Sleeping Rose

by Erin West

His ancient eyes look down at me, searching my face. “What are you trying to pull?”

  I tilt my head, and my lips pull down in a frown. “What do you mean?”

  “I can tell you’re mated, but you’re still mine, too.” He lets out a deep breath. “This makes things impossible and complicated.”

  When he’s not being an ass, he’s nice to be around, even though I don’t understand his riddles. I lean forward, antsy with anticipation. “Are you going to bite me?”

  He grins and reaches out to move my hair away from my neck. “Yes, I am.”

  I grab his chin. “Do not try turning me again.”

  Eli nods. “Wouldn't dream of it.”

  He leans in and inhales my scent before pulling away with a snarl, fangs elongated. “You smell like him.”

  I sigh, feeling like I've let him down. Straightening my spine, I glare at him. Why should I feel bad about what Drake and I shared? Or Oren? Oh, shit. I forgot that Eli doesn't know. Should I even tell him? He's already flipping his shit over Drake.

  “Is that going to be a problem? I can leave, if so.”

  The features on his face return to normal. “No. Right now, I’m too hungry to care.” He runs his hand down my cheek and leans into me.

  The electricity from his touch has my eyes closing. Damn, I've missed his domineering ways and the feelings he invokes.

  Nothing happens.

  Why hasn't he bit me yet? Opening my eyes, I turn my head to look at him.

  He's staring, face closed off. What is he thinking?

  “Well?” I raise both eyebrows.

  That pulls him out of his daze. He leans toward me, opening his mouth.

  My heart rate speeds up with excitement. There’s a pinch, and then pleasure consumes me. A moan escapes before I can catch it.

  Eli begins sucking, shooting electricity through our connection. With a growl, he draws me closer to him, his strength returning the more he drinks.

  He releases my neck, licking the blood around the punctures, humming in the back of his throat.

  I rise from the couch and sit back down. Dizziness and fatigue hit me all of a sudden.

  Eli pushes me back further onto the couch. “It will pass in a moment. Just sit.” He stands and inspects my face.

  His coloring looks better and seems to be back to normal.

  I watch as he walks over to the desk, pressing a button on the phone. “Bring me an orange juice,” he barks into the speaker.

  He walks over to me, stopping in front. “We’ll need to set up a time for me to feed once a week.” He buttons his suit jacket and looks down at me.

  Hurt pierces my chest. Is that all I am to him now? A meal?

  Our eyes meet, disdain curling up his lip. “What day works best for you?”

  I swallow, mouth dry from the effort to keep my emotions in check. “I’ll have to check my schedule.” I glare at him.

  Like hell, I will. I don’t know that I ever want to see him again.

  He nods, oblivious to the hurt he’s cause, or maybe he just doesn’t care. “Keep your phone on you.”

  Anger replaces the hurt as I stand. Fuck him.

  The door opens and Drake steps into the office with a small bottle, checking me over before looking at Eli.

  Drake’s lip curls up with a growl. “You took too much.” He hands me the orange juice after removing the lid.

  I drink it down, needing to get out of here. The sooner the better.

  Eli puts his hand in his pockets, meeting Drake’s glare with one of his own. “If she hadn’t made me wait this long, I wouldn’t have had to take as much.”

  “Don’t blame that shit on her. You shouldn’t have bit her that night in her apartment.” Drake places his hand on the small of my back, walking with me out of the office.

  I want to look back, but instead, I keep my head up high and walk out without a backward glance.

  How could I think that I missed him? He’s such an asshole.

  Chapter Fourteen

  We leave Eli’s business office, and Drake directs me to Silver and Associates.

  He opens the door for me and follows me in. The lobby is decorated in warm tones, making me feel comfortable and at home. There are several chairs, potted plants, and the standard tables with magazines in the lobby. A pretty blonde woman sits behind the reception desk answering the phone.

  A smile lights up her face when she sees Drake.

  Great. Another admirer. Not that I can blame her, though.

