Billionaire’s Quarry: A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Boxed Set) (153 page)

I smile at her. “Don’t be sorry, sweetie. It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. How much make-up did you put on? This stuff is everywhere. I don’t remember you wearing so much, but you had enough of this goop on to cover three girl’s faces,” I tell her with a chuckle.

She hits at my chest. “Don’t tease me, Kyle.”

I tweak her little nose. “Who’s teasing? There’s a lot of run-off and it’s threatening your pretty, little, white dress,” I say as I wipe some more black trails from her neck and a little ways down her chest. “Wow, Al, this is the lowest cut thing I’ve ever seen you wear. And, baby, you are wearing the hell out of it. I almost passed out when I saw your gorgeous self, jump out of that car.”

Her tears have stopped and they twinkle a little. She grabs another napkin and holds it over her cleavage which is exceptional. “You rogue. I’ll wipe this area.”

I laugh and she giggles, making me feel better. Although I’m a long ways from being okay with this, I won’t hurt her by dragging it out. I’ll suffer in silence and wait for the pain to pass.

God, I hope it passes.

Chapter 21

EDEN

“I’m sorry she’s putting you through this, Eden,” Alyssa’s father tells me.

My eyes follow my mate as she leads her soon to be ex-boyfriend out of the living room. “Don’t be. She’s going to break up with him. I can be patient while she does that.”

Her mother, Toni, laughs. “You sure about that?”

I turn to look at her and smile, then I look at David. “I asked her to marry me, and she said yes.”

Toni’s jaw drops and David comes to shake my hand. “You pulled it off. I wasn’t sure you could in time for the change. I couldn’t be happier. This will go so much easier for her now. I’m so sorry about making this harder than it had to be. I can’t apologize enough,” her father says as he pumps my hand up and down and pats my back.

“Let him go, David. I want to give him a hug,” Toni says. He moves back, and she grabs me up. “I’m so happy, Eden.”

I allow her to hug me until she’s content then I pull away from her and sit down. “Now we need to figure out when we should tell her who and what she really is. I have what I wanted, her to agree to marry me on her own. Now she has to be told and I could use your advice on that,”

David walks over to me and places his hand on my shoulder. “The time is near. It needs to be soon. I admit she’s progressing a lot better than I anticipated, but that news will be shocking.”

I rub the back of my neck in frustration. Again through my fault, she will suffer when she hears the truth. Fear and anxiety as well as disbelief will assault her emotions.

Who takes the news of turning into a giant bird well?

Toni gets up from the chair she’d taken. “It’s been too long. I’ll go get Alyssa and send Kyle on his way,” she says.

“No, leave her alone to do what she has to. I trust her and didn’t expect her to be able to do this quickly,” I tell her. “She needs time to give them both proper closure. I’ll not have loose ends and it takes time to tie them up. She really does love him. It may be hard for you to understand, but I do. She and I are built a bit different. Love and compassion for others are so strong it makes us put our lives on the line to help people. She let him in her heart, and he will dwell there forever. He’ll forget her in the near future, but she’ll never forget him.”

Toni crosses the room, sitting next to me. “I’m sorry we did this to her and you. We will surely pay the price when our time comes.”

I frown at her and take her hand. “Toni, you will not have to pay for anything. It’s okay. We got past it, didn’t we? If anything, it proves she loves me even more. In turn making me love her even more. You see, having her choose me is so much better than her being made to marry me. It’s a small price to pay for her happiness.”

Toni and David raise their brows. “I guess you’re right, Eden,” Toni says with a smile. “I’m glad she has you. A better partner there’s never been. I was a fool to think Our Creator wasn’t directly involved. Even the faithful have times of doubt.”

“It’s late and you two should go to bed,” I tell them. “I’ll wait here for Alyssa to finish her business with the boy. I’d like privacy with her once she’s done, she’ll be hurting and I want to be the one to help her through this. If she knows she can trust me with something this delicate it will give her greater faith in me, making us stronger.”

