Page 32 of Alpha's Secret Baby
Chapter 21 Cherry
The last time I was in Dylan’s living room, I had been too angry to notice its tasteful, understated décor. Sitting on the stylish L-shaped sofa, I took in the color scheme.
“The blue and orange palette you’ve chosen really works, by the way.” I couldn’t help observing as I took in the aesthetic in the soft glow of the lamps Dylan switched on.
His lips twitched. “Ever the artist,” he said fondly. “But I’m afraid I can’t take credit for this. Bert got an interior decorator in to do everything.”
I nodded and, despite my melancholy mood from my shock at Carl’s betrayal, realized that I wasn’t angry at the thought of my old friend. For the last week, I’d refused to answer his sorry texts over the fact that he’d told Dylan about Fern. I thought I’d text him tomorrow and say all was forgotten and forgiven. Life was too short to hold a grudge against my oldest friend. After all, good people were in short supply these days. The memory of glimpsing Carl through the restaurant’s window, kissing that woman, sent disgust through me.
Dylan asked, “If you want to talk about anything, Cherry, I’m here for you.” His dark eyes wound over my face with concern, and I felt touched by his earnestness. “Can I get you a drink, tea, coffee, or something stronger?”
My lips twitched at the thought of how many coffees and other things he’d brought to my door over the week. But the sincere worry stamped across his face about my well-being had me answering equally truthfully. “I could really do with a glass of wine, please.”
“Coming right up.” Easing himself out of the low sofa, he went to the kitchen.
As I heard the opening of cupboard doors and the clink of glasses, I took off my heels. I wore a mint green midi dress, so it was long enough that I was able to curl myself up on the sofa without showing too much leg. I leaned back into the comfy gray couch, closing my eyes and letting myself relax.
“Red or white?” Dylan asked, returning with a tray and two bottles, and a pair of glasses.
“White, please.”
Accepting the elegant, tall-stemmed glass, I took a sip and sighed with pleasure at the taste of the crisp liquid. “You’re right,” I said, looking at Dylan, who watched me, “ithasbeen a long week.”
Dylan eased off his shoes, too, his long legs crossed at the ankle as he settled back on the sofa.
After another sip of wine, the soothing atmosphere and Dylan’s company made me open up. “When I came back to Berlin after your Alpha Ceremony…” I trailed off, needing another mouthful of wine before I could meet Dylan’s eyes, but he watched me, patiently waiting for whatever I had to share. “I decided I should take things to the next level with the guy I’d been seeing.”
I took another gulp of wine, needing it to loosen up about talking toDylan,of all people, about this subject.
“I told him I was ready to, well, you know…” As my eyes met Dylan’s, my heart tightened as I saw the effect my words had. His jaw clenched, and he gripped his wine so tightly I thought he would break the delicate stem.
Dylan’s dark eyes raked down my body, his breathing quickening. “Did he hurt you?” He growled.
Quickly, I shook my head, realizing his distress was because he thought Carl hadphysicallyhurt me. “No,” I told him. “I mean, we didn’t actually get to moving things on.” My lips twitched. “What with you appearing and leaving breakfast outside my door, I haven’t exactly been in the right headspace for dating.” I shook my head, realizing I was getting off-topic. “But tonight, Fern and I went to a restaurant where Carl once took me. When I arrived, I spotted Carl at a table kissing another woman.”
My voice trembled, and I took another sip of my drink, hating how broken I sounded. Anger enveloped me, and I added, “So, yeah, it turns out Carl’s an asshole who treats women like shit, and I was just the latest idiot taken in by him.”
Dylan set down his glass on the coffee table, then took mine from me. I bit back the retort that I needed that tonight, watching him warily.
He took my hands, fixing his solemn gaze on me. “You’re not an idiot. You’re the cleverest, kindest, most caring person I know, and you deserve a partner who sees that. I know you’ll meet someone who values you, Cherry, because someone who shines as brightly as you could never be alone for long.”
My breath hitched as Dylan’s loving words washed over me, and the touch of his strong hands holding mine felt both soothing and electrifying. I wondered if he felt that peculiar sense of rightness where we touched.
His eyes darkened with intensity. “Iwould never in my whole life betray you, Cherry, I swear.”
His heartfelt stare and earnest tone had me throwing my arms around him. He held me tight, the wall of his chest and his strength around me, making me feel safer than I had in years.
When I finally pulled away from him, I couldn’t bring myself to disengage from him completely, and my hands remained on his chest until… they slid up, inching around the back of his neck and into his hair. He looked like he didn’t dare move, so I drew myself up, my lips finding his until his arms were in my hair, too, trailing down my neck and back. Our mouths, hungry for one another, once more worked together: our lips, teeth, and tongues coming together in a wild kiss.
But, eventually, Dylan pulled back. His eyes were deliciously dark with desire, but he urged, “Cherry, you’re upset tonight. I don’t want you doing something you’ll regret tomorrow.”
Given the heat in his kiss, the restraint he displayed seemed like an impossible feat. It made my trust in him soar. Dylan wouldnevertake advantage of me. After all, I remembered how he’d never pretended to be something he wasn’t or to feel something he didn’t. When we’d lived together, he may have hurt me by not feeling what I did for him, but he’d never lied. But… he desired me now. And… I wanted him.
I melted against him. “You’ve been urging me to trust you, and after tonight, I do. So kiss me.”
Heat flared in his eyes as I commanded him, and I felt a thrilling sense of satisfaction as the Starsmoon Alpha readily complied, crushing his mouth to mine. My whole body sang beneath his touch, and Dylan’s hands soon slid up my curves, peeling my dress off. I was eager to feel his skin against mine and divested him of his shirt. My heart seemed to ricochet off my ribcage as I revered the sculpted muscle of his chest with my hands, then my lips, and tongue.
Dylan made quick work of stripping my bra from me. My nipples pebbled as he sucked and teased them. I moaned, driven wild by the wet ache building in my core. Before I knew it, I forced him back on the couch, tearing his trousers and boxers off of him. Wet heat pooled between my legs just at the sight of his hard cock, and I whimpered.