Page 32 of Tinsel Time Treasure
Annie nodded. “Yeah.”
I whined and set my chin on my knee. “What now?”
There was a moment of silence, then Annie spoke again. “Right. Safe plan.” She blew out a long breath. “A hotel is the obvious choice for tonight, but it would get expensive in the long term.”
My head snapped to where Max sat when he let out a low protective growl.
“Max,” Annie warned. “I understand, but…”
He stood and started pacing. “Alone in a hotel room after that?”
“Justin?” Annie asked. “What do you want?”
I shivered. “I… don’t want to be alone.”
“Is there somebody you can stay with?”
“My friend Kaleb,” I started. “Oh… nevermind.”
“Hmm?” Annie asked. “What’s wrong with him?”
I shook my head. “He just got mated, and his mate took him on a surprise vacation. I don’t think they’re back yet.”
“You could go to the omega shelter…”
“No,” I stated. “There are people who need those beds far more than I do.”
“He can stay here with me,” Max declared. “I have a spare room.”
“That could send this other alpha into a rage,” Annie replied.
“Then we’ll make it appear that he’s staying in a hotel, or with a friend.”
“He… is right here,” I mumbled. “You’re talking about me.”
Max stopped pacing, walked over and knelt beside the couch. “I’m sorry.”
I stared at him for several seconds, waiting for the explanation—the justification for the way he’d talked about me like he was deciding for me. But neither came. It was just an apology without an excuse.
It was strangely refreshing.
He reached out and rested one of his hands over mine. “Would you be more comfortable if I left the room?”
“Why would you ask that?” I whispered.
He gave me a tight smile. “Because I’m kinda… being an overprotective alphahole. I’m trying to keep it under control, but I don’t think I’m doing a good job.”
I should have been worried. There I was, hiding from a possessive asshole, and another man was almost in full-on alpha-mode with his need to protect me. But instead of worried or scared, I thought it was sweet.
“Please stay,” I replied.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded. Was he being protective? Absolutely. But he was putting my needs before his, and that was the difference.
He bumped his thumb over my knuckles. “Let me know if I’m too much. Ok?”
“Ok.”