  He nods to her, leading me through a couple of hallways to an area that has a desk outside of two offices. The door he opens has “Drake Silver, CEO Attorney at law” inscribed on a nameplate.

  His office is open. It’s laid out similar to Eli’s, with a couch and a desk in front of the window looking out over the city.

  I don’t want to think about him. It causes too much pain.

  We sit on the couch, and Drake takes my face in his hands. “Are you okay? How are you feeling?”

  He is so sweet. How could I want anyone else?

  That doesn’t stop the hurt or Oren and Eli from coming to mind.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Better now that I had some juice. Thank you for bringing it.” I give him a kiss.

  Before I can deepen it, he pulls back, concern etched on his face.

  I rub my fingers in between his eyebrows. “You’re going to get wrinkles. Stop worrying. I’m fine, promise.” I chuckle.

  He exhales. “Would you like a tour while we’re here?”

  My face lights up. “Yes, please.”

  After we leave the office, Drake pulls up to Rain, a high-end bistro that’s almost impossible to get a reservation at.

  He smiles at me, his dimples making me melt. “You hungry?”

  I nod my head. I’ve been wanting to eat here since it opened.

  Hunger and excitement war inside of me. I’m not sure which is the more prominent emotion.

  A valet opens the door for me, and Drake wraps an arm around my waist, placing a kiss on my upturned lips.

  He tosses the keys to the guy as we head inside.

  A younger girl is at the hostess stand, and she looks up when we enter. “Hi, Mr. Silver. Would you like your usual table?”

  “Yes, please.”

  She takes us to a more secluded table in the back corner and hands us the menus.

  “I’ll tell the chef you’re here.” She nods before walking toward the kitchen.

  Of course, he knows the chef. It takes considerable effort not to roll my eyes.

  I open the menu. It’s one of those places that doesn’t have prices on the menu. Either you can afford it and don’t care about the cost or you don’t want to know the prices. I’m the latter.

  Drake is relaxed as a burly man with tattoos, short black hair, blue eyes, and a trimmed goatee approaches us, smiling. That must be the chef.

  “Hey, man. How are you?”

  Drake stands to shake hands. “Good. How’s the family? Business seems to be good.”

  “It is. They’re good. The kids are growing up fast. They’ve been asking to come see you.”

  Does this man ever stop smiling? I sit back and watch their interaction, not wanting to interrupt.

  Drake nods. “Yeah, man. Just let me know and we can grill out or go for a run.”

  The man’s eyes assess me. “Sounds like a plan. Who is this lovely woman?”

  My eyes jump to his left hand. No wedding ring. Is he hitting on me in front of Drake?

  I stand as well. “Hi, I’m Rose.”

  We shake hands, and he locks eyes with me.

  Are we having a staring contest?

  “I’m Alec. Is this your first time here?” He lets go of my hand and breaks eye contact.

  “It is. What would you suggest?” I link my arm through Drake’s, wanting physical contact.

  Alec laughs. “Everything. But I’ll make you something special. Have a seat.”

  We sit back down as Alec walks back to the k
itchen.

  My eyes watch Alec disappear before turning to Drake. “Who was that?”

  He rubs his finger in circles on my thigh. “He’s a member of the pack and like a brother to me. We grew up together, him, me, and Darron.”

  “Who’s Darron?”

  He chuckles. “Making up for all those questions I owe you?”

  Drake stops laughing and watches someone in the restaurant.

  Before I utter another word, a man sits at our table. My mouth opens and closes, no words forming as I meet familiar, aloof hazel eyes.

  Oh, shit. This is not going to be good.

  He smirks. “Hello, Rose. Remember me?” His facade cracks a little, and I see the storm brewing behind his aloof demeanor.

  Remember him? How could I forget?

  I try to take in as much of him as I can. Is it possible for him to be even more handsome than the last time I saw him?

  Granted, it was last night, and I left before he got out of the shower. I still regret leaving, but I’m with Drake and Eli now. What could he want enough to track me down?

  “Yes. Were you following me?” My eyes narrow.

  His expression remains the same, but his eyes darken as he holds my gaze.

