Alpha Damon (Sienna) novel Chapter 256

Carter:

I found Ethan near the back garden, leaning against the railing with that same infuriating calm he always wore like armor. A mug of coffee in one hand, his other tapping idly against the wood.

I didn’t bother with greetings. It was not like he needed any anyway, but the man needed someone to discipline him, to remind him of what is real.

“You’re really doing this?” I asked, shaking my head in question. “You really aren’t playing a game like this one as dirty as this one? You of all people? A man who respects himself more than he would respect anyone else chooses to play a game like this one. I am surprised.”

He didn’t turn. “Morning to you too, Carter. What did I do to offend you this time? Because as far as I’m concerned, I didn’t do anything that should be bothering you.”

I walked up beside him, voice low but sharp. “Delilah.”

Still nothing from him, just a small shrug. “What about her? What is it that I am doing that’s annoying you when it comes to Delilah?”

“You think you can play with her the same way you played with your feelings for Sienna? Do you really believe that what you’re doing is the right thing? You’re trying to run away this way.” I asked. “Don’t forget, you were in love with her not that long ago. Or have you forgotten that already? You are choosing to play her sister to think that you are going to be able to get an effect of her. The two of them are not the same person. You’re not going to be able to satisfy yourself with one simply because you couldn’t get the other.”

Ethan finally turned his head, eyes cool and unreadable. “I wasn’t in love with her. Not really.”

“Bullshit,” I snapped. “I saw it in your eyes. I saw how much you fought to control your emotions. I saw how angry you were, and I saw your jealousy and your pain.”

“No,” he said, firmer now. “It was an idea. A feeling that came and passed. A moment where I mistook loyalty and timing for something else. Sienna and I were never meant for anything. It was a crush. A fling I never touched. I’m choosing to ignore it right now. She is in the past. She has her life, she has built it. I’m not going to be breaking it for her.”

I stared at him. “And Delilah?”

He smirked faintly, shaking his head. “She’s not a fling. I don’t want her to be.”

“Oh?” I said, folding my arms. “So what is she? A charity case? You like fixing broken things now? Because as far as I’m concerned, you don’t have any feelings for her. If you did, things would be different for you. You would be able to look her in the eye in a way that did not just involve you wanting her body. You don’t even know anything about her for you to be pretending this game means anything to you.”

That got to him.

He looked away for a second, then said, “She’s a mystery. She doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. She’s fire and pain and something untouchable, and yeah… maybe I do feel sorry for her. So what?”

I clenched my jaw. “So you’re with her because you pity her? You really are with her because you are sorry for her? Not because you want to be with her now because you have any feelings for her?”

“She’s with me too. I’m not forcing her into anything.” Ethan said, voice hardening. “It’s not one-sided. I’m enjoying it. So is she. And unless she tells me otherwise, it’s not your problem. It’s not like I’m using her. The two of us are enjoying one another’s company. I don’t think that there should be a rule to that.”

He was smug. So sure of himself.

Until her voice cut through the air like a blade.

Silence followed.

I exhaled and glanced at Ethan. “Well. That went well. Better than it should be expected.”

He didn’t say a word.

His jaw was tight. His eyes furious. But not at me.

At himself.

“Maybe it’s a good thing,” I said quietly. “Better now than later. You would have dragged her deeper than you would be able to pull her out. At least now she knows the reality and so do you.”

“That’s not for you to decide.” He said, tightening his grip on the rail.

“Indeed, it is not for me to decide, but it’s for her, and she seems to have made her decision.” I said, taking a step back. “And I would recommend that you take the same decision rather than playing her at least stepping back.”