𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒇𝒊𝒂 𝑩𝒐𝒔𝒔(𝑴𝒙𝑴)

~29~

Three months have passed since we heard anything from Beryl. The cafe's been down lately but business is still good. It doesn't feel the same without his bipolar personality.

"Stop worrying Mace, he's fine. I know he is" Esme squeezed my shoulder and went back to taking orders.

Damien looked into where his brother might be but came up with nothing. I feel like he's holding something back, but I don't want to think that way. I sighed and turned on the security system before locking up the cafe. A car horn startled me and I turned to see Damien's car at the other side of the road. I hurried over to his car and got in, kissing his cheek.

He's been coming to pick me up everyday even when I told him not to. It's not like I can get mugged and even if that's possible I'm sure I can hold my own.

"I told you I can take care of myself" I pouted

"I know baby, I wanted to come pick you up"

"That's what you always say" I rolled my eyes

We drove in silence to my apartment. A few people still watched whenever I got out of Damien's car. One of my neighbors, Amber has been eyeing Damien every time we walk together to my apartment

I'm not a violent person but I feel like plucking her eyes out. She stares at him with those seductive siren eyes which always puts me on edge. I shouldn't worry about it but she's prettier and I'm just plain

Damien snaked his arm around my waist and squeezed lightly, I didn't have to look at him to see the smirk on his face. His fingers danced underneath my shirt making me squirm. Amber's gaze switched from seduction to pure disgust. She slammed her door as we passed and the snarky alpha beside me let out a chuckle.

"What's her problem?" Damien asked genuinely after we entered my apartment like he didn't do that on purpose. I rolled my eyes shrugged off my jacket.

"Stop acting innocent. You know what you did" he shrugged and pulled me against him. His hands ran down my arms before squeezing lightly and placed a kiss on my head.

"I didn't want her getting any funny ideas. I'm all yours babe" he whispered against my head. His words calmed the turmoil in my heart. I leaned forward and kissed his lips, pulling away to make dinner

•

•

•

"Hngh.... don't.... mmnm" I moaned as his lips attacked my sweet spot. His hands skimmed over my skin and rested on my ass giving them a hard squeeze. He picked me up and carried me to the bedroom, slowly laying me down

My heart raced as I lay beside Damien, my alpha, and mate. The fragrant scent of him filled the air, a heady mix of lavender and cedarwood that intoxicated my senses. We were tangled in each other's arms, our bodies still humming with the pleasure of the night we shared.

But as the morning rays filtered through the curtains, interrupting our blissful cocoon, Damien's phone started to buzz incessantly on the nightstand. Each vibration made my heart sink lower, disrupting the serenity of the moment.

He glanced at the screen, his brows furrowing in frustration. "It's my father" Damien muttered, his voice laced with annoyance.

Curiosity gnawed at me, and I couldn't help but wonder why his father was contacting him so persistently. Damien was the CEO of Quinn Entertainment, a man with a heavy burden of responsibility, but his relationship with his father had always been distant and strained.

Ignoring the calls for the time being, Damien turned his attention back to me, his warm brown eyes filled with love and adoration. He peppered tender kisses on my temple, his touch imbued with a mixture of passion and reassurance.

"I'm sorry, Mason," he whispered against my skin. "I didn't mean to let this interfere with our time together."

I lifted my head to meet his gaze, offering a small smile. "It's okay, I understand."

But deep down, a seed of unease had taken root within me. Damien's father's persistent attempts to reach him couldn't be mere coincidence. Something was amiss, and my instincts told me it was more than just business matters.

Yet, I didn't want to burden Damien with my worries. I knew he carried enough weight on his shoulders. Instead, I nestled back into his arms, savoring the warmth and security they provided.

As the calls continued to stack up, Damien's jaw clenched with every buzz, revealing his escalating frustration. I could sense his inner turmoil, a battle between his duty as a son and his desire to be present with me.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Damien silenced the phone and turned it face down on the nightstand. The persistent vibrations stopped, but the tension in the room lingered.

"Sorry, Mason," he murmured, his voice tinged with guilt. "I need to make that call. It's probably something important."

I nodded, trying to suppress my concern. "Of course, take your time."

But as he left the bed, I couldn't help but worry about what his father's calls meant. Were there problems within the company? Or was it something more personal, something that Damien himself didn't want to acknowledge?

Resigned, I watched Damien walk away, his broad shoulders weighed down by the weight of his responsibilities. And in that moment, I couldn't help but feel an ache deep within me, a longing for a future where we could be free from the burdens that threatened our happiness.

As I waited for Damien to return, I couldn't help but wonder what his father's suspicions would mean for our fragile bond. Would it force us apart or make us fight even harder to protect what we had? Only time would tell, but one thing was certain – no matter the obstacles, I was ready to stand by Damien's side, supporting him every step of the way.

A/N

I'm a meanie, I know

See you in the next chapter 💞