Page 18

Chapter 18

Ollie

I had traveled with the triplets before, so I thought that I knew what I was doing. Load them up, be on our merry way, come back and unwind. Easy peasy. Only it wasn’t easy peasy at all.

I’d failed to anticipate the amount of attention that they would get the minute we walked into Dragon Headquarters, the unofficial name of the Emberstone Clan’s headquarters building. Sure, they never went unnoticed when we went to the park or for a walk. How could they? They were absolutely adorable. But that paled in comparison to when they entered dragon spaces, especially being Lord Malric’s grandchildren.

I wondered if things would be the same, or possibly worse, when our clutch arrived. Worse wasn’t the right word… overwhelming, possibly. But this was much and adding to it… if this was a glimpse of my future, I needed to be prepared.

The building itself wasn’t new to me. The first time I’d been here was for my interview with Tavian. The difference this time was my mating Lord Malric and bringing along three little ones. I couldn’t recall a single person even noticing me that first time I walked through these doors. My, how things had changed.

Turned out, when you were the clan leader’s mate and you arrived with the clan leader’s first clutch of grandchildren, people took notice. When you were a lowly mouse coming to see about a job, not so much. I had a feeling there were some days in the future where I’d want that anonymity again, but it came with the territory.

Kier usually worked the reception desk, but since being mated to Tavian, he’d been promoted to a different role, one I didn’t quite understand. The receptionist now was a young dragon who gushed over the three kids. If they had their way, we’d have hung out with them the entire day. It was sweet, but also awkward having to say good-bye multiple times.

I pushed the massive stroller that managed to hold all three babies into the building and still make corners with ease into the main area and was immediately met with a flock of people oohing and aahing over the children. They all gave me big smiles, introduced themselves, and welcomed me into the clan. More than one of them slipped me a business card and requested meetings with “my people.”

I didn’t have people. I didn’t want people. I was confused as to what they would even want with me, but I accepted them graciously. What else was there to do?

No official announcement had been made about Malric and I, but apparently, news traveled fast. Plus, I was sure that they could smell Mal on me. A part of me wondered if they’d heard through negative gossip from that jackass at the gala or if it came from someone like Vlad who was thrilled I was part of Mal’s life.

I supposed it didn’t matter since they were all being kind. Of course I had the buffer of the babies with me. No one would risk upsetting them. It wasn’t just Lord Malric who would take care of them if that happened.

I navigated the stroller to the daycare center located on the first floor. It was a great benefit for them to have. I understood why my bosses preferred having their clutch with a manny most of the time, but that didn’t deter from my understanding of just how amazing this facility was.

I settled in with the children, letting them play. I spent a good deal of time talking with the main teacher, Alice. She opened up about the struggles they had with accommodating all of the children and how they needed more space. I could see that. The clan was growing, and mannies were expensive. Add to that being able to visit your children throughout the day—no wonder this was a popular place

“When we first opened the headquarters building, I thought the space was too large. I never imagined we’d grow so big! But we seem to be having an influx of clutches lately. Which is a good thing. That’s what happens when a clan has a strong leader. We could use twice as much space, honestly. And double the staff. I’d love to get our teacher-to-child ration lower.”

Five minutes into the conversation, I finally realized that she was not just venting to me. She was telling me all this because, as the mate of the clan leader, I was expected to do something with that information. I totally could, and I realized very quickly that I wanted to be a part of this.

The children were our future, as corny as it sounded, and we needed to provide for them in the best way that we could. The daycare had outgrown the space that they had allocated in the headquarters building. Perhaps it was time to start thinking about where else they could expand to—perhaps a second location? I’d have to talk with Mal to see what our options were.

“The kids are having a good time with the others. If you wanted to run upstairs and see your mate, you totally can.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary,” I said.

Alice smiled. “You can have a break and go see your mate. I remember what it was like to be newly mated.”

I grinned. It would be nice to see Mal’s office. “Thank you. I won’t be long. I’ve actually never seen where he works.”

“Have him give you a tour of the whole place. He designed headquarters to be comfortable and functional. There’s a gym, with a sauna and a hot tub. Plus, the game room and cafeteria.”

I checked in to make sure that the children were set and then went to the elevator. I knew where Mal’s office was, but I hadn’t been there before. His assistant smiled when they saw me.

