Cinder's Wolf: A Shifter Retelling of Cinderella (A BBW Shifter Fairy Tale Retelling Book 2) (7 page)

O
nce Cynthia stepped
out onto the balcony, the cool, March night air dampened her lust and confirmed that she had made the right decision. It breezed against her cheeks, stealing away the wisp of hair Rex had only just tucked in and sending it flying. The sounds of the city drifted up to the rooftop from the streets below, cutting through the whirring of her own thoughts. Her knees straightened.

The door she had shut behind her creaked open, and she could feel Rex’s gaze on her half-naked back, but she ignored it the best she could and focused on the view. Central Park was laid out nineteen stories below. The trees looked as tiny as a model train set, but the actual square footage of the park itself was larger than she remembered. It was a spot of dark wilderness in the insomniac neon of the rest of the city. Much like the man standing behind her.

The easy mastery he had over her body unnerved her, but not as much as how good it had felt when his teeth had pinched the skin of her neck. A warning. A promise. If she had thought Rex was dangerous when he was in control, she had no idea how badly her body would burn for him when he was out of it.

Behind her, a cork popped, and she turned to see Rex standing over a small table, pouring a dark red liquid into a wide-bellied wineglass that looked large enough to hold a full bottle. His long-fingered hands worked with calm precision once more.

“What are we drinking?” she asked.

“Pinot noir,” Rex said, not looking up as he topped off one glass and started on the other.

Carefully, Cynthia ambled over to the chair on the other side of the table. She pulled it out and kept pulling until she had about a foot of distance between it and Rex. The scraping sound it made against the brick of the balcony made her cringe, but Rex didn’t even waver.

She sat. “I don’t really know that much about wine. My father used to collect Bordeauxs, I think.” Cynthia winced, knowing she was mangling the French, grateful he didn’t correct her. Grateful, in fact, he didn’t say anything at all.

Most men were usually eager to get a humble brag in at any given opportunity, but all Rex had to do was tell you his name, and you’d know exactly how important he was.

Cynthia watched as he topped off the second glass and found herself continuing to speak. “My stepmother sold his entire cellar after he passed.”

He set the bottle down. “I’m sorry to hear that,” Rex said, his tone carefully neutral. He was actually listening to her, not passing judgment. Just listening. That was a feat for any man, let alone a billionaire.

“Yeah,” Cynthia said. “Art, wine, books, music scores. She sold anything that was older than her marriage and not nailed down.”

Rex slid over the glass of wine to the edge of the table, but Cynthia still had to lean over to grab it. She didn’t miss the way his gaze devoured her when she did.

She took the glass and sipped it so daintily she couldn’t even taste the flavors. “Anyway. Enough about me. What about you—any family?”

“Two brothers.”

“Are they in investing too?” Cynthia swirled the wine in the glass, stalling. A hint of its blackberry aroma wafted up to her. But alcohol was the last thing she needed.

Rex gave a thin smile. “Far from it. My older brother is something of the family patriarch, if that’s a profession. Mostly, he manages the land near our old childhood home. My younger brother, Luther, he’s well… into motorcycles.”

“Is he a professional racer?”

Rex grimaced. “Something like that.”

“You sound like the most together of the bunch.”

“I like to think so.”

“Hmmm,” Cynthia hummed, making eyes at the water bottle Rex had brought out next to the wine. Thoughtful of him. Her gut wanted her to keep sipping at the wine, but it was her gut that had landed her with terrible man after terrible man all these years. So water it was.

However, to get the bottle, she would have to scoot her chair in, reach over the table, and get perilously close to Rex in the process. She didn’t think she could take another one of his surprise attacks. He might not be able to either.

Rex grabbed his own glass and took a sip.

Cynthia stole the moment to dash forward. Her heart pounded as she snatched the water bottle, and just as she thought she had gotten away, she felt his fingers close around her wrist.

She looked up, flushed, realizing how close she was to Rex again. This time, his eyes weren’t wild, and his mouth was set in a thin, determined line. Before she could stop him, his other hand tugged at the ribbons keeping her mask in place. Cool air brushed against her cheeks as he spirited away her mask, leaving her face naked and open to his prying eyes.

