Read Online The Lion's Pride (BBW Paranormal Lion Shifter Romance) (The True Date Agency) by Terra Wolf, Olivia Arran - Free Book Online
Authors: Terra Wolf, Olivia Arran
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using it.” Okay, that came out a little snarky.
His voice was low and controlled when he replied. “I didn’t leave any message for you, and I certainly didn’t get passed your phone number.”
I stiffened in shock at his words. Why would she—?
Meanwhile, Zane looked like he wanted to murder someone, and I nearly felt sorry for that little blonde bitch. Nearly.
His jaw tensed as he swallowed, clearly fighting for control, reminding me I was sharing the same space as a man who could turn into a massive lion. He looked away, eventually forcing a smile, though it ended up being more teeth than lips. “I’m going to be having words with her. She’s going to…” He didn’t have to finish the sentence, I could read his intention in his eyes. Maybe I did feel a little sorry for the girl .
I took a deep breath. I had to know where I stood in all this, what his intentions were. “So, at least that explains why you didn’t come find me when you knew about the baby.”
“If I’d had your number, I would’ve called you that first night.”
Swallowing a squeak at the intensity of his gaze, I murmured, “Would you have? Why?”
He answered my question with one of his own, regarding me shrewdly. “Why did you run off that night, Lara? Why didn’t you wait for me to get back?”
I floundered. How could I explain? “Because…I know you know nothing about me, but I had my reasons.”
His mouth twisted in what looked like resignation. “Do those reasons happen to include your husband?”
“My husband! How do you—?”
“I went to see him. We had a very…enlightening conversation. He told me you were still his wife, and that the baby was his.”
That sounded like something Archie would do; he had a twisted sense of morality, and the last thing he’d want would be my happiness. But how had he known about the baby? “And you believed him?”
“What the hell was I supposed to believe? You ran off!”
“And from what I knew, you never wanted to see me again. How do you think that made me feel? What about me? I don’t hear from you, so for all I know, this thing between us actually was a one-night stand, and the next thing I know, I’m pregnant! Even though I can’t get pregnant. The reason my husband cited for our divorce, humiliating me in the process, not that he cared. He only cared about his money and his cars and his women and his—”
Zane grabbed my hand from where it was waving in the air, threading his fingers through mine. “You were right, it wasn’t just a one-night stand, Lara. I think it’s safe to say we’ve both been idiots. If we’d just talked to each other, none of this would have happened.”
I knew he was right, but it still didn’t change what I knew to be true. I stared at our hands, trying to absorb the feel of him so I would always remember it. The second he had touched me, it was as if something had clicked inside of me. It had been the same that eventful night we had come together in a whirlwind of lust. How could something that felt so right hurt so much? “So, what do you want to do then? I mean, about the baby—?” I didn’t want him to think I was asking for anything more. I wasn’t going to beg for scraps.
“He’s mine,” he stated simply.
“And you can be a part of his life. I’d like that.”
He studied me. “Just a part of his life? Is that all you want? What about us? We could be a family!”
I didn’t know what he wanted from me, what he expected me to say. It wasn’t as if I had any other choice. One day he would meet the woman meant for him, his mate, and then anything that we had would pale into insignificance. He’d leave me, and even now, I wasn’t sure I’d survive it. It was better this way.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his eyes. I loosened my grip on his hand. “Yes, that’s what I want. You can be a part of the baby’s life.”
For a split second, his fingers tightened on mine, then he allowed me to pull
His voice was low and controlled when he replied. “I didn’t leave any message for you, and I certainly didn’t get passed your phone number.”
I stiffened in shock at his words. Why would she—?
Meanwhile, Zane looked like he wanted to murder someone, and I nearly felt sorry for that little blonde bitch. Nearly.
His jaw tensed as he swallowed, clearly fighting for control, reminding me I was sharing the same space as a man who could turn into a massive lion. He looked away, eventually forcing a smile, though it ended up being more teeth than lips. “I’m going to be having words with her. She’s going to…” He didn’t have to finish the sentence, I could read his intention in his eyes. Maybe I did feel a little sorry for the girl .
I took a deep breath. I had to know where I stood in all this, what his intentions were. “So, at least that explains why you didn’t come find me when you knew about the baby.”
“If I’d had your number, I would’ve called you that first night.”
Swallowing a squeak at the intensity of his gaze, I murmured, “Would you have? Why?”
He answered my question with one of his own, regarding me shrewdly. “Why did you run off that night, Lara? Why didn’t you wait for me to get back?”
I floundered. How could I explain? “Because…I know you know nothing about me, but I had my reasons.”
His mouth twisted in what looked like resignation. “Do those reasons happen to include your husband?”
“My husband! How do you—?”
“I went to see him. We had a very…enlightening conversation. He told me you were still his wife, and that the baby was his.”
That sounded like something Archie would do; he had a twisted sense of morality, and the last thing he’d want would be my happiness. But how had he known about the baby? “And you believed him?”
“What the hell was I supposed to believe? You ran off!”
“And from what I knew, you never wanted to see me again. How do you think that made me feel? What about me? I don’t hear from you, so for all I know, this thing between us actually was a one-night stand, and the next thing I know, I’m pregnant! Even though I can’t get pregnant. The reason my husband cited for our divorce, humiliating me in the process, not that he cared. He only cared about his money and his cars and his women and his—”
Zane grabbed my hand from where it was waving in the air, threading his fingers through mine. “You were right, it wasn’t just a one-night stand, Lara. I think it’s safe to say we’ve both been idiots. If we’d just talked to each other, none of this would have happened.”
I knew he was right, but it still didn’t change what I knew to be true. I stared at our hands, trying to absorb the feel of him so I would always remember it. The second he had touched me, it was as if something had clicked inside of me. It had been the same that eventful night we had come together in a whirlwind of lust. How could something that felt so right hurt so much? “So, what do you want to do then? I mean, about the baby—?” I didn’t want him to think I was asking for anything more. I wasn’t going to beg for scraps.
“He’s mine,” he stated simply.
“And you can be a part of his life. I’d like that.”
He studied me. “Just a part of his life? Is that all you want? What about us? We could be a family!”
I didn’t know what he wanted from me, what he expected me to say. It wasn’t as if I had any other choice. One day he would meet the woman meant for him, his mate, and then anything that we had would pale into insignificance. He’d leave me, and even now, I wasn’t sure I’d survive it. It was better this way.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his eyes. I loosened my grip on his hand. “Yes, that’s what I want. You can be a part of the baby’s life.”
For a split second, his fingers tightened on mine, then he allowed me to pull
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