Obsessions (5 page)

Reaching down she splashed cold water on her face,
feeling like she was going to pass out. She held onto the sink as she fell into
the chair. Grasping her head, London groaned as the pain filtered across her
face.

She didn’t know how long she was in the bathroom,
but the next thing she could feel was a cold rag being placed across her
forehead. London could hear the faint hum from the air conditioner. Then the
feeling that something was wrong made her open her eyes.

“What happened?” London slurred as she opened her
eyes to her grandmother rubbing her face with the cold rag. London looked
around and found Zoey was holding her hand.

“You passed out. I came to check on you when you
didn’t come out and I found you like this on the floor. I ran outside and got
your grandmother.” Zoey looked worried as she rubbed small circles across
London’s hand.

“Sorry.” London looked up into her grandmother’s
violet eyes.

“You don’t worry about that. I’m just glad you’re
okay. You gave me a scare.” Me-Len’s voice gentled, as she kissed her
granddaughter’s cheek. She put her hand over her heart showing how scared she
was.  London could feel her grandmother’s heart beating faster.  She felt worse
knowing that she was so worried about her.

“When was the last time you ate anything?” London
had never heard that voice before. It was a demanding voice, but one she wanted
to follow. She looked around until she found the source of the most delicious
voice she had ever heard.

“Who are you?” London looked the man up and down.
Walking closer, the best-looking man she had ever seen bent down beside her.

“London, this is my brother, Ryder Malone.”

The first thing she noticed was his blue eyes, but London
couldn’t stop staring at him. He was dangerously hot. Her body heated up as she
stared into his eyes. Looking up at him, she could tell that he was a tall man.
His black onyx hair matched his black suit. This man wasn’t just good looking
he was perfection on a stick, and one that she wanted to lick. He could probably
make a woman do anything he wanted with just a smile.

London could feel the power pouring off Ryder, and her
body tightened with anticipation when he continued to stare at her. She knew
immediately that if he asked her to take her clothes off she would do it in a
heartbeat, and that irritated her. She was not a wanton woman. Her face heated
as she tried to take her eyes off him. Looking around she realized she was
lying on the stinky floor. Now she was mortified.

London draped her arm over her eyes as she whispered
to herself.  “Oh my God, please just shoot me now.” Ryder laughed, but she
could still feel his eyes on her.

“Come on, honey, let’s get you off this floor so you
can change clothes and we can go eat. Maybe that will help you feel better.”
Me-Len responded, as she stood up and held her hand out to help London up, but
London moaned. Ryder reached down and grabbed her by the hands, pulling her to
her feet. A powerful shift happened when her hands touched his. The touch
stimulated every part of her body as he continued to hold her hands. When she
glanced up, his face was right in front of hers. She could feel his breath as
it blew across her face and he smelled divine. A musky smell she couldn’t even begin
to describe.

London backed off and he released her hand as she
inhaled his scent. She could have sworn that he sniffed her hair before she
moved back. His scent made her body go up in flames.
Now this was strange. 
I have reduced myself to sniffing my best friend’s brother and passing out on
bathroom floors. Why am I sniffing him? What next? 
She sneered to herself.

“Thank you for your help, Mr. Malone.”  London
flushed as she glanced up at him. He wasn’t smiling but he was staring at her.
His intense blue eyes penetrated right through her. She had the feeling the man
could see her soul as she stared back at him. His look was intense, and she
couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but guessed it was contempt by the way he
was staring.

“Come on big brother. Let London change.” Without
looking back at her, Zoey and Ryder walked out of the bathroom as she continued
to stare at the closed door they exited.

“London? Do you need some help sweetie?” She almost
forgot about her grandmother being in the bathroom with her. “No ma’am.  I’m
okay now. I’ll just be a minute.” London looked back and smiled at her
grandmother to reassure her that she was okay. She felt embarrassed at how she
was just staring at the bathroom door. Lord she felt like a teenager with her
first crush. At least that is how she felt at the moment. Looking away London
felt weak. Why did Ryder make her feel like this? She was always in control and
now she felt so out of control and meek.
Where the hell was that coming
from? He was just a man and a man that was off limits. No matter how much his
touch electrified her.

