AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m a pretty terrible cook, so I order my food most of the time,” he says with a laugh, opening the refrigerator to reveal milk, eggs, water, and beer. “If there’s something you like just let me know, and I’ll have it on hand for you.”
“Hey, at least you have milk and eggs, and not just the beer.”
He nods with a slight laugh. “True. Speaking of food, how would you feel about me taking you to dinner tonight?”
“I’d love it. What do you have in mind?”
“I heard Mexican food is one of your favorites.”
“That sounds delicious. Did Chloe tell you it’s my favorite?”
“She did, and she also told me she’s been trying to get a hold of you this morning.”
“Oh, I turned my phone off last night.” I turn it back on and see a few messages from her. “She wants to know if I want to go to lunch and shopping today. Do you mind?”
Ethan
“Not at all,” I say, appearing as calm as possible. I absolutely fucking mind. She’s mine to protect, but I also know I can’t keep her locked away in my house. “I want you to make yourself comfortable here and have fun, but let’s talk before I send you out into the pack without me.”
She sits up straight and her body visibly tightens. “Okay. Is something wrong?”
I have to fight my instinct which tells me to remind her that she’s mine, and I don’t want her anywhere but right by myside. If it were anyone other than Chloe going with her, that’s probably exactly what I’d say. “No. You’ll be safe with Chloe here within my pack, but I’ll send out a pack-wide email letting everyone know you’re my guest. And, at least for now, it would make me feel better to send you out with security. They’ll be very discreet. You won’t even notice them.”
Her eyes widen and I know I’m scaring her. “Security? It seems a little excessive for lunch and shopping.”
I sigh and massage her shoulders as I try to find the words to put her at ease. “Please don’t be afraid, but you’re new here, and everyone will know you’re human. They’ll automatically start making assumptions about who you are to me. I have no reason to think anyone would treat you with anything but kindness, but it’s my responsibility to keep you safe. It would make me feel better to know you’re being looked after.”
She fidgets in her chair a little, but nods. “Okay. I realize I don’t know how things work here, so I trust your instincts.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to go along with this,” I say, raising her chin for her lips to meet mine.
As we pull away, she stands and nervously bites her lower lip. “Um, I have something I need to tell you, and it’s probably not going to make you very happy.”
My chest tightens as I stand to attention. “Okay.”
“Colin sent me several text messages last night. He said he’s sorry, he still loves me, blah, blah, blah. The part that concerns me is that he was saying you can’t have me, he’s going to take me back, and he’s going to make you pay for what you did to him. This is what I was worried about, Ethan. He’ll try to find you and press charges or something.”
I shake my head and laugh it off, but I’m fucking boiling inside. “Let him try to fucking come after me. I’m not scared of him, Olivia. I will never back down to him. He has his way ofdealing with things, and I have mine. I fucking dare him to come after me.”
Her mouth drops open, and she backs away from me. “What the hell does that mean?”
Shit. I don’t want to scare her, but she needs to learn how things work here, and how serious I am about protecting what we have. I go to her, pulling her into the warmth of my body, knowing it will relax her. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. Just know there’s no way he’s getting you back. It’ll be the last fucking thing he tries to do.” Olivia is mine.
Olivia
I’m stunned in silence. Surely, he doesn’t mean it the way it sounds. Sometimes guys say things when they’re angry. Ethan wouldn’t do something like that. Would he? A chill runs down my spine as I think back on the look on Ethan’s face when he had his hands around Colin’s throat. I wonder what other barbaric things he’s capable of, all while at the same time I’m warming to his touch, my body melting into his.
I push away and clear my throat. “I should probably get in touch with Chloe.”
“Okay.” He plays with the end of my hair. “I’ll make the security arrangements.”
While Ethan is giving orders on the phone, Chloe and I exchange text messages to make plans. “Chloe will be here to pick me up at noon.”
“Okay. I’m looking forward to our date tonight.” He comes to me, cupping my face in his hands. “I like having you all to myself.”
I respond with a small smile as his eyes lock onto mine. I don’t understand how I can feel so utterly connected to him, mybody literally relaxing into his touch, while still imagining his capability of brutality.
“I just need a taste of what’s to come.” He leans his forehead to mine. Our eyes are fixed on one another. His lips quietly brush mine and my breath stills. I feel his hand move to the back of my hair, gripping it and pulling my mouth to his now eager lips. His tongue is smooth and commanding against my own, never for a second giving up control—his taste, a sweet nectar, drawing me in. Any thoughts of concern I had are suddenly silenced, weakening my very core.
