“This will be OK. It’ll all be OK,” Sophie said, coming to my side. “Do you have another appointment with Crowe Corp? Perhaps they could take a role in the preparation of the alphas for being a part of Evie’s life. Though I’m not sure even trained professionals could do anything with Logan.”
“Tomorrow after school,” I replied, watching those tall masculine figures disappear down the hall. “And yeah, I intended to ask them for some advice.” I rubbed at my eyes then, feeling the ache I’d faked when I sent Sophie to get water beginning to build. “Someone has to know a way through this.”
She gave me a hug and made me promise to drink the water, forcing me to take the bottles with me when I went out to my car. But right after I unlocked it and got inside, setting the bottles in the drink holders, a sharp rap on my window had my head jerking up.
Ben, I might’ve expected to see there. Perhaps Jasper. Damon, at a stretch, but not him. Reed seemed to understand that, standing there, hands shoved into his pockets as he stared down at me through the glass. He pulled one hand out and then made a motion with his finger for me to roll down the window. I did so, leaving a small crack at the top.
“Can we talk?”
His manner, his tone, it was so blunt and matter of fact that it was hard to see the mysterious alpha who’d commanded me to experience such pleasurable heights only nights before. I shook my head slowly, knowing what I should say, seeing it, feeling it right there. Instead, I unlocked the car doors and jerked my head to the passenger seat.
“Get in. I don’t have long. I need to pick up my daughter from her grandmother’s.”
Chapter 27
"What happened the other night…” Despite the ticking clock, Reed seemed in no hurry to speak or rather, found the process so difficult the words came out in fits and starts. He shook his head in irritation, then stared out the windshield at Sophie’s office. “That’s not my usual MO.”
“You don’t break little beta’s vaginas with multiple orgasms?” I meant that as snarky, but the look he shot me took all the wind out of my sails. There was something searing there in his gaze, something naked, which given his domineering attitude beforehand, was unexpected.
“Multiple, huh?” He snorted, shaking his head before reaching for a packet of cigarettes in his top shirt pocket, then stopping himself. His hands raked up and down his thighs twice before he forced himself to stop. “I can’t play those kinds of games at home. Everyone knows everyone and they’ve got expectations of the Morrisons.” His tone went from quiet to bitter abruptly. “Especially the omegas. When we got here, when I heard we were coming for Ben’s baby… I took a chance—”
“And what was the likelihood it would be the mother of his child that would respond to your profile,” I said. “Seriously, I get it. Maybe I don’t need to talk to Ben or anyone else about what happened that night.” I glanced over at him. “Maybe you don’t need to either.” He nodded slowly and I assumed it was because he was getting what he wanted, but he shifted then, turning that massive bulk to face me.
It felt like he filled the car interior. I had a reasonable sized sedan, but right now it felt like a two door hatchback with him in it. Reed seemed to swell, taking up all the space, all the air, so perhaps that’s why I was panting so fast. The slightly sheepish look he’d been wearing when he got in the car was gone and was replaced by this iron eyed alpha.
“I haven’t told anyone anything,” he said in a low voice, the rough raspy sound of it becoming something like a purr. “You did though, didn’t you? My brother came home reeking of a scent I was trying real fucking hard to get out of my mind. Pussy like honey and twice as sweet. One that made my mouth water. Damon thought I’d gone mad, sniffing on him like that, and then he smiled. He knew we’d played together.”
“Just that,” I ground out, trying to take a deep breath and failing. “I didn’t give him any details. Your eyes and his… I jumped to conclusions and—”
“I’m not like my brother,” he growled, cutting me off. “That’s why I’m no good for the cub. I can’t do this… piecemeal thing, getting little bites of you, her, this, even though my brain knows it makes sense. I wanted you to come to my room that night and be gone again, so I can let it all loose, what lives under my skin, the animal that I am. I wanted him to be able to sink his fangs into something sweet, knowing she’d leave and I’d have no means to drag her back. I deleted your number before you even arrived.”
“Right.”
“I pulled down my profile on Howlr. If something went wrong and you couldn’t make it, you would’ve had no means to contact me about that.”
“OK.”
“It was... We were…” I dragged my eyes up then, catching the moment those green eyes went silver. “It was supposed to have a shelf life, to be disposable.”
It was a horrible way to describe what we shared, that’s for sure, but the way he did that? His tone sounded… broken.
“I’m sorry I didn’t just disappear into the ether,” I said, then snorted at the ridiculousness of the statement. “Trust me, I was looking for the same thing.”
“But I’m not.”
“What?”
He stared at me then, eyes completely silver now.
“I’m not sorry you didn’t disappear the way I had planned.” He leaned forward then and something inside me tugged at my spine, wanting to do the same. “I’m not sorry that I know your name, who you are and what you mean…”
He reached out and snatched my hand up, bringing it to his lips and then brushing them across my knuckles.
“I’m not much of an alpha,” he said, “but the part of me that is? He wants to provide for you, satisfy you until you delete that damn app off your phone.” He grabbed the bag of coffee that I’d left on the centre console, plucking one of the many markers I had sitting next to it and scribbling down a number beside Jasper’s. “If you’re needing, you’ll call me. You’ll do that, right, little beta?” The cruel lilt was back in his voice now, wrapping around me like a silken rope. “I can give you whatever you need in ways no one else can match.”
He leaned forward, setting the coffee bag in my lap, then grabbing my limp hand and pushing it into the open neck of his shirt, against the hard warmth of his chest.
“I feel what you need, even now, and I’ll give it to you. All the thoughts you have when you think no one is looking, and all the others you’re too scared to even admit to yourself.”