Author's note: this is from Lazarus's point of view

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As I approached Aldus's villa, my insides trembled in anticipation.

The towel with Seraphina's scent wore off a long time ago, and when Aldus refused to give me another one, I contemplated stealing one, or sneaking in and taking a peek at Seraphina. I know it's creepy, but was desperate.

I thought that Aldus was ignoring me, but then he called and said I can visit. What changed? I have no idea, and I don't care.

If I can get close to Seraphina (and snatch her used towel or maybe underwear) I will be fine.

I reminded myself that Aldus invited me to go over the territory maps and pinpoint spots that are susceptible to rogue attacks, but my mind was drifting toward an alluring female whose sweet scent flipped my world upside down.

From the day I met Seraphina, everything changed. I saw her in every woman, and I compared every scent with hers. I've been intimate with several women since that fateful day, and I couldn't stop myself from imagining that I was with Seraphina. I know it's ridiculous because she is not my mate, but there is nothing I can do to fight against this infatuation that swelled inside me.

Ah, I will get to see Seraphina again!

'WE will get to see her again!', my wolf corrected me as I drove down the driveway.

Aldus's villa was in sight!

'Yeah, yeah… whatever you say.', I scoffed back mentally. 'How is my hair?'

'Unless there is a mirror, I wouldn't know.'

Uh, I forgot about that. Silly me. I chuckled, and I could sense my wolf rolling his eyes in annoyance.

'What's with the attitude? I thought you wanted to see her.', I reminded him.

My wolf snorted in annoyance, 'I want to see the woman, not you turning into a pubescent teenager.'

'Maybe that's what love does… makes you feel younger.', I responded cockily.

My wolf growled. 'Love? Do you even know what you are saying?'

'What did I say? Was it the L-word that triggered you? How else would you describe this?'

'Stupid! Reckless! Suicidal! Pick one! Or do you want words on L? How about… lecherous, ludicrous, lewd, lamebrained, licentious, loathsome, and let's not forget loveless! As you can hear, many words are coming to my mind, but love is not one of them. Did you forget Aldus's warning and the small detail that she is NOT our mate!?', my wolf shouted in my mind.

When did my wolf build such a vocabulary?

I exhaled in defeat, unsure how to answer. My wolf is right, but I can't ignore this need to get close to Seraphina and to… possess her.

There was no time to think. I was in front of Aldus's villa and after smoothening my hair and checking my breath by breathing into my palm, my biggest concerns were if the flower bouquet is large enough and if Seraphina will like the chocolates I brought.

"For me? You shouldn't…", Aldus said sarcastically when he saw me with a massive bouquet of red roses and a box of chocolates in my hands.

I expected something like this, and I said my well-rehearsed speech, "These are for your daughter. I am aware that we started on the wrong foot and I hope to improve the impression I left."

Aldus scrutinized me. "Did you also dress up to improve the impression? What's with the hair?"

I immediately reached to smoothen out my hair that was coated in a thick layer of hair gel. "Is there something wrong with it?"

'Don't let him shake you up…', my wolf warned me.

"It's all part of my improved image as a decent man.", I explained clumsily while lowering my hand in slow motion.

Aldus stifled a laugh. "Sure. Try to sell that to someone who doesn't know you."

Aldus paused and watched me squirm under his gaze for some time before saying, "You will find Serina in the sunroom."

'Eh? That's it?' I couldn't believe that Aldus was not giving me a hard time.

"I can visit her right away?", I blurted out, unable to contain my excitement.

"The flowers will wither soon, so you either give them to Serina, or to me.", Aldus said dryly and gestured toward the left where the sunroom is. "I will wait for you in the study, whenever you are done delivering the presents."

I didn't need to hear that twice, as I left the living room in big strides.

'This might be a trap…', my wolf warned me but a second later I caught a whiff of Seraphina's sweet scent and I felt him wag his tail.

'Traitor. What happened with this being a trap and acting like a grownup?', I asked my wolf.

He snorted. 'You are in no position to tell me how to act. I'm not the one who trimmed my pubes!'

'A gentleman should always be ready.', I defended myself.

I hate that we are sharing the same body and he can see me. All the time. No privacy.

'A gentleman would respect a woman!', my wolf responded curtly.

I agreed. 'And we respect her by letting her come first. Right?'