“Okay sweetheart. I will be right outside the door
if you need me.” London could see the concern on her grandmother’s face as she
walked out the door. Looking away from her grandmother, London reached down
into her bag and got out another dress.

Pulling off her dirty clothes, London hurried so she
could finish before someone else came into the bathroom. She couldn’t believe
that she passed out in the bathroom and Ryder Malone had to pick her up off the
nasty floor. Looking in the mirror, London asked, “Can this day get any worse?”

Chapter 7

Ryder checked his phone every few minutes waiting
for London to come out of the bathroom.
Damn where is she?
Ryder watched
his little sister talking with members of their pack. They were all proud of
Zoey. She was the first college graduate in their family.

Not a lot of members of his pack went to college,
but Ryder encouraged all the young pups to go. He even set pack funds aside
just for that reason. He had two more pack members in college now and they were
both making all A’s. Zoey had made all A’s and was highly sought after by
Fortune 500 Companies, but she would come home and open her own business. That
way he could protect her. He made a promise to his parents and he planned to
keep it.

His father taught him how to make money. He took
online courses and studied at night then managed it in the day when his father
was Alpha. They don’t teach that in school. It was OJT-on the job training-every
day for him and his best friends. All the times his father pushed and pushed
him had paid off. He was a multi-millionaire and within the next year, he would
be a billionaire. Nobody but his best friends and Zoey knew that he’d made
millions of dollars, making his pack one of the richest in the United States. They
had just as much money as he did. Ryder wondered what London would think if she
knew how much money he made.

“Why would she care dumb ass?” Ryder whispered to
himself, looking at his watch again.

Jena stared at him from across the room. He could
feel her eyes on him as he impatiently waited for London to come out. He let
her know time and time again that he didn’t want anything permanent with her.
She knew, but it didn’t stop her from trying. Who was he kidding? Ever since he
received the background information on London Grey, she became his obsession.

He could still smell London’s scent. Her scent was
cotton candy and it smelled wonderful to his wolf and him. It lingered on his
clothes and in his nose from when he helped her off the floor. Now he waited
along with the rest of the pack for a woman who meant the world to his sister.
There was so much swirling around in his head about London. He didn’t want
this. He didn’t want to want her so damn much. He wanted her to go to New York
so he could concentrate without always thinking of her. Just this one night
getting to know her, and then he could purge her from his system.

Zoey wanted everyone to meet her best friend and
most of the pack had lingered to meet her. Why he didn’t know, but they stayed
waiting for the woman of his dreams.

Finally, London walked out of the bathroom and her
gaze sought him out.

“Damn,” Ryder muttered to himself.

* * * *

Taking a deep breath, London opened the bathroom
door to a crowd of people who seemed to all be staring at her. She thought
about turning around and going back inside but Zoey was by her side before she
could chicken out.

“Everyone, this is my best friend and roommate
London Grey.”

London watched as Zoey’s pack raised their hands and
waved at her.
I’m dying. I’m going to die. Please just let me die right now.
She could feel the burn on her cheeks as she felt the embarrassment from all
these people knowing she had passed out on the bathroom floor.

Then, the place became chaotic as each person
started coming up to her introducing themselves, and before she could be polite
and answer back, another person took their place. It was kind of nice in a way,
if only she couldn’t see the gorgeous man in her peripheral vision. Ryder just
stood there watching her. She didn’t want to look back at him so she continued
to ignore him. It was hard to do since he was standing right beside her
grandmother. She couldn’t help but to glance back at him, and just like before,
he was watching her. London never liked to be the center of attention
especially by a man that she wanted to have naked and inside her.

“Okay everyone, let’s go eat.” Ryder spoke in that
authoritative voice. He even sounded dominant. Zoey had told her over and over
that her brother was controlling and apparently the pack did what he said too. They
were all moving toward the door.

