TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 319

Three hundred and nineteen

Isabella POV

The breeze pouring through the open windows tossed my hair, cooling my scalp as I sat in the passenger seat while Wesley drove us back to the staff lodge. Maverick drifted between sleep and wakefulness in the back seat. The poor kid had been running around since morning, and I knew he would sleep for hours the moment his head touched a pillow. He still clutched the plastic dinosaur Wesley had bought him, and I knew he wouldn’t forget today for a very long time.

It almost brought tears to my eyes. Not long ago, the two of us had been trapped in my father’s house. All my son had known was fear and how to run into my arms whenever voices got too loud. At least he wouldn’t grow up reliving my life. We would build one of our own.

The silence in the car felt easy, making me wish the drive would never end.

“We could stop by my place for a while,” Wesley said, so casually it almost felt as though he’d read my mind. One hand rested on the steering wheel while the other tapped against it.

I smiled and shook my head.

“I actually wanted to take Maverick to the Alpha House to see Grandma Cassidy before the weekend ends.”

“She’s not home.”

I turned to him.

“Did she travel?”

“Something like that. She’ll be away for a few days.”

Curiosity got the better of me. I knew almost nothing about the woman who had shown me so much

kindness.

“Does Grandma Cassidy have any family?”

He kept his eyes on the road.

“She lost her husband and children. It all happened close enough together that most people would’ve

given up.”

He fell silent before speaking again.

“My mom nearly died giving birth to me. Grandma Cassidy stayed with her through all of it. If she hadn’t, I honestly don’t know whether my mother or I would’ve survived.”

Some stories carried too much weight to interrupt with questions, so I let the silence remain.

“You really should come to my house,” he said.

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“I can’t. You’re publicly courting someone else.”

I could’ve sworn I heard him mutter, “Not this again.”

It made me chuckle.

Maverick woke as we pulled up beside the staff lodge and reached for the door.

“Thank you, sir,” he said. “Will you come again?”

Wesley smiled.

“Of course. And next time, you and your mommy should come to my house. I’ll show you the game room.”

Maverick’s eyes widened.

“You have a game room?”

“I have a lot more than that.”

Maverick grinned until his cheeks puffed out, then jumped out of the SUV and raced toward the entrance.

“I’ll see you on Monday,” I said, finding it difficult to meet his eyes.

“That’s a long time.”

“It’s the day after tomorrow.”

He reached for me.

I leaned forward, and our lips met. I kissed him back, my mouth moving with his. It was supposed to be a quick goodbye, but my hands found his shoulders while his fingers slid around my waist, pulling me closer. The kiss deepened until I forgot we were parked outside the staff lodge. Every time I tried to pull away, it became harder because I wanted just one more kiss.

I rested my forehead against his.

“You could invite me upstairs.”

He stole another kiss before I could answer.

“Your car parked outside this building is enough to start rumors you wouldn’t believe.”

“I could be discreet.”

I smiled, reaching up to adjust the brim of his cap.

“Please. Just go.”

I opened the door before he could steal another kiss.

“See you Monday.”

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I slipped out of the SUV, checked the walkway before heading inside, and refused to look back. If I did, I knew I’d be tempted to run straight back to him.

It was becoming impossible to pretend that whatever existed between Wesley and me was casual. He still hadn’t given it a name, yet it was obvious how much he wanted me.

Perhaps it was the uncertainty or the growing fear that whatever this was couldn’t possibly last. There were too many things standing between us. So instead of trying to imagine a future that felt impossible, I chose to stay in the present and enjoy whatever time I had with him.

His messages arrived at odd intervals throughout the day. I found myself waiting for them without ever admitting it.

As for finding excuses to visit his office, I forced myself to stop. The previous week had been too obvious, and work was demanding enough that I needed to stay at my desk.

Even then, Wesley still found a way. Every kiss left me wanting more, yet he never pushed beyond what I was willing to give. Somehow, that restraint only made me want him more. Nothing dramatic was happening between us. Our lives were simply folding into each other, and somewhere along the way, his messages had become part of my mornings and evenings.

“Have you even been listening to me?”

Harrison’s voice pulled me back to the office.

“Hm?” I looked up, turning my phone face down on the desk. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

He frowned at me.

“You’ve been smiling at that phone for the past hour.”

“No, I was just reading something.”