“There,” he said softly, smiling at her. “Now we’re even.”

His thumb traced over her wine-damp lip slowly, the edge of his fingernail grazing her upper lip. The gesture was simple; the reaction it caused in her was anything but. Her back tensed, even as some other part of her relaxed into the waves of heat emanating upward from her center.

She closed her eyes and nodded.

His touch left.

Well, at least all the photos of her on her company website were out of date. It wasn’t like she really expected them to have sex with the masks on anyway. There was still hope for her to get out of this alive and anonymous.

Cynthia opened her eyes, expecting to see him leaning over the table, wine in one hand, smirk on his lips. But his full attention was still on her, his blue eyes as dark as a night sky far away from city lights. “You’re too beautiful to hide your face from me.”

“Beauty is overrated. It fades. A work ethic and a sense of humor—those are forever.”

“I’ll let De Beers know they need a new slogan. Work hard, and get yourself your own damn diamond this Christmas.”

Cynthia was surprised to find herself grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. “I like that. Although diamonds are still a little too cliché.”

“Well, I’m not sure my slogan has quite the same appeal anyway.” Rex smiled, although it seemed planned somehow. Measured. “Or maybe you’ll say romance is overrated too.”

“I think it’s dangerous.” Cynthia tried to unscrew the cap of the water bottle, but her fingers slipped the plastic grooves.

“Dangerous?” He cocked his head. There was a reason Rex was one of the top venture capitalists in the world. He had an eye for detail, too, and now that laser focus was burning her alive.

“I-I just mean that I can’t really afford distractions right now.” The cap came loose, but Cynthia didn’t take it off, instead she twisted left, then right, then left again.

She was such an idiot. Smiling, joking with Rex West, as if he were her friend. Men that powerful were nobody’s friend. Especially not the women they slept with. If she was lucky, he’d just sleep with her and forget her, and if she wasn’t….

The cap sprang loose in her fingertips and popped up in the air, flying off to the side, over the railing and down into street below. She laughed in unease. “Whoops.”

“I’ll have my butler get it.” Rex waved a dismissive hand.

“What?” Cynthia asked, standing up from her chair and rushing over to the edge of the railing to peer down. “Please don’t tell me you have a butler just for lost water bottle caps.”

It was impossible to tell if he did. All she could see were the tops of people’s heads, and the blur of valet cars and cabs pulling up to the Plaza’s red-velvet covered steps.

“Not just for bottle caps. He’s in charge of lost keys and flyaway newspapers as well.” Rex’s hot breath tickled her bare neck. She could feel his long, lupine smile against her skin as he kissed her hairline.

“Funny.” Cynthia started backward, but only found herself colliding with his hard chest. He had taken his coat off at some point. Worse, she realized, her purse was pressing against him. She had snapped it shut, but if he had fast fingers, he could easily steal one of her business cards now and she wouldn’t be the wiser. A face and a first name was one thing—a last name and her company address was another.

Male investors talked. And whether she screwed him at this point wouldn’t matter at all. If he saw her card, she’d be the “Cynthia Cinders Rex West banged” not Cynthia Cinders CEO of Boxes & Broom.

You’re lying to yourself. You know he wouldn’t do that. You’re just afraid he’ll actually want to see you again. Or that he won’t.

His arms wrapped around her. They should’ve felt imprisoning, given that she knew he wouldn’t let her go. And they did. But faced with the endless chaotic city below, it was a comforting captivity.

“I’m taking you to bed now, Princess.” His hand pressed against her stomach, pushing her body into his, making sure she could feel the hardness in his pants. “But first, you have to promise me one thing.”

A
s Rex pressed
Cynthia against the railing of the terrace, his mate’s curves surrendered to his hard muscles and harder will. Only the thin fabric of her sparkling gown and his suit separated their naked flesh. Her pillowy ass teased the stiffening length of his cock, and pinot noir and champagne lubricated his blood, spurring his inner wolf on.

“Promise you what, Rex?” she asked.

