Page 43 of New Blood

That seemed to have gotten her attention. Her lips parted. “Why would you wanna fuck me when I’m clearly boring in bed?”

“Who the fuck said—” He stopped himself mid-sentence, realizing that he himself had used those words earlier in the day. He let out a breath. “You eavesdropped on my conversation with Ransom.”

“I’m glad I did. Knowing how you feel about last night makes it easier to leave. So, let me have my backpack, and I’m outta here.”

He kicked the backpack hard, making it slide over the polished wooden floor, out of Danielle’s reach.

“You’re not leaving. I lied to Ransom. I didn’t mean it that way.”

“That’s convenient,” she scoffed. “Don’t bother trying to find an excuse. I really don’t care how you feel.”

“Evidently you do, or you wouldn’t have chosen to leave without a word in the middle of the night.”

If his conversation with Ransom had been the only reason why she suddenly wanted to leave, he could fix this situation quickly.

“Listen, Danielle, the only reason I said what I said to Ransom is because he was interested in you. I didn’t want him to make a pass at you.”

“Well, isn’t that just peachy?” She snorted rather unladylike. “So I’m not even good enough for one of your men. You had to save him from me. Thanks a lot!”

“Are you saying you’re interested in Ransom?” The question alone caused a dull pain in his solar plexus.

“Why the hell would I be interested in Ransom?”

She shook her head, her forehead furrowed in disbelief, which he interpreted that she didn’t want a relationship with Ransom. It was a relief, yet at the same time, he wasn’t sure why she was still so pissed off.

“I apologize,” he said quickly.

His father had taught him to always apologize to a woman just in case she expected an apology, even if he didn’t know what he’d done wrong. Keeping it vague was the best strategy in this situation.

“Now let me leave,” she insisted once more.

“Why do you still want to leave? I told you I lied to Ransom so that he wouldn’t make a pass at you. I’m sorry that you had to overhear it, but I really felt I had no choice. Ransom has a way of getting any woman into his bed, and I just can’t allow that. Not with you. Not after last night.”

She narrowed her eyes, and it felt like she was shooting daggers at him.

“So let me get this straight: you don’t want me to have sex with any of your men, but at the same time you’re gonna mate with Eve. If you think that I’ll become your mistress once you’re mated with Eve, you’re wrong. I’m never gonna be the woman on the side.”

Now, it dawned on him. Danielle didn’t like the idea of him mating with Eve. That was the root of the problem.

“What happened last night was a mistake,” she continued.

“It wasn’t a mistake!” he shot back. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

She shook her head. “You’re still gonna mate with Eve, and I can’t stay to watch that. Don’t you get that?”

This had to mean that Danielle really did have feelings for him. Otherwise, it wouldn’t matter to her if he mated with Eve or not. If she felt nothing for him, and all last night had been was sex, she wouldn’t feel compelled to leave the pack. But how could he be sure about what she felt?

“I get it now. You have feelings for me. That’s why you can’t watch me taking Eve as my mate. You want me to mate with you instead.”

For a moment, it looked like she wouldn’t answer, but then she looked straight into his eyes. “It doesn’t matter whether I have feelings for you. You have to mate with Eve. And I can’t change that.”

He gripped her shoulders now, not wanting her to escape again. “But if I didn’t have to mate with Eve, what then? Would you want me as your mate?”

“I just told you that it doesn’t matter what I want. You’re not free.”

“Damn it, Danielle, just answer the fucking question. If I were free, would you want me as your mate?”

He could see the no already sitting on her tongue and slipped his fingers under her chin to tilt her head up so she couldn’t avoid his gaze, and hopefully, wouldn’t lie to him.