Crossing Paths: A Brooklyn Shifters Romance Book 1

by Daphne Snow

  "This is mine." Her voice was slow, deliberate in its seduction. She looked at him like she was in awe of him. Was it his height? His general size, his scent perhaps? It didn’t matter he loved the way she was looking at him.

  He didn't even notice as she took her jacket from his grasp. He reached up with his now free hand to cup the back of her head to kiss her.

  He had wanted to kiss her since the moment he saw her and they had come tantalizingly close twice. He could no longer resist. He couldn’t help the almost sigh that escaped him as she barley caressed his face and he closed his eyes savoring it. He reached to grab her needing more. The little minx slipped from his grasp before he could grab her. A playful smile gracing her lips.

  "You promised you wouldn't touch me, Mr. Benson." The flutter of her thick black sinful lashes beckoned him.

  He stalked towards her like a predator who had seen the most delicious dinner prance by. His canines elongating and flashing her an intense smirk. Her back hit a side wall where she could no longer escape. The chattering of the people on the other side of the curtain faded into the distance.

  If she wanted to play, oh he could play. He placed his hands on either side of her head ever so gently before bending down not touching her but just close enough for her to hear him whisper to her.

  "You'll be begging me to fuck your pretty little cunt before you know it..." A growl so low resonated from within him. "...Miss Bianchi." Promises of what was to come littering his words. The tip of her tongue darted out to lick at the bottom of her glossed lips and he considered throwing his teasing out the window and just kissing her. Giving in to his most primal desires.

  No, he was more stubborn than that, but just barely.

  He had never spoken to a female in such a way. It was normally fuck and be gone. Francesca however brought out a more dominant, more sexual side of him he didn't even know he had.

  Alexander stepped back and she seemed to breathe heavily for a moment. As if she had been holding her breath the whole time in anticipation. The way her breasts heaved out of the top of her dress was killing him. Everything about her was torture. Blissful torture.

  She seeks to destroy us. Axl said almost happily before scoffing. Let her. His bear was just happy that Frannie was near and settled down. He could still feel the beast eagerness to mark her and claim her as theirs. It would all happen in due time...hopefully.

  Chapter 10

  Alexander straightened his tie and ran a hand through his slightly tousled black hair.

  “Come, I'm having our seats arranged.” He held an arm out to her. She looked at him confused, her cheeks still flushed pink and her arousal lingering heavily scenting the air.

  If there were other shifters around they would smell it. He had to make sure she stayed close to him. She was his true mate and her safety was more important above all else. She grabbed his arm hesitantly after a moment looping her own arm in and he guided her back to the Maître d.

  The softness of her settled his nerves; she was solace incarnate. He didn't expect her to heal him or change him from his unsavory ways. But having her close to him felt like it could be easier to live in this world, where he had only ever seen it as an endless winter until she walked in. Yet he was getting his hopes up. He needed to know she wanted him as well. He would not tether her to him for life until she knew what she was getting into.

  Blackwell's words resonated in his head. 'Just take it slow with her.'

  "Our seats?" He asked the Maître d whilst still unable to take his eyes from the beautiful woman on his arm. Her eyes met his before quickly looking away a rosy hue on her cheeks. He smiled, just slightly.

  The Maître d looked nervous and was sweating just a hint. He looked behind him to see a man in a waiter's outfit giving him a thumbs up and he seemed to relax a little." Right this way Mr.Benson."

  Carl tilted his hat at them as they followed the man and patiently waited for the Maître d to come back and sit him at his table. Whenever Benson booked reservations he typically booked a second for Carl. The man had to eat like everyone else. Of course, everything was on Benson's tab.

  They were guided through crisp white topped tables with gleaming silverware and fragrant centerpieces of flowers. A fountain sat in the middle of the room, its calm water acting as background noise. White marble swans decorated the sides of it in an almost gaudy fashion.

  Waiters were bringing out expensive wine and trays with steaming food. Rich prolific people were eating and conversing their eyes on them as they walked by. Benson nodded his head to a few but mostly ignored others. Francesca was looking at everything, her head moving in every direction like a bobblehead, her mouth slack-jawed in awe.

  Frannie was in front and Benson behind her. He told himself it was to protect her but really he just wanted to watch her body move enticingly. The few times she looked back at him, Frannie had known he was staring and if the twinkle in her eye was anything to go by, she liked it.

  If he had learned anything from his little knowledge of mates, it was the sexual attraction was through the roof and painful if not dealt with, for both parties. It wouldn’t stop until the more dominant of the two officially claimed the other. For hetrosexual couples it lingered even after the claim, until the female was pregnant.

  If she refused him he was going to have a hell of a time getting rid of his hard on. That’d probably stick around whenever he thought of her. So for the rest of his life.

  He had tried everything over the last couple of days. Cold showers, running Axl, then one point even sticking his constant companion in the snow directly and nothing had helped. It seemed the only thing that was going to satisfy him was her.

