Rosa’s lips thin and the corners of her eyes turn down like she might frown, but she stops herself. “Once you’re bonded.” She shrugs her shoulders like she’s sorry that’s her answer, but gives me the truth anyway, even though she knows it’s not what I wanted to hear. I appreciate her honesty and a sense of calm falls over me.
Her answer might not be the definite time frame I wanted, because let’s be honest, if I could have the lingering doubts and worries go awayright now, that would be the best option, but at least she’s giving me the truth. She’s not treating me with kid gloves, and I can respect that. I can deal with that. “Thank you,” I respond, and I hope she knows that I’m thanking her for more than just talkingto me,I hope she knows how grateful I am that she understood I could handle the truth, even if it’s not ideal.
An easy twenty minutes pass without either of us interrupting the quiet that has settled over us. Me clearing my throat is the first signI will change that. “I think I’m going to go have a talk with the guys. Ares told me he was heading out to meet with Leon’s family, and I havesomequestions.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Rosa replies. “I think I’ll sit a while longer. I forgot how lovely the evenings are here.” Her eyes meet mine and something passes between us, an understanding, an acceptance? Maybe even a little gratitude from both of us.
“Thank you, Rosa,” I utter quietly.
She smiles at me, the corner of her eyes crinkling up with the quirk of her lips. “Anytime.”
Chapter 4
It’s easy to find the guys, they’re all in Ares’s room. Their conversation dries up the moment I open the door. Dante’s headis already turned in my direction, while Ollie adjusts his body so he can see me from his spot on the floor.
I close the door behind me with a quiet snap. Ares comes out of the bathroom, one towel around his waist and rubbing another one over his hair as he watches me. It becomes clear they’re all waiting for me.
I’m ready to a really talk about what Ares is planning, and about me not wanting to be left out, even if they think they’re protecting me. I want to put our cards on the table. I’ve accepted that I need to bond with Ollie and Milo too, when they’re ready of course. It’s not a question about Ollie, I think he wants it, has wanted it, but something tells me Milo is still holding himself back.
Bracing my hands behind me, I lean against the door. Ares’s eyes flow over me, he doesn’t hide the way he looks at me, never has. I glance over at Dante and Milo next to him, leaning against the wall behind the bed. Dante looks unruffled, his shoulders are back, and his face is turned toward me with an opennessthatI don’t see in Milo. He looks much more guarded—is that a side effect of us not having bonded yet?
Ollie props his head up on his hand where he’s lounging on the floor near the foot of the bed. Again, I’m struck how they’re all waiting for me.
The TV isn’t on and the silence hangs between us, eating away a little of my conviction. Ares rubs the towel over his hair and shakes his head once he pulls it away. His movements spur me into speaking. I have all of their attention, and that’s exactly what I want. I need them to understand, hopefully for the last time, thatI need to know what’s happening in my life.
“Sorry I ran off, I needed a little while to think.”
“It’s okay,” Milo rushes out, like he’s been waiting to say something. I take in his big body, the way he’s holding himself so still against the wall. His shoulders are rigid, his hands clasped tightly over his knees. From the distance between us I can’t make out the blue of his eyes, but I can see the furrow of his brow, the way his chest is moving up and down a little too fast for someone just sitting there.
“Well, I shouldn’t have stormed off, we need to talk.” I look away from Milo. I want all of them to hear me.
Ares tosses the towel he was using near the bathroom door and it lands with a damp plop on the floor. It’s a signhe isn’t exactly himself either. He always puts his stuff where it belongs, whether it’s in the hamper or hung back up, he hates messes.
Dante tips his head back and I see his nostrils flare like he’s taking a deep breath. Scenting me. His head lowers, and he continues to stare at me from under his brows.
With my hands still locked behind me, I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “I don’t likethe factthatyou kept this from me.” When Ares opens his mouth, I hold up my hand to stop him. “I know what you’re going to say, it doesn’t even matter. I know why you did it. You think you’re protecting me.”
Ollie sits up so he no longer lying down. Using the bed, he heaves himself up and takes a seat on the edge. Ares winces, and his hands move to his exposed hips as his head hangs. “Would it help if I said I was sorry, and it wasn’t intentional? I didn’t plan not to tell you.” Ares lifts his head, so he’s looking at me. “I was just thinking about getting answers. I thought if I told you once I knew something for sure, thenI was just saving you from worrying about it.” He raises his hand much like I did moments ago, stopping me from saying anything.
“I see that was a bad choice, I’ll even admit that you’re probably right. I was trying to protect you, but it wasn’t something I did on purpose. I did it without even realizing why I was doing it.”
Surprised by his admittance and his apology, I take my hands from behind my back and stand with my spine straight. That was way easier than I was expecting, but I’m not done yet. “You guys can’t do that though.” Imake sure tolook each of them in the eye while saying it. I want them to know that I don’t blame them all fornot telling me, but Ithink they each played a part. “I need to know what’s going on.”
I don’t feel like I need to rehash my explanations, I’ve already told themI’m tired of not knowing what is going on in myownlife. I’m willing to let this go because we’re all new to this. I know I’ve made mistakes, and will probably continue to make mistakes.
“We’lldo better,” Dante rumbles. He looks at his brother first, then at Milo and Ollie.
I let out a deep breath. “Okay, okay. So, let’s talk about what you’re planning.” I focus my attention on Ares but look away quickly. His state of undress is too distracting. “Can you put something on?” I whisper almost to myself, but he hears me.
Heading straight in my direction he gets uncomfortably close, his warm skin millimeters from mine as he leans down and places a chaste kiss to my temple. He’s gone a second later, heading to the closet off to my right.
I pretend his nearness doesn’t affect me as I make my way over to the bed to sit down. Ollie immediately scoots closer. His hand finds mine, and he intertwines our fingers, placing them in his lap. I give him a grateful squeeze and wait for Ares to come back from the closet.
I don’t have to wait long, but unfortunately, he’s still distracting. He replaced the towel with a low-slung pair of light gray sweatpants. His feet are bare, as is his chest. I can see his mark peeking up just above the waistband of his pants. Distracting indeed.
Oblivious to my gawking, Ares stands a few feet in front of me with his hands hung loosely at his sides. His head it tipped back just enoughthatit makes the thickness of his neck more appealing. I look down and swallow. Jesus, how can I be thinking about how gorgeous he looks right now?
“Several people were asking why I came home,I’ve been gone for almost two years, so a few people speculated that something changed. I haven’t really respondedone way or another,but after we found out about Leon, I used the rumors to my advantage.”
