Page 32

M y fingers brush over the silken fabric of my bowtie, adjusting it for the millionth time in the last few minutes. Nervous energy hums in my veins as I wait for my country girl to come downstairs.

Tonight is my father’s charity gala.

Equal parts dread and anticipation filled my body for the past week… a week that passed in a blur as my relationship with Maggie grew stronger with each passing day.

We’re still careful to keep things platonic in front of Lily, but I no longer retreat to the guest house after dinner. Instead, I help with everything from her bath routine to bedtime.

And once Lily is sound asleep upstairs, Maggie and I curl up on the couch, recounting the ups and downs of the day. At some point, my cock usually ends up down her throat or pounding her pussy until she’s begging for my fangs in her sweet flesh.

I haven’t had to rely on synthetic blood powder since the first night she asked me to feed on her.

Everything is perfect. I’m finally living my dream, and it’s pure, domestic bliss.

Except, my father’s ultimatum still looms over me. I have to tell him that I’m not cowering to his orders this time. And I have to tell him tonight , so my future with Maggie can finally flourish.

“Is this the part where I threaten to kill you if you break her heart?” Cyrus rumbles, coming to stand near the bottom of the stairs with me. He and his mate, Antoinette, are here to watch Lily while Maggie and I attend the gala and stay the night in my apartment in the city.

“Afraid that ship has already sailed. Jean-Luc beat you to it.” I tuck my hands into the pockets of my tux pants and rock onto my toes.

His chuckle takes me off guard. Cyrus is a few inches shorter than me, but he’s twice as broad and stacked with thick, bulky muscles. Intimidating, to say the least. But he smiles and extends a hand to me.

When I grip his hand, he tightens his hold and pulls me close, until our chests nearly brush. His voice drops to a low, threatening tone, and his eyes bore into mine. “Just know, I’d help him bury the body in a heartbeat.”

I gulp, but he releases my hand. Stepping back, he slaps me on the back. Hard . And I splutter a cough. “I-I have no intention of hurting her. I—”

“You love her. Don’t you?” His hard features soften, eyes landing on his mate, where she sits on the couch, reading a book to her niece.

In contrast, my face hardens, jaw pulsing in an expression I hope doesn’t give away how deeply I love Maggie. “We’re taking things slow.”

Icy-blue eyes swing back to me. “Good. She’s been through a lot. She deserves someone who will give her the world.”

I nod. “Something we agree on.”

“Momma looks like a princess.” Lily’s awe-filled voice has my head snapping to the top of the stairs.

She’s… “Stunning,” I murmur, trying to remember how to breathe as she descends one step at a time.

Her curvy body is poured into a slinky navy dress—one of the options Ness picked out for her.

Its neckline dips in the center of her chest, exposing a tantalizing sliver of cleavage.

The fabric clings to the dip of her waist and the flare of her hips, making my mouth water.

With each step down the stairs, I get a flash of her sleek, sun-kissed leg through the slit in the dress. On her feet are a pair of shimmering gold heels. They sparkle like the sun that’s currently dipping below the horizon, casting her in its final rays.

“Do I look okay?” Maggie asks once she’s in front of me. There’s a slight tremor to her voice, like she’s unsure. Like she doesn’t realize she’s the most beautiful woman to ever exist. To ever pull me into her orbit .

Reaching up, I tuck a stray coil of hair behind her ear, careful not to disrupt the rest of her curls, where they’ve been artfully pinned into an extravagant updo.

More glittering gold adorns her ears from her dangling earrings, like a spray of shooting stars. “You are perfect, Maggie. In every way. You’ll be a goddess among mere mortals tonight.”

Crimson darkens the flesh of her cheeks, and her chin and eyes drop to the floor.

“None of that, country girl.” Cupping the side of her neck, I use my thumb to tip her chin up. “You are absolutely radiant and should never be ashamed.”

This time, her eyes stay locked on mine, and her lips tip into a playful smirk. “You don’t look so bad yourself, city boy. Give me a spin.” She twirls her finger in the air. “I need the full effect.”

