Read 7 Degrees of Alpha (a collection of seven new BWWM, Alpha Male Romances) for Free Online Page B

Then she finally answered his question, “Because I didn’t want to lose the things that were important to me.” He raised his eyebrows at her, still seeking clarification, so she gave it to him. “Because, as life goes on, we tend to forget where we came from, and I didn’t want to.”
    He touched a picture of an older woman, noting the resemblance to Val.
    “Which one is the grandmother?” he asked, still holding her arm. It was warm in his grip, and he felt a slight shiver from Val as he gave her arm a gentle squeeze. He placed his other hand on her flat stomach, wanting to bring her closer to him, but he knew that her moment of weakness had passed. The contact made him feel good, nonetheless.
    “Above the picture you're touching,” she said, breathless.
    Jones had been caressing her arm, watching the play of goose bumps as they chased his finger around her arm.   
    “Sorry, my home is a pig-sty,” she said, stepping away from Jones and putting much-needed space between them, “I don’t even know if there is anything to eat in this kitchen.”
    “Oh…”
    “Don’t tell me you think I live like this?” she asked him in embarrassment.
    “Well, I thought that since you work long hours and-”
    “Stop! Don’t say another word,” she cautioned him. Val rummaged in a drawer, looking for a takeaway menu. “Chinese?” she offered, holding up the pamphlet.
    “How about I take you out to dinner?” Jones offered.
    “No,” Val said a little too quickly, “Look, I don’t feel safe at the moment, and I don’t think I'm gonna feel any safer if I have to come back here alone after being out for a few hours,” she told him.
    Jones raised an eyebrow. He knew that something was going on, but he wanted her to disclose her concerns to him. He didn’t like to assume, even though he had a pretty good idea of what the problem was.
    “So…?”
    She breathed out, long and slow, pushing her hair behind her ears while she thought about how to say what was on her mind. Jones saw the struggle racing across her delicate features, solutions and problems marked clearly in her beautiful eyes.
    “Just say it. I won’t say no to whatever it is, I promise,” he told her soothingly.
    “You’re gonna think I'm losing my mind…”
    “I promise you, I won't.”
    “I don’t want to stay here. I don’t feel safe. Can you take me to a hotel? I don’t have a car, remember? Otherwise I would take myself,” she breathed, expelling everything in a rush.
    “Okay, now don’t think I am being too forward, but… How about you spend a few days with me? I can help you find a new apartment because I think that’s what you want to do-”
    “Why do you say that?” she asked.
    “Because you’ve been jittery since I got here,” he told her, not missing the wince of shame. “Look, pack a bag, come and stay in my guest room, and tomorrow, we’ll find you a new apartment. Leave your things here. We can come and get whatever you need another day. What do you say?” Jones told her hopefully.
    “I don’t know what to say. But I do know that I can’t stay here. Not tonight.” She bit her lip, trying to suppress her anxiety.
    “Pack a bag, babe, and let’s go. We can pick up food on the way, okay?”
    “Okay.” She marched out of the kitchen with determination and returned a few minutes later, shrugging on a hoodie that matched her pants.
    Jones smiled at her slyly. “That was quick.”
    “Don’t be an ass! I packed the bag before I even asked. Don’t get any funny ideas, or you’ll be taking me to the nearest hotel.”
    He held his hands up in surrender. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Do I look like a complete fool?” His smile grew wider by the second.
    Val snorted, keeping her response to herself.
    “What?”
    Val laughed out loud, opening the door to exit her apartment as the tension fell away from her hunched shoulders.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Four
    22:30 p.m. October 12, 2004
     
    “Let me try your