Chapter Secrets #2
“Oh my Knots,” I said under my breath. I had over 100 calls from Ami and triple the amount of text messages from her. The last message said, “I’m calling your mom if you don’t get back to me!” That was four hours ago. She wouldn’t.
“Someone named Ami was blowing up your phone.” He started placing items on the counter, his tone dry.
“She’s going to kill me,” I groaned.
“Sister?” he asked.
“Not by blood. She’s my best friend,” I explained. I hit the call button and lifted the phone to my ear. It didn’t even ring before Ami’s voice blasted through the speaker.
“Where the hell have you been?” she asked.
“Hi,” I said, wincing.
“Don’t hi me!” she huffed.
“Did you call mom?” I asked.
“Of course not! I had to say something to get you to message me! When you didn’t message me, I was worried you were dead,” she yelled.
“I’m definitely alive.”
“I’m glad you’re alive, but don’t do that to me again!” she shrieked.
“I’m sorry. I knocked out last night,” I whispered, shooting a look at Dane.
“Gods. Are you still there with him?”
“Yes?” I laughed, my cheeks heating up.
“I was worried you were getting chopped up and stuffed into his trunk!”
“I’m still alive and well, Ami.”
“I’m so mad at you,” she huffed.
“I know, but I love you.”
“Love you too,” she grumbled.
“So, I have to go,” I said.
“Nu-uh. Am I on speaker?” she asked.
“No,” I said.
“Put me on speaker,” she said.
“Okay,” I sang, tapping the little icon immediately.
“Sarge?” she called out.
“Yes, Ma’am?”
“If you harm a single hair on Vera’s head, I will gut you. All I need is your SnarlChat username to find out who you are,” she warned.
“I can confirm this,” I whispered to him.
“Do you hear me?” Ami asked.
“Loud and clear,” Dane growled.
“V, send me his username in case you disappear,” she said.
“Will do. I’ll let you go,” I said.
“Mm, bye, bestie. Wrap it up!” she sang, and then the line went dead.
I placed my phone face down on the counter. “How does she find people?” he asked.
“I have no idea, but I’ve told her multiple times she needs to be a detective. Give her twenty-four hours and she can find out anything.”
“She’s kind of scary,” he said.
“Why? Do you have something to hide?”
“I have a few secrets,” he laughed, the sound low and dangerous.
Secrets didn’t scare me. There are worse evils. Some men didn’t even hide it, but I didn’t want to be a home wrecker. I refused to be someone who destroyed a family. And I had no filter.
“Are you mated?” I asked. Dane dropped the pan he was about to put on the stove with a clatter. He arched a brow, but I held his gaze, making sure he knew I was dead serious.
“Do you think I would have come to you last night and kept you here if I were mated?” he asked.
“That’s not a no,” I said.
“That’s not a yes,” he said.
“Can you just answer the question?”
“I’ve said this already, but I can’t wait to put you over my lap,” he growled. I stared at him pointedly. “No, I’m not mated.”
“And you don’t have anyone you’re courting?
” I asked. He rolled his head to the left and right.
It was customary in our world to mark their mate there.
I’d already checked this, but I appreciated the show.
I’d been unmarked for six years. Not having a mark didn’t mean he was free. I nervously nibbled on my bottom lip.
“I wouldn’t say there isn’t anyone,” he said, crashing into my spiraling thoughts. He turned on the burner and drizzled oil into the pan. There was no way he was talking about me.
“When was your last relationship?” I asked.
“Diving deep. It’s been four years,” he said.
“A long time for someone with your… stamina.”
“You said relationship. You didn’t say hook-up,” he said.
“That’s my next question.”
“I don’t think it’s your turn. When was your last relationship?” he asked. The clouds thundered in the distance, but I paid them no mind. I could talk about my past relationships. He grabbed plates and bowls near the stove.
“My last relationship ended a year ago,” I said as the pan sizzled.
“That’s recent. How long were you guys together?” he asked.
“About six years.”
“That’s a long time,” he said.
