, as her tongue glided over the sweet flesh…
    “Then why the cursing?”
    Raphael gave her a long, thoughtful look. “Because I had the exact same dream last night. On my knees, as you lay upon the bed, your legs open wide. We shared each other’s sleep, it appears.”
    “I can’t believe it.”
    “It happens to Lupines who are mated, and rarely, to those who are not, but are destined to pair because of the intense sexual chemistry between them.”
    Jessica’s jaw dropped as her heart pounded. Surely he jested. But then she realized he was serious. Heat flushed her cheeks. They did share a strong chemistry, but that strong? She tried to think of something sophisticated answer, but all that came out of her mouth was a stammer. “O-oh…wow.”
    Great Jess, how to act worldly…
    “Yes. Wow.” His mouth quirked slightly. “It is nature’s way of ensuring the species survives, by infusing the pair with such sexual desire, they will do anything to mate. And the mating produces babies.”
    Babies. With Raphael. A family of her own, never again feeling left out or like a freak because of her unknown origins. He’d made beautiful babies. Their children, growing up in a big house, with lots of laughter and love, hugs and kisses. She felt all warm and soft, thinking of the future.
    Then she glanced up at him and the dream crashed down. Raphael was urbane, charming and mysterious, and worldly. Her destiny lay elsewhere. And he was an alpha, and alphas never wanted Lupines with unknown DNA as mates. Her alpha’s words about her origins came back to haunt her: The alphas fear what kind of offspring you’d produce.
    Silly of her to dream, either of oral sex or a real life with him. Jessica pasted on a bright smile. “Huh. Sounds like an urban legend, the type you’d find on social media that gets passed around until people believe it’s true.”
    Raphael blinked and seemed to recover. He held out the case. “J.J. told me you need a laptop. He is giving you this one as a gift.”
    Familiar shame filled her. She waved a hand. “I don’t want it. I hate taking charity. I just need to borrow one, that’s all. Is that too much to ask?!”
    He studied her expression. “Then borrow this one from J.J.”
    Jessica chewed her lower lip, watched his eyes darken. “I don’t want to borrow anything from him, or Alexa. It’s just…”
    Helpless, she gave a deep sigh. How could someone like Raphael understand?
    “A matter of pride.” Something flickered in his eyes, as if a distant memory haunted him. “You don’t want to be in debt to another, even a good friend.”
    Stunned, she nodded. “You sound like you’re familiar with the concept.”
    “I am. It has to do with J.J.”
    Another glimpse into this mysterious wolf. “You owe him something? What?”
    “Yes. Perhaps I will tell you, one day.” He lowered his hand. “Very well. You can use one of mine while you are here. It’s not charity, but a loan.”
    She gave him a dubious look. “Is it powerful enough?”
    Another crooked grin. “Good gaming computer. 8GB of dedicated memory, 16GB of system RAM, a 256GB SSD boot drive, and 1TB