  Drake growls out, “Who the fuck are you?”

  Oren looks over at him with an unreadable expression. “Her mate,” his accusing stare locks back on to me, “which I would have told her if she hadn't run off.”

  I swallow around the lump in my throat. What the fuck is going on with my life? This can't be happening.

  First Eli, then Drake, and now Oren. I don't know how much more crazy I can take.

  Drake leans forward. “No, she's not. She's my mate.”

  Oren smirks. “We'll see about that.”

  Drake's eyes glow, his wolf close to the surface. “Are you challenging me?”

  Oren chuckles. “There's no need for that. We've already bonded.”

  “What?” I hold my hands out in front of me. “Excuse me.” I have to get out of here.

  The chair scrapes across the floor as I stand, leaving the men to their dominance battle. A server walks by with a tray of delicious-looking food, but the thought of eating turns my stomach.

  I walk into the luxurious bathroom and splash some cold water on my face. The woman staring back at me in the mirror looks like a different person. When did this crazy become my new reality?

  This needs to be dealt with, and I can’t hide from what’s happening, even if I want to. I pat my face with some paper towels and steel my spine before facing two of the three new men in my life.

  Back at the table, the tension is so thick, it could be cut with a butter knife. Food sits untouched in the middle of the table. They’re staring at each other, not saying a word. What did they say while I was composing myself?

  Oren stands and pulls my chair out for me then takes a seat again.

  Drake scowls.

  “Thank you.” I clear my throat. “This is a lot for me to take in, and if I’m being honest, a bit unbelievable. I need some time to myself to get things sorted.”

  Both men start to talk at the same time, and I hold up my hand. “I don’t want to be with any of you right now. Drake can drop me off at the gym, and I’ll figure out my next move later.”

  I stand and head toward the front door.

  Both men follow behind in silence.

  The valet walks off to get Drake’s car while a Bentley pulls up to the sidewalk; a deadly-looking man gets out of the front seat to open the back door.

  Oren places his hand on the small of my back, coolness spreading from his touch. It’s difficult to not lean into it, but I stand my ground. He holds out a business card in front of me. “Call me when you’re ready to talk. Don’t make me wait too long, Princess.”

  I take it from him while avoiding skin-to-skin contact.

  He leans down and places a kiss on my cheek.

  Drake growls, moving in closer, and replaces Oren’s hand with his own. “Don’t hold your breath.”

  Oren glares at Drake. “Don’t think for one second I’m conceding. After all, I claimed her first. She’ll realize who she’s meant to be with, and it won’t be the likes of you.”

  He looks back at me with an expression I recognize from our night together. It’s a promise of more to come. Then, he gets into the car and he’s gone.

  Excitement floods my system. Shit.

  The valet pulls Drake’s Tesla up to the front and hands him the keys. He gives him a fifty-dollar bill and opens the door for me to get in.

  Deep breaths. I just need to get to the gym and release all these emotions on the bag. Avoiding his gaze, I stare out my side window. “Can you take me to Mia’s?”

  I feel his eyes on me, but I keep my gaze averted.

  “Sure. Do you need to go home and change?”

  Home. Is that still my home? “Just drop me off, please.”

  Drake is silent the rest of the way to Mia's.

  Chapter Fifteen

  As we pull up at Mia’s, I realize that her car isn’t here. Well, hell. It would be nice to talk to her right now. But, what could I tell her?

  I get out of the Tesla, fish my keys out of my pocket, and head to my car.

  Drake gets out. “Where are you going?”

  Times like this make me miss being alone. I never had to explain myself to anyone. “Well, it’s been a couple of days since I’ve worked out. I’m going to head there.”

  He walks over to me and takes my hand, causing our connection to spring to life. “I can take you. All you had to do was ask.” He forces a grin, even though his eyes still have a faint glow. “Let’s go home so you can change, then I can take you there.”

  Shaking my head, I step away, needing space. “I’ve got clothes I keep there. I’m covered.”