  They had gone up a short flight of stairs to the second level with more private tables. It was quieter here and the colors were less offensively bright. It was away from most of the bustling crowd as well. Only privacy booths lined the walls and the middle of the room was devoid of patrons and tables. Just a chandelier with low lighting candles and a similar fountain. This particular one however was smooth black marble with no obnoxious designs. The curtains were a darker blood colored maroon and he preferred the darker beauty here then downstairs.

  Alexander's normal table sat in the corner. Like the other wall lined tables, it had drapery on either side of it, if you wanted privacy one could draw the curtains down. Something he certainly planned on doing. The chatter up here was quiet, just whispers in the other booths as they passed.

  The whispered comments about his mates' beauty though were agitating him. He glanced over eyeing a notable judge there with a blonde haired woman not more than twenty one, clearly not his wife. His eyes were focused solely on Francesca's frame.

  Before he could tell the man, Judge Turner, no he was up ignoring his date and making a B-line for Francesca.

  “Mr.Benson it's wonderful to see you again. Your donations at last month's policeman's ball from what I hear have gone to great use.” He smiled, stretching a hand towards him in greeting. Alexander stopped walking, positioning himself in front of his mate and out of the heavy man's gaze. He said nothing just glowered at him.

  After an awkward bout of quiet where it seemed the entire room fell silent, judge Turner dropped his hand. He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and continued trying to catch a glimpse of Frannie behind him.

  “You have quite the beautiful young lady with you today. How are you tonight dear I’m Howard Turner.” He reached a hand around Alexander and towards Frannie instead.

  The bones in Alexander's fingers started aching as Axl snarled. Frannie looked at him for a moment and reached her hand out to grab his much larger one in a supportive squeeze.

  “It’s nice to meet you Mr.Turner.But we are very busy this evening so if you’ll excuse us.” She didn’t shake his hand or look the sweaty man in the eye; she just smiled.

  “I think it's time you returned to your date. Tell Rhonda I said hello as well.” The man figaited under his scrutiny and then gulped audibly.<
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  “I meant no disrespect, Mr.Benson there is no need to get my wife involved.” He whispered but everyone could hear him. He was no good at hiding his secrets. Alexander said nothing and just walked away his hand tight in Frannies. She squeezed Alexander's hand again and calm washed over him helping to dissipate the rest of the brewing rage.

  The touch was only brief but effective. As they left behind the too interested judge she dropped her hand timidly, but it left his hand tingling and craving more. He grabbed her hand back, interlacing their fingers, needing the physical contact. She did not protest or object but she didn’t look at him and that bothered him.

  No, tonight would not be the night for a petty spat. He needed to remain focused on her if he were to convince her to be his. He need not worry about anyone else tonight.

  Unless she said no of course.

  "Someone will be right over." The Maître d who had personally escorted them smiled an expectant look on his face. Benson reached for his wallet drawing a few bills before handing them to the eager man.

  They sat down on the soft seats easing some of the tension. Frannie felt worlds away as she got comfortable across the table from him. She was so beautiful tonight it took all of him not to scoot closer to her on the u shaped bench. He needed to give her space or he was afraid he would scare her off before even pleading his case. Which would have entailed his face between her thighs.

  Benson whose legs were longer than the average man, much longer, stretched them out under the table. He felt his italian leather nudge against her heels, her feet immediately drew back. It was cute but concerning. Where was his beguiling vixen without a thought of fear or awkwardness.

  How could she flip like a light switch so easily? He wanted to know what was going on in that beautiful head of hers. Was it the judge or was it his behavior?

  “You’ll have to disregard Turner. He can't turn a blind eye to a beautiful woman.” She hummed okay but otherwise was quiet.

  She decided to look everywhere but at him. Her cheeks were still flushed and they sat in a not awkward but also not overly comfortable silence.

  How did they even start? Did he talk first or wait for her? Should he bring up the mating right away? He was treading territory he had not prepared for, at all. Frannie spoke before he had a chance to run off a tangent in his mind.

  "I don't know what I was expecting." She said nervously her fingers twisting in her lap.

  "Do you not like it?" Benson asked, his voice unconsciously demanding. Maybe this was not her style though he had a hard time imagining her any place besides the best. Alexander would pick her up and bring her anywhere she wanted without a second thought. Gods if she just wanted to go grab some chicken nuggets and fries from Mickey Ds he would take her there unabashedly.

  He just wanted to see her smile. Something he hadn't truly seen yet. Playful smirks and relieved small grins sure. But he wanted to see a full complete smile of pure happiness from her. He wanted to make her laugh and see the joy in her eyes. He craved that more than anything else.

