Chapter 213 Close Quarters


    Third–Person POV


    ???61),


    +8 Pearls


    Fortunately, Mateo managed to find the phone without much trouble. But pulling it out proved difficult–the thing was huge.


    “It’s stuck,” he muttered.


    Aubrey shifted slightly to help. But as she moved, she identally pressed down on Mateo’s hand, which hit the answer button.


    “Try moving again?”


    Aubrey’s voice came through loud and clear from Perry’s phone. In that instant, Perry’s scalp went numb as he nced nervously at Alpha Henry.


    “It’s really stuck… tight,” Mateo’s low voice followed. His hand kept brushing against ces it really shouldn’t. He wasn’t made of stone—especially not with the woman he liked lying on top of him. It was impossible not to react.


    To everyone listening outside, though, it sounded like an absolute nightmare.


    What the hell were those two doing in there?! What exactly was stuck? Where was it stuck?!


    Alpha Henry’s face darkened. He snatched the phone from Perry and demanded in a tightly controlled voice, “Aubrey, are you alright?”


    Inside the rubble, both Aubrey and Mateo froze.


    “Did you just hit the answer button?” she asked.


    “How the hell should I know?” Mateo snapped, irritation ring as soon as he heard Alpha Henry’s voice,


    Outside, the temperature dropped sharply. Alpha Henry’s rage practically radiated through the phone.


    “Mateo, get away from her.”


    Mateo’s fuse blew. With one hard yank, he tore the satellite phone free and grinned wickedly.


    “Get away from her? Sorry, can’t do that. She’s literally in my arms right now. And while you’re out there ying hero with rocks, maybe try being gentle. She jumped on top of me to shield me, so if you’re rough with the debris, I’ll be fine–but she might not be.”


    Chapter 213 Close Quarters


    With that, he snapped the phone shut.


    Even through the stone, the fury burning outside was palpable.


    Aubrey rolled her eyes. “You really are childish.”


    Mateo scoffed. He finally gets a minute alone with her, and Henry has to barge in…


    61


    +8 Pearls


    Aubrey didn’t dwell on it. She just sounded mildly annoyed. “I’m fine. It’s your damn phone that’s digging into me.”


    Mateo’s whole body went rigid.


    His phone was in his hand. That meant… whatever was poking her… wasn’t a phone.


    His heart pounded. Holding her this close, he knew it was wrong, knew he shouldn’t want more –but part of him couldn’t help wishing they wouldn’t get rescued too quickly.


    Outside, they could hear movement. Alpha Henry’s team had brought in equipment and were being much more careful now. They must’ve realized Aubrey was trapped underneath and didn’t dare be too rough.


    They were buried deep. If it hadn’t been for arge stone that had fallen just right to create a triangle of space, they’d either have been crushed to death or blown to bits.


    “Aubrey,” Mateo said suddenly in the darkness, “if you died down here… would you regreting back to save me?”


    Aubrey thought the question was bizarre. “You’re not going to die… and neither am I.”


    “But what if we did?”


    “There’s no what if.”


    “Do you realize,” Mateo murmured, a grin curling his lips, “you’re making it really easy for someone to think you’re in love with me? Willing to die for me and all that.”


    Aubrey chuckled. “If I were going to like someone, I’d rather like your little brother. At least he’s cuter than you.”


    Mateo breathed in deeply, catching the scent of her blood and her cold, crisp fragrance. It was intoxicating. He exhaled slowly, eyes half–closed in a daze.


    “Liking me won’t get you pregnant,” he saidzily. “I’ve told you before–ditch Henry and try someone new. You might be pleasantly surprised.”


    “Like you?”


    …


    Chapter 213 Close Quarters


    “Yeah. Like me.”


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