With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

and if Matt were speaking for Aubrey…well it didn’t look right.
    But this once no one would question it.
    “Don’t let them take advantage of you.” Aubrey took a bite of the fish and moaned as it melted in his
    mouth. Oh yeah, he was gonna be spending more time doing cardio at least. Could Matt make Mexican
    food? Aubrey loved Mexican food.
    “It’s okay. I like helping. I gave him my cell number and told him to call me if he needed anything
    else.” Matt took a swig of tea then cut off a piece of his fish. He said something else, but Aubrey didn’t hear it.
    Aubrey sat up straighter and closed his eyes. Matt was acting as his mate by encouraging the pack to
    go to him with problems when they couldn’t reach Aubrey. Helping with pack squabbles wasn’t something
    fostered pack members did. It spoke of permanence and authority within the hierarchy, which as Aubrey’s mate, Matt would have.
    “You need a cast-iron skillet. This would taste much better cooked on one.” Matt reached for the
    bread.
    Aubrey dropped his fork with a clank and pinched the bridge of his nose. Matt fit the role of Alpha’s
    mate to perfection. Why did he once again have to be everything Aubrey needed in a mate? Everything but female. Goddamn fate!
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Why’d you give Corde your cell number?” He tried not to sound terse, but he wasn’t entirely
    successful.
    Matt finished chewing the bread and swallowed hard. His shoulders sank. “I’m sorry. I was just trying
    to help.” He kept his head down and took another bite of food.
    “Matt… You can’t let anyone know who you are to me and—”
    “I know. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds.” He continued to eat,
    not looking at Aubrey. His feelings were hurt.

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    J.L. Langley
    Damn it. He hadn’t meant to scold Matt. But no way could he allow Matt to take the role Aubrey’s future wife would have to take. It would make Aubrey marrying that much harder on them both, not to
    mention the suspicion it would cause in the pack.
    They finished the rest of their dinner in silence. As soon as he was done, Matt took his plate to the
    sink, washed it and put it in the dishwasher. “See you in the morning.” He crossed the living room and
    disappeared into the guestroom before Aubrey could stop him.
    Son of a bitch. Aubrey got up, dumped his tea out and filled the glass half full with whisky. He was an ass. Helping out was Matt’s nature. It’s what he did to feel like he belonged. He’d done it in his own family and he did it in his home pack by helping with the pups. He wasn’t trying to silently proclaim Aubrey his mate, he was trying to fit in. Aubrey groaned and downed the entire glass of whisky in one swallow.

    Aubrey stood in front of Matt’s door staring at it, trying to make up his mind. Should he knock or wait for tomorrow? He hated admitting he was wrong. It was a fatal flaw that ran in his family. But he owed Matt an apology. Did partaking in liquid courage beforehand make him a pussy? Oh, who cares. He was doing the right thing, that’s all that mattered.
    Using the back of his hand, Aubrey quietly rapped on the door. “Matt?”
    “Yeah?” His voice was barely audible over the pitter-patter of rain and the soft rolling thunder.
    Turning the knob, Aubrey eased the door open. “Can I come in?” He peeked around the frame and
    nearly swallowed his tongue. Matt lay on his bed with his back—his bare back—toward the door, looking
    out the floor-to-ceiling window opposite the bed. The comforter was pulled down, leaving his entire upper body and just a hint of his hips exposed. He was nude beneath the sheets and heavy comforter. The light coming from outside cast the edge of his body in a blue glow while the rain trickling down the window
    gave the shadows movement and sensuality. It was a picture right out of an ethereal fantasy.
    “You can’t sleep either?” Matt continued to stare out the window, watching the storm.
    His whispered question brought Aubrey out of his daze. He moved forward and perched himself on
    the edge of the bed. “I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry.” He stroked the slim, sleek back and the muscles rippled under his hand. It wasn’t quite a flinch, but it was close enough that more regret stung Aubrey. “I’m sorry, sugar. Do you think you can forgive me? I should’ve thanked you instead of yelling at you. I know you were only trying