  "No, I'm looking forward to this...meeting. I bet the food here is amazing. I could just never afford to eat at a place like this. You don't exactly get paid millions to look after wildlife in the middle of nowhere." Her focus was drawn to the shine of the table in front of them her eyes still not lifting to meet his own.

  He wanted this shy bashful overly talkative version of Frannie to look at him just as much as the sensual minx prior. He didn’t just want one or the other he wanted all of her.

  "You will never have to worry about money with me." He wasn't sure why he made the declaration they hadn't talked about anything yet. He wanted her to know she would be safe with him. That there isn't anything he couldn't get her. Whatever she wished she could have. Fuck he was already wrapped around her beautiful finger.

  She looked at him finally, her eyes glowing amber in the swirling pools of chocolate. Her bear was watching through her as well. Axl had preened at the females attention and had been speaking but Alexander wasn’t listening, letting the riled bear become background noise.

  "Well, it's just one da..." She hesitated. "Meeting so I think I can bend your ear on a high priced steak." She giggled and the sound of it was more beautiful than he could have imagined. He wanted to smile but the muscles in his mouth seemed unwilling to move quickly enough, so he settled for just smirking at her.

  Eventually, the waiter came and Alexander ordered them water and a bottle of expensive white wine. As they looked on at the menu Benson could tell Frannie was having a hard time with it. It was all partially in french. Her cute angelic face scrunched in confusion as she seemed to mouth out the names of dishes silently.

  He could feel his face soften and the pent up tension ease as he watched her. "Come here, let me help you." She looked at him conflicted and then shook her head raising her chin at him in defiance. “Are you always this stubborn?” He asked without realizing.

  “Do you always address people like their animals or children?” She retorted and he felt bad about it. He never thought about it before but his tone may have been less than pleasant at times. He straightened not knowing what to say. She gave him a wry look and scooted a little closer to his side. He welcomed it but didn't move as to not scare her off.

  "What is steak au poivre?" Her try at a French accent butchered but at least attempted. He scanned the menu before answering. She had good taste. Simple yet refined, he liked that.

  "It's peppered steak in a cognac sauce." He could see her tongue reach out to swipe her lips. He stifled a groan in need. His restraint was waning. Claim her she is ours! Reach out, she is so close. Axl's words resonated in his head over and over again.

  "That sounds so good. I don't think I've had a good steak, ever really. I doubt outback counts as 'good steak'." Her breath was a tad shaky in excitement. The smile that was loading finally spread up to his eyes. It dropped soon after as she stared at him looking surprised. Alexander had never been known to have a nice smile. He was known to be grouchy and a villain. Maybe he looked as odd as he felt. It wasn’t second nature to him at all.

  Just a moment after the waiter had come with a bottle of wine on ice and two waters in ornate crystal glasses. Benson ordered the same dish wanting to experience it with her.

  Before he spoke up he waited for the bustling vested man to be out of earshot and then adjusted the privacy drapes to come down farther. The only thing that would be visible to someone approaching would be the floor of the booth. Frannie looked at him hesitantly taking a small sip of her wine.

  The candle light in the middle of the table illuminated her features so soft and refined.

  "So..." She started, clearly feeling awkward and fiddling with the base of her wine glass.

  "You know why you’re here Francesca, we have a lot to discuss." He countered trying his best to seem friendly, not exactly something he was incredibly good at.

  Her chin tilted, her awkward stance now changed with her shoulders back and her delectable breast forward. "Oh yea, my parent's debt, is it cleared? I mean I'm here aren't I? You said that's all you wanted. " She was showing him she meant business. But so did he.

  "It was cleared as soon as you stepped into my office." He answered Frannie with eyes never leaving hers. Benson had to admit though he wanted to keep their debt hanging over their heads. They were manifesting as negligent irresponsible people in his mind.

  He didn't know much about that family dynamic but he would soon find out. But he had told her that this was what he wanted in exchange and he was not about to defile her trust in his words. Besides eighty grand for him was nothing compared to what he could have with Francesca.

  She looked as if she wanted to question him but seemingly shooed those thoughts away. She wouldn't look a supposed gifted horse in the mouth. Good girl, cautious yet not so much as to ruin a good thing. He was undoubtedly falling fast for her.

  "Well good...." She said, taking another small sip of her wine.

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sp; "You know that's not what I'm talking about though." He took a sip of his wine only to clear his throat. She looked at him for a brief moment her chocolaty amber eyes glowing again before abruptly leaving his gaze.

  "I don't know what you think this is but-"

  "We are mates, Francesca. We are meant for each other, body and soul. You are mine as much as I am yours." He had wanted to ease into it but he simply couldn't. Those words were wrapping themselves around his brain over and over again since he had met her yet he had never spoken them aloud until now.

  "I know you may think that. Axl and Fey may believe that too but I don't." His bear preened at the mention of his name but then grew angry. She makes no sense she is ours. Why does she fight? There is no other reason, there would be no other reason for this pull to one another.