chapter 17

Xee looks over his shoulder at me, trying to figure out if I know who this is or if he needs to have him removed from the building, but I highly doubt that even everyone in this building could remove this pissed-off alpha male.

"It's okay; I'll be right out to pay." I softly say to Xee. Giving him a small smile as he gives me a speedy and brief rundown of the aftercare needs. I nod and smile as he walks out of the room, walking towards Cassy, who gives me a worried sympathetic look.

I look down as the door closes and make sure the blue roll towel is covering enough of my small breasts, then I look up and meet his very pissed eyes of Ryan, Ah shit.

I knew that this wasn't going to be fun. Not only had I been ignoring this man for the past week. Dodging his calls and texts. Now I am sitting half naked in front of him and looking at him. The glare he gives me is a stab straight to the heart. Age has done bloody beautiful things to this gorgeous man. He was no longer the 19-year-old boy with a thin, slender body and was about an inch taller than me. Now he towered over me, close to a couple feet taller than my petite frame. He had grown a lot of muscle, and every inch of it was tattooed. His blue short-sleeved shirt stretched tight, hugging his heavily tattooed arms and showing glimpses of the tattoos that hid under his collar. His long legs were covered in denim and tied with a thick black and gold belt. I can feel the pissed-off aura that he is exuding. Coming from him, they aren't happy ones. Quite possible that he was unhappy about me blowing him off. He did say he would track me down. How the hell did he find me here of all places?


"What did I bloody say, Em? I will find you. You aren't hiding from this or me, do you hear me? What the hell you're doing half-naked back here?" he says, taking a step towards me.

Well, he was undoubtedly passed pissed.


"Pass me my clothes" Maybe I can put him off long enough to escape this. "Please."


He grabs my bra and tee off the chair beside him, His eyes fixed on me. Fine, fuck, it isn't like he hasn't seen them before. Suddenly my anxiety kicks in, making me feel self-conscious about my act of distraction, and for a minute, I think that it isn't looking so hot.
I pick up my bra and let the blue roll drop to the floor. My eyes stay on his as he sharply breathes in; I can see his chest racing, his nose flaring, and his hands are back to flexing in and out of a tight fist. His eyes are focused directly on my breasts.

"You let some stranger put his hands on your tits?" He says. I can tell he is trying to stay calm but seems on the brink of breaking. He doesn't even mention the studs in all their glory.


"It hasn't been your business in a long damn time. It doesn't matter if you are mate bonded to me at the end of the day. That passed a long time ago." My voice sounds like a squeak. I know it's futile to even try to run from him. Like it or not, this talk is about to happen. I just have to figure out what and how much to tell him.


"Not my fucking business? We'll see about that, Get your clothes on before someone else sees you, and I have to strangle someone." He says, almost begging.

When I am completely dressed and standing before him, I look up and just take him in. I can't believe he is really right here.

He reaches out subconsciously. I immediately shrink back, closing my eyes and turning my head away from his hand. It's been a long time since I had let anyone touch me willingly. Even Jeremy and johnny, I couldn't stand their touch for a long time.


"Em, What the hell...?" I don't answer him. I can't. I'm still waiting for the hit of his hand.

"Turn around, please.. princess." He sounds pained at my actions like they had wounded him deeply.

He curses under his breath. At this point, I can't help the overflowing tears that run down my cheeks. I know that Ryan wouldn't harm me deep down, but this has been my life day in and day out for years, preparing my body to always wait for the impact that was coming next. The fierce instinct to protect me is so ingrained into me that I can't stop.


"Mate, please, Princess, turn around." He says after a long pause, soft and gently trying to reassure me. I slowly turn, bracing myself for a reaction, but I am completely shocked by the pain and hurt in his eyes.

"Let's go. We're talking now. Em, hear me this right fucking now, Even as mad as you have me, I wouldn't ever put my hands on you. Do you hear me? Not a single finger would never harm a single fucking hair on your head, Mate."

Tears roll down my face when he calls me his mate. I never thought I would hear that word from anyone's lips, let alone his. My body begged to be with him.

But that's something I couldn't do. I didn't have any right to him. I knew he didn't mean it. Why would he? He isn't mine. He is her's.
I nod gingerly once before following him out the door.

I trail behind him, eyes glued to the floor. I look up and meet Cassy's eyes. She looks at me with compassion and concern.

I give her a small, wobbly smile and ask her how much I owed them.
"Already paid. Here are the instructions from Xee; I wrote the shop number there in case you have any questions." She looks at me Like she is trying to communicate something she isn't saying. I just can't figure it out right now. My mind is focused on one thing and one thing only. Ryan.