He was not amused, so I had to pacify him. 'Come on. I need your help. Let's not mess this up. You want her as bad as I do. Right?'

I felt my wolf's attitude softening.

Seraphina scent was getting stronger with every step. It mixed with some flowers and wet soil from the pots that were filling the sunroom, creating an irresistible pull.

Was I running? I hope not. Be cool, Lazarus.

My steps froze at the entrance to the sunroom.

There she was, sitting on a big chaise, wearing shorts that revealed her finely sculpted legs. I wondered how it would feel to have those legs wrapped around me as the pressure in my groin increased.

Her white sleeveless blouse showed a bit of cleavage and hugged her perfectly round breasts that moved as she breathed. The view was fantastic. I could imagine my palms cupping two soft mounds and my shaft would fit between them perfectly.

Actually, there are many points on her body where my shaft would fit, and I would love to try all of them.

Seraphina held a notepad in her hand and there were pencils around her. Based on the brisk movements of her exquisite hand, she was coloring something, and her warm expression told me that she liked her creation.

"Mr. Lupo?"

Her voice rang like soft bells in my head. I was staring at her hands that would circle around my shaft perfectly, or maybe I was looking at her breasts… the point is that I didn't notice she stopped coloring and was observing me.

I twisted my body slightly while hoping she didn't notice my hard-on.

"Miss Mezzanotte, it's always a pleasure to see you."

She looked at me with her big gray eyes and then her gaze fell on my hands.

"These are for you…", I bowed while offering her flowers and chocolates.

"Thank you, Mr. Lupo. You really didn't need to."

My surname rolled off her tongue so naturally and I wished to hear more.

"Please, call me Lazarus."

She smiled as she smelled the roses, and I was dazed.

"These are beautiful. Thank you, Lazarus."

Wow! Seraphina saying my name sounded even better. I wished to hear her scream my name. Breathlessly.

"I'm glad you approve, Miss Mezzanotte."

"You should call me, Seraphina.", she said while keeping the flowers on the side.

My cheeks hurt. Probably because I was grinning.

My eyes fell on the notepad that she kept down. It was a portrait of a… man? No, he looked young. A boy?

Pushing my unreasonable anger aside, I had to ask, "Is that your brother?"

"No. That is the face that appears in my dreams."

"You dream about teenage boys?"

Seraphina frowned a little as she flipped the notepad so that I couldn't see more. "Only this one. I draw what I dream about while trying to make sense of it."

Her words left me unsettled. I had a feeling that there was more to it, but my thoughts burned with jealousy. Why would she dream about that boy? And why did he look familiar?

"Bonbons coated in chocolate?"

Seraphina's question pulled me out of my thoughts. She was visually inspecting the box of chocolates I brought.

'Focus, Lazarus! Not on her legs or hips or breasts! Maintain the eye contact!', I said to myself.

"The chocolatier who handmade them assured me that these are a hit with ladies."

Seraphina scrutinized me before asking, "So, you are planning to seduce me with sweets?"

That was direct! I knew that depending on my answer I might be a goner as my instincts told me I'm in danger.

"Not seducing", I lied. "My goal is to improve my image in your eyes, as I am aware that during our previous encounter I was not at my best behavior."

Seraphina gave me the I-don't-believe-you look for a second before nodding. It seems that she didn't care about my excuse. Does that mean I got a pass?

"Did you come here for business with my father?", Seraphina asked.

"Yes. Right. Business.", I responded robotically.

"I hope that we can chat after lunch. You can improve your image by modifying your behavior more than with presents.", Seraphina said, and I understood that she was dismissing me. But she said that we can chat after lunch. That is progress!

"Yes. I will see you after lunch.", I responded while making my way out of the sunroom backward.

'No! Where are you going?', my wolf screamed as I walked down the hallway. His words scratched at the back of my head, urging me to return to the sunroom.

'You know how to speak? I thought you died.'

'I was enjoying the view!', my wolf said matter-of-factly.

Since when is he the one happy to only look? It seems that Seraphina twisted both of our minds.

'You have no right to call me an enamored teenager!', I said smugly to my wolf.

To my surprise, his mood turned to a happy one.

'So, we have a date after lunch?', he asked and for the first time today, our moods matched.

'I have a date. You can only watch. You seem happy with enjoying the view...'

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