The Beta's Missing Mate (Book 16 Of The Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 49

Ana's eyes popped open and the first thing she noticed was that she was still cuddled up in Aidan's arms. She started to pull back, worried that he'd be upset with her, but his arm tightened, keeping her from going anywhere.

Ana relaxed. She really didn't mind. She sort of liked being in his arms. But then she tensed, remembering how pissy he'd been with her last night. She sighed softly.

"What's wrong?" he asked. She hadn't even realized he was awake.

"Are you still mad at me?"

He was quiet for a long moment. "You thought I was mad at you?"

"For leaving. I think," she murmured. He hadn't seemed initially pissed off but maybe she was wrong.

"I wasn't mad at you for leaving. Annoyed, yes. Because I need to talk to you about some things, but you like to disappear before I can. Though now that I know who you are, it would be easier for me to find you," he said calmly.

There was way too much to unpack from that. "First off, what were you mad at me about?" Ana asked.

"I wasn't mad at you."

"You sounded like you were," she said quietly.

"I'm sorry if I did. I was..." He stopped and sighed. "Jealous."

Jealous? Him? "Of what?"

"You using your vibrator in front of another man," he said. 

Her mouth dropped open. She'd forgotten she'd said that. "But why? It's not like we're in a relationship or anything. We had a ... we had a one-night stand."

"Only because you took off," he retorted.

"It would have been more?" She'd never thought it would been more with him. Especially because he lived somewhere else. She'd never thought he would be that interested. She'd wanted it to be more though. Zane's words ran through her mind. He looked for you. What had she done?

"If you would have let it."

"But you live here. I live in St. Louis," she reminded him.

"I'm aware. But I also wanted to talk to you, Ana. About everything. You didn't give me a chance. I told you that I wanted to talk to you the next morning," he said quietly.

She sighed softly. "I was afraid to stay."

"Why?"

"I don't do one night stands with men I don't know. In a hotel room. It's not safe. I've never done that before. But I felt.." she stopped, unsure of what to say. How much to say. Did she want to admit to him that she felt a connection between them? She'd probably sound like an idiot if she did.

"You felt what?"

"Nothing," she muttered, glad she wasn't looking at him. Instead she had her head resting on his bare chest.

"A connection?"

She lifted her head to look at him. "You feel it too?"

He gave her a half smile. "It's why I approached you in the first place. Because of the connection between us."

"I want to ask you a million questions," she said.

"We're going to talk today, Ana. We need to," Aidan said.

"Now?"

He frowned. "No. I gotta get up. Our breakfast is here."

She moved off of him so he could get out of the bed. He sat up, and she watched him move. He was so hot. She could see him better now in the day light. Her gaze traveled over his back as she watched him stretch. He was very ripped, and watching him was an instant turn on. Her gaze traveled down to his ass and she bit her lip. He was fine.