Page 53 of Alphas Never Hide

“Isthis about the kiss?”Helicked his bottom lip.

“Doyou want it to be about the kiss?”Iwaggled my eyebrows.

Hestepped back and rubbed his forehead. “Whydo you keep answering my questions with more questions?”

Theguy had been through a lot today, what with his shift not working and his brother trying to kill him.Ishouldn’t have teased him.

Therewere several waysIcould answer him, and all of them would be the truth.Iopted for the one that would tug on his alpha instincts, since those seemed to drive a lot of what he did.Maybethinking about someone other than himself would jolt him out of the past.

“Idon’t thinkIcan sleep in a strange room by myselftonight.”Ishivered. “Thelast time that happened,Iwas abducted.”

“Robbiewouldn’t dare attack you here.”

“Iknow you’re right, but is everything you feel and think logical?”

“Fair.”Heeyed me more closely. “Whatelse?Whataren’t you telling me?”

Imet his gaze steadily. “Idon’t trust you to stay put.Thedoctor trusted me to keep you safe andIfailed.Iwon’t mess up again.”

Haydenscowled and turned away from me.Hestalked to the window and yanked open the curtains to peer out at the trees.Icould still see his face reflected in the window.

“Whyare you squishing up your face like that?Youknow it is true.”

“I’mresponsible for my own actions,” he said.

“Sure.Butthat doesn’t change howIfeel.”

“Howyou feel?Right.YouthinkI’mno better than a young pup who needs to be babysat.”Hewas all bristly and sharp.Hisback was rigid.Hishands clenched into fists.Hisjaw was tight.

Isidled up to him, pressing my front to his back, and wrapped my arms around his tense body, pleased when he didn’t pull away.Hewas taller than me, soIrested my head against his back, right between his shoulder blades.Hewas warm and solid, andIkind of wanted to melt into him.

“Well, that’s not all thatIfeel,”Iwhispered. “Weshould talk about the kiss.”

Heinhaled sharply.

“Iwant to try it again.Youknow, when we don’t think we’re going to die.”

Withmy ear pressed to his back,Icould hear the tempo of his heart pick up.

“Thisis a terrible time to do this,” he said. “Youjust escaped from that tunnel.Ihad no business putting you in danger again.Youaren’t?—”

Ismacked his chest, not enough to hurt him, but enough to get his attention.Hestopped talking. “Ifyou are going to sayI’mnot capable of making decisions right now orI’msuffering from some kind of white knight syndrome orI’veimprinted on you like a baby duck, you can stop.I’mold enough to know my mind.I’mold enough to know whatIwant.I’vebeen on my own for over a decade.Icreated a life and a business all on my own with no support.”

“Ihate that no one was there to support you.That’sso fucking wrong.Whata bunch of assholes.”

Yeah, it had sucked, butI’dsurvived.Ididn’t regret what’d happened.ButHayden’sunequivocal belief that my herd was in the wrong made me smile.Thisguy.Isnuggled closer.

“Thankyou, but that’s not the pointI’mtrying to make,”Isaid. “JustbecauseI’msmaller than you, and my supernatural form doesn’t lend itself to fighting, doesn’t meanI’mweak or weak-minded.So, fuck off with all those thoughts.Theonly thing you need to be thinking about is if you want to kiss me again too.”

Hedidn’t answer for several long minutes.Thenhe brought his hands up and covered mine with his where they were pressed against his torso.

“AndifIdo?” he whispered.

“Thenwe have a plan.I’llstay in this room with you.Butwe’ll go downstairs and get something to eat becauseI’mstarving, andIknow you could stand to eat something too.Afterthat, we’ll come back up here and kiss again.Wedon’t have to sleep together—as in the naked, sweaty kind of sleeping together—I’msure they have a cot kicking around somewhere.Butwe’re going to stay in this room together.Ithink both of us will feel better that way.”

Hischest was rising and falling quickly. “Youare sure you don’t want your own room?”

“Doyou not want me in here?Idon’t want to make you uncomfortable.Iwon’t force myself on you,”Isaid, even asIkept my arms wrapped aroundHayden. “Ifyou don’t want me here,I’llgo.”