Humoring her—because, of course, I want my mate to be just as infatuated with me as I am with her—I puff out my chest, adjust my tux jacket and spin in a slow circle. Really letting Maggie eye-fuck me as much as she desires.

Once I’m facing her again, her eyes flare with lust, and she has her bottom lip trapped between her teeth. Our bodies brush when she steps into my space and slides her hands up my chest.

I shiver when she runs her nose up the side of my neck, and her lips tickle my ear.

“I can’t wait to peel this off you later, city boy.” Her throaty whisper has me biting back a groan, my hands squeezing her hips.

Before I can steal a taste of her lips, there’s a tug at the fabric under my hands. “ Momma! Are you a princess?”

Maggie pats my chest, breaking our flirtatious moment. She squats down so she’s eye level with her daughter. “For tonight, I think I am.” Her green eyes flick to mine, shining with adoration before her gaze returns to Lily. “We’ll be back in the morning. Be good for Cy and Annie. Okay?”

Lily nods, then wraps her arms around Maggie’s neck in a big hug. “I will. I love you.”

“I love you, too, bug.”

The towering buildings of the city grow larger on the horizon as we approach downtown. Anxious energy has my hands running up the sides of the steering wheel before gripping it tight. The leather creaks beneath my fingers.

I haven’t seen my father since I walked out of our last family lunch, and our last phone call didn’t exactly go well.

Even the soft music filling the car does nothing for my nauseous stomach. Peering over at Maggie, I clear my throat, and her head tips my way. “Stay with me or Vanessa tonight. Father is prickly , and I don’t want him cornering you alone.”

Maggie’s hand lands on my thigh, and she squeezes. Her touch is exactly what I needed, a soothing balm for the tension in my muscles. “I know. You told me. I promise I’ll be a good girl.” Her saucy wink has me chuckling before directing my attention back to the road .

I briefed her earlier this week about how Father may try to corner her and scare her off. He’s said hurtful things to his own children in the past, so I can only imagine what he would say to Maggie, a stranger.

Of course, Maggie called him more colorful names than I’ve ever heard and turned up her nose. I’m a big girl, Viktor. I can handle myself. Her words echo in my head.

She’s proven time and time again to be able to take care of herself, but she’s never met an adversary quite as cunning and ruthless as Kasmir Bielski.

“You’re nervous,” Maggie states, fingers stroking my thigh.

I manage to unwind my white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel and, instead, thread my fingers through hers. “Yeah.”

“Why? If you’re anything like me, your brain has come up with all sorts of impossible scenarios about tonight. So tell me, what’s the worst that could happen?”

I sigh. “He could insult you to the point you run away crying, and I’d be forced to kill him.”

A chorus of angels surrounds me as Maggie laughs. I can’t help but smile at the beautiful sound.

“One.” She holds up her free hand with her index-finger extended. “I won’t waste my tears on a man who can’t support his children. And two.” Another finger extends. “I own about ten acres and a few shovels. It wouldn’t be too hard to make him disappear.”

“You’re diabolical, Maggie Wilcox.”

She squeezes my hand and gives me another wink. “Only for you, city boy. How about I distract you? Ask me anything. ”

“Do you want more kids?” The question pops out before I can stop it, and I wince.

Maggie’s silent for a beat. When I glance over at her, the city streetlights cast her down-turned mouth in a soft glow.

She clears her throat, speaking in a quiet voice.

“I actually can’t have any more. My pregnancy with Lily was…

rough, to say the least. And the delivery was pretty traumatic, so I decided to have my tubes removed. ”

This time, I squeeze her hand, pulling it farther into my lap. “Oh.”

“Does that bother you? That I can’t give you a baby.”

Thankfully, we’ve made it to the gala, so I pull into the parking garage and kill the engine. Giving Maggie my full attention, I cup her cheek. “Never, sweetheart. I’ll take you—and Lily—any way that you’ll have me.”

She leans in, sealing her mouth to mine in a sweet kiss. “Thank you, Viktor. You truly are a blessing in our lives. Now… I believe you promised food and dancing. You ready to deliver?”