Page 31 of Never His Mate

Gretchen glances over at him again. “He is cute.”

He’s more than cute, but I’m not about to argue with Gretchen. Not when I might be able to kill two birds with one stone.

Distract Ryker and get rid of Gretchen?

“Go on.”

“Okay.” Gretchen flips her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Why not?”

Why not, indeed?

* * *

I don’t knowwhat’s in the drinks that Aleks keeps bringing me, but they have me thinking real inappropriate thoughts as the night wears on. And, yeah. That’s a cop-out. I’m a fucking bartender, for Luna’s sake. I know exactly what’s in each one, and like I purposely requested, they’ve all been virgins. Getting drunk with Ryker within touching distance… bad idea all around.

I’m being ridiculous. Even I admit that. After I sent Gretchen to flirt with him, I get annoyed that he lets her sit down with him for a few moments. She doesn’t linger, and I’m not so surprised when she shoots me a loathing look as she sweeps away from his table, but Ryker isn’t alone for long—and I didn’t send a second vamp over there.

And so begins a carousel of club-goers all trying to be the one that’ll snag Ryker’s attention. Though I know I shouldn’t care, and that I’m just driving myself crazy for no reason, I can’t help but keep an eye on his table, waiting for the moment when he chooses a date for the night and leaves.

It’ll happen. I know it will.

Which is why I get the irrational idea to beat him to the punch.

Once Aleks realized that I was more interested in paying attention to Ryker than dancing with him, he led me to the edge of the dance floor for good. It’s in a spot where we’re somewhat hidden, but I angled my body just enough that I still have a line on the shifter as well as some of the male vamps prowling around the club.

“Aleks?”

“Yes?”

“How mad would you be if I brought one of these guys back to my room with me?”

Did I really just say that out loud?

Aleks’s eyes go wide for a moment. I don’t think he can believe I did, either.

And then—

“Are you asking me as your roommate, or a male who would much prefer to be the one you use to make that idiot jealous?”

I feel my cheeks go hot. Yup. Instant regret, all right. “Forget I said anything.”

If only it was as easy as that.

“But I don’t want to. I prefer to be honest. And the truth is that I’d take you anyway I can get you, Gem. I’ve made that clear since the beginning.”

He did. I’m just the selfish bitch who let the green-eyed monster blind me for a moment to Aleks and his feelings. What the fuck was I thinking, asking him if he was good with me picking up a stranger and sleeping with him in a twisted way to get back at Ryker?

I would regret it. For so many reasons, I would regret such a stupidly, impulsive action. But apart from giving it up to someone who means nothing to me, I know it would hurt Aleks.

“Like I said. Forget it.”

“Mm.”

I hate it when he does that. I know he has something he wants to say, but he’s choosing not to. Normally, I let it go. But I am jealous and I am frustrated and, hell, it’s creeping closer to the full moon than I want to admit which means that I’m full of sexual tension.

It’s nothing that I can’t take care of myself—I usually do—but with Ryker a tease to my senses and Aleks’s offer almost too tempting to admit, I lose what little temper I’ve been clinging to. It doesn’t help that I have to admit my brilliant plan in regards to distracting the Alpha has back-fired spectacularly on me.

Ryker’s not jealous, but I sure am.

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