Page 58 of Priceless

Shivers went down my spine. “I—” I winced, not wanting to say it out loud. Not because I wanted to protect them, but because I was embarrassed that I still let it happen. “When I went to Sunset City to try on dresses, Laura went with me. She was… well, she was exactly who you think she is. I found the dress, and because I didn’t want to hear her comments about it, I just ordered it and didn’t show her.”

Everett’s mouth curled into a smile. “Good girl.”

Now I shivered for an entirely different reason. “She told me that the only reason you chose me was because I was disposable and didn’t speak to me until we got home. When I went to the kitchen later, there were locks on the cabinets and the refrigerator.”

He stopped walking so suddenly I was pulled back by his hand. “What the fuck did you just say?”

I looked down at the ground. Maybe it would swallow me whole so I could hide from the horror on his face. “Please don’t make me say it again.”

With one movement he tugged me toward him, and I nearly stumbled, but he caught me, one arm curling around my back and making sure to avoid the bandages. “Your dress appointment was on Tuesday, nymph. Please tell me you’ve been able to eat since then, because if they’ve starved you that long, I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep myself from killing them.”

Something warmed in my chest at that. I wasn’t a violent person, but threats looked good on Everett. And threats that protected me? Fuck, I was a goner.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “I was able to. I ordered food. Just not as much as normal, but I’m all right.”

“But nothing today? Other than the wedding cake?”

I shook my head. “It was really good cake.”

“It was—” Everett closed his eyes. “That’s why you were hungry yesterday.”

He wasn’t asking, just making the connection. “I promise I’m fine, Everett,” I said quietly. “You’ve seen me. I have more than enough body to sustain me for a couple of days.”

When he opened his eyes, they were filled with fire. “Understand me. I don’t have a feeding fetish. I’m not going to try to stuff you with food at every available opportunity. But like hell will my wife go hungry because you, or anyone else, think your body is less than fucking perfect.”

A gasp escaped me, and I blinked. “It’s not perfect. But I promise I’m not trying to starve myself.”

“Good.” The word was rough, and he didn’t release me, only shifted me to his side with his arm still around me as we entered a room where the television was so large it took up a good portion of the wall. Not so big that you couldn’t see the whole thing, but big enough that I didn’t think I’d ever need to go to a movie theater while I lived here.

Big, cushy couches pointed toward the screen in a U shape. A bar sat along one wall, complete with an oven, stove, microwave, and fridge. A whole kitchen. I spotted a bathroom branching on the other side, and there was also a basket filled with blankets. “Okay, I love it.”

Everett chuckled, but I still heard the strain in his voice. “I’m glad. Now what’s your favorite kind of food?”

“It’s not my favorite, but I’ve been craving chicken fried rice.”

He pulled out his phone with a nod. “Got it. I’m going to change, and I’m sure the others will be here in just a minute, okay?”

“Okay.”

I went to the basket of blankets and looked through them until I found one that felt right. Then I chose a seat on one of the couches and cuddled down. I wasn’t tired enough to sleep, but I was tired. And these couches were the good kind. Firm enough that you didn’t feel like you were being sucked into the void, and soft enough that it was cozy.

“I like the sight of this.”

Cameron came around the couch in dark sweats and a t-shirt. He handed me the painkillers he’d mentioned and made sure I took them.

But I was distracted by simply looking at him. It was the first time I’d seen him in something other than a suit, and there was something so incredibly appealing about it. Just like Everett yesterday, which felt like a lifetime ago, he was more touchable. Not the billionaire Alpha who was untouchable. Just someone who was sitting down next to me and hauling me closer, so I was practically lying across his chest.

A rumbling startled me. What?—

He was purring. For me. My body melted into his. I had to be crushing him, but he didn’t seem to care. Instead, he shifted me so I was curled into his chest and could listen to the sound. The fucking incredible sound. I’d heard purrs before, of course, but this one was for me.

No one had ever purred for me before.

Emotion flooded my eyes, and I had to blink it away.

“What’s wrong?” Cameron sounded distressed.

I shook my head. There was nothing wrong with this. It was what I’d always wanted and never had. “You’re purring for me,” I whispered.

---