Page 24 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

Robyn chuckled.

Hector huffed and groaned loudly. “Alright, it sounds like you know what you need to do. Do you have any questions?”

“Yeah, can you send my sister up here to perform the exorcisms?”

“No.”

Robyn snort-giggled and then slammed her hand over her mouth. I glared at her while holding the phone up to my lips. “Love you, too.”

“Love you, Man. Be safe. Call me tomorrow, okay?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Click.

Her grip on my hand tightened. “So, are you going to do it?”

“If it’ll mean your safety and your daughter’s safety, yes.”

“You mean that?”

I held up her hand. “You haven’t let me go for a while. I have to believe that you subconsciously believe me.”

She whipped her hand away from me. “Do youmean it, Cliff?”

“I mean it.”

“How do I know that’s true?”

I stood from my chair and went to the mini fridge next to the bed, where I kept a few water bottles. After grabbing one, I handed it to Robyn and urged her to stand up. “You should get back before Bill realizes you’re gone.”

“Answer the question, Cliff.”

“Watch your six. Be mindful. I’ll come back tomorrow, okay?”

She clutched the front of my sweater, clawing the fabric. “Cliff.”

“It’s true because I mean it.”

“But how—?”

I growled as I planted my hands on the doorframe, sandwiching her between me and the door. “I’ll prove it to you, okay? I’ll stick around this time. I’ll keep showing up.I’m not going to stop until you believe me.”

Our mouths were mere centimeters away, a realization that made my tongue dance behind my lips. Her intoxicating scent came again—black licorice and pepper—unlocking memories that I had forgotten existed.

She shuddered, licked her lips, and then looked up at me. “What’s my loser cap this time?”

“You lost under duress. No winner.”

“Come on, Cliff. Don’t pity me. Make me pay the loser fee. It’s only fair.”

Instinctively, my lips parted as I leaned toward her, teasing her mouth with the lightest touch. Upper lip to the left corner, and then lower lip to the right corner, and then back again in subtle strokes until she was standing on her toes just to make our mouths close together—but they never did.

I refused to kiss her.

She huffed while grabbing the knob. “You’re rude.”

“And you’re a tough cookie.”

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