Chapter 25

Julian

Cassie didn't go to the bathroom like she had said she was but I hadn't expected her to. I knew she had wanted to escape me and I couldn't blame her for that. I kind of wanted a second to catch my breath myself.

I didn't want her like a husband should want his wife. I didn't have any affection for her but the fact that I wanted her physically could no longer be denied. Hell, I could still feel the skin of her back under my fingertips.

Through the open doorway of the ballroom my eyes found her still in the doorway where Bill had just cornered her. I had been watching them, ready at any minute to go and prove to Bill once and for all where he stood and that he wasn't to approach my wife again. He really was pushing my buttons and hers as well it seemed because it really looked like she bit him.

It kind of made me proud of her. She had fought back and that showed a back bone. But didn't I know that already? She already gave me a run for my money. She was quick and sharp and wasn't afraid to tell you exactly what she thought.

She didn't need anyone to protect.

My eyes scanned her body. Maybe tonight she did though because damn that dress. I had chosen it because it had looked frumpy and shapeless on the hanger but it was neither of those things and she looked like a damn movie star in it. All glamorous and beautiful.

Untouchable in a way that made me want her even more and I knew every single guy in the room thought the same way.

Alpha bill would not be the only man who would approach her tonight because not every person here was my friend. If my enemies thought they could lure my wife away then they would.

Hell, Bill had been doing his best to do just that.

I might not want her to remain my wife but I didn't want anyone else to have her either.

It would be best to stay close to her side. At least for tonight I could put away the hatred and act charming.

Plus it would give me an excuse to touch that patch of tanned skin that was bare on her back. I could trace my fingers up her spine and feel her tremble with a longing that I would never fulfil for her. It was nice that she lusted after me though.

I liked that.

I wanted her to want me.

My eyes traced her body from afar.

That dress looked better on her than the other skin tight one of Megan's party. This one still clung to her but in a different way. A mouthwatering way.

The kind of way where you would enjoy peeling the silky material away to show the body underneath.

My mouth went dry at the thought.

She really was something else to look at. Instant lust filled me. Overwhelming all my senses until I was moving towards her without even really thinking about it.

I wanted her next to me. Maybe I wanted more. Would she even be willing?

I had reached the doorway when I realised something was wrong with her and it had nothing to do with the blood on her lips which I knew wasn't hers.

She had obviously bitten Bill hard enough to make him bleed into her mouth.

But it wasn't that that was putting the look on her face. Ig was something else.

She was leaning in close to the door. Her eyes wide and it hit me in a rush. She was listening in to whatever was going on in that private room and if her face was anything to go by , it was juicy gossip indeed.

Even as I watched she pressed her eye to the crack of the door and looked inside.

I stepped into the alcove next to her and she snapped upwards. A guilty look crossed her face at being caught spying and I opened my mouth to tease her and snapped it shut again as Megan's voice echoed around me.

"You are awful."

"It's not what it looks like." Cassie began to say and I crushed my hand over her mouth silencing her and pinning her to the wall.

Holding my finger to my lips I listened and again I heard megan's voice. Frowning I leant into Cassie. "SSH." I whispered.

I wanted to know what Megan was saying because I wanted to know why she was here. At this party. I had spoken to her not many days ago and she had told me she was busy training.

I knew how vigorous the training with the royal medical unit was. So I knew she shouldn't be here.

"Oh Ryder." Megan giggled and I could instantly tell she had been drinking. Another thing that was expressly forbidden. "You really are persistent."

"That's because I want you Megan." A male voice groaned. I racked my brain to see if I knew any shifter called Ryder and came back blank. I didn't recognize the voice either.

"I've always wanted you." He carried on with a growl in his voice. "And you want me to. Otherwise you wouldn't be here."

Megan giggled. Only it sounded more sarcastic than flirty.

"I'm here because it's a fun party and I need a bit of fun in my life. Between the unit training and Cole."

The man called Ryder growled loudly. "Don't talk about that asshole. You should dump him and be with me and only me. I look after you Megan." His voice dropped so low that I could barely hear it. "I have looked after you for years."

"I know." Megan's voice had turned sultry. I could almost imagine her rubbing herself against him. "And I am appreciative but you aren't the only man who wants to look after me."

"You mean the prince." He asked.

I stiffened. Above my hand Cassie's eyes went saucer round.

"Oh forget the prince." Megan giggled. "I fancy him even less that I fancy you Ryder. You are just useful. But maybe you have forgotten our arrangement?"

"I've forgotten nothing Megan. I'm the one who pays your bills, remember and if you want that to continue then I want our relationship to progress." There was a bark in his voice. "I don't want you to see anyone else."

She sighed. "How much do you want? How much is it going to cost to get you to leave me alone once and for all?"

I was reeling. Not because megan was clearly in a relationship with more than one man but because of what she had said about me.

Was that what she really thought and if it was then what the hell had changed?

The wet sound of kissing filled my ears and made me feel sick.

"Stop it Ryder." Megan said but there was a moan in her voice. The kind of moan that told me she was enjoying what was being done to her.

"You like it." Ryder groaned .

I had heard enough. Gripping Cassie's arm I dragged her away. Away from the room. Away from the ballroom and towards one of the back exits.

There was a cat waiting for me out there but I wasn't going to use it.

"Go home." I gave Cassie a little shove and she stumbled forward. Only regaining her footing at the last minute. She whirled around her and glared at me.

"Asshole." Her lips curled up in a sneer and I didn't know if she was cussing me out for pushing her or because of what she had just heard. I knew how it sounded.

"Go home Cassie. Go anywhere as long as you're not near me and do not-" I lowered my voice to a hiss as wave and wave of humiliation hit me. "Mention what you heard tonight to anyone else. Ever."

Not waiting to see if she agreed, I pushed myself into the nearest room and slammed the door behind me.

I needed a second. Just a minute to process everything.

"Ian?" The mind link with my beta clicked into place instantly.

"Everything ok Julian?" His reply came back quickly and I could hear the worry in his voice. "Are you and Cassie fighting again?"

"No, yes but that's not what I want you for. I want you to go to the hospital and find out who it was that saved me?"

"megan. Megan was the one working."

I thought back to what I had just heard. The woman who had saved me had been so willing to be held by me. She had wanted me.

And the link between us had been so strong that I hadn't been able to think of anything else since.

I wasn't even sure Megan liked me, she sure as hell didn't find me attractive.

"It wasn't megan." I snapped. "So find out who the hell it was before I go crazy."