The Park Avenue high-rise condo reeked of testosterone and overpriced scotch. Gabby paced the marble floors, raking fingers through her sweat-dampened hair as Alex lounged casually on the leather sofa.
"You can't really mean that low offer to buy the company," Gabby said angrily, thinking about throwing her glass at his smug face. "After all our back-and-forth, you try to insult me with that as your final bid?"
The alpha merely grinned, robber baron indifference oozing from his pores. "Take it or leave it, Red. My people have crunched every possible angle to secure the better deal."
Sculpted forearms draped along the sofa back as he stretched like a sated jungle cat toying with its entrapped prey. "But if it's too 'insulting' for your delicate provincial sensibilities, by all means, let's abandon this dalliance."
Gabby stepped closer until their faces were almost touching, jabbing him in the chest with a perfectly manicured nail.
"Don't play dumb games with me, Forbe. This deal is everything to me, and you know it." Her tone burned with fury from old wounds. "Unless this is another trick to dominate me like your stupid wolf pride wants, huh? Need to remind the lowly omega bitch of her place at your feet?"
In a blistering instant, Alex's playful mask shattered. His rough hand gripped Gabby's wrist tightly like an iron manacle until she gasped at the crushing pressure.
"Don't mistake my practiced civility in the boardroom for weakness, Ginger," he growled, using her old nickname to remind her of ancient ties best left alone. "My wolf may crave your body's heat and scent again, but its pride demands conquest too. If you want this deal sealed, you'll accept my terms without another whimper of protest."
Gabby's eyes stared defiantly, hungrily drinking in the roiling power simmering behind those wolf-like eyes. Her free hand pressed against his chiseled chest, feeling his racing heartbeat. This close, she could smell the clear musk of his desire despite his arrogance.
"Is that what you need, my big bad alpha?" Her voice lowered to a molten purr, lips brushing his tensed jawline. "To conquer and subjugate your wayward omega mate all over again before you stake your claim? Two sides of the same rutting beast with only one victor?"
Alex's grip changed from restraint to an insistent pull, crushing Gabby's lithe body against the hard ridges of his muscular form. When their foreheads touched, scorching breaths mingled in the tiny space between barely parted lips.
"You've awoken a storm you can't endure, little wolf," he rumbled, menace lacing every deep tone. "My passion and dominance will have you shuddering in worship by the time I deem you worthy of my...submission."
Fanged grins flashed as predatory stares smoldered with primal, unquenched needs. All polite fronts and professional acts were consumed by the overpowering cyclone of their reignited primal bond.
Gabby licked her lips defiantly, nails raking his nape.
"Promises, promises, my sinfully wicked alpha. But this time, I'll be the one deciding how - and if - your brutish wolf receives his 'conquest'..."
As the last taunting words escaped her lips, their dueling mouths crashed together in an explosive, searing fusion of lust, possession, and keening wanton hunger.
Gabby's back hit the wall hard, a deep moan escaping her lips as Alex's body pressed against her. His hands roamed all over her curves roughly, bunching her skirt up her thighs.
"You want this as bad as me," he said lowly against her breasts, teeth tugging at her bra's lace edge. "Admit it."
Instead of answering, Gabby yanked his tie loose and kissed him hard. Their tongues fought for control as she raked her nails down his back, making him groan.
Alex thrust his hips firmly against her core in response, his stiff arousal leaving no doubt about his intense desire. "Still playing coy?" he rasped against her jaw. "We both know this was gonna happen the second we saw each other again."
"And whose fault is that?" She sucked a mark onto the side of his throat. "You walked away years ago when our mating went crazy."
Spinning them with supernatural quickness, Gabby straddled his hips and pinned his wrists over his head. Her eyes glinted defiantly. "But I'm not that naive little she-wolf anymore. This time, you'll know what it means to be conquered."
A cocky grin curved his lips as he easily reversed positions, towering over her.
"Oh really? We'll see whose willpower lasts longer against the other."
Crushing his mouth back to hers, Alex cupped Gabby's nape possessively as his other hand blazed a hot trail down her torso. When rough fingers delved into her underwear, she arched off the floor with a guttural cry.
"Yeah, let your wild side out," he rumbled against her throat as his relentless digits stroked her slick folds. "Reclaim what's mine."
Gabby's slitted eyes burned into his, nails scoring lines down his back as she thrashed under his touch. "Only if you can...nngh...make me fully submit this time."
Grinning ferally, Alex hitched her legs over his shoulders and sealed his lips over her molten center in a slow stroke.
Gabby cried out raggedly, fingers fisting through his thick hair. There'd be no more words - only the slick battle of primal hungers held back too long.