They agree and leave me alone. My mate is in the next room with another male. While I should be jealous and mad, I’m not.

The sound of the door to the dining room opening turns my attention to the light which flows into the dark hallway. My mate follows the boy as he leads her into the living room.

His eyes are swollen, his lip busted, and a scratch is on his cheek, but he doesn’t seem sad, which is good. He nods his head at me as he passes in front of me.

Alyssa reaches out and touches my leg with the hand which isn’t holding his. “I’m walking Kyle out and I’ll be right back, Eden.”

Kyle stops and turns back. I rise and meet his eyes as he says, “Ally’s told me about you and what you two are doing,” he says to me. “You must care more for her than I can imagine, asking her to marry you before you take her virginity. While I have to say it fills me with a sickness I’ve never known that you will be the one to feel her that way. There could not be a better man to lose her to. Promise me you’ll always treat her with the same respect and tenderness she tells me you do now.”

I look him squarely in the eye, trying my best to convey my compassion for him. “I promise you I will. I love her with all I have in me. I will never dishonor her. Thank you for taking this the way you are. You’re a compassionate individual and I can see why Alyssa cares for you so much.” I offer him my hand, and he takes it as we shake a solid shake which leaves me feeling good.

I smile at Alyssa. “I’ll be waiting here for you, Princess.”

“Thank you, Eden. I’ll be right back,” she says as she lets him lead her out the front door, closing the door behind them.

I keep waiting for the jealousy to rear up in me, but it never comes. It’s a relief as I’ve never had such negative emotions, and I dislike how the ugly emotion made me act. With great patience I wait for my mate to return.

She sniffles as she comes back in. Her make-up gone, she looks young and fragile.

“It’ll get better with time, he told me. I gave him his ring back. It was really hard Eden,” she says as she falls into my arms.

I wish I could help her!

I hug her tight and rock her back and forth. “Do you want to talk about it or go to sleep?” I ask.

Her small face, her cheeks red from all the tears, looks up at me. “Could you sleep with me? I’m tired, but I’d like you to hold me. I feel like I’ve lost so much, and having you next to me, holding me, would remind me why I let it all go. I’m not sorry I did, but I am feeling the loss.”

My arm goes under her legs, lifting her, I carry her up the stairs as she lays her head against my chest. If I could take this all away I would. I’d do it all different if I’d known she’d be this hurt.

I place her on the bed. “If you’re sure about this, I’ll go change and be right back.”

Her hand lingers in mine. “I’m sure, Eden. I need you.”

She needs me!

I hate it’s because she’s in pain, but I love to hear it.

“I’ll be right back, Princess.”

I change into some pajama bottoms and a T-shirt then trod back down the the hall to my mate’s bedroom door and do a quick tap before I enter.

“Come in,” her sweet and very tired voice calls out to me.

I open the door to find her cuddled up on the bed, lying next to the wall. She’s left room for me, and pats the bed, reminding me of what she did a few hours ago and how that turned out. I’ll have to exercise great restraint with her.

“How do you feel?” I ask as I slide in next to her.

She takes my hand and holds it to her cheek. “Terrible and wonderful at the same time.”

I stroke her hair back from her freshly washed face. “I’m sorry it’s this way. I truly am, Alyssa.”

“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault.” Her hand touches my chest, sending electric currents through it.

I close my eyes with the intense sense of the current as it flows out of my heart and through my veins with guilt over the knowledge this is my fault.

If I would’ve done as my mother suggested and taken her when she was thirteen this would never have happened. I open my eyes to find her looking at me.

“I love you, Alyssa.”

A frown draws her brows together. “Why do I feel you have something to tell me?”

My eyes widen in surprise. Can it be true? Is the time to change close enough for her to start reading my thoughts?

“I don’t know why you think that, Princess. It’s late and we’re beyond exhausted. Why don’t you put your back to me and let me hold you?” Her frown isn’t going away, so I kiss her cheek. “We can talk when we wake up.”

