Page 44 of Cruel Mate

“What for?” she asked, scowling at him, confused.

“You have no idea how much I needed you,” he said, stroking a stray strand of hair from her face so he could look deep into her eyes.

“You did all of the work,” Layla pointed out, her stomach fluttering to remember how many times he had just made her climax. “I should be the one thanking you.”

Zander smiled at that and delicately kissed the tip of her nose. “It was my pleasure,” he assured her. “And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Layla’s insides turned to butterflies. She bit the inside of her lip to stop from suggesting they do just that.

As if Zander sensed where her mind had gone, he suggested, “How about we eat first? You need to keep your strength up.”

He laid his hand on her stomach then and Layla’s heart melted. She had never felt such caring consideration from anyone before.

“I’m not sure I could make it back to the dining room,” she admitted.

“I can help with that,” Zander smirked. “Hold on to me.”

She had no choice but to do so as he picked her up once more and started to carry her back to the dining room.

When he placed her on her feet beside her chair, they both took only a moment to correct their clothing before sitting down.

“Lemonade?” Zander asked, picking up the jug as innocently as if they hadn’t just fucked in the bathroom. Blushing, Layla nodded.

She had barely taken a sip of the drink he’d poured for her before the doorbell rang, blowing away the heady cloud of bliss that lingered in Layla’s head.

“I’ll get it,” Zander offered, but Layla was already on her way to the door.

“No, I’ll go. My legs could use a little stretching after…” she trailed off, blushing. The memory of what had just happened didn’t just linger in her mind, but in her limbs and her womanhood too. Everything felt so deliciously sore, and for the first time in a long time, she was in a good mood. Nothing could dampen it.

On her way past him, she pushed herself onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

It felt a little odd but also right, almost as if they were a proper married couple for the first time since they’d actually tied the knot. Maybe there was something to be gained from the consummation of a marriage after all.

Half-hoping that whoever was on the other side of her door was human and wouldn’t be able to smell what they had just been up to, she gave her hair and makeup a quick glance in the hallway mirror before answering.

The second she did, she had to bite back a groan. There was only one reason Sally from down the street would be knocking on her door—gossip. Either she wanted it or she had some to spill.

“Hi Layla, I hope I’m not catching you and the mister at a bad time,” Sally said, flipping her blonde hair back and craning her neck to look past Layla as if to get a glimpse of Zander. She couldn’t really blame her; Zander was drop-dead-gorgeous. She could finally admit that now that he was hers, but it also made her hate the way some of the other she-wolves of the pack looked at him—the ones like Sally, the nosy neighbor who knew everyone’s business because she was always either in it or causing it.

“We were just about to have dinner,” Layla admitted, pursing her lips to stop from smiling and clenching her thighs as she thought of the fact that Zander had already eaten her like she was the sweetest dessert he had ever tasted.

Sally scowled at Layla and cocked her head a little as if she had heard her thoughts. Then, instead of making any comment on what she could likely smell, she said, “Well, you might lose your appetite a little when you learn what I have to say.”

Layla gulped. She already didn’t like where this was headed. “Maybe you shouldn’t say it, then?”

Sally’s scowl deepened. “Fine, I won’t tell you that Christian is back in town.”

And just like that, Layla’s good mood was shattered.

Chapter 17 - Zander

Though Layla appeared a little subdued on her return from the door that evening, Zander was relieved that she invited him to her bed that night with “It only seems right after, well…”

He hadn’t pushed her to finish. He had struggled to get his head around what had happened, too. But when he woke the next morning with her still wrapped in his arms, sleeping on his chest, he realized there was no need to push anything. They had fallen into this naturally, finally. It had taken long enough, but it was certainly worth the wait.

He’d have stayed there all morning if he could, but his eyes had barely opened before his phone dinged on the bedside table. With a muffled groan, he reached for it and looked at the screen.

“What is it?” Layla asked groggily, raising her head just enough to look at him. Her under eyes were a little puffy with sleep, her hair messed up and a little drool dried on her chin, and yet she was still glowing with beauty.

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