Billionaire Wolf's MateDate - Serena Meadows Page 0,33

a pleasure doing business with you.”

When the door slammed shut behind them, the full impact of her father’s words hit her, and she gasped. “He sold me,” she said. “He sold me to your father.”

“It’s called a bridal price, and it’s been a custom in our clan for a long time,” Reggie said. “The money is supposed to go to the couple to start their life together, but as usual, my father has corrupted it.”

“What are we going to do?” Janice said, scooting away from him, suddenly aware all she had on was her panties. “I need to get dressed, and then I need to get away from here. I’m not going to stay here and become someone’s property.”

Reggie got up from the bed, grabbed his shirt, and handed it to her. “You can’t go anywhere tonight,” he said, turning away while she put the shirt on.

She knew that he was right. “I can’t stay here,” she said, getting out of the bed and staring at it a second before crossing over and sitting down in one of the chairs by the fire.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Reggie pick up his pants and put them on, annoyed by the wave of disappointment that washed over her. When he came over and knelt next to her, she looked down into her lap, not wanting him to see the blush that had crept across her cheeks. She’d tried not to look when he’d stripped out of his clothes but had been unable to resist, and now, the sight of his hard, sculpted body was burned into her memory, making her body stir and throb each time it surfaced.

When he gently cupped her chin in his hand and made her look at him, she knew that he could see the desire in her eyes; it was reflected back at her in his eyes. She sucked in a deep breath and tried to look away, but he held her chin until she looked into his eyes again, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Would it really be that bad if we got married?” he asked, his voice rolling over her and making goosebumps break out on her skin. “I’m really not the monster you think I am.”

Janice couldn’t speak, couldn’t find the words to tell him that there was nothing in the world she’d like more, but her mother’s words echoed in her head. Desperate to get away from him, she jumped to her feet and began to pace around the room, trying to clear her head. But each time she turned and saw Reggie watching her, his bare chest sprinkled with dark hair that disappeared into the waistband of his pants, it distracted her, jumbling her thoughts.

“Oh, I can’t think when you’re sitting there watching me like that,” she finally said, walking over to the window. “My mother made me promise that I’d never marry a man I didn’t love, actually forbade me, if you can believe that. I didn’t understand what she meant at the time, I was too preoccupied with her dying to really listen, but I think she knew this would happen.”

She heard Reggie get up from the chair, his quiet footsteps getting closer, and when he put his hands on her shoulders, she jumped at the contact, every nerve alive with anticipation. Wishing her body would stop betraying her, she stood perfectly still, forcing herself not to turn and throw herself into his arms.

Chapter Fourteen

***Reggie***

Reggie felt Janice’s shoulders tense under his hands, and an overwhelming need to protect her roared to life, but he knew that he couldn’t protect her from the past. “I know how bad your mother’s life here with the clan was, Janice. I helped Jacob that night you and your mother escaped. I’m not my father,” he said, turning her around.

“You helped?” she asked, studying him.

“Well, we were engaged,” he said, grinning at her.

A little smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. “Be serious, Reggie,” she said.

He shrugged. “You needed saving, and I was able to do it,” he said. “I couldn’t stand by and watch your father throw you away like the garbage; you were much cuter than you are now.”

The smile broke out completely on her face, and he sighed with relief at the sight. “Reggie, I’m trying to be serious,” she said.

“And I’m trying to lighten the mood,” he said. “I know this is all confusing and foreign to you, but I need you to trust me, Janice.