“I suppose,” she says as she turns over and scoots back to me.

I wrap my arm around her and pull her into me. Thank The Creator I’m so tired or I would never be able to hold her like this without great difficulty.

The touch of her silky hair on my cheek is enough to drive me crazy. This night I will have the sweetest of dreams as I can finally hold my mate as I’ve only dreamt of.

Chapter 22

ALYSSA

Something heavy lies on my leg as I open my eyes. A hard lump in my back is unfamiliar.

All I see is the wall, and sunshine fills my bedroom. As I move my hand in front of my eyes to shield them a flash of light nearly blinds me. After blinking a couple of times I can see the giant ring on my finger.

It’s as if I had a wild night of drinking because I’ve done the craziest things I’ve ever done. I had a very naughty make-out session with Eden and then said yes when he asked me to marry him.

We came home and Kyle was in handcuffs and I made the police let him go then I broke up with him. It nearly killed me to do it, but he took it a lot better than I thought he would.

Maybe he wasn’t so in love with me after all.

And I just remembered I asked Eden to sleep with me.

God! Who am I?

Did I get taken over by the pod people like my mother and father have?

My life has turned upside down. Am I really going to go through with marrying Eden?

The total number of days I’ve known him is seven. In a mere five days I’ll be eighteen, and that’s when he wants to get married.

What a birthday present that will be!

No, I’m going crazy. I can’t go through with it. Not so soon anyway. I’ll have to push the date back, so we can get to know each other better. Although he said we can’t have sex until I marry him, I bet I can get him to change his mind.

The rock hard lump in the small of my back lets me know I might be able to change his mind right now if I play my cards right. The even breaths I hear coming from him near my ear tell me he’s still asleep. I move ever so slowly back and forth, stroking him with my back.

A growl comes from his throat, so I turn my body to face his.

Even as he sleeps he’s beautiful beyond anyone I’ve ever seen, and he’s mine. I place a kiss on his cheek as I wrap myself around him, making sure to let his long, thick, hard lump stroke my inner thigh.

His eyes open, and a sleepy smile crosses his lips. “Mornin’ Princess.”

I kiss his stubbly cheek again as I rub my chest against his. “Good morning, Mr. Way Too Handsome In The Morning To Be Real.”

He makes a soft chuckle. “That one was a bit long, was it not?”

I grind against him. “Speaking of things which are long.”

His arms wrap around me, pulling me tighter into him. “Do I have myself a temptress?”

He places a gentle kiss on my neck sending a chill through me. “Maybe,” I say as I lay my lips on his neck to see if I can produce a similar effect in him.

A low groan from him answers my unasked question. In a quick motion, he has me flat on my back as he moves his body over mine. His bulge grinds against me, only his pajama bottoms and my panties separate us from actually touching.

He stops moving and looks into my eyes. “Tell me the words I long to hear.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his mouth almost to mine. I think he may be about to give in. “I love you, Eden.”

I can feel his smile on my lips. “I love you too, Alyssa, my princess.”

His lips touch mine, sending a surge of warmth through me. His tongue moves into my mouth, slicking past mine.

One of his hands tangles up in my hair and he pulls it, making my head move, his mouth leaves mine to nip at my exposed neck and I think I might pass out from the desire which has built up in me so quickly.

The shaft of his long erection strokes the sensitive area he found on me last night. I’m nearly bursting as I rise up to meet his hard throbbing bulge. He rakes it over me as if we’re actually making love, but we aren’t.

The heat inside me is overwhelming, I’m sweating and so is he. My hands run through his hair, and I pull at it. My legs are trembling and my breath is coming in gasps.

A hard bite on my neck sends me over the edge and I almost scream as I come undone inside. I wrap my legs around him as he stops moving. The pulse of his erection matches the pulse in me.

How does he know how to do the things he does?

Soft kisses drift over my neck and breasts before he brings his lips back to mine which are still quivering. They’re so soft and tender though he’s still rock hard, he maintains composure as he looks at me.