“Nothing terrible.” Rex stroked her arm, calming himself as much as her. Demons, her skin was softer than a wolf’s pup fur. “Just promise that you won’t run away tomorrow without saying goodbye.”

“Rex…” Cynthia’s voice was small, almost lost in the dark stretch of New York night.

“I’m not asking for forever, just common courtesy. Unless…” His hands slipped from her arm to her wide hips. Unlike the bevy of models he had used to quench his libido before Cynthia, her body had heft to it. She was all natural. He groaned, his boxers stretching against his cock as he reached full attention.

“Unless what? Her back arched, pushing her breasts forward, over the railing. The strapless bodice of her gown slipped a little lower, revealing the profile of her breast, the hint of a dark areola contrasting against her ivory strapless bra.

He darted backward at the possibility of seeing her nipple, gripping the cold metal of the railing. It didn’t help. He was still dangerously close to tearing her dress into two and tossing the scraps over the edge of the roof until they fluttered down to the dirty street like below flags of surrender.

When he caught his breath, he said, “Unless you’d rather just give me your full name and phone number now. You’ll be leaving it tomorrow anyway.”

She pulled up her neckline, covering her breasts once more. “I told you I don’t do repeats. Consider my last name as my insurance policy.”

The hitch in her voice was maddening. He needed to see her face to give it a name and an emotion. With a touch at her elbow, he turned her to face him. “I own a couple of insurance companies. I’d be happy to offer you a different policy.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks were as red as her lips. Blonde strands of hair now stormed around her cheeks like a translucent hurricane, the up-do completely destroyed. She was no easier to understand face to face. Maybe tasting her would help.

He sidled closer, watching carefully to see if she’d start. This time, Rex would kiss her right. Like a man.

Gently at first, because lips as soft as hers were meant to be savored, he brushed his lower lip over hers. When she shivered, his tongue snuck out to slip into her wet warmth.
Delicious
. The combination of her natural sharp flavor of oranges combined with the headier berried notes of the Burgundy was well worth the damage he’d done to his cellar by removing the bottle.

As they parted, he hummed in gratitude, a rectangle of white catching the corner of his eye. Her purse. He had almost forgotten about it. The strings of it had gotten caught in the bars of the balcony. His wolf grinned inside of his chest, showing all of its teeth.

All he’d have to do was take her purse, which surely had her business cards inside, and he wouldn’t have to persuade her to come back or give him her last name.

No
. She deserved more respect than that, considering she had forgiven him for his earlier mishap with the biting.

He cocked his head at his mate, enjoying watching her as she studied him. The way her gaze lingered on his wide jaw and strong features wasn’t surprising. Rex knew he was handsome. Most human men were soft, even weaker than their women. If his looks would get her to stay, he’d use them. He’d use anything.

“I want you, Cynthia. Not because you’re beautiful, although you are, but because you’re driven and ambitious. I want to help you. But I can’t invest in your company, if I don’t have your last name.”

Her eyebrows rose to stratospheric heights and the corners of her eyes cringed in almost physical pain. Well, that hadn’t landed well. Rex would’ve worried that he’d made a mistake, but he knew he hadn’t. Everyone acted angry when it was implied they could be bought. But then, he told them how much they were worth.

“What’s a percentage point running for at your company?”

“I told you that’s not why I’m here.”

“Humor me.”

“We’re not taking investors on at this time,” she said, her voice cold.

“I thought you were courting investors downstairs.”

“That search ended at midnight.”

He shook his head. “What’s it run?”

“Two million for one percent,” she spat.

“Another lie.” He would’ve heard about any company getting that much funding, and he hadn’t. However, he’d indulge her. “But I’ll give you four.”

“You’ll give me four million dollars for a single percentage point of a company you’ve never even seen before?” she repeated. “Four million? Of course you will.” She laughed bitterly and pushed against his chest with her calloused palms. “After I fuck you.”

He didn’t budge or grab her hands. “You’ll fuck me because you want to. The money has nothing to do with that.”

“I don’t want to have sex with you anymore.” Her hands fell away from his chest after she realized the futility of fighting him. But she didn’t ask him to move.

