Page 35 of My Broken Mate (Healing Bonds #1)

Chapter twenty-three

Like A Toddler

*KAT*

B y the end of the night, my lips feel swollen and tingly.

I have spent all my time making out with Remy as if we were two horny teenagers, hiding in a storeroom in school.

I didn’t know I could even feel that way.

I know I am simple-minded and probably not the brightest bulb in any room, but wanting to have a guy all over me is a completely new sentiment for me.

All I want is to feel him against my body and have his tongue in my mouth.

I thought he would be more guarded and reserved around me, but he isn’t.

The way he kisses me with so much intent, I can’t help but fantasize about how it would feel if he fucked me!

My only experience was with my high school hook-up, and we basically fumbled during our first time, and then afterwards, were never able to make it not awkward. But now with Remy, I feel like it can’t even be awkward because I am burning for him.

“When you are done fucking each other’s mouths,” Ayden’s voice finally interrupts us. “How about we get out of here and go for breakfast?”

“Is it morning already?” I ask, not even deeming it worth my time to pay attention to his ‘mouth-fucking’ comment.

“Yep,” he nods. “The club is closing soon, and I am hungry.”

“Me, too,” Fiona says, popping up behind him.

“Me three,” a third, unknown voice says.

I turn around to look at KiZ. She has changed into comfortable clothes now, only her piercings and tattoos giving her rock-chick personality away.

“Thank you for inviting us backstage!” I exclaim. “And you absolutely need to join us. Ayden and I just know the best coffee shop. It opens up early.”

I make sure to introduce everyone to her before eyeing her curiously. “You are friends with Evander, right?”

“Yes, we met a while ago. I think he was on the run or something, and I was young and stupid. He saved my ass back then.” She laughs, sticking out her tongue and showing off her tongue piercing like that. “And he did it with this laidback attitude and his sleepy face. Great guy, though.”

When was Eve on the run? That must have been around the time Joel challenged our uncle. Shortly before that, he made sure Eve and I were safe and not around the pack. Seems like Eve wasn’t all alone during that time, which makes me happy.

“I am Kiara Zoe, by the way,” she says.

“So that’s where the name KiZ comes from?” Ayden comments. “Makes sense.”

Fi claps her hands. “Let’s go, everyone.”

I noticed that once again, Remy has stayed quiet during the whole exchange. It’s more and more evident to me that this is his usual strategy when meeting someone new or being in a crowd of people he doesn’t know well.

Fortunately, no one comments on it, though.

With Ayden leading the way, we make it to our private car with the two warriors still patiently waiting for us and have them drive us to the coffee place.

KiZ is a fun person to be around, light-hearted and just genuinely nice.

She stays for half an hour or so and has a cup of coffee with us.

We all exchange contacts with her before she has to leave and head to her studio.

“And another friend you made,” Ayden comments.

“We,” I correct him. “We made another friend.”

“Oh, come on,” Ayden grins. “We all know your family consists of a bunch of lovable weirdos. You three just attract everyone. It’s impossible not to like you.”

Remy’s lips tug slightly, and he shows me a smile. Seems like he agrees with Ayden. Then, however, I feel him stiffen slightly.

“Is something wrong?” I ask promptly.

He doesn’t need to answer, because Fi does. Her head perks up, and she eyes the counter and the cashier. “Oh, isn’t that your brother?” she exclaims.

I turn around slightly, my gaze falling onto Gabriel. He is dressed in a business suit, his briefcase in his hand, looking like the serious businessman I know he is. He has spotted us, as well, because once he has his coffee-to-go in his hand, he comes over to our table.

“Good morning,” he greets us politely before turning to Remy. “You are here,” he says. “I didn’t expect you.”

I can see it so clearly now, the change in Remy’s whole stance.

It’s subtle, but now that I know how he can be, how he was the whole evening when we were alone, I can’t unsee it anymore.

It’s like the shutters around him are being lowered again, making him close off completely.

Instead of the warmth his eyes exuded before, they are just guarded all of a sudden.

Gabriel keeps asking us questions, and I am not sure where he is going with them.

It sounds like an interrogation, but technically, it could also be genuine curiosity.

I don’t know the guy well enough to tell.

Where have we been, who have we met, how long were we out, have we been careful, did we drink…

Remy keeps answering Gabriel’s questions but doesn’t waste more words than necessary. He doesn’t say much at all, his tone flat. Not impolite, but not warm either. I realize he also was like that when he met Joel for the first time, and during the whole gala.

“How about Remy and I go and get something to eat,” I offer, not able to listen to the whole conversation any longer and to see Remy as tense as he is.

“Great idea,” Ayden says instantly. He must have sensed the tension, too. “I want pancakes,” he says. “Fi?”

“French toast!”

“You two clearly have a sweet tooth,” I chuckle.

“Make sure to eat something healthy, too,” Gabriel says earnestly.

I wouldn’t be Kata if I didn’t play along, so I just nod and smile.

“I will order some orange juice for everyone.” With that, I grab Remy’s arm and tug him along, not giving his brother the chance to intervene or stop us, yet careful enough not to give his brother any weird ideas about our relationship.

