They would too. Ana was gorgeous. Big brown eyes framed by long thick lashes. A tiny nose and bow-shaped lips always covered in red gloss. Then there was the tiny mole at the corner of her mouth. Every photo of her smiling, she’d come out looking like a sex goddess.
To make her already delectable body even sexier, she had a right arm sleeve tattoo of beautiful colorful flowers in a new watercolor style. She had multiple tattoos that were constantly showed off in the catalog. From the ones behind her neck down to the ones around her feet.
“I’m not trying to be a jerk,” he said, hating the role but used to it in life. “She needs to go work with someone else. But first give her some time off to get over her upcoming heat.”
The last thing he wanted to hear about was Ana hooking up with one of the employees. She should be in his bed. Fucking hell why did he have to want her? Why now. He’d spent years ignoring relationships and mate talk. Until he’d seen Royce and Kiara together, he hadn’t even given it another thought. When he discovered Maria’s true colors, he’d known he would never be the same again.
“But you’re going to be traveling soon. Won’t that make a difference?” Brent asked. “She is hard-headed like Kiara. I don’t see her wanting a vacation. She just got back from spending time volunteering.”
Unwanted interest lit in his chest. “What was she volunteering at?”
“Helping build an orphanage in Africa. She only just got back like a month or two ago. It’s why you hadn’t seen her around the office before then. We work around her schedule for photos. But she says she’s taking a break from travel and is going to be around more.”
He didn’t want her around. Not messing with his animal. Having him desire things he’d shut down years back. She was too young. Too innocent and he could easily destroy her faith with his bitterness.
“Put her somewhere else,” he said, taking a gulp of his drink. “I have no need for her.”
His wolf roared inside. The animal hated the idea of being away from Ana. If he was honest, Callum did too. This wasn’t about wanting a mate. It was about keeping his sanity. Her scent was driving him to rethink things he’d decided against. Like finding a new mate. Like the idea of happily ever after he’d once thought he’d have with Maria was possible.
His sex drive didn’t give a fuck what he’d decided on. His cock definitely didn’t care that Callum no longer wanted a mate. He wanted Ana. Her curvy body spread and ready for him to eat. He’d been tortured daily. Smelling her tigress’s heat and visualizing her on his sofa, her pretty dress lifted up to her waist to show him her slick *. Oh, how he’d tortured himself with the mental images.
Ana’s scent was like a new drug for Callum’s animal. It breathed life into the desperate urges he’d tried to ignore. Like wanting to kiss Ana’s sexy lips. Or wondering if the tattoo he’d seen in one of her photos ended anywhere near her *. The vine of pretty blue flowers and butterflies started at her left shoulder and curled down her side. It continued to her hip and made a dive into her panties. He’d been dying of curiosity wondering if it ended before or at her *.
“Well, we’re leaving.” Bryan glanced down at his cell phone. “We promised Stephanie dinner at her favorite restaurant and she is very particular about food. Feed her or die is her motto.” He slid out of the booth, waiting for Brent to follow. “So we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Callum watched his friends leave. He leaned back in the booth and stared into his glass. There. He’d done it. He’d ignored his instinct of taking Ana for himself and got rid of temptation.
The waitress picked up Bryant and Brent’s empty glasses. “Can I get you anything else, handsome?”
He looked up, watched her push her breasts out in the low cut tank top and smiled. “No, thank you.”
Disappointment flashed in the woman’s eyes as she turned to walk away. He knew she wanted him. Could smell it on her the moment he’d walked in. While at another time, he’d have considered taking her offer for a quick release of pent up arousal, he knew that wasn’t the answer now. Sitting there thinking about Ana wasn’t going to solve anything either.
He left enough money to cover their drinks and the tip. As he stepped out of the bar, he remembered the file he would need for the morning meeting was on his desk. He had some notes to make. Dammit, he’d have to go back to the office and pick it up. At least he knew Ana wouldn’t be there.
Chapter Three