I was stopped in my tracks as if punched in the gut or the face... or both.

It grabbed wolf's attention too. He stirred, coiling, just beneath my skin, and I could have sworn he whimpered.

Yeah, fuckin' whimpered!

My heartbeat kicked up a notch and my blood was pumping faster than a Bugatti Veyron, whooshing through my ears and veins my veins as if about to burst with the sudden exertion.

Why, you ask?

Well, the answer was standing in my open doorway. Right in front of me was a goddamn, straight out of one of those Vogue magazines pictures of beauty.

You know the ones?

She looked like one of those models from a swimsuit shoot, or underwear shoot (like the ones I used to wank to when I was a teenager.) But you knew in real life that those pictures had been fuckin' tampered with; to make them look that perfect. Because they never looked that in real life.

But. No. She was the real deal.

Kid you not, she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever laid eyes on. And I'd laid eyes on quite a few... believe me, more than a few, both dressed and undressed.

In fact, she was just more of anything...everything. She was much more than any woman I'd known up to this point in my life—she was a fucking goddess.

Stood staring at her, my jaw slackened and lips parted. Yeah, my mouth was actually open. I must have looked like some kind of mental patient.

Fuck, I was expecting drool any second, and I felt hot... so fucking hot.

Get a grip, prick!

I attempted to swallow, watching her, watch me. Waiting for me to say something... anything.

Which, I fucking needed to and quick sharp.

My wolf on the other hand was saying enough for both of us. Howling and scratching to get out.

But instead, I'm frozen, with my hand still on the cuff of my shirt. Staring!

What the fuck?

Shit like this didn't happen to me. Ever!

I usually see a woman and within five minutes, depending on location. I'd talked her into removing her skirt and underwear. Or my hands were doing the talking, and they'd already removed her clothing, slipping inside her underwear.

Anyway, still staring. I tried to get my brain to function; to form some sort of coherent sentence that didn't make me sound like a complete prick. And I ignored whatever the hell was going on in my stomach because to say I was having the weirdest sensation was a fucking understatement.

But then I felt a stirring of something familiar. My dick hardened and my balls tightened. Thank fuck for that.

I relaxed slightly, as this was something I could understand— something normal.

She tilted her head to the side, to study me and I watched her thick black hair, cut into a bob-style shape (How the hell did I know that?) frame her face.

I blinked twice and forced my eyes away from her face and shamelessly raked them over the rest of her.

Perfect neck—I imagined my hand wrapped around her throat and I heard my wolf howl inside my head; he wanted out. I was barely able to hold him back. It was even harder than ten minutes ago, when I kicked the shit out of that prick, Palmer.

Perfect body—Shit, my dick hardened a little more, it was becoming painful. Especially when I thought about what her breasts would look like, or feel like in my hands.

Movin' on Hunter.

Curvy waist, which flowed effortlessly onto full beautiful hips. That joined flawlessly slim shapely legs, and you guessed it...perfect ankles.

I sucked in a breath whilst I visualised those amazing legs wrapped around me, as I'm about to fuck her.

I didn't feel bad for that thought. She was perfection. Head to fuckin' toe perfection.

And I was one 100% sure when I got to see the back of her—her arse would be perfect too. Of that, I had no doubt. Especially bent over my beautiful new desk.

My throat burned as I brought my eyes slowly back up her body towards her heavenly face.

Shit, 'heavenly' How cheesy, someone fucking shoot me now!

Moving on...

Fuck me, those lips, full, pink and the way her tongue just poked out and licked them. I could see the image of me running my tongue over them as they parted before she let my tongue explore that perfect mouth of hers.

A shiver ran down my spine—an actual shiver! And my wolf was practically trying to rip its way out of me.

Shit a brick!

I thought I was gonna blow a load, straight into my boxers.

Fucking hell! Breathe.

My shirt was stuck to my back. And something else —lightheaded maybe? Or perhaps I overdid the alcohol last night and I was still a little under the influence?

Then, just when I thought my brain was back online. She walked towards me. Holding out her hand... and then it was really over. I stopped breathing as I heard her voice.

"The agency sent me over Mr Stone. My name is Sage Dufrene, Sir. You rang them, requesting an assistant to fill in. Until you can fill the position permanently?" she said.

She looked at me with those big beautiful blue eyes. My hand still outstretched and as I listened to her speak and my brain shut down...completely.

I only heard music. And when I say music is in my head—It wasn't a word of a lie.

I kid you not; It sang to me. It had a fluidity like running water or wind and it was fucking perfect—just like the rest of her.

It sounded French. Yeah, I was sure, definitely a French accent. The words didn't end as she spoke, there was this... what I can only describe as an exit breath and if she hadn't noticed my dick, which was now fully hard, then she must be blind. When she left the office, I would need to head straight back to my bathroom and give it some serious attention.

"Is everything okay Mr Stone... Sir?" she asked, her voice a little uncertain as she dropped her hand to her side.

It then came back to me. Yeah. I remembered ringing the agency last thing before I went home yesterday. Something else then crept in...

Remember the new rule, Hunter? No fucking the new assistant. Nasty shit happens!

My wolf growled in frustration. I know how you feel mate.

Well, technically she was only a temporary assistant. Until I found someone permanent to fill the position. Someone fuckin' old and ugly like Mrs Jones—that I don't want to bend over my new desk!

Who the hell was I kidding? I wanted her as my assistant. I wanted her to assist with my current hard-on, with her mouth... firstly.

Pay attention!

She's now looking a little worried by my obvious fucking muteness. It was pathetic...I'm pathetic. Why couldn't I speak?

I started to think I was a little intimidated by her.

Nah. Nobody intimidated me —Ever!

I finally opened my mouth; just about to speak when I heard another voice. It brought me crashing down to earth and out of my current state of muteness.

