Page 35 of Possessive Alpha

After the longest moment in the world, I cross over to the table and sit in my usual spot.

I’m not sure if anyone knows what we did against Ty’s door last night. From the lingering glances and smiles as I sit down, someone overheard and word has gotten around.

Ignoring Clara’s stare as she takes the seat beside me, I pick up my fork. I could be eating gravel and dust, and I wouldn’t know any different.

Ty isn’t even pretending to be interested in his breakfast. All his focus is on me. “I have to talk to you today.”

And I know exactly what he’s going to want to talk about. Us. Maybe about the cabin he wants us to live in. Could even be about how close he came to biting me and claiming me as his mate forever.

But most definitely about our future.

I’m not even close to being ready for that conversation.

I swallow a piece of sausage that tasted for all the world like sand. “Unfortunately, I can’t today. I’m taking Clara shopping. She needs new clothes.”

“I do?” Clara says. “Because I can?—”

I kick her ankle to shut her up, talking over her yelp. “She does. Her underwear is all worn and stained.”

“Fucking hell, Martha, announce it to the world, why don’t you?” Clara mutters, raking her eyes over our grinning breakfast mates. “Just for reference, they are not stained. They’re a little old. But I can do with?—”

“No, you can’t,” I bite out and give her ‘the smile.’ It’s less of a smile than a tight-lipped grimace, but Clara knows it from childhood. She knows exactly what it means.

She stares at me, then she sighs. “Okay. We’ll go shopping.”

It isn’t often I put my foot down and make demands on Clara, but I’m not budging on this. Clara knows the look and I’m giving it to her and then some.

“I can take you,” Ty offers.

“No need, I can drive us,” I blurt out.

“Then I can come with you,” he says.

“We’ll be going to lingerie stores.” I halt. That’s hardly something you would say to a guy you didn’t want to come shopping with you. “For socks. And also the grocery store for makeup and vegetables.”

“Makeup and vegetables, yay!” Clara mutters sarcastically. “The excitement is killing me.”

I’m fully aware we have become the focus of all the attention in the dining room. So when Ty stands, grips my arm, and tugs, I’m kind of relieved to put an end to this ridiculous argument.

“We’re talking now,” he declares, and he leads me out of the dining room.

Outside the house, he stops. He towers over me and he’s not smiling. “Did I hurt you?”

I was expecting his anger at the way I snuck out of his room. His question surprises me. “Uh, no. You didn’t hurt me,” I reply in the same quiet tone, then turn away, back to the house. “I need to go.”

“Martha…” His hand grips my arm, and I jump.

He yanks his hand away so fast it’s clear he thinks he hurt me. “Sorry.”

“I’m okay,” I assure him.

Now we’ve had sex, every time he touches me, I’m going to remember exactly how it felt to let myself go, give into all my urges and wants, and I’m terrified if he keeps on touching me, I’ll give in again.

I can’t let that happen. My priority is Clara. Not Ty.

“Right.” He doesn’t sound like he believes me. “Let’s go back inside.”

Ty swings around, presumably to lead the way back inside. I frown at the tension in his back, and I go nowhere. Does he think I’m afraid of him now?

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