“You must be Ollie.” They practically leapt from behind their desk and came to greet me. “I’m Jamie. It’s so great to finally meet you.”

“You as well,” I said. I had no idea how they knew me on sight, but I wasn’t going to question it. It could be he scented my mating and that would make things uncomfortable, at least for me.

“He has time between meetings right now, if you’d like to go right in.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Mal looked up as I walked into his office. His desk sat in the corner so that he could have a view of the door and also be able to look out the windows. The windows were floor-to-ceiling, giving him a gorgeous view of the city skyline. On the opposite wall was a tall bookshelf with various decor, some picture frames, and books. I wanted to study each item and ask why it was there. I longed to learn more about my mate.

“Ollie, I didn’t know you were visiting today.”

“It was an impromptu trip. I messaged Alice to see if they had some space at the daycare, and they did.” There was more to it than that, but I planned to save business talk for later. Right now, I wanted nothing more than to be in my mate’s arms.

He scooched his chair back and gestured for me to come closer to him. I wasted no time climbing onto his lap. Then he hit a button on his desk, and the shades for the windows that looked out to the rest of the office rolled down.

“Malric,” I said.

“Ollie.”

“People will hear us.” I wasn’t saying no, but I wanted to put that out there.

“No. They won’t. It’s soundproof.”

That was all the assurance I needed. I climbed off his lap and went down to the floor, shifting closer, and wedged myself between his knees. “Because I don’t think I could resist any longer.”

“So, was this is the plan?” he asked, his voice raw with need. “Seduce me in my office when I should be working?”

I rested my hands on his thighs and looked up at him with half a shrug. “Something like that.”

“And I thought you were a shy little mouse.” His voice was teasing and lighthearted, but also heady.

“Shyness is overrated,” I said. I leaned forward and placed a slow, deliberate kiss at the base of his throat.

“That so?” His hand moved to the back of my neck, a subtle press. “Prove it.”

Gods, I loved the way he exuded power in this place. He treated me like an equal… always. Except here, in this space, I didn’t want to be. I wanted to feel his power, and he must’ve seen that in me because he was bringing it.

“I will,” I said, gaze locked with his.

I lowered my body, now on my knees, my face level with his zipper, his bulge evident, only encouraging me.

He raised an eyebrow. “Comfortable?”

“Getting there.” I winked and reached for his belt.

“What are you doing?” he asked, knowing full well what I was up to.

“Whatever I want.” I worked on his buckle, and once open, pushed it aside, fingers slipping beneath his waistband. His breath caught, and a growl was building in his chest.

I pulled back just enough to open his slacks, the sound of the zipper echoing close to my ear. “I need a little snack.”

I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to the spot just above his waistband, before pulling them, glad he pushed up enough for me to slide them all the way down, releasing his cock, hard and heavy and so very ready.

I licked my lips, gave him one last, needy glance before lowering my head, parting my mouth, and closing around him.

He groaned, encouraging me on. I moved on him with slow, even strokes, my tongue tracing patterns against the ridge, the veins, the tip, learning him all over again. My jaw was going to hurt later, his size stretching it to its limits, but gods, was it going to be worth it.

His fingers intertwined in my hair, and he moved, guiding my rhythm. He didn’t force me, but he made his desires known, and it turned me on in a way I hadn’t expected. He had me greedy for more… so much more. But we were in his office on borrowed time. All of that would wait. For now, it was my mission to make him explode in my mouth and be unable to think of anything else the entire day.

I hollowed my cheeks, took him deeper, my free hand clutching his thigh.

His breath grew ragged, and his hips began to roll. He was hard and hot against my tongue, and the taste of him—the salt, the musk, the scent that was uniquely him.

“Ollie. Gods, Ollie, you’re so…”

I sucked him in as far as I could take him and swallowed around his cock.

He growled as he came, his cum hitting the back of my throat in spurts as I greedily swallowed every drop down, licked him clean, and sat back on my heels before standing up.

“Thanks for the snack.” I licked my lips. “Delicious. Well, I best be off.”

He stared at me in disbelief. “Don’t I get a turn?”

“You absolutely do… tonight, but you have a meeting in a few minutes, and I am going to need a whole lot more of your time than that.”

His head fell back against his chair. “You are going to be the death of me, little mouse.”

“Small, but mighty.”