Sex, yes that was it, his voice sounded like hard
back-against-the-wall sex. She needed to leave now. The sooner she ate and said
her goodbyes, the sooner she could leave for New York. Plus, she needed to get
away from the man who made her wet just by talking. It didn’t matter who he was
talking to or about anything in particular. She just liked the way his voice
sounded.

Telling Zoey that she would just meet them at the
restaurant, London got in the car with Me-Len. Her grandmother was asking all
kinds of questions while she drove them to the restaurant.

“When are you leaving for New York?” Me-Len asked.

“As soon as we’ve eaten. I need to get on the road
and drive for a while then stop at a hotel and sleep for a few hours then get
back on the road. It won’t be so hard on me if I break it up.”

When she pulled up to the restaurant, she could see
that a crowd was already waiting inside. Zoey had informed her that the other
Alpha’s would be waiting at the restaurant for them. Before they got out of the
car, Lenny McGregor pulled out a small box from her pocketbook.

“I wanted to give you this at dinner but it doesn’t
seem like it will be just you and me. So now is just as good a time to give it
to you.  Happy graduation baby-girl. I’m so proud of you.”

Smiling, London looked down at the prettily wrapped
box. London gasped as she opened it and her eyes focused on the necklace inside.
It was an Agate gemstone attached to a beautiful gold chain. Looking closer at
the stone, London couldn’t believe it.

“Is that a tree inside the stone?”

“It is called the tree of life. The gemstone was
found the late 1880’s. It has been in our family for a very long time. This
necklace has been passed down from generation to generation. Now the necklace
belongs to you.”

“I’ve never seen this necklace before. You said mom
had it before me?”

“She did, but she got mad at me and sent it back.
Maybe if she would have had it on that night then she…” Putting her hand on her
grandmother’s shoulder, London tried to comfort her. London could see the pain
in her grandmother’s eyes. Her mother was Me-Len’s only child and it had to be
hard on her. Painful emotions flashed in her grandmother’s eyes. London wanted
to make it better but only time could do that.

“Hey, try not think about the past and what if’s. I’m
hungry, so let’s not keep all those people waiting,” London said smiling at her
grandmother. “Me-Len, can you put it on for me?” Pulling her hair up, London
waited for her grandmother to place it around her neck.

“There.  Now it’s where it should be.”

Immediately London felt different with the necklace
touching her skin. Her body heated up almost instantly. It had to be her
imagination, but she felt electric currents shooting through her fingers all
the way down to her toes. She looked back over at her grandmother who was
watching her. Me-Len appeared shocked then it was gone.

“Are you okay, Me-Len?” London asked concerned.

“Yes. Oh yes, London. I’m a very happy grandmother
today. You have made me very happy.” Me-Len said, then grabbed her pocket book,
and started getting out of the car.

When she opened her car door London breathed in the
aroma coming from the restaurant. Even stranger when she got out of the car, she
could the scent of Ryder Malone in the air. London felt restless knowing that
her best friend’s brother affected her in such a sexual way. She was baffled at
the pull she felt from the man. Making an ass out of herself already today
brought London’s blurred emotions back into focus.

“Enough,” London scolded herself as she got out of
the car.

“What did you say dear?” Me-Len asked.

“Nothing. Are you ready for this?” London felt funny
and her emotions were on high alert. It was as if she buzzed with excitement.
Me-Len came and stood beside London.

“Yes sweetie. This will be fine. I know you want to
see Zoey before you have to leave for New York.” Her grandmother hugged London
before walking to the front door.

The restaurant Ryder had chosen was the most
expensive one in town. She should have known the man would pick this one. She
hoped between Me-Len and herself they would have enough money to pay for the
food. London looked over at her grandmother who was smiling back at her. If
they didn’t, she would dip into her emergency fund she had hidden in her pocketbook.

