Page 60 of Air of Seduction

I see Noah as he rushes out of his room and into the corridor ahead of me. “You’re the one who convinced me to go downstairs earlier, instead of standing guard outside their door. And now they’re gone? This is your fucking fault.”

My eyes narrow as I stop at the top of the stairs and shove my phone back into my pocket. I want to get right up into his face and punch him, but somehow I stop myself. “I didn’t tell you not to keep an eye on them. I just didn’t want you to stand directly outside their door and make them feel like they’re prisoners here.”

His hands curl into fists, like he feels the need to punch me too. “Well, at least if I had they wouldn’t be gone.”

“Fuck you.” I run down the stairs. They must have gone back to Olivia’s apartment. Or perhaps to Payton’s. Her apartment is a bit farther away from where the two women were found killed this morning. And despite how much it kills me to admit it, even to myself, Noah is probably right that it’s my fault.

I grind to a halt at the bottom of the stairs and pull my phone back out of my pocket. After finding Payton’s name in my contact list, I place the call. I’m clearly not thinking straight. Calling her should have been the first thing I thought of when I found her suite empty.

Noah comes up next to me while I listen to the ringtone. “Are you calling Payton?” He sounds more worried than angry now.

I nod. “But she’s not picking up. Why isn’t she picking up?” Except I know why. She doesn’t want to talk to me.

The call goes to voicemail. “Payton, please. Just send me a text when you get this and tell me where you are. I just need to know you’re okay. I…need you.”

My shoulders sag when I put my phone away after leaving the message. My mate has run from me, and I doubt she’ll be coming back to talk to me willingly.

Lucas emerges from the corridor to the left and comes toward us. He’s got a smile on his face, but as soon as he sees us, his expression changes into one of concern. “What happened? Didn’t you find anything?” His eyes are on me.

I can’t even pretend to be interested in what he’s asking. “Payton and Olivia are gone.”

He tilts his head to the side and looks at me with confusion. And then he smiles. “No, they’re not. They’re in the dining room, having a quiet dinner with my mate and Ingrid.”

I’m hurrying in the direction of the dining room before he’s finished his sentence. They’re still here. Payton is still here. She hasn’t run from me like I thought.

I don’t slow down until I reach the open doorway. She’s sitting with her back to me and doesn’t see me, and I can’t see her face. But there’s a tension in her shoulders I don’t like.

Something tugs inside my chest, like a fishing hook has been fastened to my heart, and I’m being reeled toward the one person in the world I can’t live without.

Before I know what I’m doing, I pull Payton’s chair back and turn it toward me.

Chapter 36

Payton

I start when my chair suddenly moves. It’s turned around until I see…Ronan.

My eyes blow wide, and I suck in a breath as I stare at him. I shouldn’t be this shocked to see him, considering this is where he’s staying, but all the emotions swirling in my chest are threatening to choke me.

He drops to his knees in front of me and takes my hands in his. “I’m so sorry, Payton. I’m so sorry for being so rough. It was too much, too soon. I was just so… You’re… I love you.”

My jaw drops. I was just getting ready to tell him it was okay, that the sex was fantastic, and I didn’t mind the roughness one bit. But he…loves me?

“I…” I lick my lips, not sure what to say, not sure if I trust his words. “What do you mean?”

“Mean?” He looks confused. Then an expression of determination settles on his face. “You’re the one I love, the only woman in the world I want. No one can compare to you, because you’re so much more than a girlfriend or lover. You’re my mate, my true mate.”

“I’m…” Tears fill my eyes, and I take a shuddering breath. “True mate.” The words are nothing more than a whisper, and then my tears overflow down my cheeks as I let out a sob.

“Payton, what’s wrong? Why are you—”

Ronan’s words are cut off when I throw my arms around his neck and tighten them like I’m never going to let himgo again. And perhaps I won’t. He’s mine after all, truly and completely mine.

“I love you,” I whisper into his ear.

But perhaps I wasn’t as quiet as I thought I was, because the room is suddenly filled with cheers and laughter.

“Congratulations.” Erica chuckles. “I’ve been waiting for this.”