He gave me a strange look, but he didn’t press. Maybe it was because I’d never volunteered much about my personal life. Whatever the reason, he simply shook his head and continued talking as though nothing had happened.

Another weekend came around, and one of the staff members was celebrating their child’s birthday downstairs. Loud music drifted through the lodge while children ran around with balloons and slices of cake in their hands. Iris appeared at my door just as Maverick ran to her.

“You’re not coming?” she asked.

“I think I’ll stay in and get ready for the week.”

Maverick’s absence gave me space to sort my clothes, do the laundry, and clean the room. I had just finished making the bed when someone knocked.

Without thinking, I opened the door.

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“Wesley?”

He stood outside wearing sunglasses, but they did little to hide who he was.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, reaching for his arm and pulling him inside before anyone walking past noticed him.

He stepped into the room without the slightest urgency.

“You know I have the right to visit anyone I choose.”

“Yes, boss,” I muttered as I shut the door behind him. “But when that person happens to be me, someone who doesn’t even report directly to you, people start asking questions.”

He ignored my complaint, taking his time as he looked around the room before settling onto my bed.

I folded my arms.

“You haven’t replied to my messages all day.”

“I was doing laundry.”

I walked over to him.

“So what’s with this sudden fascination with me?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you be buried under Alpha duties or spending time with your family?”

“I already did.”

His gaze lingered on me as he reached for my waist and drew me onto his lap to straddle him.

The hard ridge in his pants and the friction from rolling my hips dragged a pleased sound from my throat. He answered by rocking up into me, and we moved together like that, slow at first, then harder, as the thin fabric of my shorts made it very easy for me to feel the thickness of him.

He buried his face in my neck, his mouth open against my skin, kissing near the base of my throat, then higher, sucking before dragging his teeth across the same spot.

“Wesley,” I whispered.

I tipped my head back and gave him more room as the wolf inside me purred with satisfaction at the

touch of our mate.

Wesley’s tongue traced the line of my pulse as he kissed, harder and then softer again, switching the pressure until my breath came short.

“You don’t know how long I’ve been dying to do this,” he said, his mouth finding the shell of my ear. He kissed and bit the lobe, making me shiver and grind down harder against him.

When his hand pushed my shirt up and his palm covered my breast, I bit down on a moan. He squeezed, his thumb brushing across my nipple until it tightened. Then he pulled my singlet down and closed his

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mouth over me. The first suck pulled a gasp from my throat as pleasure shot straight between my legs. He sucked again, his tongue circling the peak before he drew it into his mouth and worked it in steady pulls.

I reached between us to unzip him. My hand slipped inside and wrapped around him. He was already

slick at the tip.

“Damn,” he whispered, letting go and lying back on the bed as I stroked him from base to head. Then he sat up again and switched to my other breast. The dual sensation made me rock faster against the remaining pressure of his thigh. It was so good. I stroked him faster, and he answered by kissing me everywhere but my lips. The pull was strong enough that my free hand buried itself in his hair and held

him there.

A knock landed against the door.

I froze.

Wesley let out a frustrated groan.

“Ignore it.”

I sat up, hoping whoever it was would leave if I stayed quiet.

“Isabella.”

Harrison.

He knocked again.

“Open up. I brought you some food.”

My eyes flew to Wesley.

“You need to hide in the bathroom,” I whispered.

He looked at me as though I’d suggested something absurd.

“Why?”

“Because Harrison can’t see you here.”

“I’m not hiding.”

“Please.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me being here.”

“You don’t understand.”

“I understand perfectly.” He met my eyes without flinching. “You’re an adult. So am I.”

Another knock.

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“Isabella, I know you’re inside. The food’s getting cold.”

I lowered my voice even more.

“Please. Just this once.”

He scoffed as he fastened his belt and adjusted the buckle.

Instead of turning toward the bathroom, he headed straight for the door.

“What are you doing?” I hurried after him.

“Opening it.”

I caught his hand.

“No. Don’t.”

He looked down at my hand wrapped around his wrist, then back at me with the hint of a smile.

“You worry too much.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. I felt like someone caught stealing, which was ridiculous. Wesley was my fated mate, yet somehow sneaking him into my room made me feel guilty all the same.

He turned the handle.

The door swung open.

Harrison stood there holding a covered plate.

His eyes lifted to Wesley, then to me, then back to Wesley.

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