Page 17 of Cruel Alpha Bully

“Grandmother left me hers in her will,” Gina answers. “It needs a tune-up, but I’ll get it brought over when they go through her estate.”

“Okay, good. Is there anything else you need?”

She shakes her head. “My boss, Martin, has promised me a decent electric keyboard.”

Gina’s keeping her eyes down, focused on her food, and only answering in short sentences. I’m feeling frustrated and disappointed. It felt like we were really making progress.

“But do you need anything else?” I prod. “I mean, for the house or for yourself? It’s your home now. You can do whatever you like to make it comfortable.”

She looks up, giving me a small smile. “Thank you. I’ll let you know.”

Despite my best efforts, the distance between us seems to be growing again. Memories of the kiss we shared torture me. I know if I could just kiss her again, all her resistance would just melt away.

I’m torn between taking what I want, as I always have, and waiting for her to come to me. The problem with waiting is that she may never change her mind. I’m still not even sure that she’s staying away from me because of what I did in high school or if she has other reasons.

Maybe she doesn’t even want me.

The thought rushes through me, triggering a bitter rage. What if she had someone else in Denver? The idea of another man touching her makes my wolf frantic within me, howling for the blood of my rival.

I can’t believe it. I won’t.

But as we spend another night sleeping next to each other, and yet so very far apart, my doubts grow.

The next morning, Gina gets ready for her first day at work, and I try to stay out of her way. It’s bad enough lying beside her all night, knowing I can’t touch her, but when she goes to the bathroom to get changed and shower, I’m almost mad with lust every single time.

That gorgeous, perfectly curved body, right there on the other side of the door. Close enough to touch, but denied to me.

I get dressed myself and hurry downstairs to make coffee for us both. Thinking of someone else’s needs before my own is a brand-new feeling for me, and I’m worried that I’m not very good at it. An alpha must put his pack before himself, but that’s very different than living with another person and ensuring their satisfaction before my own.

Gina looks beautiful when she comes downstairs. I want to tell her so, but I don’t know how, and I’m worried she won’t take me seriously.

“Good morning,” I say, wanting to compliment her blue dress and knee-high boots, but struggling to do it without innuendo.

“Good morning, Bae,” she answers, giving me her usual small, guarded smile.

“Can I make you something?”

“No, that’s fine, thanks. I’ll just make some toast.”

From my perspective, it feels like there is a massive ocean of words trapped beneath a thin barrier of social pleasantries.

If she feels the same, though, wouldn’t she speak up? Maybe she really has nothing to say to me.

We head into work together, and I open up my store while Gina heads off to her first day. I expect to be able to forget about her for a short time and focus on my work, but I keep heading to the front windows to watch her. I have a fantastic view of the music store, and I can clearly see her moving around, serving customers and tidying the store.

She looks happy. Happier than she ever does with me.

Even though I pull myself away multiple times to go back to work, I’m drawn to the window again and again. I love the way she smiles, the way she laughs.

I want to make her laugh like that.

How can I make her understand my feelings? Would she even believe me if I could find the right words?

I’m broken out of my thoughts when I see a customer enter the store and head straight over to Gina. She bounces enthusiastically at the sight of him and gives him a hug.

What?

My wolf is growling dangerously in my blood. I vaguely recognize the guy. Maybe he went to our school.

---