Page 26 of Resisted
“Taunting them? I’m sorry, did you miss the point where I said I am not a kid any longer and I sure don’t think they are boys,” I pointed out before grabbing a sweater from the nearest bag and folding it, pretending the intensity of his gaze didn’t affect me.
“Boys they are not. If you give them the slightest bit of affection, they will absorb it like a sponge, willing to take more.”
Boyce, maybe, but Vincent was a hardass. I doubted he would fall victim quite as Silas stated. “And what exactly would be so wrong with them feeling affection?”
“Toward you? Everything.”
“So you admit you stayed away because of me?” I probed.
“Don’t be so self-centered, Belladonna. Avoiding you seems obsessive if all I wanted to do was keep them away, don’t you think?” Still, the way he’d said it hinted that I might not have been so far off.
“I don’t need ground rules. I’m pretty sure I can coexist with the three of you without drama.” Unless Vincent decided to get burn happy again.
There was a knock behind Silas, and when he turned, I glimpsed Vincent. The fact that Vince now wore a shirt was nearly painful after I saw how spectacular he’d been without one. But a girl could look as long as she planned not to touch, right? Silas hadn’t set down any rules against that.
Vincent cleared his throat. “I brought baby some more coffee.”
“I’m not a baby,” I mumbled at the same time as Silas said, “Stop serving her coffee. She’s perfectly capable.”
I was, of course, capable of making my coffee, but my coffee didn’t taste nearly as delicious as Vincent’s. I stepped forward before Vincent pulled away and snatched the mug from his hand, then I turned to Silas. “Staying in my lane doesn’t have to mean I’m rude.” I took a sip, unable to control the moan that escaped. “Fucking bliss.”
Vincent’s voice sounded hoarse as he scolded, “Language.”
“I should probably say this loudly so every male can hear me. I’m a fucking adult. I don’t need to be censored.”
“Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean we approve of that type of language in this house,” Silas pointed out, and I nearly choked on my coffee. Out of all the words I’d heard spoken by the men behind me, he had to be fucking with me if he thought I would believe they had language scruples inside this house. “And just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean that’s how we see you or will see you while you’re here.”
Vincent mumbled something, and Silas gave him a sharp look before Vincent turned and left. I tried not to watch his ass in those jeans as he departed. I really did. But when he was out of sight and I looked up, Silas’ stern eyes on me, I knew I’d failed. “What?”
“I’m calling Mom. Obviously, this won’t work.”
“I don’t know what you mean, Silas,” I replied, my tone all fake innocence.
“Those men are my subpack, not a fucking steak, Belladonna.” He pointed in Vincent’s direction. “You can’t act like that.”
“I seriously don’t know what you’re talking about.” Maybe I sort of did, but I couldn’t deny it one second, then fess up the next.
His head tilted to the side as he took a few breaths, trying to calm his temper. “Do not look at my men as if you want to eat them, Belladonna. It’s disgusting.”
Disgusting? “Are you saying you think I’m disgusting?” I paused and, just to get a rise out of him, added, “Is there something you’re hiding, Silas? I would hate to mess with your personal relationships.”
He growled before his palm went to his hair and his fingers threaded in the strands. “You’re insufferable. It’s like I can’t even have a proper conversation with you. You know I think you’re anything but disgusting, Bella. I would never think that lowly of you. And if you for one second think I’m in a relationship other than official subpack with those two, you don’t know me at all.”
“It’s not like you’ve allowed me to know much since you disappeared for three years.”
His eyes flashed, but the emotion behind them was nearly impossible to decode. “You wouldn’t understand. I had no choice.”
I took a step closer, as if there was an invisible pull forcing me to his side. “Then tell me. Make me understand. Was it our parents? You could have still snuck in a text, Silas. Roth? Did he order your subpack to stay away? If it was alpha’s orders, I could understand, but—”
“It was you, Belladonna. I stayed away because of you,” he roared, and my body froze.
“Me?” I mean, I’d thought it once or twice, but I’d never imagined that I was the actual cause.
“You. You are no longer the child, the tiny wolf I held in my hands. And to be around you is…” I thought he would finish speaking, but his words dropped off and whatever argument or justification he had died. He turned away, his feet carrying him to the door, where he stopped. His fingers came up to grip the doorframe as he said, “Just, please, Belladonna. They’re my family by fate, and I don’t want to see them hurt.”
Chapter 10
BOYCE