Page 41 of Unexpected Alpha's Claim

“Oh,” I said, unsure how to respond.

It was strange because I knew Raul got up early and it was almost noon. I couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t be here.

“Sorry,” Sam muttered lifting the hammer and returning his attention to his work.

I nodded and didn’t ask any further questions. Sam was his brother, not his caretaker. If I’d learned anything about the brothers’ relationship it was that only one man could answer where Raul was and why he wasn’t at work and that was Raul himself.

I drove over to his cabin and decided to boldly walk on in. I think we have that kind of relationship now, don’t we? I hope so. I can’t tell if the butterflies in my stomach are from excitement at that idea or plain old nerves, but I push them down and go inside anyway.

The interior was just as I had left it the day before. Two, empty mugs of tea sat on the kitchen table. The fire in the corner hearth had died leaving only a pile of gray ash. As I climbed the stairs, suspicion creeped into me. Had he spent the night somewhere else? With someone else? Dread built with every step I took, but, it didn’t sound plausible. I couldn’t be that wrong about him. He had been genuine from the beginning. Caring. Loving. Even the idea of him doing such a thing seemed outrageous.

My thoughts continued to spin as I carefully made my way down the hall towards his bedroom. Anticipation combined with the nerves making my heart speed up and a cold sweat forming om my skin. The door was partially open. I slowed as I approached, trying to be ready for anything, including him not being alone, no matter how much I didn’t want that to be the case.

I pushed the door open and as it swung on silent hinges, the real explanation became apparent. He was naked, lying on his chest, arms splayed out over the sheets. I took in the scene, elating in the fact that my stupid nerves had been wrong and admiring the view of his well sculpted ass before speaking.

“Raul?” I called, keeping my voice soft to try and wake him gently. I walked to the side of the bed when he didn’t respond. “Raul, wake up.”

“Hmmm?” he groaned and rolled onto his back.

“It’s me. Monica,” I said a tad louder. “What’s going on? I thought you’d be at work by now.”

“Long night,” he said groggily with his eyes still shut. He stretched which was distracting but I steeled my will and remained focused. Mostly. “Would you make us some coffee? I’ll explain downstairs,” he added groggily.

I stared at him for a long moment. What a welcome. This was every bit like Raul.Not.

I wasn’t expecting him to jump up and down like an idiot, but this was absurd. The least he could do was get up and give me a hug. I guessed I had set my expectations too high.

I turned and left the bedroom but now I was angry. He slept till noon, had a long night doing something, who knows what, then wanted me to go make him coffee without so much as a good morning or how are you? He had the wrong woman if he thought that’s the way our relationship was going to go.

I looked to where the coffee pot sat on the counter and decided that if he wanted coffee, he could damn well make it himself.I wasn’t some “yes girl”. Before anything else, I wanted to hear what he had to say for himself.

Whatever it was, one thing was certain, he had failed to mention it to me. And that bothered me. A lot. If we’re going to have a relationship I wanted it to be based in truth and honesty, not subterfuge and lies. I leaned against the kitchen counter, tapping my fingers on my forearm impatiently. Raul strolled down the stairs wearing only a loose pair of sweats. He yawned and rubbed his eyes as he walked into the kitchen.

“I don’t smell any coffee,” he complained, looking around with bleary eyes.

“That’s because I didn’t make any,” I said in a monotone voice.

I saw that he picked up on my irritation because he paused, blinked, suppressed a yawn, then frowned as he nodded. Whether that was a nod of understanding or something else wasn’t clear but it did nothing to mollify my irritation.

“Right.” he croaked, passing by the table.

He came to stand beside me which only made me tense even more. He darted a glance in my direction then picked up the coffee pot and took it to the sink.

“Well?” I asked, tapping my fingers even faster.

He yawned once again and shook his head as he ran water into the pot. He stepped back and then shuffled around me to return to the coffee pot. He didn’t speak until the coffee had started to brew, then he turned and leaned against the counter so that he was facing me.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Sorry? For what?”

He frowned and dropped his gaze to the floor before raising it to meet my steady glare.

“Helena and I went on a mission last night,” he said.

“A mission? And you didn’t think to let me know? Or your brothers? And since Helena was involved, I can only assume it was dangerous?”

He shrugged and looked away again. He did have the decency to at least look a little sheepish.

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