  His eyes flare. “That’s fine. I think I have something in the trunk I can change into or I can stop at a store on the way.”

  Oh, hell. He’s still not getting it. “No, I’m going to the gym by myself.”

  “Like hell, you are.” He steps in front of my car door, crossing his arms. “There’s no telling who the fuck else is going to pop up and claim you as theirs. You aren’t going anywhere without me.”

  Heat courses throughout me. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, mate or not. I am still my own person and don’t need permission from anyone. I’m going to the gym, alone. Stop being an asshole.”

  He rubs his hands over his face and sighs. “Look, I’m sorry, but this whole thing is making me crazy.”

  Don’t I know it? “If you think you’re confused, try being me.” I reach out, touching his arm where his sleeve covers the skin. I don’t need anything else to confuse me further. “I need to be by myself for a little while. That’s how it’s been most my life, and I just need to breathe for a minute and try to sort some stuff out.”

  Pain is reflected in his eyes. “Will you come back home after?”

  I bite my lip and look down. “Is it still my home?”

  A growl deep inside him resonates between us, and he grabs my chin, making me look at his face. “Nothing will ever change that. Without you there, it doesn’t feel like my home anymore. I’m yours forever.”

  Something deep inside me knows what he says is truth, but there is always a breaking point. I’m afraid it’s coming soon. “I’ll come home after.”

  His eyes are still glowing, so his wolf is influencing him. He’s struggling to regain control for me. My heart swells.

  Letting out a deep breath, he moves away from the door. “Okay, just don’t make me wait long, please.”

  I grin and open my door. “I’ll be back within a few hours.”

  He stands there and watches as I turn on the car and back up.

  It makes me want to stay, but I can’t lose myself in these men. I’ll be damned if I turn into that type of pathetic girl.

  Driving to the gym, it almost feels natural. This is normal and routine, which I’m desperat
e for. I get out of the car and head inside.

  The normal guy is at the desk. “Well, good afternoon. How are you doing?”

  I’m not in the mood for small talk. “Good.” I walk past him, heading toward the locker room.

  Opening my locker, I pull out my bag and unzip it. Pulling out a sports bra, tank top, and work-out pants, I change and throw my other clothes, along with my bag, into the locker. Walking to the mirror, I pull my hair up and into a ponytail, then head out to the floor.

  I grab a water out of the cooler, and something catches my eye. Drake’s car is in the back of the parking lot, like he is trying to hide. However, there is a car pulled up to the front door, with the back window rolled down. Oren waves when he notices I’ve found him.

  For some odd reason, I want to laugh. I mean, if he’s going to stalk me, at least he’s owning it. Despite myself, the corners of my mouth lift up.

  Oren winks at me.

  Damn him. I force myself to turn away and head over to my favorite spot in the whole gym, my punching bag. I grab some gloves and wrap my hands up with them. I need this so badly.

  I make it to the bag and begin warming up, punching and kicking. This is normal, unlike my bond with these three very different men. It doesn’t make sense that I feel so connected to each one. To be honest, I couldn’t choose even if forced. That’s not normal.

  Wiping sweat from my brow, anger fuels me and I channel it all toward the bag.

  “Wow, I think you better stop now.”

  I turn and find Oren standing there.

  He’s leaning up against the wall, dressed in a brown shirt and khaki pants. His brown hair is rumpled, which just adds to his sexiness.

  Shit, did Drake see him come in? “What are you doing here?” Looking around, I don’t see Drake yet.

  Oren chuckles. “He didn’t see me come in. I made certain.” He walks closer to me. “I need to speak to you without him near.” He glances at the bag. “What did that ever do to you?”

  Huh? Turning back to the bag, I cringe when I see that I’ve torn this one up as well. Shit. Jordan is going to kill me.

  He reaches out and touches my shoulder, helping to extinguish the flames. “I didn’t expect you to be so strong. Even the strongest of our kind can’t pack a punch like that.” He tucks a piece of hair that had fallen loose behind my ear. “Good thing you’re my mate. We just need to get rid of that delusional shifter.”