Chapter 13 #2
Anger bubbled up inside me. She wasn’t a wolf, so she had no idea Kip and I were a bonded pair, but judging by the way he looked at her, he might have forgotten himself.
The two of them had dated—as much as Kip would date—for about four months, but it had been a passionate relationship.
I could still see them in my head by the lockers, Kip’s hands on her boobs, his tongue down her throat.
He’d told me how hot the sex was, and that she was kind of a freak in the sheets.
And now, here she was, standing in front of him.
I wish it was Kai working tonight instead.
I liked Kai. When we were in school he’d never seemed to fit with any group. Every time I tried to talk with him, he flushed, muttered an apology and hurried away. I understood.
The other kids treated him pretty much the same way they treated me, and he was probably afraid I’d be the same.
There weren’t many pudgy wolves, but Kai was one of them, and that earned him a good amount of barbed teasing.
He was quiet, respectful, and best of all, he wasn’t one of Kip’s former sex partners who was now making fucking goo-goo eyes at him.
“Come give me a hug,” she told him.
The bastard stood, opened his arms, and let her walk into them. Then she grabbed his face and pulled him to her, kissing him deeply. The second I saw her tongue in his mouth, I was out of there. No way would I be made a fool of while my mate French-kissed a woman in front of me.
As soon as the door of the diner slammed behind me, I took off down the street, the wind whipping my hair over my eyes, which I hoped would hide the tears.
Intellectually I understood that as my Dominant, Kip could do what Jerome had and formed himself a harem.
He could have up to three other people in our polycule, and I hated that.
I wanted him to myself, which I knew in my heart was stupid.
In order to grow the pack, the dominant men were expected to have multiple women.
I’ve been so stupid, thinking Kip could be only mine.
I continued to run faster, past my house and into the woods. I sat on a fallen log, my chest heaving and my eyes leaking. I scrubbed a hand over my face. Yes, I knew it was dumb. I’d have to go home eventually, but maybe by then I would have calmed down enough to accept Allison in Kip’s life.
Probably not, but stranger things have happened.
After about twenty minutes, my heart stopped slamming into my chest. I sighed and stood. Might as well get this over with. I trudged back to the house.
No sooner was I inside than I found myself with an iron grip on my shoulders as I was slammed against the door.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Kip demanded, his voice dark.
“I’m sorry!” I barked. “I was having problems seeing you with your next wife.”
“My next… Are you fucking insane?” He let me go, then held his arms out. “Come here.”
But I could still smell her perfume on him, and my stomach knotted so hard I wanted to puke. “No.”
His eyes widened. “Really? Is this how we’re going to play this?”
I was pissed. “After you fuck her, make sure you shower before you come to me. Or are you planning on taking her to your bed and I’ll be in one of the other rooms?”
I admit it, I was hurting so goddamn bad.
The life I’d been dreaming about was dissolving in front of my eyes.
I bawled and raced for our bedroom, throwing myself onto the comforter.
I lay there, crying, as my mind played out the amazing life I’d had for the last few months.
I could hear Kip in the house, but he didn’t come to me.
Fine. If this is how it has to end, so be it.
A few minutes later, the bed dipped and Kip was there, running a hand over my back. I flinched.
“I understand, you know,” he said softly.
“Understand what?” I knew I sounded belligerent as fuck, but I was past caring.
“I was upset when she did that too.”
“Why? Your wife should be able to kiss you, right?”
He grabbed me and flipped me over, so I had no choice but to look at him.
“After all the things we’ve done together when we were kids, and all the naughty things we’ve done as adults, do you really have so little faith in me?” He cupped my cheek. “Or is it that you have so little in yourself?”
Yeah, that last part nailed it. I thought I was over it. I thought once I got together with Kip, it would all magically be healed.
“I… don’t know.”
He lay beside me, and I noticed he was wet. He must have taken a shower to get the smell off him.
“Yes, you do. I am yours, Mase. No one else will ever have me. I understand, or at least I think I do, that a Dominant can have up to four spouses, but guess what? The one I have? He’s the one I love, and besides, he drives me crazy enough for four people.
” His hand was gentle on my cheek. “Please, Mase. Have faith in me. Trust in the love I have for you.”
My mind was reeling at his confession. “You don’t want her? You used to tell me she was awesome between the sheets. A freak I think is how you put it.”
“I don’t need a freak.” His voice was soft, soothing.
“I need you. That’s all I’ll ever want. And for the record, she kissed me, I did not kiss her.
Jolene saw it and she was pissed off. She came over and grabbed Allison’s arm, pulling her away.
Then she looked at me and said to go after you.
” He bit his lip. “Except you’re every bit as fast as you were when we were younger, so I had to wait for you to come to me. ”
“You… you don’t want her?”
“No, baby, I do not. And I understand why you were so upset. You could smell her on me, couldn’t you?”
I nodded, shame coursing through me. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? Standing up for us? Nothing makes me happier. Just… try talking to me first before you assume I’m going to push you aside. Okay?”
“And there won’t be a harem?” My face burned. “It’s kind of expected.”
“Then they’re going to be bitterly disappointed, because I have the only person who means something to me, and I won’t give him up for anything. Now, I’m going to head downstairs and make us something to eat.”
I tried to sit up. “No, let me.”
His hand splayed over my chest held me on the bed. He kissed me then, a gentle brushing of lips. “I got this. I want you to rest.”
I wouldn’t argue with him. At least not about this.
He got off the bed and headed for the door.
“Kip?”
He turned and smiled at me. “Yeah?”
“I really am sorry.”
He shrugged. “It’s a matter of trust. I know I have to earn yours.”
“But you’ve always had it,” I argued.
“No. I’ve always had your friendship. Trust, especially in a relationship, takes a lot more work.” He smiled. “It’s okay, though. You’re worth the effort. Now rest.”
“Yes, Kip.”
He closed the door, leaving me in the darkened room.
For our whole lives Kip had never once given me a reason not to trust him.
I knew why it happened now, though. I desperately wanted him as mine.
I didn’t want to share him, I didn’t want him going to anyone else, and I sure as hell didn’t want to smell anyone on him.
I knew as the Dominant it was his choice who was in his bed, and I should’ve been able to accept it but I couldn’t. Wouldn’t.
I wasn’t a very good Omega.
But Kip loved me.