No one misses it. And if anything, it makes me feel better about the action.
Dominic takes a sip of his drink. “The briefing I got from Ryder is one thing, but meeting you now, I can see you need some help. Will you let me do what I can for you?”
I agree, nodding instead of speaking. Simple statement and action on his part, but it makes me feel seen. Relief floods my system, making my heart race. He leans forward encouragingly, his body emphasising this sense of safety and comfort I get from simply being around him.
I have to physically stop myself from crawling on his lap.
He tips his head to the side, question in his eyes.
“How about you answering some of my questions, as opposed to figuring out what to tell me?”
The more Dominic speaks, the deeper I fall under his spell. I could watch him for hours—there’s detail in everything he does, and I don’t want to miss a thing. When he thinks, he squints slightly. When someone speaks, his whole body listens. It sounds odd, but that’s just it—he truly listens, not just pretends to. Growing up surrounded by falsity makes his sincerity stand out. It’s a redeeming feature—though I could say the same about his looks, his office, his clothes, everything. So far there’s not much I don’t like about him.
“When Ryder first broke into the office,” Dominic starts but his questioning gets drowned out by Hendrix’s rumbling.
I tug on his arm, drawing his focus to me rather than what is being discussed. “Do you feel me here?” I ask, pushing back against him.
I get an encouraging nod despite the gathering storm clouds making the green in his eyes nearly black, and I keep staring into them until they start to return to their normal color. “You’ve met my Alpha, and you know what kind of person he is. I want you here with me, but if it’s too much for you, I want you to go. He is my burden, and I already feel bad for dragging you into this.”
Before he answers, he pauses to think. It eases my anxiety, makes it nearly go away completely if I’m honest because his reaction is so different from Brody’s whip-quick reactions. Hendrix is deliberate, giving my words the consideration they deserve, which, in my book, adds credence to whatever he’s about to say. Making his intentions clear, he cups my face, leans down, and whispers softly in my ear.
“I know what a cunt your Alpha is. I don’t enjoy hearing things like doors had to be broken down so people could get to you. Some of what you say is going to annoy the shit outof me. I’ll swear and growl like a wolf becauseyouaremine.”
I tip my head, ready to argue, but Hendrix chuckles, already knowing what I had issues with. His eyes twinkle in challenge. “You agreed to be mine, Simona. For the duration of our affair at least. During that time, I’ll act how an Alpha should—trying to protect and shield you from the bullshit in our world. So, forgive me if I lose my shit. I’m sure we will be able to find a way to work through our frustrations later.”
A thrill races through my system, followed by a blush that leaves my face feeling like I’ve been lying in the sun all day. But I’m not embarrassed. I am still slightly ashamed I somehow managed to talk such a strong Alpha into having an affair with me, and now after meeting his pack, I feel both better and worse for what I asked, but I think I might not have finished asking this pack for what I want.
“I got on my knees for Ryder,” I confess.
Hendrix’s eyes start to dilate. Not what I was expecting but at the same time he needed to know.
“Thank you for telling me,” he says softly. But heat keeps gathering in his eyes. “I guess I should also tell you then that this is Dominic’s favourite chair. He loves it when I kneel for him, almost as much as he loves bending Ryder over it.”
“I think I want to see both those things,” I say. The truth of my words surprises me almost as much as the fact that I said them out loud for everyone to hear.
“Such a good girl,” Hendrix growls under his breath before his eyes shift to Dominic. And then he makes it obvious he’s looking at Ryder, and his lips twist into a smirk.
“I’m cancelling this show and…”
“You will do no such thing!” Dominic’s bark rings with an edge of command.
I twist my face out of Hendrix’s touch to look at Ryder first, making sure he’s okay—he’s pouting so I guess he’s fine—before I look at Dominic. His eyes are already on me. Similar to Hendrix’s, his eyes are dark, though the lingering heat from my suggestion that I’d like to see them together is replaced by a steely resolve.
“In our house, before we play, we work. Ryder, get to your sound check and then get home. Simona will be there too.”
“What?” I gasp. Although it comes out like a breathy question full of longing.
“What does the ‘what’ refer to? The rules in our pack, or that you will be coming home with us?”
“I can’t,” I splutter.
“Hmmm, I disagree.” He leans back in his chair, looking like a cold-hearted high lord fae. But by god it’s an attractive look on him.
Blinking like an owl, I wait for Dominic to go on.
“You are already tired. By the time we’ve worked through your situation, you will be mentally exhausted. At this point, I’m not saying we’re abducting you, but I am saying you need a break.”
Hendrix squeezes gently against my side. “I wouldn’t argue. A break doesn’t have to be for long. There’s no classes for a few more days. Are your girlfriends back?”
