Page 21 of Misbehaving With Minotaurs
What an idiot to leave a woman like her wondering and frustrated.
Flaring my nostrils wide, I suck in great big breaths, pulling her scent deep into my lungs as my cock pokes from my sheath, pressing painfully against the front of my jeans. Crisp fall apples. But when she’s aroused, like now, even if she’s also frustrated, it takes on an almost burnt, sugary gingerbread edge that makes my mouth water.
She needs what that other male will never give her.
I’ve just decided that, starting tomorrow, I’m going to see that she gets it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
CATHERINE
Irush from Manorin’s temporary office as if my skirt’s on fire. Pheromones drip from me, filling the air. That scent calls Manorin, I know it does, because now that he’s in town, our chemistry is painfully obvious to me.
Vikand’s name flashes again over the watch.
Rounding the corner, I back against the wall, half expecting Manorin to stalk toward me, rip the watch off my wrist and shove me up against the wall to take what he wants.
Gods, that sounds fun.
I half pray for that as I direct the watch to answer Vikand, my voice tremulous.
Vikand clears his throat. “Err, Catherine? Is that you?”
I resist the urge to remind him that he calledme. Instead, I smooth back my hair.
“Yep, you’ve got me.”
He pauses for a long, awkward moment. “Well, I’m not sure how to say this, but Arkan let me know my behavior at the field wasn’t acceptable, so I’m calling to apologize for leaving you when I got a call.”
I slap a hand over my face. Could he be any more obtuse?! In that moment I know one thing for sure—nothingabout Vikand is right for me. If I’m honest with myself, Manorin’s correct—I picked Vikand because he was safe and easy and available. But none of that is enough. I’m better off alone than dealing with a square peg, round hole situation.
A smile tips my lips upward at realizing I don’t have to force a connection where there’s not enough of one to mean anything.
“Listen, friend,” I say gently. “I understand. I thought perhaps there could be something between us, but it’s clear to me that you’re on your own path, a very exciting path, I might add, and?—”
“You don’t want to reschedule? Catherine, I?—”
I interrupt him the same way he just did me. “No, Vikand. I’m absolutely sure. There’s no need to reschedule.”
He pauses for another moment. Another clearing of his throat.
Gods, this is starting to annoy me.
“Well, if you’re sure, I suppose that’s fine, then.”
What would Manorin do in this situation?That unhelpful voice in my head pops up again. This situation wouldneverhappen with Manorin, because he’s always perfectly clear about what he wants and when he wants it. That doesn’t seem to have changed in the two centuries since we parted.
It occurs to me I could hang up this call and return to his office to take exactly what he offered me.
But, no, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to let that play out later. I’m a little curious to see what Manorin will do next.
“Goodbye, Vikand,” I say with confidence, relieved to be done attempting to court a male who doesn’t have any common sense.
Hours later, I’m prepping three apple pies in the kitchen, considering how much relief I feel at, well, I can’t even call it breaking up with Vikand. We never even dated, and I don’t count the failed picnic attempt. Vikand was so much the opposite of my Wesley. Wesley was brash and brilliant and charming, and he used those assets to hurt monsters I cared about, attacking Ever and unleashing thralls within our wards. He betrayed me in the deepest possible way.
I should have known he was bad news… Annabelle never loved him.
But I don’t have to worry about Wesley anymore. He’s dead and gone, thank the gods.
