Chapter 30 Pleasure Buddy
Chapter 30 Pleasure Buddy
Elena Thorne
I looked up to find Kieran watching me, his expression blank. He had clearly received the same message because he tilted his head toward the exit. “Ready?”
No. Absolutely not ready. But what choice did I have?
“Fine,” I muttered, following him out of the conference room.
The walk to his sleek and expensive car almost knocked the air out of me.
He opened the passenger door for me, and I slid in without any comment.
I pressed myself against the passenger window, creating as much distance as the car’s compact design would allow.
Kieran started the engine, and we pulled out of the parking area in silence.
I kept my eyes fixed on the window, watching the Riverwood territory blur past. Trees gave way to the highway, the highway to smaller roads, and still neither of us spoke.
“So,” Kieran said finally, about fifteen minutes into the drive. “That was productive.”
I didn’t give him any response.
“The conference, I mean. Good discussions about resource management. Very educational.”
I remained silent.
“Elena.”
“What?” The words came out of me harsher than I hoped they would sound.
“Are we going to talk about it?”
“About what? Resource management?”
“About what happened in the bathroom.”
My face heated instantly. “No. We’re not.”
“We should probably.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” I kept my gaze locked on the passing scenery. “We had sex. It’s over. That’s the arrangement.”
“Right.” He shook his head. His eyes still on the road, he added, “I guess no need to talk about it.”
“Exactly.”
“So you’re fine then. Completely fine.”
“Yes.”
“Then why won’t you look at me?”
“I am looking—” But I wasn’t. I turned my head deliberately, meeting his gaze for exactly two seconds before the intensity of it made me look away again. “There. Happy?”
“Thrilled.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “You were gone past the five minutes I asked that you take.”
My stomach dropped. “So?”
“You don’t need to be harsh. I was just making an observation.”
“Well, don’t.”
“Were you busy?”
I said nothing, staring harder out the window.
“Elena.” His voice had taken on an edge. “I’m asking you a question.”
“And I’m choosing not to answer it.”
The car swerved slightly as he turned in his seat. Before I could process what was happening, he’d leaned across the center console, bringing his face close to mine.
I shoved him back instinctively, my palm connecting with his shoulder. “Don’t you dare!”
“Goodness, relax.” He straightened, hands back on the wheel, but a smile played at his lips. “I wasn’t going to kiss you. Though I appreciate knowing you would push me away if I tried.”
“Kieran—” I felt the anger rising to my throat.
“We were intimate, Elena. Twice now. You don’t need to act like I’m some stranger you’re trapped in a car with.”
“That’s exactly what this feels like.”
His jaw tightened, and for a moment I thought he might actually be hurt by that. But then his expression shifted.
“There’s another scent on you,” he said quietly.
I went very still. “Excuse me?”
“Another wolf. Male.” His nostrils flared slightly. “Who were you talking to?”
The audacity of the question made anger flare hot in my chest. “Are you serious right now?”
“I’m asking a question.”
“You don’t get to ask me questions like that!” I twisted in my seat to face him fully. “You don’t get to interrogate me about who I talk to or what I do with my time. That’s not part of the arrangement!”
“I’m your guard—”
“You’re the man I sleep with. That’s it!” The crude words burst out before I could stop them, and I watched his knuckles go white on the steering wheel. “That’s what you wanted. That’s what you offered. Sex with no strings, no emotional investment, no complications. Well, congratulations, you got it. But that doesn’t give you the right to police my interactions.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“Then what are you trying to do? It does sound like you’re jealous. And jealousy implies feelings. Which we both agreed weren’t part of this.”
The car had slowed as we approached the estate gates. The guards waved us through without stopping, and Kieran pulled around to the main entrance with more force than necessary.
“I’m not jealous,” he said flatly.
“Good. Then stop acting like it.”
He parked the car, killed the engine, and sat there staring straight ahead. I reached for the door handle.
“For the record,” he began, “I don’t like the idea of other wolves approaching you. Guard duty or not, that’s—” He stopped himself.
“That’s what?” I challenged.
“Nothing. Forget it.”
“With pleasure.”
I shoved the car door open and practically ran for the entrance, taking the stairs two at a time until I reached the third floor. My room had never looked more welcoming.
I slammed the door behind me and immediately reached for my phone, pulling up Sierra’s contact and hitting call before I could think better of it.
She answered on the second ring. “Hey! How was the conference? Did you take good notes? Did Alpha Marcus seem pleased?”
“Sierra.” My voice came out strained, and I sank onto my bed. “I’m losing my mind.”
“What happened? Did something go wrong?”
“Everything went wrong. Or maybe nothing went wrong. I don’t even know anymore.” I pressed my hand against my forehead. “He’s impossible. Absolutely impossible.”
“Who? Alpha Marcus?”
“No. Kieran.”
“He’s driving me insane with his—his—” I gestured wildly even though she couldn’t see me. “His complete inability to maintain the boundaries he insisted on setting!”
“Wait, slow down. What boundaries?”
“The arrangement boundaries! The ‘this is just physical’ boundaries! The ‘no emotional complications’ boundaries!” I was pacing now, too agitated to sit. “But then he gets possessive and asks questions he has no right to ask and acts like—like—”
“Like what?”
“Like he has feelings!” The words exploded out of me. “Like this means something to him beyond just—just—the sex!”
Sierra did not say anything and the eerie silence was like a needle pricking me back to reality.
“Sierra?”
“I’m sorry.” Her voice had gone very quiet. “Did you just say… sex?“