Free A Betty's Pledge: Volume One by Emma Husher Page A

watching me intently, that same fire in his eyes
     from earlier unabated.
    “They’re . . . good . . .” I answered noncommittally. I heard Mina giggle beside me
     as my eyes were locked into Isaac’s trance.
    “I bet,” I heard her say. My head snapped back to hers, a sudden sense of jealousy
     flooding through me.
    “Did you and Isaac ever . . .” I trailed off, not wanting to finish that thought or
     for her to answer it. I knew that in the Grant mansion, hookups were frequent and
     steady—that was why we were all here, after all. But I guessed I’d never thought that
     equation through to its solution when I’d entertained applying. Mina had been a Pledge
     here, meaning we’d probably end up having a lot of the same . . . experiences .
    “No,” Mina reassured me quickly before my ramped thoughts got out of control. “Isaac
     doesn’t take on more than a couple Betties at a time.” I wasn’t sure why but what
     she said made my heart plummet. More than a couple . . .  
    I chided myself immediately, repeating internally that there were many men and women
     here. I was expecting before I’d met Isaac to have several different partners while
     I was here, maybe not all of them men. Yes, I felt an immediate connection to Isaac,
     but that didn’t mean he’d felt it for me. He could’ve just shown interest in me because
     he found me physically attractive, as he should. I wasn’t here looking for something
     more than sex, and I told myself again that I would stick to that mantra.
    I didn’t acknowledge the fact that I’d had to tell myself that several times in the
     short moments since meeting Isaac. I wouldn’t address that knowledge because it would
     mean there was something more there and my heart was starting to get involved. The
     Grants were only about physical pleasure, nothing more. And if I didn’t want to get
     hurt in the process, I’d have to reconstruct those walls Isaac seemed to have plummeted
     through earlier.
    “Mady?” Mina’s sharp tone pulled me out of my reverie. “Are you listening to me?”
    “I’m sorry, what?”
    “Oh, Mady,” Mina chided lightly. “Come on. Let me introduce you to everyone!” Mina
     took my hand and led me toward a large rounded table where a few people were gathered.
    “Do they know about me?” I asked Mina in a low tone. She looked at me in question,
     then realization dawned on her and she turned away.
    “No,” she said quickly. “Only the owner is aware that I’m your sponsor, Mady. Everyone
     else only knows the barest of details. And the movie deal is a secret.”
    “Good,” I replied, nodding as I felt the heat of my embarrassment at my financial
     limitations ebb slightly. Mina patted my hand understandingly as we approached the
     others.

The Mated
    ~ Madeline Cain ~
    My best friend had the worst possible timing. Of course, she thought it was necessary
     to barge into my conversation with Isaac, obliterating any hope of breaking the rules
     and finding a secluded corner somewhere. And I so wanted to find that hidden place
     where only Isaac and I were admitted.
    I could picture him in his costume, all bulging muscles and . . . appendages, ready
     and willing to bring my body to heights I’d only dreamt of. In my mind, however, that
     tight, white shirt would have been mysteriously absent, leaving me a better view of
     his well-shaped arms.
    I was practically salivating for him, a reaction that shocked me because I was never
     the one to drool over a man. But I never got the opportunity to make my fantasy come
     to fruition because the tropical storm called Mina came blazing in, destroying my
     lust bubble.
    She must have felt my hesitancy as she pulled me farther away from my dreamboat because
     she leaned over and asked me what was wrong. I couldn’t help the tiny glance over
     my shoulder as my eyes sought out his fascinating ones once more. There he was, still
     leaning against the bar and giving me the