Wynter's Captive by Milly Taiden Page B

Cade saying she was his mate the first time they’d had sex. It had made for an explosive orgasm. One she’d never forget. Not that she’d forget any of the others, but that one seemed special somehow. As if their first time would always be embedded in the back of her mind.
    Jaylin stared at her for a moment before answering. “Werewolves mate through bites. Kind of like marriage but with a more permanent feel.”
    Lili didn’t mind permanent.
    “Meaning they’re very loyal to their mates?” She’d read that somewhere. Not that she’d been doing research or anything. Oh god, was she considering a permanent relationship with Cade? After what he’d done? She’d need to have a serious conversation with him before she even agreed to a date again.
    “Yeah, there are no divorces.” Jay sighed.
    “How come you and Brandon haven’t mated?” She gasped. “Or have you?”
    Jaylin giggled. “No, we have not. When we were discussing it, I came out pregnant so it will have to wait until the little one is born.”
    “Oh. Well when you do, see that you tell a person. I don’t want to be caught unawares next time something important happens to you.”
    “I promise, now let’s go get some food. I’m starving,” she groaned.
    Lili rolled her eyes. “You’re always starving.”
     
     
    Cade glanced at the opening elevator and stood to welcome his guest.
    “Cade.”
    “Brandon. Thanks for coming.”
    Brandon nodded and closed the distance. “Your request said it was urgent.”
    He motioned around and lowered to a chair once Brandon had taken a seat opposite him. “Look, first I need to apologize.”
    Brandon’s brows flew up high. He had clearly not expected those to be Cade’s first words. “OK. What are you apologizing for?”
    “I’m sorry for ever doubting your friendship. You never did anything remotely wrong to give me the impression that you’d take my fiancée from me. My only explanation is that I never thought she’d lie to me that way. If she would’ve been in front of me I would have known she lied, but she made it a point to call. I was lost in confusion and hurt that you would do something like that to me.”
    “But I didn’t,” Brandon said. “I held our friendship near and dear to my heart. I was really hurt when you wouldn’t see me. When I finally found out what you thought I did wrong, I felt like coming back here and beating your ass just for even thinking it, but I knew you needed to realize it on your own.” He shook his head. “Only you never did. And now you’ve dragged Lili into this.”
    “I need to find a way for her to forgive me.”
    Brandon snorted. “Good luck with that. From what I hear, she doesn’t want to see you again. Apparently you have two strikes against you. The fact you lied and the fact you’ve got money.”
    “What? Since when is having money a bad thing?”
    “Since her father is super wealthy and always trying to control her with it. She’s got a trust fund, but she won’t touch it. She prefers to do without rather than take any money from her dad, so he can’t tell her what to do.” Brandon grinned. “I heard you tried that a few times, telling her what to do. Didn’t work very well, huh?”
    Cade shook his head and scratched his five o’clock shadow. Life must be laughing its ass off at him. All this time he’d wanted a woman who didn’t care about money, and when he finally found one, he may not get her back because of it. Adding insult to injury? He’d tried to boss her around enough times he was sure she wouldn’t talk to him again. He was well and truly fucked.
    “So what do I do now?” Cade stood, started pacing the length of his living area, and glanced at the falling snow. He wished his mate was there with him, watching the falling white flakes and giving him the chance to hold her. He’d played himself and put what he wanted most in jeopardy when he’d lied. And now he couldn’t even be near her.
    “Look, I know you mated