Chapter 49

Chapter 49: What Did He Tell You?

I didn’t need the mate bond to know Lottie was nervous about being alone with me, and I knew why.

She was wondering what Mike had told me. I had debated not saying anything, but since she had woken to find we were mated, I could sense she was looking for a reason to bolt, and I wasn’t about to give her one.

“You ok, petal?” I asked, walking by her to where her mask sat on her makeup desk, motioning for her to come and sit. I kept my eyes trained on her face, watching to see what her next move would be. I meant what I said earlier.. She was mine and was all that mattered to me. Maybe I did care about what Mike had alleged she had done, but I knew better than to believe him entirely. There had to be more to this!

“Yes, fine.” She whispered. It was a lie; we both knew it. I smiled, watching her move across the room to sit on the stool before me. Running my fingers over her bare shoulders, I smiled to myself, seeing her shiver under my touch, leaning into me instinctively.

“Wanna talk about it?” I asked, moving my fingers up her neck to her ponytail, giving it a playful tug.

My eyes never leaving hers in the mirror.

“Wanna talk about what?” She asked, arching a brow at me, trying to call my bluff. I loved her sassiness but now wasn’t the time.

Chapter 49: What Did He Tell You?

“About Mike!” I stated calmly, not wanting to drag this out; she was clearly worried enough. “And why you went to his room.” I watched her eyes widen and hated myself for putting her through this.

“What did he tell you?” She asked, her eyes glossing over with tears.

“That you wanted information and offered him something in return.” I expressed, my eyes still locked on hers, not liking seeing her get upset, but I wanted to put this bed along with any thoughts on bolting and enjoy the night with. her, like I had planned.

“Right!” she sighed, shaking her head. “Did he tell you what information ! wanted?” She asked, not denying anything, but her tone said enough. The bastard had left out some information- as I suspected. She moved quickly to wipe her tears away before they fell, evidently not wanting me to see, but she was not quick enough to hide them from me. I noticed everything when it came to my Queen! Spinning the chair around so Lottie fáced me, I kneeled before her, forcing her to look at me.

“Please don’t cry! If Kane senses you’re upset, he will be up here in thirty seconds and want to know why I made you cry!” I explained, stroking her arms adoringly. She was so beautiful; I abhorred myself for being the one to make her shed a single tear. “And I would rather he not know!

If that’s ok, angel!” I asked “Not know?” She asked, chewing her lip in that cute way that made me want to nibble on it just to hear her moan into my mouth.

5 Chapter 49: What Did He Tell You?

“Do you want him to?” I asked, watching her face carefully.

“There is nothing for him to know!” She replied weakly, straightening up to stare at me with hard eyes.

“Then why are you upset?” I asked, taking her hands in mine and placing them in her lap so I could stroke my thumb across her skin in the hope of the mate bond doing its job and keeping her calm.

“I am not going to ask you to explain if you don’t want to…” I sighed, even though every inch of me wanted to know what happened between them. The more I pushed, the further she would run. I had to try a different route. “…But just know it’s going to be ok! Mike told me about your father’s debt..”

“What?” She spat out, tugging her hands from mine, her eyes glaring into me nervously. “I didn’t want you involved in that!” She sighed, pushing to her feet; while I turned on my knees, I watched her pace back and forth, the beautiful fabric of her dress swooshing around her feet.

“Why?” I asked, keeping my eyes trained on her.

“Because I don’t want you involved with it. I will speak to my father.”

自号16%日 Chapter 49: What Did He Tell You?

“Like fuck you will!” I laughed, getting to my feet. “I know Kane is meant to be the brains of the two of us… But I am not stupid; I am putting it all together! Your father was angry earlier when he came to see you! Wasn’t he? He doesn’t want you mated to us? Because then he won’t be able to force Mike into doing what he wants! Let’s face it, Mike isn’t bright enough to work a way out of the blackmail!”

“I would say Mike is well versed in the rules of blackmail.” She scoffed, wrapping her arms around her delicate b*dy. Noting the tremor in her, I stepped closer to her, but she stepped away, causing me to sigh. My b*dy tensed, feeling the self–loathing wash down the bond.

Fuck I had so many questions!

And I would get the answers to them, but not from Lottie; I could see from her b*dy language and feel it from her that she was struggling under the weight of whatever happened in that room with Mike.

“Why do you say that?” I asked, standing still, not daring to move. I could feel how close she was to opening up.

“You’re right! My father was angry. He came in here earlier and told me to reject. you.” I felt my whole b*dy freeze as it hummed with unchecked rage, but I worked to keep it steady as I let her continue, not wanting to interrupt her in case she stopped talking.

“He told me I had to marry Mike, and if I didn’t… Well, that doesn’t matter.”

Chapter 49: What Did He Tell You?

Something told me it did matter, very much so!

Inwardly, I made two promises. One, to find out what happened between her father and Mike, and two, to never leave her alone with anyone but Kane or myself.

She might hate me; she might think me overbearing and possessive, but the truth was, she was probably right! The fact that she had been my mate for less than twenty–four hours and I had failed to protect her from Lilly, her father and Mike proved things needed to change! And I needed to make good on my promise to keep her safe!

Author Note: Please bear with me this week, it’s Christmas week and the kids are off school so the little leeches are glued to my sides in between my long shifts at work. I hope you’re all having a fabulous Xmas week! Thank you for those voting for my book and leaving reviews/comments. They are the best Christmas gift you can send! I am grateful as always! Love Pippa X |||