Page 17 of The Wrong Bond (Wolf Billionaire #4)

CHAPTER 17

ARLENE

I t had been thirty minutes since I’d sent the message to Shawn, and I hoped he would come over, but part of me knew he couldn’t leave the event just to be with me. It just wouldn’t make sense.

So I got ready for bed, accepting that I was just his backup entertainment and nothing more, which was completely fine.

I lay on my bed and dozed off, forgetting that I’d even sent a message to Shawn.

Suddenly, I was jolted awake by loud knocking on my apartment door. Disoriented and blinking away sleep, I glanced at my bedside clock—2:47am. Who could be here at this time?

I quickly threw on my robe and got to my feet, cautiously tiptoeing toward the door as I grabbed the umbrella that was beside it.

“Who’s that?” I called as I approached the door, terrified of what I might see.

I didn’t live in the safest neighborhood, so I was torn between ignoring it or actually checking. I decided on the latter.

I looked through the keyhole to see a disheveled Shawn standing there. His shoulders were hunched down, his clothes were wet from the rain, and his hair was plastered to his forehead.

I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and unlocked the door. Shawn turned around at the sound and his eyes met mine. He looked like he had been standing out in the rain for hours, because he was drenched to the bone.

“Are you okay?” I asked, worry evident in my voice. “Come in.”

He entered my apartment as I raced to the cupboard, grabbed a fresh towel, and draped it around him. He looked like there was something on his mind, but I couldn’t tell what it was.

“Shawn, are you okay?” I asked again.

He sank down onto the nearest chair, burying his face in his hands. I stood beside him, not knowing what to say or do. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with raw emotions that sent shivers down my spine.

“You told me to come,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

I blinked, confused. “Yes, four hours ago, Shawn.”

He got to his feet and paced the small floor of my apartment.

He turned to me. “But you wanted me to come. You wanted me here.”

I scrunched my eyebrows together, even more confused. “Yes, I did.”

“So I’m here, Ally. I’m here.”

I reached out to cup his face in my hands, my eyes searching his.

“What’s going on, Shawn?”

“Arlene,” he began, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. My name sounded like music from his lips. “I…I shouldn’t be here. This is crazy, reckless even. But I can’t stay away any longer. I can’t pretend anymore.”

My heart hammered in my chest, a million questions running through my mind.

“Pretend about what?” The words tumbled out of my lips.

“About this whole thing. I don’t know what to do about these feelings that are clawing out of my chest. I don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

I swallowed, my hands on his face trembling.

“I want you, Arlene. I want you so badly it hurts. I don’t know how to function without you. I’m always thinking of your laughter and the way you make me feel truly seen, truly alive.”

He was saying things, but not what I wanted him to say. I wanted him to be blunt, to be direct, and yet, I didn’t know if my heart could to take it.

He had been giving me mixed signals since I’d met him, and now I needed him to be as straightforward as he possibly could.

“What do you mean, Shawn? What do you actually mean?”

“I want you!” he let out.

“But you have me. You’ve always had me,” I responded, frustration bubbling in my chest.

“Not in the way I want to.”

“Then tell me how. Tell me how you really want me. You’ve been feeding me mixed signals since the very first moment I met you. Making me a meal and then calling me your mistress. Making love to me so fiercely and then reminding me of my place. It’s very confusing.”

Shawn panted, his chest rising and falling. “Ally?—”

I cut him off. “So tell me what this is. How else do you want me?”

“It doesn’t matter.” He was about to head back toward the door, but I stepped in front of him, my confidence scaring me.

“It does matter. Now tell me.”

I needed answers and I was going to get them today, whether he liked it or not. He’d appeared on my doorstep, spewing gibberish without getting to the core of the matter. And now he wanted to leave and pretend this never happened? Not on my watch.

“Arlene, I think this is a mistake. I shouldn’t have come here.”

“But you are here, and you can’t just take the easy way out. Not anymore.”

My frustration was quickly morphing into something else, and I could feel rage rising inside me. I’d taken everything that had happened as peacefully as I could, but not anymore.

I’d thought I would be able to just play the mistress who didn’t fall in love or ask any questions, but I was not built for this kind of arrangement. I’d been attracted to Shawn from the first moment I met him, and I wouldn’t have proceeded if I’d known my feelings would keep growing.

I was done overanalyzing every single intimacy or kindness Shawn showed me. I was tired of being left on the sidelines while he buried his own feelings.

“Tell me.” I crossed my arms in front of my chest and waited, knowing whatever he said next was either going to break or make us.