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And I wasn’t a woman who normallygotweak in the knees.

I wasn’t trying to snoop, more glanced to ask if it was something I could help with or for work. But then I saw my name and flinched. “What is this?”

“Our contract,” he muttered. “We both have been so fucked over and—yours was recent, but mine showing back up has me—”

“Mandyis the bitch who abused you?” I growled, my fangs itching to come out and slash her throat.

“Professionally, I shouldn’t tell you that, but honestly having her around might break me,” he muttered. “And I just—something is going on. I’ve barely talked to her and now she’s acting like this? And telling people bullshit about her being my first love. Firstcrush,but—can she be my first love when she tore at me and said she never loved me?”

I felt very,verysmall. I moved to sit on his thigh—which he liked from the way he pulled me closer. I turned his face to mine and gave him a lingering kiss. “She won’t ever work for ASH, my Alpha.” I nodded when he tried to argue. “I havesole discretion. Trust me because I trust you. If you are getting bad vibes—we have enough problems. I won’t hire her.”

I wasn’t going to go on that I’d felt the same from her and I was waiting on her background check and investigation, but Isaw all the guilt in his aura. I told him the truth then and I got a weird vibe from her—so did Alan when he met her. We just didn’t know what was going on and we put in some calls.

“I should call Mum,” he muttered. “She would be able to get the info, but she’d worry that I was involved with her again.”

“Tell her the truth.” I cleared my throat when he did a double take. “I didn’t mean about us. I meant that she showed up and is starting trouble and we’re both worried. Your mom’s smart.”

“Yeah, okay, right, right.” He chuckled and scrolled along the document before tapping the screen.

Neither party will disclose their personal relationship professionally unless both agree and the relationship moves past Alpha fling designation.

Fair. More than fair, and I was glad we were on the same page about that. I said as much but then winced. “I told Joyce, Renee, and Carla.” I huffed when he looked at me with shock. “Well, Carla told me to gobble you up already and stop acting like a jealous wench and have some faith in a wolf. But they know. I mean they know I was struggling and—”

He gave me a soft kiss and cupped my face. “You care enough about me to need insight. That’s what I’m hearing and I feel reassured. Don’t be embarrassed.”

“Thank you for making this easy on me,” I said, genuinely meaning it. It was really nice that he actually said that and helped me. I chuckled. “Joyce is right and you’re all of the green flags.”

He snorted. “I want to fuck you in the cafeteria and make it clear that you belong to me. So no, not all of the green flags with my jealousy. This is to keep me in line too.”

Okayyyyyyy thennnnn. Wow.

I was touched by the effort he was putting in and decided to reciprocate. There was one thing that he’d mentioned several times that clearly bothered him. I scrolled to the bottom of the document and added something.

Guest will only leave the bed to use the washroom or eat/drink. Otherwise, they will not leave the bed without immediately finding condo owner and getting permission/acknowledgment before leaving. Offending party will submit to any punishment other party decides without objection.

“That’s much nicer than I put it, and I want to be in your bed too,” he mumbled. “Cover your eyes. I’ll delete mine.”

I chuckled and did as he asked, guessing it was something less flattering like he would spank me if I snuck out of his bed.

He told me when I could open and started at the top of the document so I could read it. It was all fine… Even the spicy parts. I glanced at him a few times to see if he was serious, but he simply smirked and had challenge in his eyes like he dared me to argue.

I didn’t. I did adjust some of the wording so I had better outs if I felt uncomfortable. He was fine with that.

Ellie Reed agrees to accept any gifts given as long as they do not exceed social norms.

I cleared my throat and changed it.

Both parties agree to accept any gifts as long as they do not exceed reasonable monetary amounts or other circumstances of discomfort.

“Fair,” he excepted. “Yeah, okay fair.”

“Speaking of gifts,” I hedged. “We need to run up to my condo. I planned that part for after you agreed to help me but yeah, I already have a gift for you.”

He frowned and focused fully on me. “Help you with what?”

I chuckled. “I wasn’t giving you a line earlier. I did come to ask you something.” I hurried up when something bad filled his eyes. “Yes, I wanted to talk about us too, but you were mostly naked and wet and I got distracted. But I wasn’t lying.”

He let out a slow breath and easily stood with me, setting me on the counter and moving between my legs. “Fine, I’m so hot you can’t deny me. I like that. We’ll think about the contract the next couple of days and finalize it, but youwillsign it.”