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Mariam shook her head, a small smile on her lips. “Uh-uh. I know you, Ella. Thanks for being all in for me, but whatever’s bothering you is big. Did something happen at the diner? Everything was going great with your awesome new hair, but when you came back from the bathroom, it was like you had deflated or something.”
You should tell her about the female at the diner, my wolf prodded.She knows her and our mate. Maybe she can help.
I chewed on my lip. I wasn’t sure if I wanted Mariam to help, even if she could. The more I thought about the Gabe/Samantha thing, the more it made sense. I wasn’t going to wreck their happiness just so I could be with a man I wasn’t even sure I wanted. Gabe was too honorable to ask if he could be with the waitress instead, but now he wouldn’t have to. They could carry on like they had before.
“It’s nothing. Just getting kind of sentimental, you know?”
“Really? You, sentimental?” Mariam scrunched up her face as she put the car in park. “I’m not buying it, Els. To be continued, for sure.”
I sighed and opened the car door. The smell of cinnamon was still hanging around on the breeze, so I knew Gabe must be nearby. I ran a hand self-consciously through my hair. Until Mariam had mentioned it, I had almost completely forgotten about the makeover and Gabe’s list of demands that I had thrown out the window. I had done it to make a statement, but maybe it wouldn’t even be necessary now.
“Better face the music,” Mariam murmured, glancing at my hand still tucked into my purple hair. Justine parked next to Mariam, and the three of us walked to the door together. Randy was waiting for us in the foyer.
“I’m proud of you for listening, troublemaker. Beautiful as always,“ he said, scooping Justine into his arms. He was trying not to be obvious, but I could tell he was glancing at me and likely thanking the Goddess I wasn’t his responsibility.
I snuck a peek around Randy and locked eyes with Gabe. His eyes flashed, darkening in a way that I hadn’t expected. Where was the boy I thought might still be in his late teens? It was like he had disappeared entirely.
“Would you all excuse us? Ella and I need a few moments alone.”
I gulped. Even knowing that nothing would come from the time we spent together, the instant worry was like a reflex. Something in his tone sent alarm bells ringing in my head.
“Are you going to be alright?” Mariam whispered. “Do you need me to come with you?”
I shook my head and did my best to put on a mask of indifference. What I needed to tell him would be easier without an audience, anyway. Shrugging, I walked past Gabe and straight up the stairs to my room. He followed closely, with his hand on my hip.
Gabe quietly closed the door behind us before descending upon me. Although his features were relaxed, his canines had started growing, and he had to blink a few times to keep the wolf from showing in his eyes.
“Do you enjoy disobeying me, Ella?” His words were smooth, almost like a purr. He took a few steps closer. My wolf was whimpering, ready to show her belly in submission. “I don’t think my instructions were hard to understand. You were told to only get a trim, but is thatwhat you did?”
“N-no,” I stammered. Gabe smiled, the look of a predator flashing across his face.
“Mariam and Justine both have a wild streak, but I thought you would have been the voice of reason. Instead, you were the only one who refused to listen to the rules you were given. I’ll have to ensure you understand what happens if you disobey me, mate.”
I scowled at him. “Gabe, we haven’t agreed to be mates. I have no reason to obey you. Besides, I don’t think you have it in you to discipline anyone for anything. Can we just move on? I need to tell you what happened today at lunch and—“
“And I’d love to hear all about it, really, but first, we need to take care of your disobedience.” Gabe sat on the bed and patted his lap. It took a moment for me to realize what he was doing, but when I could feel the color drain from my face.
“You don’t mean you want me to…you know?” I couldn’t even bring myself to say it.
“I absolutely expect my mate to face the consequences of her actions, and the consequences of your actions today include taking a trip over my knee,” Gabe answered. His words were tight and clipped, but at least he didn’t look as intimidating as when he first saw my hair in the foyer. Maybe I could talk him out of this madness.
“Gabe—“ I started.
“Gabe, nothing,” he snapped. “You did what you wanted, despite what I told you to do, so now you can make up for it by being a good she-wolf and laying your lovely ass across my lap.”
So much for talking him out of the madness. The way his jaw was set told me there was no negotiating on this. Maybe if I could just get through it and then explain about Samantha, we wouldn’t ever have to see each other again. I set my own mask back in place and walked up to him, spreading myself over his lap. I tried to think about the book I was reading or the mating ceremony, anything but the way he smelled or the heat coming off his body. Against my will, wetness pooled between my legs.
He chuckled above me, amused about something. I risked a look back at him, which seemed to set his gaze on fire.
“When you look at me like that, Ella, over your shoulder with your ass perched on me, it gives me all sorts of ideas,” he rumbled. “But you seem to be confused about how this works. As your mate, when I have to discipline you, it will be on your bare skin, not through a thick pair of pants.”
I gaped at him. “These aren’t thick! They’re leggings, Gabe. There’s practically nothing there at all. I’m not taking them off. Now, can we just get this over with so I can tell you what happened?”
“Not a chance,” he spat. “And arguing after disobeying isn’t a great look, Ella. Take off the pants and the underwear so I can punish you, then I’ll hear about the rest of your day.”
My wolf willed me to obey him, and his words were oddly challenging to ignore, but I refused to back down. I mumbled under my breath, praying it was enough to end this foolishness.
“What? I can’t hear you.”
