Page 3 of The Alpha's Arrangement
“We wake you?” Carter asks as he pushes his way through the door and slams it shut, blocking all his men out.
My mouth drops open. “You just slammed the door on them.”
“Damn right. They’ll see what I do, and it’s not for their eyes.”
I look down at my clothes and notice exactly what he’s talking about. My first instinct is to hide, but I stand tall.
The heat in the room turns up like the gates of hell are at my feet. Each prick of the warmth sends goose pebbles up my skin. Then, when he touches my arm, that fire blazes where our connection is.
My instinct is to pull back, but for unknown reasons, I don’t. Instead, I stare into eyes that beam desire and lust. My core tightens.
“I just got out of bed.”
With his other hand, he cups the side of my face, making that spot red-hot, as well. I inhale at the touch as he sweeps his thumb ever so softly over my bottom lip. The urge to lick his thumb hits hard. Instead, I concentrate on breathing. Passing out in this moment isn’t an option.
He watches intently as he traces my lip, like I’m the most important being on this planet and he only has eyes for me. No man has ever looked at me like this before. It makes my chest compress. The gesture so mundane to some holds so much meaning to me. I feel like I could stay like this all day long.
A thump comes to the door, and Carter closes his eyes. “Baby, get some clothes on so my boys won’t look at you.”
Clearing my throat, my feet take me back a step, losing his touch. I want it back so desperately, but only nod, and then go to get dressed.
As I’m upstairs, my clothes now on, low growls and laughter can be heard from downstairs. The noise makes the big house seem even more like a home, like a family. Shaking my head from my thoughts, I make my way down the stairs and follow the chatter.
Stepping into my new kitchen, all conversations halt and all attention comes to me. Seven pairs of eyes, to be exact. Each roaming, each appraising, but it’s the navy ones that hold me as I give a slight smile.
“Hi, everyone. Thanks for coming. I don’t have any …”
A large man with golden-blonde hair holds up a box of donuts, while a dark brown-haired male holds up coffee. I dart toward him, needing my caffeine fix, so damn happy they got me a cup of joe, too.
“Thank you!”
A growl comes from behind me, but the brown-haired male just smiles.
I turn to see Carter standing there.
“Did you just growl at me?” I ask, sipping the brew.
Instead of answering, he says, “Boys, outside and wait for the truck.”
“They don’t have to go outside,” I argue. It’s not freezing out, but it’s not the warmest, either. “At least let me meet the guys who are helping.”
I turn back to the brown-haired man who was holding the coffee. “Hi, I’m Izzy.”
“Gar.”
I make my way through the men and note that someone’s missing. “Where’s Owen?”
Carter’s nose flares. “He had to work.”
“Yeah,” Jack, one of the men, grunts, and Carter’s focus goes to him.
“Now, outside and wait.”
All six men move from around the kitchen island where they were standing since I have no chairs yet, and out the door.
“That wasn’t nice.”
Once the door clicks shut, I watch as Carter’s body visibly relaxes. His shoulders lose a bit of their tension and the lines around his eyes soften. It’s as if having me away from all his men gives him calm, which is totally preposterous to even think. I’ve seen the man twice. There is no way my presence would do this.
