Page 76 of The Butcher

Whatever it is, I don’t mind it so much because angry or not, I like Bram’s eyes on me, and I wasn’t sure I’d feel that way about anyone after living at the ranch.

He doesn’t make me feel like a piece of meat.

“Are you going to answer me?” My voice wavers a bit as he steps close enough to share air, his spicy scent so strong I can feel it, its warmth radiating from his chest to mine before it spreads through me like wildfire.

And lands directly in my pussy because not only can I smell myself, Bramley’s pupils dilate to the point of almost filling his iris the second my perfume hits him.

What the hell is that?

I squeeze my thighs together, desperately trying to stop something I didn’t even mean to start, my cheeks burning with embarrassment when I feel my slick.

As if this impromptu visit wasn’t awkward enough, I’m naturally, accidentally, turned on for the first time in my entirelife by an alpha I‘m positive would sooner take me back to that ravine and leave me there than entertain anything that’s happening right now.

Bramley leans toward me, his breath hot on my neck before he inhales deeply enough to make my back arch the tiniest bit. “A dangerous game, this one.”

I nod absentmindedly as my eyes drift close, as I feel every word against my skin.

Do I know what the hell he’s talking about? No, but I also don’t care. Not with my body doing stupid things and his scent close enough to taste.

“Save it for Nash, Indy.” My eyes pop open at that, the bite in his tone sharp and hard to ignore as Bramley lifts his head, staring once again before he lets go of my wrists and starts backing away. “It’s clear that he’s the one you want, the one you need. Take them both, for all I care. They’ve made their choice.”

Blinking away the lust, my jaw drops slightly over how stupid this man really is.

“What are you talking about?”

Bram shrugs, and I can tell he’s smirking like an asshole behind his mask. “Clayton, Nash. You can have them. That’s why you’re here, right?”

“Have you lost your mind?” I shake my head as I push off the wall. “Those two are so in love with you it’s almost scary. They’d never leave you, no matter how much you might deserve it, and I’d never take them away.”

He turns around, going back to the counter, fiddling with something on it, but I didn’t miss the slight change in his facade.

That’s exactly what this is, it’s bullshit.

Bram is no more jealous of my time spent with Nash and Clayton than they are over each other.

“They’re in love with you, little omega, and I’m sure there’s none left for me.”

“You’re so full of shit,” I grunt as I pick up the dustpan I no longer want to use. “You act like you’re put out because they’ve been spending time with me, but that’s a load of bull.”

He glances at me over his shoulder then goes back to whatever the hell he’s doing. “You think you know me? Think you know all about my relationships, my feelings? Enlighten me.”

“Okay.” I cross my arms against my chest and hope this newfound attitude I have doesn’t go anywhere for a while. “You are looking for any possible excuse you can come up with for not spending time with me.”

“And why would I want to spend time with you?”

Taking a deep breath, I let the truth fly. “Because I’m yours, and you’re mine.”

Bram freezes but says nothing. So I keep going.

“You’re afraid, though. I don’t know what you’re afraid of, but I can sense the fear. I felt it when you rescued me, the way it shot through you once you realized I wasn’t dead.” That’s news to me, I didn’t remember it until right now, but I’m going to roll with it since it seems true on his end as well. “When you called for me the other night, when you tried to get rid of me? That came from a place of fear. Until now, I thought you hated me. For taking up Nash and Clayton’s time, for getting close to Mona. Hell, I thought you hated me for using your spare bedroom. I came up with a thousand reasons that someone I’d never met, someone who saved me then disappeared, could hate a perfect stranger, but I know now that’s not true.”

I take a step toward him but stop when the reality I’m making him face sinks in for me, too.

“You don’t hate me, but you don’t want me.” I blink a few times as tears try to form, refusing to even let them try. “Whatever it is you’re afraid of, you’ve convinced yourself youdon’t want me, or need me, and you’ve settled on letting all of us go because of it.”

“Smart,” Bram grunts. “Don’t have a clue how you know all that, but it’s impressive. Got part of it wrong, though.”

He slowly turns to face me, and I swallow hard to keep my emotions in check. “What’s that?”

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