Page 22 of Master Vidar & Vali

“You know what, don’t bother. I’ll go and find out for myself what his problem is.”

Oh boy, she was really pissed. I wasn’t sure how Colin would respond to that, so I grabbed her around the waist and tried to distract her. “Or you could yell at him in the morning. If you're too wound up for sleep I could try to wear you out some more.”

She groaned and wiggled out of my grip. “Tempting as that is, going to bed angry is never a good idea, and right now I’m pissed. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind, Lincoln. Don’t try to stop me.”

Zara scooped up my shirt from the floor and pulled it over her head before storming out of the room. Could I have tried harder to stop her? Probably. Unfortunately for Colin, I was rooting for her.

Chapter Nine

Colin

Stealth was not one of Zara’s skills. Or if it was, she wasn’t utilizing it at all. I heard her stomping steps long before the door to my bedroom was flung open and hit the wall with a thump. The anger on her face wasn’t a surprise nor was the confrontational way she stood with her hand on her hip as if she thought one look would get me to fall to my knees with apology.

With how sexy she looked dressed only in one of Lincoln’s shirts, I might have been convinced to drop to my knees for other reasons but knew that wasn’t why she had come. She was there to demand something from me I couldn’t give, no matter how much I wanted to. Would she be able to understand?

I prayed that Zara would. Being with her and Lincoln had been powerful on a level I couldn't have expected. Something I would do almost anything to repeat. The acts themselves hadn’t been anything particularly special. In fact we’d been almost vanilla if you ignored the number of people involved. But even without all the bells and whistles of BDSM, we’d connected on a level I’d never felt before.

Getting up to leave had been hard. Unfortunately, taking into account the stress of the day and what we’d done, I’d known that if I laid with her for much longer, I’d have fallen asleep. Putting her at risk of my night terrors wasn’t something I was willing to risk. Telling her that should be easy, but I’d never discussed them with anyone. The only reason Lincoln knew about them was because he lived with me.

“Explain yourself.”

She sounded like a mother scolding a misbehaving child. I couldn't hold back my smirk. Zara had guts, I would give her that. However, the haughty attitude she was displaying wasn’t something I’d accept even if her frustration was justified. The thought of tugging her across my lap and reddening her ass until she begged me to stop was tempting, but punishing her would have to wait.

“Good to see you too, Zara. Please come in.” The sarcasm and rebuke were clear in my voice.

She might have reason to be annoyed, but I wouldn’t let her run over me. Zara stepped in and closed the door behind her and crossed her arms over her breasts. Did she think hiding her beautiful body would keep me from learning the truth? That I wouldn’t see her reaction to me. Even if I couldn’t see her pert nipples, the staccato of the pulse at her neck told me all I needed to know. I think deep down, Zara had always wanted someone who could take her control away while keeping her safe.

“Sorry.”

Her apology was far from sincere. Behind the anger was an emotion that surprised me. Hurt. It was the last thing I wanted her to feel. My inability to sleep in the same room as someone else had been a sticking point for women in the past. It was frustrating to have someone mad at you for something you couldn’t control. Though Zara was the first person who mademe really wish I could. I’d never felt close enough to share my weakness with a woman, but for her I might.

“Apology accepted. Now, what would you like me to explain?” It was a stalling technique I couldn’t help but use. What if she looked at me with pity after I explained?

I saw the battle of emotions that played across her face and felt like an arse. I knew what she wanted to ask. Thing was I didn’t want to have to explain. Showing weakness wasn’t something I did. Even worse, if she didn’t accept my explanation, what would that mean? I wouldn’t give up on there being an us. It was why I needed Lincoln. Why I couldn’t have a woman alone, not that I wanted a woman without him.

I’d left her happy and snuggled with Lincoln. Why couldn’t that be enough? Why couldn’t she be content sleeping with just one of us?

“Why did you leave?” Her tone was soft, the complete opposite to her demand for information.

I could have stood strong in the face of anger or defiance. Her wounded disappointment cut right through my defenses and made me want to pull her into bed with me. I still wouldn’t be able to give her what she deserved but it would be something.

Her hair hung in thick tangles, evidence of what we’d enjoyed together. She moved closer and stood only inches away from me. I could smell the remnants of our sex on her, even though I had cleaned her. That mingled with vanilla and some type of blossom made for a heady scent, one I’d like to further explore but it had been a long day. My cock stirred, and I was glad it was hidden under the blanket.

“Did Lincoln not explain?”

“He started to, but honestly, why should he be the one to explain why you dipped like I was a sleazy one-night stand you couldn’t wait to get away from?”

Was that really how she felt? “That was not what I did.”

“You gave me a kiss like you’d be right back then left without a word. I’d say you treated me like a hooker, but lucky for you, you didn’t leave money on the dresser.”

The anger was back in charge, which was a good thing, but I was reeling from what she’d said. “You were about to fall asleep. It was time for me to go.”

My excuse was hollow even to my own ears. She sat down on the bed and played with the edge of the comforter.

“It’s not that you left that bothers me, though I don’t like that either, it’s that I wasn’t worth saying goodbye to. Hell, I would have taken a ‘good night’ or ‘sweet dreams’ but you just bailed.”

In trying to avoid the uncomfortable conversation, I’d inadvertently hurt her. I pulled her into my arms, arranging her stiff body so she was lying next to me. I gave her a kiss on top of her beautiful hair because I was afraid she wouldn’t accept more.

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