Page 23 of Dream Girl
Shit. I’d rather not recall how that place nearly killed me.
“No. Don’t apologize, Grace. None of this was your fault. I’m the alpha, and I should have protected you. Yeah, okay, I saw you in my dreams. But I also know what that means. You were mine to love. You trusted me, and I couldn’t save you.” His muscular arms wrapped around me.
The raw sadness hit me right in the chest as tears ran down my face.
“Easy, both of you,” Evan scolded, running his large hand through my hair. “None of this is either of your faults. You’re together now.”
“I didn't mean to implode your life,” I continued to cry. Had I ruined everything?
“I know, Peaches. You’re not wrecking anything. I’m just feeling too many things all at once. It’ll be okay. You’re here, and that’s all that matters.” Wes held me close.
Heat built between us. But it also didn’t stop my analytical mind. “If I’m from another world, and I’m the one with the theories, how were you supposed to save me?”
Evan snorted. “She’s got you there.”
“I’m the alpha. It’s my job.” Hurt crossed his face.
“You didn’t abandon me.” If I forgot him, that was different. Clearly, he didn’t forget me and it hurt him a lot, which made me feelawful.
“I… I didn’t mean to hurt you.” I cupped his face with my hands, feeling that pull again.
Being here with him felt right in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.
“I know, Peaches.” His eyes closed as if savoring my touch.
“We will figure this out.” Evan leaned in and kissed him again.
For a moment I wanted to lean in and kiss Wes, too. I could practically feel that stubble on my face, his hands on my body.
“You’re so cute together. Evan, you’re going to have to finish explaining your four men to me,” I said, shaking myself out of my thirsty daydream. Like did Wes have four husbands, too? I was so curious.
Evan and Jett had tried to explain theirpackto me, which seemed to be their all-dude polyamorous family that lived in what smelled like a frat house and looked straight out of a show about fancy homes.
“I only have three husbands. Spencer is my platonic life partner. He’s my best friend, and I’d walk through fire for that man, I just don’t want to fuck him. Jett is with me and Brennan. Wes has only me. There’s so much room for you, Peaches.” Evan touched his light brown nose to mine.
“You, sir, are getting a little ahead of yourself.” I laughed to cover the fact that the idea of having both of them made me clench.
Why was I so thirsty? I didn’t even really know them. While Evan seemed into multiple partners, I wasn’t sure if Wes was.
“Oh, I’m notsir.” Evan grinned, snuggling into me. “Unless you want me to be.”
That banter.I’d never had a truly serious partner that wasn’t my dream boyfriend. Was it normal to want them both so badly so soon?
“Will you stop? You’re going to make her uncomfortable,” Wes play-scolded, rolling his eyes.
“It’s fine.” I leaned into Wes, putting my legs over Evan. Then I realized what I was doing and tried to sit up.
“Stay.” Wes pulled me back onto him. “You’re so fucking small. And thin.”
“I’ve always been small.” I shrugged. After all, I was four-foot-ten. Wes and Evan were well over six feet, with Evan being a little taller.
“Who hurt you? Did someone check you out?” Wes frowned as he looked at my face and examined my bruises with care that reminded me of better times.
“At the clinic, they did scans, exams, bloodwork, and stuff. Today I talked to a lot of people. I’ll be fine. I’m just tired.” Laying my head back down, I got cozy, letting the sense of rightness and the yearning for it, override my common sense.
His nose went to my head, and he sniffed me. “You still smell like peaches, but something’s not right.”
“The doctor said that someone drugged me. Would that change it? Sorry, I don’t quite understand why scents are so pronounced here.” No one said I smelled of peaches back home–and no guy I knew ever smelled like them, well outside of Wes. This entire world smelled like a candle shop.
