Chapter 1

My roommate's uncle, River Wilde, had retired from the military. Word was he'd suffered nerve damage and would be wheelchair-bound for life.

Most critically, he was impotent.

But five years ago, on that stormy night, it was him. The man who'd left me so exhausted I could barely walk.

I went to pick him up from the airport, terrified he'd recognize me.

Until he saw my four-and-a-half-year-old son.

That scar through his eyebrow, identical to River's, was glaring under the lights.

The man stared at this miniature version of himself and suddenly smiled.

"Miss Sullivan, five years ago, the woman who slept with me, left two hundred dollars on the nightstand, and disappeared... that was you, wasn't it?"

Chloe POV

My roommate's uncle had retired from the military.

They said he'd injured his nerves during peacekeeping operations overseas and would be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life.

Most critically, he was impotent.

My roommate Madison was sobbing hysterically on the phone.

"Our family line is finished! Chloe, can you pick him up from the airport tonight? I'll cover your rent for the whole year!"

I gripped my phone, frozen in place.

River Wilde? No heir?

Impossible!

Five years ago, on that stormy night, the man who went at me like a rabid dog until I nearly fell apart, his stamina was unreal!

Back then I'd blacked out drunk, slept with him thinking he was a male escort, left two hundred dollars as payment, and fled in the middle of the night.

And then I got pregnant!

I glanced instinctively at my son on the carpet.

His eyes, his nose, and that naturally scarred eyebrow above his left eye-he was a miniature replica of that man!

I'd been raising his son for four and a half years, and he didn't have an heir?

But...

For Madison's promise of free rent, I gritted my teeth and agreed.

"Fine, I'll go."

I took a deep breath, clinging to hope.

After all, five years had passed. I'd gone from heavy makeup to bare-faced, and he was dysfunctional now-his memory should be fuzzy, right?

Before leaving, I pinched my son's cheek.

"Sweetheart, I'm picking up a friend."

Liam blinked his eyes, so similar to River's, and cut straight to the point.

"Mom, your heart's racing. Are you lying?"

...This damned genetic dominance.

10 PM. Torrential rain.

I parked my red Wrangler at the airport curb, my calves still cramping.

Someone knocked on the window.

A tall shadow stood in the rain.

The man wore a black tactical jacket, rainwater sliding down his buzz cut and along his sharp jawline.

This was supposed to be a broken man?

This was clearly a wolf in his prime!

Madison's intel had never been reliable!

I fumbled to unlock the door. The instant it opened, an aggressive wave of masculine pheromones flooded the car.

The man slid into the passenger seat, his long legs cramped with nowhere to go.

He turned his head, those pitch-black eyes sweeping emotionlessly across my face.

His gaze felt tangible, like a blade scraping my skin.

I held my breath, my heart nearly jumping out of my throat.

"Hello, I'm Madison's roommate, Chloe Sullivan."

Three seconds of dead silence.

He suddenly quirked his lips, his voice low and teasing.

"Why are your hands shaking? Am I that scary?"

I gripped the steering wheel tighter.

This voice was identical to the one that had whispered in my ear five years ago, forcing me to moan his name.

He suddenly leaned in close, forcing me to lean back.

Seeing me startled, he curved his lips in an ambiguous smile.

"Why are you dodging? I'm just fastening your seatbelt."

His long fingers reached across me to click the buckle, but his gaze dropped to the collarbone visible at my neckline, his eyes darkening abruptly.

"Though, Miss Sullivan, your scent... seems familiar."