“Lying again,” he said.

He could see the signs, the rising goosebumps perking up on her skin when he leaned in to promise a kiss. He didn’t need to tell her how much she wanted him. She knew.

“What does the money have to do with it then?” she asked.

It has to do with keeping you with me for as long as I can. With getting the chance to see you just one second more, because I’ll die, literally die, if I don’t. If we mate now and I can’t find you again, our bond will destroy me from the inside out. But it’s also because I’m hungry for you, and I’ll never be satisfied. If I have to pay four million dollars just for your last name, I’ll do it.

The matemark on his ankle was white hot.

“You’re special, Cynthia,” he said, meaning it. “Even if you weren’t my—even if I wasn’t attracted to you, I’d know you are worth investing in.”

“Oh come on, that’s bullshit.” She tried to smile, but she couldn’t quite force herself. The crinkling pain at the edges of her eyes hadn’t gone away even after Rex had proven exactly what he’d pay just for the hope of a second chance.

His head pounded with the realization of how monumentally he had messed up. But why? He closed his eyes, sighing, steepling his fingers on his temple.

Think
.

He hadn’t made as much money as he had for as long as he had without being able to read people. She wasn’t just another CEO or stockbroker. She had taste for fine things. He had seen the way she looked at his suit and house, but her hands were rough and she had a dislike for diamonds. She had a purse full of business cards she only gave to the people weak enough to never be able really help her. He had watched her at the party, the way she had acted…

His eyes flew open.

“What?” Cynthia asked, glaring at him. She clutched her arms around herself, as if it were winter outside instead early spring.

He ignored her question. There was nothing more powerful than showing someone they were understood. If done too quickly, it could leave a person feeling as if they had been suddenly stripped naked and put on display, and as appealing as that thought was, Rex knew Cynthia was already feeling vulnerable.

He smiled gently at her, but instead of kissing her forehead as he longed to do, he took a step backward, giving her the space to maneuver away from him if she felt it necessary.

She shifted from foot to foot like a nervous colt, but she didn’t try and run.

“Do you know how many people have offered their souls to me in exchange for money?” he asked.

“A lot if your ego is anything to go by.”

“Yes. Women with faces that could have launched a thousand missiles. Men with more mistresses than wives. Politicians. Presidents. I know mothers who would’ve dropped their own children right off this balcony to get a deal half as good as the one I just offered you.” Rex casually patted the pointed tip of the balcony’s iron posts.

“Uh-huh,” she said, but her fluttering pulse betrayed her. His wolf had grown stronger. Usually, he couldn’t hear heartbeats and had to rely on his human intuition to suss out the truth, but hers was like an out-of-time drum.

“But you—you can’t even be bothered to give me your last name, and I know why.”

“No, you don’t,” Cynthia said. She tilted her head, giving him a look of pity so condescending that it made Rex’s wolf roar with prideful rage.

“Oh, but I do, Princess,” he said. Even with his superior control, he wasn’t able to keep himself from growling. He liked the way she squirmed at his nickname for her, almost as much as he hated the raspiness of his voice.

He cleared his throat. “Most of my guests spent as much time drinking champagne as they did handing out business cards, but you barely took a sip. You didn’t approach any of the larger investors either. Not me or Bane Stilskin. It’s because you want help without having to worry about someone coming in and messing up your company.”

Judging from her parted lips and wide eyes, Rex knew he had pegged her perfectly. He should’ve been able to—she was his mate. But her shock was still satisfying.

He brushed her cheek with the back of his knuckle, relishing its silky texture.

She whimpered a little. No doubt, her resolve was weakening in the face of the bond’s insistence that they mate. “H-how did you guess?”

“I didn’t guess, Princess, I knew.” He gave a wistful smile as his hand reached her jaw, and he tilted her face upward. “I know,” he whispered, “because I am exactly the same way. If you want me to stay out of your company, I’ll completely understand. To be honest, I even respect it. I understand the need to keep control.”

He brought his lips to hers and grazed her mouth with his. “But I also think,” he said, “that tonight, you’d be surprised by how good it could feel if you just let me take it.”