Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 52

I smiled and leaned into Damon. “All better,” I said, even as my heart pounded.

Later that night, after the twins were asleep and the house was quiet, I found Damon sitting in the parlor in front of the crackling fireplace.

Music was playing softly on the record player, and he had his head tilted back against the backrest of the armchair he was lounging in, long legs stretched out toward the warmth of the fire.

I hesitated in the doorway, dragging my lower lip through my teeth as I watched him. He was asleep. Maybe that was for the best.

“I’m awake,” he said without opening his eyes, as if reading my mind. “Come and sit.”

I shook my head faintly, somewhat amused, and crossed the room, sinking into the plush chair beside him. We sat in silence for a moment longer, and I took the opportunity to study his side profile as he continued to rest his eyes.

Sometimes, Damon really did look like the spitting image of his brother. The same dark hair, the same strong jawline, and if his eyes were open–the same piercing green color.

It was strange–the way one brother so clearly wanted me and I couldn’t even bear the thought of a romantic relationship with him, while I hated the other brother and yet I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about him no matter how much I tried.

Maybe there was something wrong with me, if a little piece of my heart still couldn’t let go of Andrei after all these years while there was another man right in front of me, a man who wanted me, and I wanted to be sick just thinking about being with him in

that way.

“Damon,” I finally said after a moment, sitting up a little straighter, “what was that earlier?”

He didn’t open his eyes. “What was what?”

My cheeks heated, and I suddenly felt like a fool for asking, but it was too late now. “The way you kissed my cheek in front of the

twins. You’ve never done that before.”

Damon was silent for a long moment. When he finally looked at me, there was something unreadable in his eyes.

“I had to do something to appease Max, didn’t I?” he asked. “That kid can read everyone like an open book. It’s too risky for him to sense Andrei.”

But I shook my head, recalling all too well the look of tenderness in Damon’s eyes as he held my face in his hands, the way his hand slipped down over the small of my back, the way he’d held me just a little too tight.

I recalled, too, all of the moments we’d shared as of late. I knew he always wanted more than our relationship was, but lately

he’d become more affectionate. More territorial.

As if he were jealous of Andrei and trying to assert himself. Show that he was the one who held my heart, even if it wasn’t like that. Like he was scrabbling to hold onto me.

“It wasn’t just to appease the children,” I pointed out. “You know it. I know it.”

Damon stiffened slightly, and the brief look of shame that passed over his face wasn’t lost on me.

“Is it because of Andrei?” I asked, trying not to sound accusatory but also keeping my voice firm. “He can’t see us here, Damon. Not in our own home. We don’t need to play the role of a lovey–dovey couple here.”

He hesitated again, and in the light of the fire, I could see his throat bob.

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