Page 61 of Overcoming the Beta

“Too many to count.” He continues looking at the ground.

“Who is Cindy to you?” My voice is quivering but firm.

“She was a woman that I slept with regularly.” He still doesn’t make eye contact.

“Your girlfriend?” I cross my arms and he nods his head. “She tried to tell me the truth, and you said she was crazy and dangerous.”

“I wanted to spare your feelings.” He snaps his head up. His eyes are bloodshot.

“Spare my feelings? You lied to me, Ian. You’re only coming clean now because you got caught.” My lip quivers as I speak.

“Please,” he grabs me, pulling me tight into his body. “I can’t live without you. I love you so much.” He kisses my neck and the tingles from the mate bond send shivers down my spine. The haze of the mate bond quickly takes over and suddenly I’m lost in him. In an instant, the pain is washed away. “I promise to be a good boy from now on.” He continues kissing his way to his mark. “I love you, Kate.” He whispers as he sucks on my marking spot, sending a wave of electricity through my body to my core.

“Look at me.” I grab him by the hair and lift his head. “Promise that you will not cheat on me ever again. I need to hear you say it.”

“I promise,” he says as he lowers us to the ground.

We sit on our knees facing each other. I love him so much. Looking into his eyes, I see the guilt and pain he has been living with all these months. I’m choosing to love him and forgive him. Our lips meet and tiny explosions radiate from our kiss. Lust fills the air, and I need to feel his skin on mine. I need to be one with him. I pull up his shirt, jerking it over his head before he takes my lips again. Our tongues dance and intertwine as I savor the sweet taste of his mouth. He breaks the kiss to pull my shirt and sports bra off my body.

I try to unbuckle his belt but end up fumbling around with it instead. We are hungry for each other and can’t get our clothes off fast enough. He lays me on my back, snatching my leggings down around my ankles. He is quick and soon I feel his member thrust inside me with a single push. Grabbing my hips, he pounds in and out with short fast strokes. My breasts jump around wildly, and I breathe heavily, trying to control any sounds I make.

He feels amazing inside me, and my body craves more. Just when I think I can’t take anymore, he rests my legs on his shoulders, lifting my hips high in the air continuing to push deep inside me. Soon my body shakes and I moan out his name as I fall over the edge. With the next thrust, he follows, and his member pulsates as it fills me with his hot liquid. After we both come down, he rolls off me with a smile on his face.

“Thank you, angel.”

Chapter thirty-one

Save Ava

**June 2004**

Kate

“Heysugar,”momlooksup from her magazine as I walk into the kitchen from the back door. “A delivery came for you,” she points to the large flat box propped up against the wall next to the kitchen table.

“A delivery? From whom?” I stand eyeing the box as if it’s going to bite me.

“I don’t know. Maybe a secret admirer. The only thing I know is if you don’t hurry and open it, I am… and I’m claiming whatever is inside it.” Mom laughs and points to the scissors on the kitchen table. She has always been like this. She loves surprises, especially from my dad.

Taking a deep breath, I pick up the box, which is lightweight. I didn’t expect that, since the box is large. I grab the scissors and watch my mom out of the corner of my eye. She’s trying to play it cool, but we both know that she’s about ten seconds away from taking over.

There is something wrapped in black tissue paper in the box. The logo on the paper is from a high-end woman’s boutique. I open the black tissue paper and see a note on top of solid hot pink fabric. I hand the note to my mom, then remove the fabric from the box.

I smile when I see an elegant hot pink dress. It’s short with a plunging V neckline and has long flounced sleeves that are tapered at the wrist. Its high waist is form fitting and flares out just past my hips with a long slit that will surely expose my thigh.

“What does the note say, Mom?” I hold the dress against my body.

“I can’t wait to dance the night away with you tonight. Pink has always been my favorite color on you. Love Ian. Awwww… so romantic.” My mom swoons after reading his note. She is the reason I’m a hopeless romantic.

“Yeah…” my heart sinks, thinking about the conversation I just had with Ian.

“What’s wrong?” She tilts her head, pursing her lips.

“I just found out that Ian and the others will leave for another mission in a few days. This one is very dangerous.” I sit in the chair beside her, still holding Ian’s gift.

“Yes,” she sighs out. “Your dad told me. He is not happy about it.”

“What am I going to do? We just started over and…” she places her hand over my mouth.

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