"All done boss," I heard Gunner say.

She turned her head to look at him and my eyes flicked to his. He was now staring at her— fucking staring right at her, like I was.

My fist clenched, my jaw twitched, and my wolf growled. "Take a seat Gunner, I'll be with you in a sec... yeah?" Finally, my brain engaged.

His eyes narrowed as he continued to look at her for a few more seconds. Then he flicked his chin up slightly, grunted something and sat on my leather sofa in front of the window.

I turned my attention back to her as another strange feeling bombarded me. My whole body tensed and I had to stop my hand reaching out to touch her. I felt possessed or something.

Get a fuckin' grip.

I counted to ten and hoped to Christ my voice would work... It had too.

"Miss Dufrene, did you say?" I smiled and sighed inwardly.

She turned to me and nodded, returning my smile, which lit up her whole face. Even her eyes were smiling at me. Beautiful pools of sapphire blue, like the ocean.

Quit that shit!

I quickly averted my eyes, because I couldn't have my brain switch off again. Or think about what her smile was doing to my insides. Not whilst Gunner was sitting there. Like he was watching a soap opera or some shit on daytime television, with one leg curled and propped on his other opposite knee as he bopped it up and down. He also had that crazy psychotic look in his eye.

"Miss Dufrene. Thanks for coming over. If you could settle yourself at the desk just outside my office and dial Ellen on extension 203. She will come down and show you around, whilst I have a meeting with my friend here." I pointed to where Gunner was sitting, smirking. Fucking idiot.

It amazed me I could form a sentence, as I could hardly breathe. And at least it sounded like it had some authority in it. Thank fuck for the little things.

"Yes Sir." She smiled again, that perfect smile. Another shiver shot down my spine.

And then she turned and walked out of my office, gently shutting the door behind her.

I had to make sure I didn't look at her arse on the way out, or else I would have come in my boxers —of that I was sure. Especially if it was as perfect as I imagined.

Instead, I focused on Gunner, who was looking at her arse, his eyebrows nudged together, and his lips puckered.

"Man, you're working with her? You are one lucky bastard Boss. What I wouldn't give, to sink my teeth into that," he said. Literally five seconds after she closed my office door. "Did you see the arse on her?" He was smirking again.

My fists clenched for a second time and it took every fibre of my being not to drag all six foot, five inches of him from my sofa and slam his head into the wall.

My wolf felt the same, sending me the image of him sinking his teeth into his throat and ripping a chunk out.

I didn't understand any of it.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

I must be coming down with something. Or maybe it's withdrawals—Need to lay off the alcohol.

Whatever was happening, It unnerved me. Who the fuck was I kidding —it scared the shit out of me!

I coughed and adjusted my raging hard-on. I knew it would take a couple of minutes to go down. But if I carried on looking at Gunner, it would be sooner.

I turned and walked back to my chair; sitting my arse down. "Did you sort it? Either of them give you any shit?" I asked, trying to refocus my thoughts and ignore my throbbing dick.

He nodded. "Yeah, sorted Boss. Wanker garbled some shit about 'it wasn't over' when I dropped him on the curb outside," he scoffed. "And that mate of his, well she piped down."

Gunner got up from my sofa and made his way over to my cabinet. He always helped himself to whatever he liked when he was in my office. I'd known him for five years and he'd worked for my dad seven years before that. He would never change.

"That fucking mate of his though, Mandy—she's hot as fuck, definitely wouldn't mind her bouncing up and down on my cock, if you know what I mean boss?"

He poured himself a whisky and not the cheap shit I kept for wankers like Palmer and Watkins. No, he poured himself my MacCallan—fucking three grand a bottle. Cheeky bastard!

Gunner continued. "Mind you, after seeing what was just in 'ere, with you... Fuckin' hell. Makes Mandy Palmer look like Quasi-fuckin-modo. If you 'ear what I'm sayin'?"

He laughed at his own joke as he turned towards me lifting his drink to his mouth. He swallowed in one gulp and then wiped the back of his hand over his mouth.

Unsophisticated muppet! A whisky like that deserved to be savoured, shown respect.

I looked at my watch. I'd had enough of this shit already. "Well she's my new personal assistant, so keep your hands to yourself... yeah?" I gave him the look. The look that said to anybody—don't fuck with me or I'll hand you your balls. And even though he was at least four inches taller and built like a brick shit house.

He got it.

Gunner put the glass down and held up his hand in submission. "Don't worry Boss. Only sayin' Boss. Can't blame a guy for avin' a look. But don't want to tread on anybody's toes," he said as he raised his eyebrow, his mouth curling up at the corners.

"Right—business," I said. "Some shit is happening in the four main packs around London. There's been four deaths and the humans are telling me they're all suicides. But something doesn't feel right. I want you to look into it."

He looked at me, nodding his head. "Can do boss. Who's on point for this?"

"That prick, Palmer, is speaking on behalf of all the packs. But I need you to speak with all of them and if you could keep them off my back—then all the better, yeah?"

"Can I do it my way?" he asked.

I knew exactly what he meant, and his way usually got results. "Not too bloody eh? Don't want more shit to deal with, than I already do... yeah?"

He grinned, his teeth yellow with all the fags and coffee. And his canines never fully retracted, so it gave a constant guise of his wolf within.

Yeah, when he smiled like that, his whole fucking face looked sinister. That was the reason all the packs were scared shitless of him. He looked fucking insane when he smiled. But Gunner was also smart; really fucking smart. He had a degree in theology —if you could believe it? As well as being good with his fists.

Nobody got past his radar. And that was the reason I trusted him to get to the bottom of this problem—and fix it. "We good then?" I asked him.

"Yeah Boss, we're good, I got this."