Once we are in front of the counter and around the corner, Remy lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank you,” he says quietly.

“What is that between you and your brother?” I whisper.

“I don’t know,” he mutters. “It’s always been like that.”

“Did something happen? Is he bullying you? Because if yes, I will—”

In the safety of the currently empty corner, Remy kisses me before I can finish the sentence.

“You would totally defend me,” he says softly.

“But no, Gabriel doesn’t bully me. I don’t know, it seems like he wants me to be a certain way, but I am not sure if I can do it. He is very intelligent, you know.”

“I think Eve told me once,” I admit.

“Very, Kata. He is not just smart, I believe we are talking borderline genius here. That’s who he is. Plus, he is a perfectionist and a workaholic, and I don’t think I could ever fulfill his expectations or reach ‘my potential’ as he calls it.”

“And your other brother?”

“Sean?” He pauses. “Sean is strong, capable and smart,” he says. “You should see him with the pack. They love him!”

It’s clear on his face. He admires him, but— “Do you love him?”

“Yes, he is my brother.”

“And do you think he loves you?” I push.

Remy stays quiet. “I am broken,” he says. “You already know how much. Not even my wolf comes to the surface. Sean is an alpha, and we are from a lineage of one of the strongest and most influential families. I am like a stain on the image of our family, a disgrace.”

“Did they say that to you?” I ask, my heart sinking. Goddess, what the fuck? Remy is not a disgrace, and he isn’t tarnishing his family’s name. The fact that he thinks he is doing that by just existing makes my stomach twist and turn to a point where I begin to feel queasy.

“They don’t need to say it for me to know.”

*GAbrIEL*

And it happened again. Remy made a run for it, and this time not even on his own. He had a friend helping him. Katalina must have sensed something and made sure to get him away. Away from me! I bet if it were Sean, it would have turned out differently.

Why is it like that between us?

“Goddess,” the young man at the table mutters. I don’t even know his name, although I remember Eve introducing us during the gala. One of Katalina’s friends, I believe. “You need all the help you can get. I have seen toddlers who can communicate better.”

“Wait, are you insane?” the girl exclaims.

My head whips around to look directly at him. “What did you say?”

“I said, you suck at communicating,” he says directly. “It’s obvious you just wanted to strike up a conversation, but boy, did it backfire!”

The girl, whom I know is from our pack, stays quiet. Her silence tells me more than words could. She is agreeing with… the guy.

“Do you even know my name?” the guy asks, before gesturing to the girl. “Or hers?”

“I think Evander told me yours,” I say with a frown. “And we did meet yesterday when you picked up Remy.”

“Okay, so first things first. You came here, saw your brother, approached our table and didn’t even introduce yourself,” the guy says. “I am Ayden, and this is Fiona.”

I frown. “I totally should have done that,” I finally say. “Introduce myself first. So, what else?”

The two youngsters look at me, clearly confused. “What do you mean?” Ayden asks.

“You said I am terrible at communicating, and that a toddler could do it better. And seeing how my brother took the first chance to get away from my presence, I have to agree. So, what else do you have to say?”

I must have said something weird, because Fiona and Ayden just keep staring at me.

“Are you sure you want to hear it?” Ayden asks. “I am just some young dude with no rank and no name, and you are basically royalty, if we had any. Everyone kisses the floor you are walking on.”

“I don’t care what everyone else does. I want my brother to like me,” I say bluntly. “I want to hear the truth. Hit me with it. I need it!” I take my phone out of my suit pocket and hand it to Ayden. “Save your number in it. I will give you a call and take you out for lunch.”

Ayden obliges. When he hands me back the phone, he sighs. “See? That’s part of the problem. You could have asked me and waited for my approval, but it sounded much more like a command. If you talk like that with your family, it’s no surprise you can’t overcome the distance.”

“So, will you?” I ask him. “Help me.”

“You have inserted yourself way too much already, Ayden,” Fiona says, grinning slightly. “Now you need to help.”

I don’t know her family, but after seeing how she just gave Ayden a push, I make a mental note to give her father or mother or both of them a raise, depending on where they work. And if they don’t work for one of my companies, I will certainly pay them back in another way.

“I will regret this,” Ayden mutters.

I tilt my head, thinking this through. Ayden seems to be straightforward and honest. He is not trying to befriend me or kiss up to me.

Also, he is a young student who just told me he has no specific rank, meaning I could make this transactional.

This is like a business meeting! “I will pay you,” I say.

“Consider me your employer, someone who hires you to go to lunch with.”

“Like a Sugar Daddy?” Fiona asks.

I’m almost knocked back by her words. Ayden himself doesn’t look too pleased either. “Don’t make it weird, Fi!”

“Sorry.”

“Like a tutor,” I say. “Eve paid Remy to tutor Katalina, and I am paying you to tutor me.”

“Suddenly, this sounds much better. Money and food,” Ayden grins. “I like burgers. Don’t drag me to some fancy restaurant. Just burgers!”