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Barren has withdrawn his arm and moves slightly away from me. I feel the space like a coldness. I can’t help but peer at him, hating myself for resenting Gold. Hating that I can’t…I just can’t tell them the truth.
Gold and Jet are arguing, but Taylor simply crosses towards me, moving too far into my space, and hands me a glass with white wine in it.
“You’re quite a star in the marketing world, Miss Waring. I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time.”
I jerk my head up to stare at him, barely stopping from slopping wine all over his carpet.
“You have?”
“Of course. You built an empire of a business almost single-handedly.” He praises.
I inhale and finally name the scent that’s lingering around him. It's the smell in the air before it rains, but right before the lightning, wild, natural, potent.
He sips his own drink and watches me over the rim of the glass. It takes everything in me to turn away. The room is vast, with high ceilings, off-white walls, and dark polished floorboards. There’s a massive table in front of the glass doors and several armchairs and a long couch arranged on the other side of the room. But it’s the chandelier that steals the attention. It’s a glass monstrosity on elegant, modern lines and angles.
Once I’ve noticed, I can’t stop glancing at it. It almost reminds me of glass knives hanging high over the heads of diners.
“You like it?” Jet asks, touching my lower back. “Acton made it. He has high opinions of society.”
“It's fascinating.” I say honestly. Deadly, dangerous, pointedly threatening, but stunning. I move closer and stare up at it in awe.
I sense movement to my left and turn, finding Barren staring at me with his huge black eyes. The world disappears. My skin heats. I lick my lower lip, and his eyes drop to my mouth. I fight to hold back a groan. Everything he is silently telling me is screaming, ‘I need you.’ I’ve never ever had anyone look at me like this, but I can read the language as if it’s air.
I tear myself away from him and find myself almost standing on top of Gold. His eyes are narrowed in fury. He reaches for my hand, but I put it behind me and tilt my chin, staring up at him challengingly. Gold wants to hurt me. I’m familiar with his brand of pain. Find your weakness and pour salt over it. Not happening this time, buddy.
“Red,” he growls.
The sound of his voice brings back a whole lot of memories that I do not want to examine right now. It also stokes that simmering heat inside me.
“Hello again, Gold. How’s the family?” It’s good to know that my ability to control the urge to needle him is still non-existent.
“They’re doing fine.” He rumbles. His eyes flash with something, but I’m not sure what it is.
“Great. Good. That’s just…good.” I step back and turn to the side, catching sight of Acton carrying in a massive pot. He puts it on the table, and I wander in that direction, acutely aware of the other alphas shadowing my movements.
I’m starting to feel a bit hunted, and it’s got me feeling nervous. I’m wondering if I should have brought a weapon. Or a chastity belt. Could throw the key off the cliff at the top of the trail. If this continues, it’s probably a good thing I’m not wearing one. I’d probably gnaw my own legs off.
Barren moves between his alphas and pulls out a chair. “Sit here.”
I drop into the seat and watch out of the corner of my eye as he sits beside me. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop from turning to him, and instead, watch the other alphas.
“Acton is an amazing cook. You’re really going to love this.” His voice is soft, the tone intimate.
I glance sideways at him and smile. It comes easier, but it’s still an effort to control my reactions to him.
Acton leans over me, putting a bowl in front of me. My breath freezes in my lungs as the hot heat of his chest hovers over my shoulder. I feel strangely vulnerable, exposed, and yet deliciously small and feminine. I hold my breath, waiting for the moment to be over, praying it goes on forever. He puts a second bowl in front of Barren, lingering over us for the longest moment and then steps back like nothing happened.
I wait as the others arrange themselves at the table. Jet sits on my right, Gold sits opposite him. Taylor opposite Barren and Acton takes the seat directly opposite me.
“Eat,” Taylor invites.
I pick up a spoon and dip it into the bowl. Flavour explodes on my tongue. My eyes find Acton, and I know the surprise shows on my face because his eyes crinkle at the sides.
“What do you do for work now?”
I pause while I’m eating and glance at Taylor. “I’m creating a dating website.”
The silence around the table is deafening.
