The Wolf Prince's Fated Heart - Page 68

The door on the top of the stairs is regulated with a sensor movement. It slides open the moment Cassidy reaches the last stair. She steps into the foyer of my luxurious apartment.

“Welcome to my penthouse, Cassie,” I say with a grin. “I’m the ultimate workaholic. My work is my life, and my life is my work.”

“I’m impressed,” Cassie says. “That’s really clever that you get the best of both worlds.”

“Except that I have to go on too many business trips for my liking,” I comment. “It comes with the job. You can’t have success without nurturing certain relationships.”

“It’s not too bad as long as you have someone to share it with,” she adds.

I let the meaning of her words sink in. They are hopeful but scared at the same time. And who could blame her? Just being near me is very dangerous. She’s aware of how many times I could’ve ended her by something as simple as losing control.

It can be a lonely life, my wolf agrees. But still, be careful.

“I’ve always done things by myself,” I tell her. “Despite having three brothers, I’ve never learned the concept of sharing. They had different interests from me, and I never craved Father’s approval the way they did.”

“That gives you a different kind of power, doesn’t it?” she says with a small smile. “A different kind of freedom.”

“It does,” I agree. “But it’s also lonely.”

That’s the most honest thing I’ve said in my entire life. Surprisingly, it didn’t come from me admitting something that sounded foolish.

Since I don’t know how to proceed any further than a friendly conversation between colleagues, I give a mental shrug and instead say, “Well, I better show you to the guest room. I’m sure you want to get some sleep before we return to the office.”

I don’t move, however, nor try to touch her.

Maybe it’s for the best. She seems to be thinking hard about something when she says, “You don’t have to sleep alone. Not tonight.”

She takes a step toward me, and I remain frozen. I don’t even dare breathe.

Cassie stops and lets out a shy chuckle. “Is this okay? I want to be with you tonight and nothing more. Just sleep.”

She’s also lonely, my wolf observes.

I shake my head and then clear my throat. What is happening to me? Now I’m having trouble formulating words. My thoughts were never this jumbled. This much of a mess.

“I would like that,” I finally manage.

Cassidy follows me through the foyer and down a long, narrow corridor. I turn to the right and push the door to the master bedroom open.

It’s a beautiful, wide room with its own balcony and bathroom. Inside there’s a king-sized bed and a small area where she can put her things, not that she brought any, but maybe in the future…

“Would you like to put on something more comfortable?” I ask, glancing at her skirt. “I can give you one of my shirts.”

“That would be nice, thank you,” she replies. “Do you mind if I freshen up in the bathroom?”

I smile. “Take your time.”

As soon as I let her go in, I stride to the tall closet and check for something casual. At the top shelf, there’s a stack of boxes that contain every size of T-shirt and sweatshirt I ever bought or have been gifted. For some reason, I have trouble parting with my things, so I never bothered to donate them.

Once I find the fluffiest, largest one, I close the closet and put the shirt next to her pillow on the right side of the bed. The left one is for me. After undressing, I leave my boxer briefs on and climb under the warm comforter.

I never let anyone invade my space. My brothers don’t even know this apartment exists. Helia’s the only one who’s been here and even that only because she helped me secure it. She promised not to tell a soul, even her fated mate.

I can hear Cassie brushing her teeth. She must’ve found a new backup package in the drawer. I like to stock up on things. There’s nothing I hate more than having to go to the shop because I’ve run out of something. Sometimes, I add the order to the office supplies and have the necessities brought to my office.

Cassie comes from the bathroom wearing nothing but her underwear and bra. It’s not the first time I get to see her like this, but damn, it does wake up something in my gut.

Give her the shirt, my wolf says, and only then do I realize I’m staring.