Page 43 of Bought and Shared
Taking her hand in mine, I notice that she’s shaking a bit, and my inner alarm bells go off. “What did you do today?”
She tells me about her time with Cadence, meeting up with Knox for lunch—which I’m sure has more erotic details than she alludes to judging by the bold color that tinges her cheeks—and her tutoring session. She doesn’t mention anything about the harassment.
Not wanting to force the discussion out of her, I try to give my mate plenty of opportunities to tell me the truth about what’s upsetting her throughout supper. If this is to work between us, I need her to trust Knox and me completely. As our mate, Aurora should be able to tell us about whatever she is thinking or feeling. To not do so will only hurt the bond we’re forming and cause unnecessary distress.
She is mostly quiet throughout the evening meal, only speaking when I ask her direct questions. She barely touches her chicken. By the time we return to our suite, it seems like she’s even more nervous than when we left.
Badging into our suite, I loosen the top button of my uniform to get more comfortable. I’m going to need to teach my little kitten to trust me, and it might take all night.
“May I go to bed early tonight, Master?” She asks as she steps out of her dainty slippers. “It’s been a long day and I’m very tired.”
I need to get down to the bottom of her mood. “No. Come over here, Aurora. We need to talk.”
Biting her bottom lip, she slowly moves to my side. Reaching out, I stroke her arm. Once again, I revel in how silky smooth she is. A shiver of anticipation shoots down my spine and causes my cock to thicken when I imagine rubbing naked against that buttery soft skin of hers.
“What aren’t you telling me, Aurora?” I pose, wanting to catch her off guard enough to reveal her secrets. “I can see you’re upset.”
A look of sheer panic cuts across her beautiful face. “I…, nothing, Master. I’m just tired and it’s been a long day.”
I don’t miss the way she fumbles her words as she tries to configure a way to shut me out. Well, she can’t do that. Not my mate. She needs to be able to trust me, to let me in, and it all starts with letting go of the fear and anxiety she’s currently struggling with.
“Take off your dress,” I say in a no-nonsense tone, foreshadowing what’s to come.
Aurora looks like she wants to protest, but she doesn’t. Shrugging out of her uniform, she awaits my next command.
I allow my eyes to travel over her beautiful body, head to toe and back, and smile as she drops her gaze to the floor. Then I extend an olive branch. “Share with me what’s bothering you, Aurora. I want to know what it is so I can help.”
Sucking in a sharp breath, she stares down at her nervously wiggling toes. “Something happened today.”
“Go on,” I encourage, as I trace my rough finger down her collarbone and over the swell of her breast.
When I reach the nipple, I gently pinch and tease it with the faintest amount of pressure. The rose-hued bud puckers at my touch, making me marvel at how beautifully responsive my mate is.
“I received an unexpected package in the mail today,” she confesses, her expression turning grave.
Surprised by this new information, I let my hand drop and give her my full attention. “Who was it from?”
“My fiancé,” she reveals, her chest rising and falling in a huff with her words.
“Fiancé?” I say, my voice deceptively calm, though I’m raging like a wild stallion inside.
I had no idea my mate was engaged before the auction. There was no indication of that fact in her file. I should know; I’ve read it from front to back at least five times.
“My ex-fiancé,” she clarifies. “My parents arranged the union. I had no desire to wed Micah. It was their dream, not mine.”
Flames of fury instantly ignite in my chest. They threaten to consume me from the inside out at the thought of this human male taking what belongs to me.
“What was inside of the package?” I press, needing all of the details before I hunt this man down and strangle him with my bare hands.
Aurora pauses, knowing I’m not going to like the answer. “A cell phone.”
She’s right. My anger only burns hotter now. “Did he call you on it?”
Worrying her hands together, Aurora reluctantly nods. “Yes.”
I pride myself on my self-restraint. Usually, I’m the level-headed one while Knox is unhinged, but right now, I can’t think straight. My blood is pumping wildly through my veins and my muscles are twitching from inaction.
Pulling my mate into my arms, I hold her gently as I peer into her beautiful brown eyes. “What did the man want?”
