Page 51 of Protected By Her Mate

I don’t know what I was expecting the night after a passionate interlude with Lennox, but it was more than this. Maybe a gentle awakening, followed by softly spoken platitudes, a little kissing and bed in breakfast. Just as the thought leaves my head, I remember he can hear my thoughts and try to snatch it back. Of course, I can’t.

Shit. Telepathy is hard.

He ignores my thoughts. “There’s nothing left for us to do here. The police are stonewalling and the only lead we had, the ASHRA house, has gone up in smoke.”

I’m finally awake enough to catch the disgust in his tone. “You’re upset. Why?”

He growls his frustration, shoving a hand through his hair. “Every lead hits a dead end. I’m good at my job, but I’ve been shit at it since…” His sentence hangs in the air.

“Since me?” I finish for him. It’s much easier to hear what he’s thinking today. Like a filter has been lifted. Not only can I hear the unsaid words, but I can feel the intention behind them. “You’re blaming me for our lack of leads?”

“I’m not blaming you,” he says gruffly. “But I can’t think straight when you’re around.”

I blink back the sting of tears, then remember he’ll know anyway and stop trying, allowing them to drip freely. I thought last night was special, that it meant something. “I can remedy that for you,” I say in my chilliest tone, gripping the sheet and pulling it from the bed as I head toward the washroom, slamming the door behind me.

I take a quick shower and brush my teeth, and when I reemerge, he’s gone. Good. It gives me a minute to collect myself.

I give myself a stern talking to as I pull on my clothes.This is not who you are. You don’t allow a man to play with your heart and then act like nothing happened. Last night was monumental. It was a revelation. And he’s fucking it up by acting like I’m interfering in his investigation. Well, he can suck it because I’m not going anywhere until this thing is solved, then I’m going to walk away from him. After, when it’s time to pick up the pieces, I’ll do it in a martini bar surrounded by hot men.

As I emerge from the room into the warm L.A. morning, a breeze caresses me and I breathe in deeply, taking in the earthy scent of the desert around me.Better?I ask myself.Better, I confirm.

Lennox is waiting by the car, his sunglasses hiding his eyes. I don’t need his eyes to know what he’s thinking anymore. He’s pissed that I intend to mainline tequila and men when this case is over.

I think about my hot sweaty body rubbing up against a dozen men as I dance my woes away, careful to add plenty of erotic detail to the image.

He gnashes his teeth but doesn’t say anything as we climb into the car. Lennox punches in the address to Keenan and Vanessa’s house into the GPS.

I’m not one to ignore the elephant in the room, but I can’t bring myself to mention our night of mind-blowing, no-holds-barred, hotel-destroying sex. He’s already rejected me, but hearing the words, hearing him tell me out loud he doesn’t want to be with me… it’ll be too much. I can’t handle it.

And that pisses me off, which is probably why I’m in such a bad mood.

I know he can hear my thoughts, but he doesn’t talk and neither do I. Our silence fills the car with explosive energy. One spark and the whole thing could go up. We manage to make the entire 45-minute drive without exchanging a word. Not even a sneeze to break the silence.

When we arrive, a gate guards the entrance of the estate and a person wearing security gear waves us through, clearly aware of our scheduled visit.

The driveway is long and winding, huge palm trees lining it. Beneath them is a plethora of brightly-coloured flora, making it impossible to see the house through the thick foliage. As we round the final curve, the house comes into full view.

It’s a mix of Mexican hacienda and Greek architecture that works perfectly in a strangely beautiful way. Columns stand sentinel in front of the house holding up a massive, curved balcony on the second floor. The house is white but it’s surrounded by colourful flowering plants.

I like to think of myself as a practical girl, but if it came down to a choice between my first born and living in this luxurious piece of heaven, I would absolutely choose the house.

Okay, no, I wouldn’t, but I’d definitely trade a sibling or two.

Lennox lets out a mirthful snort, which reminds me he can read my mind, which pisses me off all over again.

I get out of the car and slam the door, leaving Lennox to catch up as I stride to the entrance of the house, jabbing my finger into the doorbell, then wincing as pain travels up my hand.

Lennox reaches my side and grasps my wrist, lifting my hand and kissing my finger, his serious gaze searching my face. “Does it still hurt?”

I yank my hand away. “My finger is not the hurt I care about.”

He sighs heavily, leaning his bulk against the doorframe. “There are things I can’t tell you, but you have to believe me when I say I want everything I see in your head as badly as you do.”

My anger drains and I’m in tears again. “Then why are you doing this to us?”

“I can’t explain it.”

“You don’t want to explain it.”

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