London stood with her grandmother at the door and
watched as the pack members danced around talking to each other. They looked
like they were high on life as they laughed and drank wine. London couldn’t
help but be envious of Zoey and her family. They looked happy around each other
as they congratulated their pack mate. Zoey would never be lonely or without
someone to talk to when the emotions got to be too bad.

Memories of her parents rose through her mind as she
watched the Malone pack. Her mom and dad would have been proud of her. They
pushed London into getting good grades. Their dream was for her to be the first
college graduate because they never got the chance, with all the moving around
they did. Pushing the thoughts out of her head, London looked down at the
floor. Before the tears could fall, she started to turn around and leave. Today
was such an emotional day. “Maybe it’s the thought of my mom and dad not being
here,” London muttered as she thought of them.

“Hey.” Zoey’s voice carried through the restaurant.
She was small but her voice rang out. Running up to them with a wine glass in
her hand, Zoey looked happy. London had noticed something in Zoey’s eyes. She
looked happy. She had accomplished her goal and now she was going to be the CEO
of her own company. London was happy for Zoey.

Looking around at everyone, London felt out of
place. She could feel another panic attack coming on as the room started
feeling too crowded.

“Hey.” Me-Len put her hand on London’s arm when she
noticed her breathing had accelerated. London could feel her body relaxing as
she closed her eyes taking in deep breaths.
Why didn’t this happen in the
bathroom? Oh yeah, you passed out dummy before you could try the breathing
treatments
. She felt funny as the panic feeling went away. Looking at her
grandmother she could feel how hot her hand was on her arm. Before she could
ask her what she did, Zoey started asking her questions.

“London? Are you okay? You fainted in the bathroom
and now you look ready to drop again. Are you sure you don’t need to lie down?”
Before London could answer, that sweet delicious and controlling voice answered
for her.

“She needs to eat. Why don’t we all sit down so she
can get some food in her?” Ryder said sharply. London’s eyes jerked open as Ryder
stood in front of her. His voice was like a beacon calling to her body. Always
showing up when she felt out of control, ready to drop to the ground, and make
her wet between her legs. Now he looked agitated as he stared at her, like she
was a child that needed to be scolded, and that was pissing her off.

Really, who does he think he is?
Yeah he’s good looking, but that didn’t give him the right to be bossy with me
. She wasn’t his little sister or
a pack member, so telling her what to do wasn’t going to happen. Now London
understood when Zoey mentioned that her big brother was a tad bit domineering
and controlling.

“Let’s find a seat London.” Me-Len muttered as she
pulled on her arm leading her past Ryder toward the tables. Blowing out the
breath she was holding, London inhaled long deep breaths trying to clear her
mind of the man that occupied it at the moment.

Why was his voice making her body heat up and want
him?
Her stomach felt queasy as she sat down at the table. Zoey and
Ryder sat across from her. Great, now she had to stare at him through dinner.

Forcing herself to look at him, London narrowed her
eyes when a beautiful woman walked up behind Ryder. The smirk on the woman’s
face was sending out signals loud and clear. She was informing London that Ryder
was hers and to back off.

The woman placed her hand on his back as she sat
down in the vacant seat beside him. She must be his girlfriend, London thought.
That was fine with her. He was too arrogant and self-centered for her to be
interested in. Plus he was way out of her league. Better yet, he was not worth
her time.

Glancing over at Zoey, London could see the anger in
her eyes as the woman sat down beside Ryder. Whoever she was, Zoey didn’t like
her. The smirk on her face told London all she needed to know. She was one of
the ones who probably talked down to Zoey and tried to run over her. Well if
Zoey didn’t like her then she knew she wouldn’t like the woman.

“London, I would like to introduce you to Nolan
Banks, Brody King, Judd Walsh, and that is Kayden Lynn.” As Zoey introduced the
men to London, her eyes widened. Wow, these had to be the other Alphas on the
council in Alpha City. Wow was an understatement.  Her smile widened. The men
seemed curious about her, and she could see the lust on some of their faces as
they stared back at her. That was something she wasn’t expecting. This day was
getting weirder as it went.