CHAPTERFOUR
HENRY
Henry couldn’t help the grin that stretched from ear to ear when he thought about his date with Olivia.
She’d been even more outspoken in real life than she’d portrayed over the internet. Which, he supposed, shouldn't have shocked him. But she challenged him on each and every turn that their conversation took. Imploring more information out of him than he’d told anyone in years.
She had a way about her that made him want to keep talking to her and never stop. She was the most interesting person he’d ever met, and it was hard not to let that kind of desire bleed through into their conversation.
He didn’t want to startle her, but the fact that as soon as she’d touched his hand and a lightning bolt zap had shocked him, he knew. She was his fated mate.
Of course, she was. Who else in this entire world would be an equal match for him other than the girl who vehemently hated him online? Though he had to admit, her podcasts were entertaining as all hell.
He listened to each and every one of them. He was drawn to the way she spoke her facts and to her voice while she talked about the things she was passionate about. He loved listening to it all, even the hate-casts about him. She had such an interesting perspective on things that he couldn’t help but want more of it.
Henry had no idea what he was going to do about her being his fated mate. Hell. He wasn’t even sure if she knew what that even meant. She’d just met him in person, and he already wanted to be attached to her at the hip. No matter how much she yelled at him to go away.
If she did, anyway. He hoped she wouldn’t. But still.
He didn’t want to force her down that road, even if accidentally. But his panther was of a whole different mindset as soon as their connection had been made clear.
It had roared at him to claim her despite them being very much in public. The animalistic side didn’t give a shit who watched. All it wanted was his mate under him, panting and sweating from pleasure.
Henry breathed in slowly and pressed his hands to his face, his body responding immediately at the thought of Olivia’s beautiful face twisted in ecstasy as he pounded into her.
Damn it. I need to chill.
Pulling himself away from the thoughts, Henry headed across his penthouse to his office. He leaned over the desk and shook the mouse a few times, waking the computer. A confirmation email stared back at him for a very expensive edible arrangement.
He’d wanted to thank Gerri somehow for tracking down his mate, but he’d been at a loss when she refused payment of any kind. How else was he supposed to repay her for doing something so incredible? Without him even asking her to.
So, he’d decided on an edible arrangement … something everyone liked … and a personal set of paintings he'd commissioned from one of the artists under his care. He wasn’t sure what kind of art Gerri liked (if any at all), but at least it was something other than a mere “thanks” thrown her way.
But anything at this point seemed disingenuous compared to the fact that she’d found his freakin’mate!
The phone on his desk started to ring, breaking him out of his thoughts. He slipped it off the cradle and held it up to his ear.
“Darrow.”
His mother laughed. “Is that really how you answer the phone?”
He cringed. “Hey … what’s up?”
She laughed again. “I wanted to see how your date went. You haven’t called me since it happened.”
“Sorry.” He pulled his chair back and flopped into it. “I’ve been busy.”
“Oh?”
He snorted. “Not that kind of busy.”
She gave him a disappointed hum. He decided to throw her a bone.
“You’ll be happy to know I’m going out with her again.”
There was a gasp on the other end.
“You are? Honey, I’m so happy! So you liked her?”