Chapter 8
Hannah
T elling Rhys that I wouldn’t leave with him was extremely hard, but it was the right decision.
His kiss was electric, and as much as I wanted to go with him, I had to establish boundaries.
I wasn’t going to abandon my friend and I wasn’t going to jump whenever a man told me to.
Granny raised me to be independent, so I chose to say no.
His offer to make sure I got home safely wasn’t outside of what I expected, but him being willing to wait while I enjoyed my evening said so much about his character.
I’d had casual boyfriends since I was sixteen, but I’d never been in a real relationship, and something told me Rhys wasn’t looking for a fling.
I could’ve been wrong, but something about his words of deserving someone better hit me right in the heart.
There was more to him than he let people see, but from the interactions we’d had over the last few months, and now finding out he’d been watching me and making sure I was protected, was causing me to fall faster than I should.
“Damn, that man is sexy as fuck,” Samuel said when he rejoined me at the end of the bar. “I thought you said you hadn’t met anyone since you moved here.”
Nick walked up and placed two bottles of water on the bar. “Hydrate, and I’ll get you another round.”
I took a large swallow of the icy water before replying to Samuel’s statement. “I met him about six months ago, when he helped me and my Granny with some family business. To be honest, I didn’t think he was that into me.”
“Girl, that man wants to mount you like a stag and beat on his chest as he claims you in front of the world.” I shook my head as Samuel reached out and placed his well-manicured hand on my wrist. “I might not be into women, but I know the signs of primal need between two people. That man craves you in his soul, and like most alphas, he’s carrying some kind of internal struggle that he’s probably not going to talk about.
But when I say he wants you, believe that, girl. ”
I shrugged as I took another swallow of the water. “He and I need to talk and clear the air before anything can happen,” I absently explained before adding, “and he’s so much more than I will ever be. So, there’s that.”
“I have no idea what that means, but I will say this. Men are stupid and don’t know how to share their feelings, so don’t be too harsh with him.”
I gave him a confused look. “How could you possibly know all that just from the brief time he was here?”
He leaned closer and dropped the tone of his voice. “Because I saw that kiss and I know what I’m talking about, little lady.”
I chuckled at his attempt to sound butch and pecked him on the cheek. “Thank you for being so amazing.”
Nick approached at that exact moment as Samuel placed his hand on his cheek, tilted his head, and batted his eye at me. “She said I’m amazing.”
“Don’t give him a big head,” Nick joked and glanced at our half-empty bottles of water. Turning, he grabbed two shot glasses and a cold bottle of whiskey before pouring us each a shot. “One more after these, then I’m cutting you both off.”
Samuel pushed out of his stool and leaned over the bar.
Nick kissed him softly and smiled before turning to help another person.
Samuel returned to his seat and sighed deeply with a smile.
I suddenly understood the look and felt my heart lift slightly.
For months, I’d felt like I was walking under a thick cloud of despair, and for the first time since before I was kidnapped, I was happy.
Samuel and I took our shots, then he guided me back to the dance floor.
We swayed, bounced, and rocked our way through at least five songs before he fanned himself and nodded toward the bar.
I followed behind him, and when we approached, Nick placed two more bottles of water and our last two shots in front of us.
Lifting Samuel’s wrist, I noticed the time and looked back at him. “I’m gonna need to head home soon. It’s almost midnight.”
“Then let’s enjoy our last drink and we can call that sexy man of yours to come get you.”
I blushed with a smile as we lifted the two shots and clinked the glasses together. “Here’s to us and our fabulous selves.”
“To us,” I returned before we tilted the glasses and finished the fiery whiskey.
Nick approached us and asked, “Did you have a good time?”
“It was a blast. Thank you for having me,” I replied.
“Anytime, sweet thing. Next time, maybe that hot man of yours will join you.”
“Maybe,” I answered, still so confused and unsure.
I took my phone from my small crossbody purse and unlocked it before pulling up Rhys’s last message. I glanced at Samuel, who was watching me with a smile as I typed.
Me: I’m ready whenever you are.
Almost instantly, there was a response.
Rhys: I’ll be there in three minutes. Stay with Samuel.
