My laugh booms around the room. “I don’t think there’s any better way Hunter could be explained.” I love that she’s feeling better, but she’s still owed the biggest apology. “I’m so sorry he brought you here under false pretenses, somethingthat he’s fully aware is illegal. You say the word and I’m sure Alric will personally be the one to deliver him to jail, but you should have heard the way we all were talking about you last night when we thought you were three different people. We all adore you and would never ever hurt you. We’re alphas and we should have made you feel welcomed, instead of scared. The fact that you had to run in here and lock the door says a lot more about us than it does about you.”
The door clicks and I scramble to my feet. The bathroom light halos her and she’s never looked more like an angel.
Automatically, I open my arms and Emilie steps into them, sighing loudly when they go around her. My purr grows louder and she snuggles closer to me, the smell of her distress pheromone gone.
“Yeah, I know that, but I panicked. Alric looked so upset and Hunter lied. I just needed to get away.”
I place a kiss on her forehead. “In Alric’s defense, all that anger was really directed at Hunter.”
“No, he’s pretty pissed at me. I ended our arrangement on Friday night, but I think he was too stubborn to realize I had actually broken up with him. I think he thought we were having a discussion on a relationship, and not that it was over.”
“That sounds pretty damn awkward.”
“Yep.”
Emilie backs out of my embrace, leaving me cold. “I’ll bring you dinner and you can stay locked in here all night. I’ll stand sentry outside your door like a faithful knight to ensure the guys don’t bother you, if that’s what it takes to make you feel safe again.”
That draws a small smile out of her. “Let’s go talk to them first.”
Chapter 9
Alric
Hunter and I press against the door, straining to hear any of their conversation. My stomach’s in knots. I shouldn’t have demanded to know why she hadn’t responded to my calls. My excitement at seeing her so unexpectedly was quickly overshadowed with the knowledge that she never wanted to see me again.
I’ll never get the smell of her distress out of my head, and the fact that I partly caused that atrocious scent will forever shame me.
She’s a sugar baby and had every right to walk out of my life, regardless of my apparently unrequited feelings towards her. I knew this was a temporary arrangement I paid for. Madi never owed me a damn thing.
It justfeltreal. Every touch, every kiss, every late-night laugh. The funds I send her are automatically set, so it was too easy to forget that I paid for access to her. I feel like a fucking idiot, like one of those jackasses who thinks strippers actually like them.
I need so much more out of ourrelationship.
Madeline doesn’t understand how well we would treat her—not as a sugar baby, but as a girlfriend. As a wife. As a bondmate.
When she broke up with me on Friday, I thought that could be the start of a negotiation. I was prepared to compromise, assuming that I had a say in the matter, too, simply because I didn’t want it to end. I’m not used to being dismissed, rejected. It stung my ego that she didn’t want to be with me anymore, my anger fueled by the fact she had left without saying goodbye. Blocked me. Left me alone in the middle of the street like a lovesick idiot.
And now she’s here, terrified and angry. I need to apologize. Profusely and generously.
Hunter and I jump away from the door when it opens, making me feel like a schoolboy who was caught doing something naughty.
Madeline walks out holding Zachary’s hand, and the air leaves my lungs.
I’ve never seen her so casual. Every time we’ve ever gone on dates, she was in stilettos and those little black dresses she knows I love, but here? Madeline’s natural beauty shines in a loose floor-length dress. Her wet hair has been pulled up into a knot on the top of her head and she wears no makeup.
I want to kiss her, trail my nose up her neck, and suck on the spot I know she loves. Redo her arrival to make her feel welcomed.
She looks between Hunter and I apprehensively, stepping closer to Zachary, wrapping her arm around his. I want her to cling to me like that. She may have broken off what we had, but with this storm providing some blessed forced proximity to us, maybe I can convince her to give me another chance. Show her that we’re everything she needs. I’ve never been thankful for a storm in my life.
“Let’s all head to the living room and have a nice, long chat. I think we could all use a drink,” Zachary suggests.
“I’ll make some Sex on the Beach!” Hunter yells and runs to the kitchen as if he’s training for the Olympics. I raise my eyebrow and Zachary just shrugs with a smile.
We follow him into the sitting area. I’ve always found this room to be calming with its neutral colors, deep blue accents, and exquisite ocean views through its large windows. The walls are made of exposed stone from the island, leading up to arched ceilings. A lit fireplace adds an extra glow to the room. My mother designed this home, but I’ve done a few upgrades over the years to add in some modern touches.
We all sit on three large leather couches the color of sand. Zachary and Madeline sit across from me. I keep trying to catch Madeline’s eyes, but she’s making a very dedicated effort to not let that happen. I deserve that for acting so aggressively towards her when she arrived, but is she going to ignore me forever? The thought makes me want to growl, but I know that will only make the situation worse.
The silence is awkward, but thankfully, Hunter arrives with some fruity cocktail I wasn’t even aware we had the ingredients for. I take a small sip. It’s too sweet for my palate, but I’m ready for anything to calm my simmering emotions. Hunter may have ruined this for me, before I even had a chance to try and fix what I had with Madeline.
