Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
I stand up abruptly, ready to whisk Morgan away from the looming sexual chaos that always unfolds at these gatherings.
“Let’s get out of here. We can go for a walk before I take you back to La Mirage.”
“Oh. The resort. Right.”
She says these words so softly that my heart tightens. I realize belatedly that I may have also somehow offended her by suggesting we leave, but Morgan is already clambering her feet, her expression cloudy.
She gives me a tight-lipped smile. “Let’s go then.”
I want to ask her what I’ve said that is upsetting her so much, but I don’t want to embarrass her in front of the others.
“Headed out?” Trek’s question echoes across the room. Everyone looks up, silenced by the sound his voice.
I give our leader a curt nod. “I think my guest has had enough testosterone for one night.”
Trek looks from Morgan to me. “Morgan, if Brax wants to invite you back, you’re welcome at Mirago. I personally would like to see more of you.” He flashes us a wicked smile. “Anytime, sweetheart. You have an open invitation from me.”
It’s all I can do not to growl at Trek. He’s our leader, and the alpha of our community. But I also know he would never really overstep and try to take Morgan from me. Still, I’m a territorial asshole and literally begin to bristle, my eyes shooting sparks.
“Thank you,” Morgan says calmly before turning away to head out the door. “I appreciate the invitation.”
“You bastard,” I hiss through gritted teeth before following her toward the exit.
Trek throws back his head and laughs. “I’ve invited her as a guest, Brax,” he assures me, smirking. “Nothing more.”
I don’t turn around but instead take Morgan’s hand in mine and lead her quickly out of the building and into the sea-fresh air.
Well that whole situation was about to unravel, I muse, running a free hand through my hair. I look over at Morgan, whose expression is serious.
“You can take me to La Mirage now,” she says the moment we’re free of the council hall. She pulls her hand out of mine. “I’d go by myself, but I don’t know where I am on the island and my phone doesn’t work.” She holds up the device as proof.
I frown at her change in tone. “If you want to go back, I’ll take you. But there’s no rush.”
Morgan shoves her phone back into her canvas bag and crosses her arms over her chest.
“Look, Brax,” she begins, her tone cool. “I didn’t mean to offend you in any way. But if you’re just going to toy with me and then toss me aside afterward, I’d rather be tossed now rather than later.”
I stare, baffled by her tone. “What the hell are you talking about?”
She stares right back into my eyes. “We were flirting, and I thought it was getting intimate. But then you said we should leave, and now, you’re taking me back to my hotel. I get it. You don’t think I can handle your way of life. I’m an oddball who doesn’t belong here.”
I let instinct take over. I cup her face in my hands and stroke her cheeks.
“Morgan,” I say her name softly. “I’m sorry that my actions were abrupt, and I don’t think that about you at all. It’s just that after everything that’s happened today, you might be getting overwhelmed. Plus, I know what’s about to go down at the council and it’s a lot. It would be a lot for any first-timer to witness.”
Morgan frowns. She pulls away from me and looks down at her feet.
“I get it. Clearly you think that I can’t handle you or your world. Because your friends are about to fuck a dozen women with their huge cocks, and you don’t want me to see.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I correct her gently.
She looks up at me, her eyes round and full of disappointment. “What did you mean then?”
I sigh and pull her curvy form to me.
For reasons I can’t explain—or more likely refuse to be honest about— Morgan’s very unexpected presence today has changed something within me: I want to make her mine, more than I have ever wanted another woman before.
I could claim it’s her unbridled passion, as she demonstrated on the beach earlier today. Or I could rationalize it’s because she’s a new woman, someone different for me to plant my seed in. Someone untouched by the island or the men I share it with.
But at the same time, Morgan’s right: I don’t know that she could handle my lifestyle. And I worry that she couldn’t handle me, and the last thing I want to do is hurt her, physically or emotionally.
I’m not planning on leaving my island, and this beautiful, sexy woman doesn’t live here. Nor does she seem inclined to join my community so it’s a lose-lose situation. I won’t use her body—as much as I need to— only to have her walk away from me once her vacation is over.