After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Elle’s POV

My face burned hotter than a forest fire.

Brad pushed off from the doorframe, looking way too pleased with himself. “Not my fault you were so absorbed in butchering the German language.”

I bit my lip and shook my head. “Well, I think it’s official-I definitely don’t have any talent for learning

German.”

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“And?” Brad’s eyes glinted with something I couldn’t quite place. Was that… anticipation? He looked like he was waiting for me to say something specific, his fingers tapping lightly against his thigh.

Seeing his unexpectedly good mood, I finally gathered my courage. “When Alpha Otto and his Luna arrive, would it be possible for me to just… smile and not actually speak? At all?”

Brad’s expression fell slightly before he masked it with an eye roll. He crossed the room in three long strides and snatched my language book right out of my hands, tossing it unceremoniously onto the coffee

table.

“Of course not,” he said, “Come on, let me fix this disaster before you humiliate both of us.”

I froze, staring at him like he’d just sprouted fur and fangs right in front of me. Was he… was he actually offering to teach me?

“Oh god, maybe it’s it’s too late,” I groaned. “Can’t you just agree to my smile-and-nod plan? Please?”

Brad ignored my plea completely and launched into rapid-fire German, the syllables flowing from his

mouth like music.

“Wait-slow down!” I yelped. “What are you saying? I can’t understand a word!”

When I looked up at him with what must have been utter confusion, something in Brad’s expression softened. For a split second, he looked like he wanted to reach out and touch my face.

“I said,” he translated, dropping onto the sofa beside me, “that I’ll teach you German myself so you don’t

embarrass me.”

His tall frame suddenly occupied the space right next to mine. My throat went dry instantly.

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Chapter 37

Having this walking testosterone factory sitting inches way from me was seriously messing with my ability to think. Did he have to sit so close? And why didn’t he seem affected at all?

In fact, he seemed to be inching even closer…

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“What are you waiting for? Repeat after me,” Brad commanded, glancing at my frozen expression with the slightest smirk.

I snapped back to reality. Great, apparently I didn’t have a choice in this language lesson.

Reluctantly, I began mimicking the sounds he made, my tongue tripping over unfamiliar syllables. The minutes ticked by, and somehow our heads drifted closer and closer together as he pointed to different

phrases in the book he’d retrieved from the table.

Eventually, Brad reached over and took my hand in his, using my finger to trace the letters as he spoke. “Focus, will you? I’ve never seen anyone this hopeless. This sentence clearly means…”

We both froze simultaneously.

The warmth of his hand enveloping mine sent an electric current racing up my arm. My pulse skyrocketed, and I could swear time itself stopped for a moment.

I yanked my hand back like I’d been burned, blood rushing to my face so fast I felt dizzy. I stared down at my lap, utterly unable to look him in the eye.

Brad’s breathing changed subtly. I heard his throat work as he swallowed hard, betraying that maybe-just maybe he wasn’t as composed as he appeared.

I didn’t understand my body’s reaction. When his fingers had closed around mine, my entire system had lit up like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The sensation was terrifying and thrilling all at once.

“I… I guess I really am hopeless at this,” I stammered, stumbling to my feet. “Maybe I should just study on

my own for a while.”

Without waiting for his response, I fled the room, feeling his eyes burning into my back the entire way.

Once safely in the bedroom, I collapsed onto the mattress, heart still pounding like I’d run a marathon.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Elle West, get it together! This is Brad Rayne we’re talking about-the man who literally paid to make you his mate. This isn’t some romance novel. You’re just hormonal from the pregnancy. End of story.

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Chapter 37

I spent the next fifteen minutes giving myself a stern lecture.

After my tenth mental pep talk, I finally felt calmer. Enough studying for tonight. I needed sleep.

I was just about to turn off the lights when the bedroom door swung open. Brad strode in, already unbuttoning his shirt.

I shot upright in bed, eyes wide with shock. “What-what are you doing?”

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Brad continued unfastening his buttons as he walked further into the room. With each step, more of his

tanned skin and perfect muscles came into view. As his shirt fell open, I caught glimpses of a flawless

eight-pack and those tantalizing lines disappearing below his waistband.

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly bone-dry again.

Despite all my earlier self-talk, I couldn’t deny the obvious-Brad Rayne was physically perfect. Flawless face, flawless body, flawless career, flawless everything. His only defect was that slightly deranged (okay,

extremely deranged) personality of his.

But why was this perfect specimen unbuttoning his shirt in my bedroom?

“What do you think I’m doing?” Brad replied smoothly. I’m changing clothes.”

He turned toward the walk-in closet, treating me to a view of his back-all rippling muscles forming a perfect V-shape that made me temporarily forget how to breathe.

Changing clothes? At this hour?

“Are you going out?” I asked, confused.

With his back still to me, Brad pulled out a black suit. I couldn’t see his expression, but something about the set of his shoulders seemed almost… cheerful?

“Yes. I have a business engagement,” he said, efficiently changing into the fresh outfit.

Learning he was leaving sent a wave of relief through me.

“Did you want to tell me something?” Brad asked, raising an eyebrow at me, a glint of amusement in his

eyes.

I scrambled for something to say. “Uh… don’t drink too much. Come home early.”

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It was such a mundane, wifely thing to say, but Brad’s expression changed in a way I couldn’t quite

interpret.

“Noted,” he replied, emerging from the closet completely transformed. The casual home clothes were gone, replaced by a suit that fit him like a second skin. The effect was dazzling.

A weird pang shot through my chest. All dressed up and looking so pleased with himself-he must be meeting someone important. Someone she-wolf maybe?

“Get some sleep,” Brad said, his voice gentler than usual. The change in tone was so unexpected it took me

a moment to process.

I nodded dumbly and obediently lay back down.

Brad watched me for a moment, something flickering in his eyes. Then, to my complete shock, he asked,

“Want to come with me?”

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After One Night with the Alpha