Page 33 of Tempting Her Grumpy Protector
Sunny had all the answers she needed.
“All right. Well, put me down then,” she said coldly. Or she tried to sound cold. Unfortunately, tears were threatening—she could feel her eyes stinging. What was so wrong with her? Why didn’t he want her?
“I’m sorry,” Greer muttered.
He set her on the edge of the bed, then turned and stalked into the bathroom without another word, leaving her staring at his broad back until he was out of sight.
Sunny swiped at the tears on her cheeks and tried not to cry. What was wrong with her? What was wrong with him?
What would it take to make him love her? Or was there just no way at all?
She didn’t know and it didn’t seem like she would get answers anytime soon.
24
SUNNY
Sunny sighed. Greer hadn’t spoken to her all morning.
Not one word.
Oh, he’d made a few noncommittal grunts when she asked him to pass something, but otherwise he’d been all sharp edges and silence, his massive shoulders hunched as if he was trying to block her out completely.
Breakfast in the Communal Hut was… an experience. She’d been served a steaming mug of something the color of liquid emeralds that tasted faintly like mint tea mixed with fresh-cut grass. Alongside it were wedges of spongy, coral-colored bread dotted with black seeds that popped pleasantly between her teeth. She’d been enjoying it—at least until the servers brought out a communal bowl of thick, shimmering gray goo.
Sunny leaned to sniff it and had to fight not to gag—it smelled faintly of seawater and old socks.
The Thropp’ians dug into it eagerly, scooping up globs with their fingers and slurping them down with happy noises. Sunny had tried a polite taste—just enough to be social—and had nearly lost the rest of her breakfast. The stuff was gelatinous and faintly gritty, like chewing the sand at the bottom of the ocean floor. She’d smiled weakly and wiped her fingers off quickly with the large leaf she’d been given to use as a napkin, hoping no one noticed.
She was relieved when Chief Lowhung rose from his carved wooden chair and announced that the day’s Mating Festival was about to begin. Anything to get out of awkward breakfast silence.
Or so she thought.
“Ahhh, greetings to you this blessed day of Mating, my lovely one,” the Chief said, striding over to her with an oily smile as soon as he finished his announcement.
“Good morning,” Sunny said stiffly. She hadn’t forgotten or forgiven his blatant attempt to date-rape her the night before. She looked around for Greer, but he was standing at the other end of the Communal dining area, speaking to a few of the Thropp’ian males.
“My bed was most lonely without you, last night,” Chief Lowhung purred, raising his eyebrows at her. “But perhaps you regret going home with your Protector instead of accepting my invitation?”
Sunny’s head snapped up.
“Regret? The only thing I regret is letting you give me that drink. And you weren’t inviting me—you were trying to get me alone and…and take advantage of me!”
Lowhung chuckled, low and suggestive. “Ah yes, the Mating Drink. I hope it served its purpose. Tell me, did your Protector manage to satisfy the urges it gave you?”
Her jaw dropped. She’d suspected there was an aphrodisiac in the drink but the fact that he was actually admitting it with absolutely no shame was too much!
“You drugged me,” she said, her voice trembling with fury. “And you tried to take advantage?—”
“Don’t complain, little flower,” the Chief cut in smoothly. “At least your male got the benefit of it. From the way you were walking earlier, I can tell you were… well serviced.” All three of his eyes gleamed. “But perhaps you should come to my bed tonight. Your Protector cannot fuck you like I can.”
Sunny saw red. Professionalism be damned—she didn’t have to sit here and listen to this! Lifting her chin, she glared at the overbearing asshole.
“You will never get the chance to have me in your bed. Greer is ten times the man you’ll ever be!”
The smile slid from Lowhung’s face and his third eye glared in disapproval.
“Are you saying your Protector is more of a man than me?” he demanded.
