Page 12 of Dying in Flames (Reborn 4)
“What the fuck?” Croy demanded. Henry’s face turned shocked as he grabbed the phone from my hand. I wouldn’t lie, his immediate grimace and expression of annoyance had me feeling far better than before. I hadn’t doubted him or anything, but I still was getting used to this mate thing, and the sting of jealousy and vulnerability was one I was still getting used to.
“It’s just not polite,” I pointed out quietly. “I get if she wants to show you her costume, but she is almost naked, and she isn’t your mate. That is super rude.”
“I would agree with that.” Croy sounded amused now.
Henry pressed ‘block’ to the number before deleting the message, running a hand down his face. “So fucking random. I tutored that girl three years ago, she went to our high school—”
“Were you guys friends?” I asked, suddenly feeling insecure.
“Maker, no.” Henry shook his head as Croy kissed the top of my head, leaving me alone with Henry. The man sat down, looking miserable, and I suddenly felt horrible for making him sad.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. He looked up at me, looking more surprised than before, so I explained, “I didn’t mean to upset you, I just didn’t like that she had messaged you that.”
“Sweetheart.” He motioned me forward and I slid onto his lap, his fingers running over my hips to my butt. “If a man ever sent you a photo like that, I would lose my goddamn mind. You have every right to be upset. I am sorry you had to see that. I don’t talk to her at all. I didn’t realize she even had my number, and I have no idea who else was in that group, but I have to assume people from school. She was friends with Becky and that entire crowd, so not anyone I associated with willingly—”
“Maybe they did it knowing I would see it,” I interrupted.
“That’s possible,” he sighed, the frustration clear on his face before transforming into concern. “I could feel you getting upset upstairs, but because you were frustrated, your thoughts weren’t open to me at all. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“It’s really fine.” I gave him a small smile. “I know you love me. She just wishes you loved her.”
“Damn right, I love you,” he growled softly.
I let out a squeak as he suddenly tugged me down into a heated kiss. I surrendered to it completely, my center clenching as I felt how hard he was getting underneath me. I felt like I kept getting so close to connecting to Henry that way, and I wanted more. I didn’t want to stop like before. I wanted all of him. Completely. I just didn’t know how to ask for what I wanted. I always felt a bit nervous dealing with Henry.
“I said ‘no.’ That applies to you too, Henry,” Marco called as he trotted down the steps. Henry let out a low rumble, his lips just lightly pressed against my throat, before pulling back and offering me a look that had me knowing he was going to tell him what happened.
“I don’t know, Marco.” He sighed as my mate came into the room. “I am pretty sure I have to make it up to Maya because some random girl messaged me a picture of her Halloween costume. Maya was pretty upset with me. May still be.”
Marco froze. “Some girl did what?”
“Messaged him a Halloween picture, but she was essentially naked, Marco.” I shook my head and sighed. “I swear, I don’t know a lot, but mate etiquette is pretty clear. I mean, that would be like if I sent Jordan’s mates—”
“Please do not finish that statement,” Henry hissed.
“Just saying.” I shrugged.
Marco inhaled sharply. “Come on, dinner time. Henry, you may want to change your number, especially if anyone has it from tutoring at school.”
Henry nodded, and I let Marco help me up. I gave Henry a small smile as he squeezed my hand in passing. I wasn’t mad at him, not really, but I did think that woman needed a lesson on manners when it came to mates. Maybe if I ever ran into her I would tell her exactly how I felt.
Or just take her sparkly wings.
“We should do something for Halloween,” I announced randomly, my legs tucked under me on the massive sofa in the darkened living room, a pink glass of wine in hand. “I have never celebrated before, and everything I see makes it seem super fun. So we should do something.”
“What do you want to do?” Ledger asked curiously.
“Dress up,” I said before looking at Henry. “But not as an angel with sparkly wings.”
He muttered a curse and snagged me around the hips, pulling me against his hard length, the dark lighting hiding my blush. Luckily, the movie was still playing, so they probably couldn’t hear the way my heart jumped at my immediate reaction to the man.
This was the second film of this ‘series,’ and I honestly couldn’t tell you what it was, just that everyone in it seemed very worked up about these cars that transformed into big robots. It was sort of cool, but I was starting to think that, unlike the boys, I wasn’t that into action movies.
I wasn’t positive about what types of movies I liked, but I did know that I liked this glass of wine I was having. Although, I had a feeling it was going to be the only one I would have, because even the half glass had me feeling a bit warm and snuggly.
I would have to remember what this was again, my eyes moving to the bottle across the room… A sparkling rose? That was what it was called, and it was pink. Freakin’ pink! Plus, Marco had purchased this cool powder that went in drinks and made my entire glass turn into an explosion of silver sparkles.
Very, very cool. Honestly, this was exactly what I had needed.
