Page 75 of Speechless
Aiden sat in the living room, typing on his phone. When he saw me, he stood immediately. “I’m sorry for pouncing on you like that.”
“It’s all right, I understand.”
He offered me a hand, and I took it. “Allow me to introduce myself to you properly. Aiden Fletcher.” Lifting my hand, he kissed the back of it. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
“I, um,” I cleared my throat. “It’s obviously unexpected. Before anything further, I need to get to know you more.”
“I would expect nothing less. What does your schedule look like, and what would you like to do?”
I smiled. I liked his directness and already saw how it would translate into him being dominant. “Well, my evenings are occupied by these guys right now, so work it out with them. As for what I want to do… show me what you’ve got.”
A slow smile spread across his lips. “Challenge accepted.”
“Let me give you my number.” Then I paused. “You’re a hacker. Do you alreadyhavemy number?”
“I mean, I could certainly find it, but I didn’t look it up, no.” He passed me his phone.
“Let me know where and when. I’ll be there.”
“I will.”
He looked at me with such intensity and wildness that I felt a littlebad walking away. But it also told me the truth—my instincts liked him. Didn’t fear him. He feltrighttoo, even if we only just met.
Bastian kissed me on the shoulder. “Go call your friends.”
“Make sure he does the list,” I whispered.
Bastian smirked and gave me a wink.
I escaped with one final glance at Aiden.
Five. I hadfiveAlphas. Holy fucking shit.
As soon as I was out of sight, I sprinted the rest of the way to my room and practically dove onto the window seat. Three-way video call, here we come.
Ocean answered first. She was coming out of the lovely greenhouse on her grounds. It was where she bred hybrid flowers in between designing floral arrangements for high-end events that were rooted in floriography. Flower language.
If I ever needed a petty message to send, Ocean was my girl.
“Hey,” she said with a smile. “You surviving over there in the land of hot Alpha?”
I rolled my eyes. “You have zero room to talk when you live there every day.”
“Now all of us do. I can’t help but notice how you avoided the question, Miss Journalist.”
“I’m waiting for Isolde to hop on. Might as well tell you both at the same time.”
“That doesn’t sound like it’s good news?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” I laughed. “Unexpected news.”
Isolde joined the call curled up in a blanket and with sleepy eyes. “Hi.”
“You look like you just had the best massage of your life.”
“Close,” she said. “Cade just tied me up and suspended me. I can’t even explain how relaxing it is.”
I snorted. “While getting fucked?”
