Page 50 of Rock Hard
“But I don’t think it’s complicated at all,” Carly added.
“You don’t?”
“No, it’s simple really.”
Nothing about Alice was simple, but he humored her. “All right then. Why do you think Alice left?”
“Because she loves you, and you act like you don’t care about her at all.”
Rex grunted, having come to a similar conclusion after a sleepless night, a bottle of Jack, and a long talk with Chuck, who had held nothing back and straight-up told him he was an idiot of the highest order. Rex might have been pissed if he didn’t wholeheartedly agree.
Nothing else made sense.
“You couldn’t have told me this a couple months ago?”
“You wouldn’t have listened,” Carly said matter-of-factly. Hadn’t Styxx said exactly the same thing? “Just like you wouldn’t listen when I tried to talk to you about my paper or the awards.”
If he looked down, he was sure he would have seen the hilt of the knife currently twisting in his chest, because that’s exactly what her words felt like—a blade right between the ribs.
“You’re right. I fucked up. But I’m here now. That’s got to count for something, right?”
This time, her smile was genuine. “Yeah, Dad, it definitely counts. But, what are we going to do about Alice? You do care for her, don’t you?”
Yeah, he did. He always had, he realized, though he had never been able to admit it to himself, and never to Alice. After that kiss yesterday, though, he couldn’t hide behind a wall of denial, not anymore.
“I don’t know what to do.” He exhaled heavily and pushed the plate away.
“You could try telling her the truth.”
Rex still wasn’t sure what the truth was. He had finally accepted that his lion wanted Alice andonlyAlice, but for how long? He was a male lion in his prime after all and, generally speaking, male alpha lions in their prime didn’t restrict themselves to one mate.
But you are more evolved than your beast, his human part reminded him.And your feelings for Alice go far beyond fucking rights.
If he was looking to his leonine nature as a way to rationalize his reticence, then he had to consider the reverse as well. The lack of exclusivity between lion pairings worked both ways. Females usually gave priority to the male alpha, but if the alpha wasn’t interested, the female turned to other males. In his recent search for truth, Rex had to acknowledge that Alice had done exactly that. He wasn’t giving Alice what she needed, so she sought it elsewhere in that fucking panther.
“It might be too late.”
Carly cocked her head. “Why? Because she’s with Johnny?”
A growl rumbled through his chest, the thought of Alice with any other male unleashing a wave of possessive fury he fought to control.
His voice was rough, more beast than man when he admitted through clenched teeth, “Yes.”
To his great surprise, Carly laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” That was the second time this morning she had said that word, and once again, it was total bullshit. But unlike last time, her eyes were twinkling with secret knowledge.
Rex narrowed his eyes. “What are you not telling me?”
Carly pushed away from the table and stood, placing her napkin beside her now empty plate. “It’s not too late, Dad, but it will be if you don’t do something soon. I’ve got to start getting ready for the ceremony. Did you bring any of that really good conditioner with you?”
“Wait. What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he called after her as she walked away, but the only response he received was the soft closing of her bedroom door.
