The Beta's Catch novel Chapter 27

-HER-

"Jake," I breathe while my heart flutters in my chest like a caged bird. My hands are resting on his chest. I could very well feel his muscles under my palms, even through the fabric of his shirt.

"Are you mad at me, Cybele? Answer me," He demands. I could feel his arms tighten around my waist even more as I try to push myself off him. His nostrils flare as his eyes trail down to my lips before looking back into my eyes again.

"Leave me, Jake," I say as I put my hands on his arms and try to pry them off me. He notices the hesitation and the look of uncomfortableness in my face before he lets his arms fall beside him.

"Cybele... please," His voice comes out very gentle this time. It tugs at my heart and urges me to not leave but I have to force myself to think logically.

"There's so much work. We should be working," I tell him as I go down on my knees to collect the papers. He is soon on his knees too, helping me collect the papers.

"I know... but we need to talk,"

"We are talking," I persist.

One of the advantages of having Agnus as a layer is that I have picked up his rhetoric methods to get around any topic that you want to avoid while others are constantly trying to bring it up.

That strange sensation shoots up and shakes my whole body as soon as he holds my chin and makes me look him in the eyes which are gleaming with determination and possessiveness.

He asks again, "Cybele, are you mad at me?"

The silence stretches between us as we continue looking into each other's eyes.

"What are you talking about?" I ask him instead. His eyes widen at my words and his hand falls from my chin. I take the papers and go back to his desk. He follows me closely.

"Cybele, I am talking about what happened between us on Friday. Are you mad at me about that?" He asks clearly as I settle down on the table with the papers and busy myself with sorting them. I chose to let the question hang in the air.

"I am talking to you, Cybele," He raises his voice a bit while placing a hand on the papers. I look up at him this time, "I am listening to you, Jake,"

"Then why don't you answer me?" He demands and I just shrug before looking back at the papers. I could feel that he is getting impatient at my lack of answers. The frustration is audible in his voice too.

"Cybele," My heart tugs at the hurt audible in his voice but I ignore it. I am convinced that I am taking the right precaution.

I take a deep breath before explaining to him carefully, "Look, I apologized for vandalizing your office and I am very much grateful to you for forgiving me and instead of getting me suspended, just asked me to set this place back in order. I am doing that only. I am here to put your office in order. I wish to limit our interactions to this only. If you are looking for something other than this then sorry, I'd deeply disappoint you,"

When I am done speaking, the hurt is very much prominent on his face. He stares at me momentarily before nodding.

"I will not bother you again... mate," He mutters before moving away from. I don't know why but I instantly feel a pang of guilt. I should be feeling relieved as he silently moves to his seat and concentrates his work without glancing at my way once but I don't.

I feel hurt.

Was it too rude for me to say things like that on his face? I wanted to make things clear and I have made things clear, right? I could not answer.

The rest of the day I spend in confusion. Meanwhile, he does his work silently. We only talk twice and that too is me asking about some papers. His answers are short every time. He never looks at me again.

Did this end here?