“It is,” I said.
“Wh—”
“Uh-uh. You got two questions. My turn, and I get two,” I said, cutting him off.
“Ask away.”
“Why did your last relationship end?” I asked.
“She cheated.”
“Mm… I’m sorry,” I said.
“It’s fine. It doesn’t bother me anymore. What’s your next question?” he asked. The aroma from the food made my mouth water.
“Why haven’t you dated anyone since then?” I asked.
“At first it was because I didn’t want to start over again. And then it turned into hooking up. It was safer that way. No explanations or niceties needed.”
I understand that better than he realized.
“Your turn,” I said.
“How did your last relationship end?” he asked.
“I ended it.”
“Do you miss him?” he asked.
“No. I miss having a partner to do life with, but I don’t miss him.”
“That’s good,” he said.
“Is it?” I asked.
“Yes.” He scooped food onto our plates, grabbed a handful of grapes and slices of oranges before placing them decoratively.
“My turn. What do you want from me?” I asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked.
“Sex?” I asked.
“Well, I look forward to taking you, yes, but that’s not all.”
“What else is there?” I rasped, teetering close to the edge.
“Does it scare you?” he countered as he made his way around the counter with plates in hand. I got up to help, but he stopped me. “I’ll get it. Come sit down.”
I listened. I turned on my heel and followed him. I sat in a chair and waited as he grabbed the rest. An egg white omelet sat on my plate, a handful of breakfast sausages, and fruits. Dane returned a moment later with juice and strawberry crepes dusted in powdered sugar.
“Thank you. Everything looks delicious,” I said.
I popped a grape into my mouth and then cut a piece of the omelet with my fork.
I inhaled it. The taste of spinach, tomatoes, and cheese hit my tongue.
I groaned. Was that Parmesan melted on top?
It was. I moved on to the crepes, scarfing them down with a bit of whipped cream.
I did a little dance in my seat; it wasn’t my finest moment, but everything was heavenly. He laughed, and I looked up at him.
“Good?” he asked.
“Amazing,” I said.
“It’s filling yet light. So you won’t get an upset stomach when I fuck you,” he said. I almost choked.
“Dane!” I gasped.
“That’s not what you call me,” he said darkly. I was choking now. He handed me a glass of water and I sipped.
Speaking of choking…
“Did you let him go?” I asked.
“No,” he said, knowing who I was talking about.
“Why not?”
“My anger doesn’t disappear because you told me he didn’t touch you. Once the volcano starts to erupt, it doesn’t just calm down,” Dane said.
“Did you compare yourself to a volcano?” I asked. The devil smiled, and I was putty in his hands. Dane was lethal. Would I be able to leave this unscathed?
“Alphas are dangerous. A drunk one?” he shook his head.
“Do you expect every Alpha not to drink because they’re dangerous?” I asked.
“You never should have been at that party,” he grunted.
“Are you telling me you don’t go to parties?” I asked.
“I don’t drink,” he said.
That caught me off guard. I wasn’t sure what to say, and it shouldn’t have been a turn on. My ex drank a lot.
“I didn’t know you were my boyfriend,” I said.
“What?” He asked.
“Last night you pulled a boyfriend move. Are you an Alphahole?” I asked.
“I’ve been called one before,” he teased.
“Oh, I bet,” I laughed.
“Hey now,” he pretended to be offended.
Breakfast went quickly. When I got up to do the dishes, he told me there was no need.
I followed him out, reaching a living room with windows for walls and a massive fireplace along the other.
The largest sectional I’d seen, the size of two sectionals, sat opposite the fire.
There was a large rug in the middle and he strode across the room, taking a seat on a large leather throne.
He moved so quickly; I was still standing on the opposite side of the room.
My eyes dropped to his chiseled, inked abs.
I took a few steps when his voice rang out.
“Stop,” he ordered. My legs locked. My fingers scrunched the material of his shirt at my sides.
“Get on your knees, Babygirl,” Dane’s deep voice ordered from the other side of the room.