Page 79 of The Bodyguard and the Alpha (Witch Twins #2)

Bastien

I lay on the cot in my cell, counting the bricks on the wall for something to do.

I’d been awake for hours, full of nervous energy.

I was ready to get out of here now. But my mate was right.

I could get out of here by myself, I had no doubt of that.

But we needed more of a plan than that. We needed transport.

Fake IDs and money. A place to stay. My brother could organise that for us, if I gave him time to do his job.

To burn off some of the energy, I’d spent the first couple of hours doing a range of exercises.

Push ups, sit ups, planks. I’d lost count of how many I’d done.

When I got bored with that I ran on the spot.

As I ran, I had mentally reviewed the conversation we’d had after our long-distance sex.

She would like to live in the country. A quiet life, she’d said, before telling me that she understood that her wishes weren’t compatible with my job.

Fuck my job. I’d always thought that being President was the pinnacle of everything I had ever wanted.

But the moment I’d bitten my little Pixie, my priorities had changed forever.

I’d given myself to my country for years.

I didn’t need to do it anymore. If my mate didn’t want me to be President, the solution was simple.

Feet drumming on the concrete floor, I realised my clever little mate had outmanoeuvred me. When I’d tried to push her, to have her tell me what she wanted; not what she thought I wanted to hear, she’d distracted me. Masterfully.

Maybe it was a sign that I should step down, even if she didn’t want me to.

First, I’d underestimated Maximilian. I’d been too cocky.

Too confident. I was used to having no weaknesses and Maximilian had hit me where it hurt the most. Politicians were like hungry sharks, circling, always looking for blood.

I’d been successful in politics, because I’d never had anything to lose. Now I did.

Then my little Pixie had thrown me off the scent completely. When she announced that she intended to be part of a rescue mission, possessive protectiveness rose up in me. It was a conversation we needed to have, but she’d played me completely.

I laughed softly to myself. She’d gone on the attack as a way of distracting me. It had worked and she’d also got her way.

Breath heaving in my chest, I dropped onto the bed when I finished pushing my body.

I allowed myself to fully acknowledge the plan that was forming in my head.

If my mate wanted a quiet life in the country, that’s what she would get.

I was ready to walk away. To be her mate.

Not her boss. Not her President. Just myself.

Bastien. I had more than enough money to provide for us without working another day.

I was still lying on the cot when I sensed my little Pixie waking up. She’d slept well after I gave her an orgasm. As she drifted to wakefulness, her determination and satisfaction drifted down the bond. If I knew my mate, she was proud of herself for getting her way last night.

Lying there, basking in my mate’s emotions I sensed a sudden spike of a strong emotion, not quite sadness. Not caring that it showed I’d been psychically stalking her, I sent a question down the bond.

What was that?

My mate wasn’t allowed to be sad anymore. I would not allow it.

What was what ? Her guilt tasted like tar, thick and wrong, before she smothered it. Hiding it from me.

What did I tell you about secrets? I let a little of my Alpha growl reverberate down the bond .

No more, she whispered .

That’s right, baby. No more secrets.

No response .

No. This would not do. After all the dark thoughts I’d seen in her mind, I didn’t trust her to not be imagining problems that didn’t exist. We weren’t going to play those games anymore. She was my mate and the other half of my soul.

If something makes you sad, you tell me. I fix it.

I’m not sad. Just…

Holding back my natural instincts to make her tell me, I followed my rational side which told me that perhaps she would respond to coaxing . Just what sweetheart? What thoughts made you feel that way?

It can wait Bastien. We need to focus on getting you out. I’ll tell you when you’re safe.

Beast rose up under my skin, my Alpha nature riding me hard. Being nice didn’t work. Time to be let my inner monster out to play. Time to remind her that it wasn’t wise to provoke an Alpha.

You’ll tell me now.

Or what?

Oh the sass . She wouldn’t try that if I was in the room with her. I growled, the sound filling my cell. Or I’ll come and get you and fuck you until you give in and tell me.

You can’t do that!

Her shock tasted delicious . Which part? Coming to get you or fucking you?

You can’t break out yet. The plan isn’t ready. Luc needs more time to get information and to arrange an escape route .

I. Don’t. Care. Tell me or I break out. Now .

It wasn’t an idle threat. It would make things harder if we were running without a full plan in place, but I had confidence in my family’s ability to help me get away.

Luc and my mother between them could easily handle any Council or Humans First troops that came after my little Pixie and me.

Add in my dad’s and Caly’s magic and the city would be chaos, allowing my mate and I to escape.

You’re psycho .

Of course I am baby. You have my bite. You’ve taken me into your tight little body. I’m a Shifter—your Alpha— and I will protect you from every threat. Even ones that you conjure in your imagination. You have five seconds to tell me what you were thinking. Or I come and get you.

Silence greeted my declaration, but she let me feel what she was thinking. Nervousness. Anticipation. A flutter of hope.

Five.

Four.

Three.

I rose from the bed, stretching my muscles. I’d already identified the weakest part of the wall. I knew the cell behind mine was empty from the lack of sound and scent in the air, so my quickest way out was through the connecting wall and then through the door which should be unlocked.

Almost out of chances baby. I sent her an image of my plan.

I’ll tell you . Her voice down the bond was shaky.

I waited, my fingers flexed, ready to punch through the wall.

There’s a chance I’m pregnant .

That I didn’t expect. Sudden joy flooded my body, sending my blood fizzing in my veins. My legs grew weak and I dropped back to the bed. I didn’t bother to ask why she thought it might be true. If she thought she might be pregnant, I believed her.

I sent her all my love. My hope. My joy. As much as I had already fantasised about making her pregnant, about a little girl with her green eyes, the truth that she might be pregnant already?

Best feeling of my life, bar the moment I gave her my bite. This. This was what life was about. My mate. A baby.

Sweetheart, that the best news I’ve ever received .

Her hope shone down the bond, shining like sunlight. You’re pleased ?

Of course. Did you doubt me?

I didn’t know what you’d think. I magically fried my implant when I read that if I was pregnant and you were sentenced that it would give us more time. And then I forgot to talk to you about it, after my meltdown.

I couldn’t be happier baby. Truly. And you? Do you want to have my baby?

Her hope was clear, but I wanted her to tell me. I needed to hear that she wanted this as much as I did.

More than anything .

Yes!

Fuck the two-day plan. I needed to hold my mate in my arms. And if it turned out she wasn’t pregnant already, I’d keep her on my cock until I’d planted a kid in her.

Anything my baby wanted.

Tell Luc he has till tonight. I’m not spending another night away from you .

We can’t be ready by then!

You’ll be ready enough. Eight o’ clock. Now go, baby. Work out where we’ll be hiding out. Just make sure it has a bed big enough for the two of us.