Chapter 121

Amber’s POV

Julian was acting like a brute, but I hated to admit to myself, I liked it. Having those strong arms on either side of me, boxing me in, made me want to spend hours back in his bed room, rediscovering each other under the sheets.

But, closing my eyes, I forced those thoughts away. That line of thinking was what got me into this mess to start with. I let my desire do the talking, and while that night with Julian had been incredible, it had been a mistake.

Maybe I had been wrong to admit that out loud though, with the way it made hurt flash through Julian’s eyes. A quick pain, mirroring his, echoed through my own heart.

Hurting him hurt me, and I hated it.

Julian lowered his hands then, giving me an out. “Try to be back earlier tonight,” he said, his voice somewhat hollow now. “Alice misses you, and you shouldn’t punish her for our… mistake.”

“Julian,” I said at once, eager to fix this. I hadn’t meant it quite like that. I just… we rushed into things. We hadn’t thought this through.

There were so many reasons we shouldn’t have slept together. Surely he could see that too?

He didn’t want to talk anymore though, it seemed, not even after the way he barged in here. Instead, he turned away and walked to the reception area where he collected Alice.

“Where’s Mommy?” Alice asked.

“I’m sorry, honey,” Julian told her. “Your mom’s really busy today.”

My heart sank further. No matter what, I had to make sure I was back at the hotel at a reasonable time tonight.

Julian’s POV

Finally, Amber came home in time for dinner.

“Mommy!” Alice cried, racing to greet her at the door.

Amber immediately dropped to her knees and hugged her daughter. A reconciliation like this was long overdue between the mother-daughter pair.

“I’ve got some chicken in the oven,” I said.

Amber gave me a strange look. “You cooked?”

“Uh. Not exactly. We went out for lunch. I’m just reheating the leftovers.”

“Is there enough for three?” Amber asked, seeming a bit sheepish.

“There is,” I assured her. Even if there wasn’t, I would make do, giving myself less to ensure she and Alice were happy. “Alice and I ate like kings today.”

“I’m a princess, not a king!” Alice said.

I smiled at her. “Of course, Princess. That’s what I meant.”

Alice nodded, satisfied.

As I prepared the leftovers, putting the chicken on the plate, there was a knock on the door.

“Are you expecting someone?” Amber asked me.

“No,” I said. “You?”

She shook her head, but then turned and went to the door.

I peeked over as I plated the dishes, seeing a messenger deliver a letter to Amber through the door. After closing the door, Amber walked back towards the table while slowly opening the envelope.

“What is it?” I asked her.

“Something from Rafael,” she replied, which immediately put me on edge, though I tried to hide it. This evening, so far, had been going well. The last thing I needed was to get frustrated again and say something to ruin it.

Instead, I continued plating the food, waiting for her to tell me what the letter said.

After the table was set and we all sat down, she finally explained.

“It’s an invitation for dinner tonight,” she said.

All three of us glanced down at the table with food already on it.

“We already have dinner,” he said.

“Well. If this isn’t enough,” she said, like she was actually thinking about going. “Though the invitation only includes Alice and me.”

I looked at her like I couldn’t recognize her, because that was how I felt when she was talking like this. It was almost as if she was an entirely different person, someone who would discard me and the actual food I’d already cooked to go have dinner at some mansion with some Alpha.

“Amber, you can’t be thinking of wasting all this food,” I said.

“I’m not,” she replied. “I was just weighing the options.”

“What options? The only choice is to stay here,” I said. “With your daughter.” With me. I couldn’t say that part aloud, not trusting it wouldn’t blow up in my face.

“I didn’t say I was going. I was just thinking about it.”

“Why even think about it?” I said, a touch on the harsher side. Maybe it was the jealousy. Or maybe I’d been feeling more possessive of her since we’d slept together.

I didn’t know, but… it felt like the harder I tried to hold onto Amber, the more she pushed me away. And it was entirely frustrating, so much so that I had trouble holding onto my tempter.

Amber, too, was glaring at me, like she was as mad at me as I was at her.

Meanwhile, Alice sniffled, looking between us with her large doe eyes. Then, unfortunately, the tears started to fall.

“I-I d-don’t want y-you to g-g-go, Mommy!” Alice said, holding both hands out for her mom.

Amber and I both cooled at once, like a cold bucket of water had been thrown over our heads. Amber moved to hold Alice, while I sat down, trying to make myself less intimidating and imposing.

Gods, I felt terrible. I had been angry at Amber for distancing herself from me, but I didn’t mean to frighten or upset Alice.

“D-don’t f-fight,” Alice said, crying into Amber’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Alice,” Amber said, combing through her daughter’s hair. “Everything’s okay. We’re going to stay right here and eat the dinner Julian prepared. Right, Julian?”

“That’s right, Amber,” I said softly, for my daughter’s sake. “Everything’s okay now. No one is fighting.”

For a while, Amber and I played nice in front of Alice, talking as friends, all smiles for Alice’s benefit. Halfway through dinner though, Amber pulled away.

“I forgot, I should call Rafael and ask for a raincheck,” she said. At my darkening look, she insisted, “It’s only polite after his invitation. I don’t want him to be expecting us when we aren’t going. I’ll be right back.”

Amber stood, grabbed the phone from her purse, and, to my surprise, simply went out into the living room area to make her call. Something that private, I thought she would take in her room.

Seeing she wasn’t hiding anything helped me relax somewhat, though I still felt on edge at the presence of Rafael at all, through phone call or in person, invading our little private hotel space.

Amber’s POV

“Rafael, I’m sorry, I should have called sooner,” I said, the minute I was able to get the man on the phone. “Alice and I are going to need a raincheck.”

I meant to say that next time, Julian should be included too, but Rafael cut me off before I could.

“It’s fine,” he said. “I thought you might be busy tonight. I know it was last notice.”

“Still, I am grateful,” I said.

“Good,” Rafael replied. “In that case, please know that the offer is always open to you. You are welcome to come to the estate whenever you like, day or night. You and Alice. I will always be happy to see you.”

That was generous, but… “Julian…”

“You and Alice,” Rafael said, cutting me off again.

I didn’t need to say the words to be understood, it seemed, nor did he have to say more than he did.

While Alice and I were always welcome, Julian was not.