Taming London (Warwick Dragons #1) - Milly Taiden Page 0,39

lined her eyes. “Do we? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like one of your previous conquests just attacked me on an international scale. This stuff about my mom’s death…” she bit down on the rest of the words.

“Women are always trying to get things from me. Further their careers by thinking my mom can hook them up with good designers. They want to trap me in a marriage so they can use the Warwick name to get ahead. That’s partly why I never get beyond fucking. I know I’m being used. But with you, it’s different because you—“ London stopped himself short. Now was not the time to drop the mate bomb.

Bethany rolled her eyes. “I like how suddenly, you’re the victim in this when I’m the one who’s been labeled a killer again.” She held up her hand to stop his protest. “Whatever. I’m not getting into it. Not with you.”

“This isn’t either of our faults,” he argued stupidly.

“Do you have any idea how painful it is to bury your mother all the while having press hound you, calling you a murderer? This was one of the most painful periods in my life, and it’s all been dragged up again because I decided it would be a good idea to fuck you.”

London hissed at her choice of words. It had been more than that. Didn’t she feel it?

“The article she printed says that you sent one of your friends to New York City to investigate my mom’s death. She uses that as her proof that you’re scared of me. Making me out to be some kind of manipulative monster who trapped you, and you’re terrified of dumping me because I could kill you. This is the most ridiculous article I’ve ever read, and I’ve seen one where the journalist said I had sacrificed my mother to Satan to steal her beauty. Now. Answer me. Are you really investigating my mother’s murder?”

London’s jaw ticked as he bit down, hard. “I did send my best friend James to New York, but—”

Bethany didn’t let him finish. She grunted in frustration as her skirt’s zipper got stuck on her blouse. “Of course, you did. You’re investigating my mother’s murder? Why?” She held up her hand. “No. You know what? It doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t matter at all. I’m done. Thanks for the lay.”

“Beth,” he pleaded.

“Do not call me that. I hope your little girlfriend is happy you gave her the scoop on me. Is that why you agreed to your mother’s scheme? Get bent, London Warwick.”

London knew Bethany’s reasoning made no sense. She was angry as hell, and her mind was reeling with a million different possibilities. He could smell the hurt and confusion dripping out of her pores. He had hurt his mate in less than twenty-four hours.

Maybe he wasn’t meant for a relationship.

And just like that, Bethany was gone, taking all of the hope along with her.

Chapter Seventeen

London

London ripped off his clothes and put on his workout gear. He made his way to the gym, needing to clear his head. If he had gone to work or if he had tried to stay in his apartment, he would have found himself chasing after Bethany. There was no way he was going to be that guy. The one who chased after a woman who was ready to believe the very worse of him.

Mate or not, that hurt.

He had known, of course, that Bethany’s opinion of him was low. He knew he deserved it, too. He had been rude to her when they had first met. Had he been an idiot to believe that he had done enough to redeem himself?

London had thought so.

He knew a lot about the female body, but his knowledge on the woman’s heart was sure lacking.

At least London knew how to deal with his own shortcomings. He punished himself in the gym.

As a dragon shifter, it was particularly difficult to exert himself to the point where he felt pain, but he could try. He ran for too long, did too many weights, spent too much time wailing on the punching bag.

His muscles were annoyed with him, and he very much didn’t like himself. He avoided looking in the mirrors that lined the gym walls. He wasn’t too sure where all of this self-aggression was coming from, but he had a vague idea that it stemmed from not completely dealing with his father’s sudden death, not feeling like he had lived up to his potential like