Page 68 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

“Are you two hungry? Can I make Sydney a snack?”

I smiled gratefully. “No, I can handle it from here. Why don’t you get some rest?”

She waved. “I’m fine. I promise.”

“You sure?”

“Spears endure.” She patted my shoulder with a comforting smile. “You’ll learn the same about Cliff.”

Cliff avoided my inquisitive gaze.

“Yeah?” I teased. “Are you sure it’s not because you’re stubborn?”

“I detest that notion,” Cliff joked with a smirk, “but I’ll forgive you because I love you.”

I bashfully nipped my lower lip as heat flushed my entire body. “Shush.”

“No, I won’t.” He crawled over the couch and planted a firm kiss on my lips.

Goddess, how long had I suffered since the last one? In the background, Faye distantly chuckled. The floorboards creaked. Hinges squealed like they were about to chuck the door off the frame. Everything just seemed so far away while Cliff caressed my lips.

He paused with a contented sigh that gave me a rush. “I know you love me, too.”

I opened my mouth only to shut it just as fast. Painful flashes of guilt detonated in my stomach as I swallowed the knot in my throat. Instead of disappearing, it bobbed back into place like a buoy perpetually floating on the surface of a rocky sea.

Silence stretched past us, though it didn’t make me forget the statement. I licked my lips and opened my mouth again.Take two.Action. “I’m not sure I can say it again.”

His expression dipped, but his posture remained confident. “That’s okay. Take your time.”

I fought against a wave of grief. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You’re making me sick with the sorries.” He took my chin to still my body, a movement that I hadn’t sensed until he forced me to stop. “Hey, look at me.”

My gaze met his with a fierce bashfulness. “What?”

“I said, it’s okay.” He stroked my chin with his thumb, long lines that cast goosebumps in every direction. “It’s okay…”

He said it until I closed my eyes. He repeated it until I rested my head against his chest, inhaled his tobacco scent, and held his hands.

It’s okay.

Yeah, but would it stay that way?

Chapter 21 - Cliff

The following day, I greeted the first afternoon of August with a grumpy mug and a whopping three hours of sleep. Coffee failed to rouse me from my hazy state. I hoped that we would make a break in our investigation of Jillian’s attic faster than my tummy could eat my precious muscles.

My stomach gurgled. “Robyn, we’ve been at this all day.”

Robyn chucked one of the boxes aside. Dozens of them cluttered the attic, along with patchwork blankets, extra coats, and a full-sized dining set complete with seven chairs.

I helplessly watched my mate sigh at the open box and whisper, “You clever bitch.”

I snorted. “That’s an adjective.”

“I’ll give you an adjective.”

“Go on, then.”

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