34

Paul opened his mouth and then his eyes narrowed. Several seconds passed. “Where’s she staying?”

“Here.”

Silence. It stretched so long that Alaric wondered if the man had lost the ability to speak, but finally Paul spoke. “Are you fucking serious?”

The burn on the back of his neck increased. “Are you?”

“She’s staying here?” Paul's voice dropped low. “In your home?”

“Unless there’s a different meaning for ‘here’ that I’m unaware of, then yes.” Alaric replied.

Paul stared at him like he’d whipped out his cock and started swinging it around. “Why not a hotel or somewhere less personal? Like we’d normally do in this situation? Or, I don’t know, have her go to family and we run detail outside?”

“She doesn’t have anyone else,” he said, acting on the urge to defend what he was doing and her. But the moment those words left his mouth, he regretted them.

“Does she have you?” Paul shot back.

Alaric's eyes narrowed dangerously, but his voice remained level. “That’s really none of your business.