“Did I take care of your needs, Princess?”

I blush at his words. “You did, but what about yours?”

“Mine have to wait,” he says, then brushes a piece of my hair back before he rolls off me, leaving me lonely.

His back is to me as he sits up, then gets up and walks across the bedroom to the door. “Are you leaving?” I ask.

He turns back to look at me. “I think it’s about time we got out of bed. I’m going to take a shower and get dressed, then I’m taking you to meet my parents.”

What?

“God, no, Eden. I’m not ready for that!”

He flashes a smile at me. “Get Ready, Princess.”

He’s out the door before I can attempt an argument. His parents will hate me!

They’ll think me a gold digger. No one gets married this quickly. The sound of a car pulling into the drive gets my attention, and I look out the window. It’s my best friend, Laura. I haven’t spoken to her since the day I had my accident. Man, she’s going to freak on me.

She’s taking the stairs two at a time, her footsteps are loud, and dare I say, angry?

My door flies open, and there she is.

Oh yeah, she’s angry!

“Alyssa Shaylee Devlin, how could you?” Her long blonde hair is put up into a high ponytail just like she used to wear it when we were kids. It swings back and forth as she moves quickly to me.

“I can’t believe Kyle told you. I wanted to do that,” I say as I hold up the hand with the, to die for engagement ring on it.

Laura’s big, blue eyes widen as she looks at the ring. “Christ, Ally, it’s true. I thought he was messing with me, but it’s true,” she says, then turns her eyes to me. “I can’t let you do this. It’s insane, and I can’t believe your parents are going along with this. What’s happened to you and your entire family?”

I pat the bed for Laura to sit next to me. “Take a seat and I’ll tell you everything. Once you’ve heard my story I hope you understand. You do remember the totally hot guy from the hospital, right?”

Hesitantly she sits on the bed and holds my hand. She’s in shock. I guess I would be too if she was doing this.

“Yeah, he was exceptional, but this is too sudden, even for a guy like him,” she says.

“In a normal situation, I would be waiting to marry him. This situation is not normal. The way we make each other feel is not normal. It’s like electricity flows through us when we touch. Hell, sometimes when we just look at each other we can feel it.”

She squeezes my hand. “Ally, that’s lust. You can’t love this guy yet, and he can’t love you. This is a mistake. How long will your engagement be?”

My eyes look away, I know what her reaction will be. “Not long. We’re getting married on my birthday.”

She stands up and throws her arms in the air. “No! No, Ally! This is crazy. I tell you what we need to do. Kyle and I are loading your ass up in his truck and taking you to his grandfather’s house in Texas. They won’t find you there, and we can de-brainwash you. You have to have been brainwashed, don’t you see that?”

Hearing her tell me how crazy this is makes me realize just how insane it really is.

“Maybe I’ve been living in a fantasy land. You might be right, but if I couldn’t see Eden, if I couldn’t touch him, I think I might die. Even now I miss him, and he’s just down the hall.”

Laura sits on the bed and takes my hands. “Don’t you see how unhealthy that is? You are way too wrapped up in him, it’s not normal.”

“It isn’t normal, not one bit. I do know this, Laura. Maybe I should leave with you, and see how I feel about him after a day or so apart,” I say. My stomach clenches at the thought.

Laura jumps into action, running to my closet to grab some clothes. “So he’s here, but your parents and Scotty are gone. Let’s get the hell out of here before he leaves his room.”

I scramble out of bed and run to the bathroom. “I need a shower.”

“No! You can take one at my house before we leave,” Laura orders. “We need to hurry and get you out of here.”

I grab a fresh pair of underwear and a pair of shorts and a shirt from my drawer and go into the bathroom to change. My reflection in the mirror shows me pink cheeks where the stubble from Eden’s overnight beard growth has rubbed them as he kissed me a while ago. On my neck is a bit of red where he bit me, making me come undone.

I run my hand over it and swear I can still feel his teeth as they clamped down on me. The electric current back though he’s not anywhere near me.