I turned the phone and showed the response to Samuel, who giggled and said, “I told you.”
While I waited for Rhys to arrive, we chatted about nothing as the loud music surrounded us. When I saw him approaching, butterflies erupted in my stomach as his hungry eyes ate me up. Rhys stepped between mine and Samuel’s stools before he placed his hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed.
“Did you have a good time?” Rhys asked.
Samuel interjected, “It was so much fun, but next time, you need to stay and have a drink.”
“I think we can arrange that,” Rhys replied before turning to me. “Are you ready?”
I nodded, and he held out his hand to help me from the stool. When I was standing in front of him, I saw the size difference between us and all kinds of naughty things filled my head. I blamed the alcohol, knowing nothing was going to happen tonight.
Rhys reached into his pocket and pulled out some money when Samuel stopped him. “Tonight’s on us.”
“Then I can leave a tip,” Rhys replied. He placed at least two hundred-dollar bills on the bar and pushed them toward the empty glasses. Then, he reached out and offered his hand to Samuel. They shook as Rhys said, “It was nice to meet you, Samuel. I look forward to the next time.”
“Thanks again for tonight,” I said to my friend, and he hopped down and hugged me around Rhys still holding my hand.
“I’ll see you Monday.”
I nodded and allowed Rhys to guide me away from the bar and out the front door. The sidewalks were filled with locals and tourists enjoying the various bars that were still lively at the late hour.
We were about a block away when the crowd thinned and Rhys pulled me closer to him and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “The lot is just up ahead.”
“Okay,” I answered and continued to be guided to the car.
Rhys walked us up to the SUV and opened the door before helping me inside.
He reached in and hooked my seatbelt, and just as his face passed mine, he turned so we were staring at each other.
His brown eyes glanced down, and on instinct, I locked my lips and waited for a kiss that didn’t come.
He smiled before pulling away and shutting my door.
As he walked around, I started to worry he’d changed his mind and this was just a tactic to get me back to my house. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but I feared his need to protect me was overriding what he’d said earlier. I didn’t know if my heart could take another rejection from him.
He got behind the wheel, hooked his seatbelt, and cranked the engine before pulling out of the lot.
Within a few minutes, we were on the interstate headed toward my exit.
The traffic was light and all too soon he was getting off the highway and making the turns to my house.
We still hadn’t spoken, and the longer the silence stretched on, the more I believed my fears were correct.
When we were on my street, the little voice in my head was screaming at me, so I looked at him and softly said, “You can stop at the end of the driveway, and I’ll just get out.”
He gave me a confused look before pulling into my driveway and turning off the car. I went to open the door, but he pushed the lock button, stopping my exit. I snapped my head at him, and found he was turned so he could fully look at me.
“Why are you trying to run from me?” he asked.
I looked away to stop him from seeing my eyes fill with tears as I answered, “I’m not running, but I understand and don’t hold you to anything.”
“Hannah, please look at me.” I shook my head, and he carefully reached over and placed his hand on my shoulder. I glanced at him and saw the hurt in his eyes. “Tell me what’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours.”
“I . . . I know why you came to find me tonight, and it’s okay. I really do understand.”
“Well, I don’t, so please help me out here. I thought we’d gotten on the right path, but I feel like something’s changed. Can you tell me what it is?”
“I know you only wanted to make sure I was safe, and that the kiss was for show.”
His hand moved from my shoulder and slid up to the back of my neck.
My eyes went up to his as he pulled me closer and met me halfway with another kiss that caused my toes to curl.
His tongue was battling mine as he kept his grip firm on my neck, restricting my movements.
Sooner than I wanted, he slowed the kiss and pulled back before resting his forehead against mine.
“Does that feel like it was for show?’ he inquired, and I shook my head as much as his hold would allow.
“I don’t do anything to appease someone else, and I certainly don’t use affection as a manipulation.
So, tell that little voice in your head to pipe down, so I can make sure you get inside safely. ”
My hand was covering my lips as he professed his sincerity to me.
I’d completely misunderstood his actions and automatically looked for the worst-case scenario.
Since my kidnapping, I’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop and figured this was it.
But I’d never been so fucking happy to be wrong in my life.