Page 57 of Tolerated By the Sigma (Mate Hunt 7)

The pack insisted they clean up, so I remained on Ryder’s lap while the men cleaned, Ryder’s fingers stroking my hip and his chin resting on my shoulder while the other girls made conversation and I tried to stay somewhat involved.

They finally started to trickle out when the cleaning was done, though I noticed Austin hanging back.

When he was the last person in the house besides me and Ryder, he hesitated by the door, his eyes colliding with mine. “Can we talk for a minute?”

No.

I glanced up at Ryder, and could see in his eyes that he wanted me to turn Austin down. Despite that, he gave me a soft push, helping me to my feet as he stood too.

He straightened to his full height, and honestly, he had at least four inches and fifty pounds of pure muscle on Austin.

Ryder flashed Austin a warning look, then lowered his lips to mine, kissing me softly and possessively before nibbling on my ear and then my neck.

He finally strode into the kitchen, his erection somehow hidden by the jeans he wore.

Turning on the kitchen sink, he got to work scrubbing dishes. I didn’t think any of them were even dirty, but I knew he was giving us as much privacy as he could without pissing his wolf off enough that the animal could break through.

“Guess that’s as private as it’s going to get,” Austin said, giving me a tight smile.

“What do you want?” I didn’t try to sound friendly, letting my voice come out just as flatly as my emotions were toward him.

He slid his hands into his pockets. “I think I owe you an apology.”

I folded my arms, waiting.

His expression morphed into a grimace. “I didn’t handle it well when my wolf didn’t choose you. Everyone was so sure, and we were so close, and I…” he trailed off, grimacing. “I know the pack sided with me in that whole thing, so I’m sorry. I’m sure that was difficult, not finding a mate and losing our pack at the same time.”

“It was a long time ago, and I survived just fine.” I forced my voice to remain even. “Thanks for the apology, but you can go.”

I gestured toward the door, but he didn’t budge.

Instead, he added, “I was in love with you, Char-Char. Those feelings were real for me too, even if my wolf didn’t agree with me. I don’t know if my wolf is just a bastard, or if fate was saving you for Ryder, but the feelings were always real for me. I’ve spent years trying to get over them, just so I’m ready when I do meet my mate. And I don’t think I’m there yet, but I’m trying—and I’m sorry that I made you think I didn’t feel those things, that was wrong.”

Although the whole thing had been a long, long time ago, and I was completely over it, his admission and apology did feel like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

My feelings weren’t as inconsequential and silly as he had tried to get me to believe back then. I hadn’t imagined shit—but I already knew that.

“Thank you for apologizing, but that’s in the past. I got over it a long, long time ago.” I gave him a small, tight smile, grabbing the doorknob and gesturing for him to leave my house. “And thanks for getting the pack over here. I know that the main alpha probably ordered you to, but you’re the one in charge of making his orders work, so I’m sure you played a part in it too.”

He gave me a small smile. “I hope we can all get together again more often.”

“I have a new pack now, but it’d be nice to see everyone now and then. Anyway, I need a nap, so scram.” I waved him toward the door.

He chuckled, heading out without an argument.

TWENTY-THREE

A relieved breathescaped me as I locked the door behind him. Ryder had already shut off the kitchen sink, and was drying his hands as he strode toward me.

The dish towel was tossed over the back of the couch just before his arms wrapped around me, pulling me to his chest in a crushing grip that made my shoulders relax and my body calm down.

“I need to be inside you,” Ryder growled into my ear, his voice soft and gravelly. “And then I’m going to need that story, Kelley.”

“Way to seduce me,” I mumbled into his shoulder, though my hands were already under his shirt and moving over his abdomen. Those muscles of his were killer, and I didn’t want to stop touching them any time soon.

“Should I go put on somelounge clothes?” His hands slid my sweats down to my feet, and lifted me out of the clothing. The sweatshirt I still wore was so large that I wasn’t really exposed, but something told me Ryder planned to change that soon.

His hands moved over my butt, gripping and squeezing and kneading me.

---