My hands flow over my neck, down the front of my body, and stop at where he’s kissed me and stroked me until I orgasmed. The first two of my life and Laura wants me to run away from him. I can’t.

I dress and put my hair in a ponytail and go out to let my best friend know, crazy or not, I can’t leave him. She has a bag packed and is sitting on my bed, looking at her phone, texting someone.

“Hey, Laura, I’ve been thinking, and I can’t go.”

She looks up at me. “You can go. You need to go. This is not mentally healthy for you, Ally. Let me and Kyle take care of you for a little while. If you still think you love him, then we’ll understand. We’ll bring you back if after a few days you still want him.”

A few days away from Eden sounds like Hell to me. “No, I won’t go. I love him. I know you don’t understand how this can happen so fast, but it has. I love you for trying so hard to help me, but I don’t need any help. Maybe if you see us together you’d understand.”

As if on cue he walks in my bedroom door. A smile on his face, he looks at me, then quickly over at Laura. He smiles at her and walks to her. “Nice to see you again, Laura.”

He holds out his hand, and she places hers in his. He takes it, lifts it to his lips, leaving a kiss on top of it.

A smile covers her face, and she looks directly into his eyes and says, “Oh, aren’t you smooth.”

He lets her hand go and looks over at me. “Is something wrong?” he asks.

“She thinks I’m crazy,” I answer.

With a low chuckle, he says, “Does she now?”

Laura crosses her arms over her chest. “I do, and I blame you for it. What have you done to my best friend? This whole family has gone berserk since you came to visit. I think it best if Ally got away from you and her parents for a few days. She needs to get her head back on straight, and the influence of all of you won’t help her accomplish that.”

Eden moves to me, putting his arm around my waist. “Her head is on straight for the first time in years. Isn’t that right, baby?”

I look up at him and smile. “I think so. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”

Laura looks at me like I’m nuts. “Ally, just come away with me for a few days. I promise I’ll bring you back as soon as you want.”

Eden looks at me. “Is that something you want to do, because you can if you want? I’ll never hold you back from anything, Princess.”

My eyes search his, and I know in an instant I don’t want to leave him, and run away for even a minute. “It’s not what I want,” I say, and hear Laura huff.

She throws her arms up and says, “God! Go ruin your young lives. Get married way to young, end up divorced with three kids by the time you’re twenty-five, and then come crying to me you wrecked your life over lust.”

Eden kisses the top of my head. “Is that all we have, Alyssa?”

I shake my head. “It’s love, Laura. Believe it or not that’s what it is.”

Laura’s eyes are shiny with unshed tears, and I find it disturbing. I go to her and hold out my arms to hug her. She comes into them, and I feel her shaking.

“Why are you so afraid, Laura?” I ask.

“Because I’m losing you, Ally. You’re leaving us all behind for this guy. Since the day of your accident I’ve felt your absence. No phone calls or texts, nothing, you’ve been so wrapped up in him. There are other people who care about you. Kyle, me, and even Cody have been missing you. Now you’re getting married and I’m assuming you’ll move away. You’ll forget about us and go live some fantasy life.”

Crap! Now she has me crying.

“I won’t forget about you. I promise, Laura. We’ll be friends forever. Eden and I haven’t even talked about where we’ll live. No matter where it is, though you can come visit me, and I’ll come visit you. You’ll see, it won’t be as bad as you think.”

“What are your plans for today, Laura,” Eden asks.

I let her go, and grab a couple of tissues from my nightstand, I hand her one while I dab at my tears with the other. She looks at me for a few seconds before she looks at Eden.

“Since I’m not taking Ally anywhere, my plans are nothing.”

“I wonder if you might like to join us for the weekend,” Eden says. “I’m taking Alyssa to New Orleans to meet my parents. Her family is coming so you might want to come along too. I’d like to get to know you, and I’m sure seeing where I’ll be taking Alyssa to live will give you some comfort.”