Forbidden apples

The air in the study was thick, not just with the scent of old paper and rich mahogany, but with something far more potent, something that made Mayari's skin hum. She was perched on the edge of a plush leather armchair, pretending to be engrossed in the ancient text on astrophysics splayed across her lap. But her eyes, though scanning the complex equations, weren't truly seeing them. They kept darting, like startled birds, to the man across the room. Eryx. He was leaning back in his own chair, a heavy, leather-bound financial journal open in one hand, a glass of amber liquid glinting in the other. Moonlight, cold and silver, streamed through the tall window, tracing the sharp lines of his jaw, the subtle flex of his bicep under the expensive fabric of his shirt. He hadn't said a word to her in the last fifteen minutes, but his presence alone was a gravitational pull she couldn't escape. He was dissecting the intricacies of the global market, his brow furrowed in concentration, and Mayari felt a low, insistent thrum deep between her thighs. Her wolf stirred, a restless heat uncoiling in her belly. God, he is so intelligent it was almost an obscenity. Mayari groaned to herself. "The Asian markets are showing a surprising resilience to the projected downturn," he murmured, more to himself than to her, but the deep rumble of his voice vibrated through her, echoing in that sensitive, hidden place. He finally looked up, his eyes, dark and piercing, locking onto hers. A slow, knowing smirk played on his lips. "Though the indicators for European bond yields are... tricky." He knew. He absolutely knew. Mayari felt a flush creep up her neck. She squeezed her thighs together, trying to quell the traitorous dampness that was already spreading. He saw it all, the subtle shifting in her seat, the way her pupils dilated, the quick, shallow catch of her breath. He could probably smell the rising musk of her desire. It was infuriating, humiliating, and exquisitely arousing all at once. "Tricky," she managed, her voice a little breathy, trying desperately to sound unaffected. "How so?" She hated herself for asking, for feeding his blatant awareness of her. But the lure of his mind, the promise of him elaborating, was a siren song she couldn't resist. Eryx took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze never leaving hers. "It's about the interplay of emerging tech and established infrastructure. A classic dichotomy, but with unforeseen variables." He leaned forward then, just slightly, and the sheer power of his masculinity seemed to press down on her, stealing the air from her lungs. "The fundamental flaw in most analyses is failing to account for the human element, the irrational variable." He had articulated her own nascent thoughts with such precision, such elegant clarity, that Mayari felt an electric jolt shoot through her. Her panties were now undeniably, deliciously soaked. Her wolf whimpered, demanding, Mine. Just as she was about to utterly lose herself in the intricate dance of his intellect, a new shadow fell across the doorway. Tall, lean, and radiating a raw, untamed energy that made the room suddenly feel too small. Theon. His eyes, predatory and assessing, swept over Mayari's flushed face, then lingered pointedly on her lap where her trembling hands clutched the book. A slow, sensual smile stretched his lips, making him look less like a stepbrother and more like a wolf circling his prey. He leaned against the doorframe, casual yet utterly dominant. "Still trying to outsmart the universe, Mayari?" Theon purred, his voice a low growl that scraped against her nerves in the most unsettling—and thrilling—way. His gaze flickered to Eryx, a silent, challenging acknowledgement passing between the two men. "Or just getting wet contemplating it?" Mayari gasped, her cheeks burning. The sheer audacity, the blatant, carnal suggestion. Eryx simply watched, a faint amusement playing in his own eyes, a dark complicity she found terrifying. Two wolves in human clothing. One in plain sight, the other a silent hunter. And Mayari, caught between their powerful, forbidden pulls, felt her carefully constructed world begin to unravel. Her body was already betraying her, dripping with a desire she knew was going to cost her everything. This wasn't just a home; it was a cage, a deliciously dangerous trap, and she was already half-devoured. ~•~