Page 39

Again, I look over the side effects and frown. Could the pills be interfering with her suppressants? Not that I mind. The sooner she can go into heat so I can bind myself to her, the better. My balls ache as I picture her under me, her body writhing in the throes of her heat.

She’s mine, and she’ll always be mine. No one, not even the Governing Body, will take her from me. Gritting my teeth, I yankmy hand away from my cock and force myself to go back to work. I’ll be taking an extended honeymoon soon and want these smaller tasks off my plate so I can devote myself to Stephanie and our new relationship.

Dinner is quiet.Usually Stephanie fills the silence with all sorts of chatter, but tonight, she seems so far away, so distant. I tip my nose in the air and scent the room, needing to see if my earlier assumptions are correct. There, just a thread underneath her normal scent, is the one I’m looking for.

My baby girl is going into heat. I grip my pants leg to keep from squirming as my cock rises stiff and hard. Soon. So achingly soon she’ll be crying out in ecstasy and need as I pour my cum into her body, willing or not. Once we say I do, she’ll have no choice but to submit to me in every way.

Clearing my throat, I get her attention. Her emerald eyes look unfocused, fuzzy even as she blinks over at me. That haze makes me think of how beautiful she’ll look lying in her nest after I fuck her senseless.

“You seem quiet tonight. Anything particular on your mind?”

“I’m just wondering where Brody is.”

My lips twitch as I watch her, noting the slight sadness in her eyes. Tonight will be the last night Brody hurts her. I know exactly where he is. He’s in the guest house fucking a whore he can only afford because he lives with me rent free.

“I’m sure he’s busy with the crypto crap he peddles.”

A soft smile lights up her face as she giggles and stabs a small bit of mashed potatoes. “When he first started, he asked me if Iwanted to invest. Not on my salary.” Her lips turn down again almost instantly. “I guess it’s a moot point now.”

“Yes,” I growl. “It is. Because I sure as hell am not investing. Any money you receive from me will go to you and your needs, not his infantile fascinations.”

“Speaking of. I finished your expense reports.”

“I saw. Such a good girl getting them done in a timely fashion. And I must say they’re better than any I’ve had in the past. So meticulous. You certainly have a way with numbers.”

Her cheeks turn pink at my praise. Though she ducks her head pretty fast, I still catch the small grin on her lips. “It helps that you’re so organized. Such a lot of money, though. Have you thought about investing?”

A bark of laughter rips from my throat before I can stop it. “Are you seriously asking someone like me if I invest? My poor, sweet, naïve, omega. What I spend isn’t even touching what’s in my investments.”

Her eyes widen as her fork clatters against her plate. “You really are filthy rich then.”

“You can certainly say that. You can also say I’m rich enough that I’ve bailed out presidents and other governing officials a time or two. But that needs to stay between us.”

Without vocalizing an answer, she nods and goes back to picking at her plate. “Does Brody get all your money if you pass away?” The guilt in her expression makes me want to laugh.

“Planning my funeral already? You didn’t strike me as the black widow type.”

“Oh,” she cries out. “Oh no. I wasn’t… But you can’t… Oh, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Calm down, sweet girl,” I chuckle. “I’m only teasing. Brody will get a chunk of it, to be sure. As a Rothsbourne, he’s entitled to most of my assets. That is, unless I end up getting married and my bride has a baby.”

“I don’t understand. Brody is your legitimate son.”

“Legitimate by birth, yes. Legitimate in the eyes of the law? No. His mother and I weren’t arranged by the Governing Body. If I get matched and we have a baby, that child will be my new heir.”

“Oh. I see.” Again, that hint of sad desperation clouds her eyes as she goes back to her food.

Silly little omega. The fact that she still doesn’t realize I would give her the world if she only asked for it. Shaking my head, I go back to my food, not wishing to give away my plans for tomorrow.

We finish the meal in silence until there’s nothing left on my plate. “Aren’t you going to finish your food?”

“I’m not really hungry.”

Frowning, I get up and stride over to her side and lift her from her chair. Her squeak of surprise has my cock pulsing against the confines of my underwear. Before she can protest, I sit her on my lap and start to purr. Instantly, her small body goes limp against mine.

Here, in my arms, the scent of her impending heat is unmistakable. Perhaps if things get timed right, she’ll have her heat on our wedding night. Unable to resist, I plant a kiss on the back of her head, drinking in the arousing smell of her body.

“Eat, sweetie. You’ll be skin and bones if you don’t.” When she refuses, I tighten my grip around her waist with one hand and grab the fork with the other. “Open.”