“Damn straight,” he says, eyes gleaming. “And as long as you know I’ll always make it so fucking good for you—even when I’m punishing you. Even when I’m calling you filthy names and using your body as my own personal fucktoy.”
My brows shoot up, but my body betrays me with a shiver. Damn it, why the hell do I like the idea of a little sexy degradation and free use?
“Respectfully,” he adds, lips quirking.
“You’re ridiculous,” I say with a groan that he cuts off with a kiss. A slow press of his lips to mine. A kiss that’s about connecting and coming together, not the start of more.
“And if youever try to humiliate me in public—”
“Never,” he cuts me off. “You might enjoy submitting in the bedroom, but I know you’re all alpha everywhere else. I won’t agree not to step in if I’m trying to keep you safe, but I promise to do my best to never make you look bad again. I’m so sorry for not realizing the impact of my idiocy. Never again, Princess.”
Well, okay, so. Maybe he has been listening to me. Time will tell, I guess. I want to believe him. I really do. But I can’t help the knot in my stomach that tells me it’s all a bit too easy.
My wolf purrs, making sure I’m aware how content she is. How much she wants me to accept that Luca has changed. At least one of us is sure.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sofia
“What’s going on?” Luca asks the second Emily, and I step into Ryan’s office for a strategy session. His eyebrows shoot to the sky as his gaze bounces between me and my brother.
“Emily and I are here for the strategy meeting,” I say, planting myself right beside Ryan’s desk and lifting my chin. “Emily can give insight into what we’re dealing with, and I can help with… everything else.” I cross my arms and cock my hip, daring him to challenge me.
“You have a problem with that, Beta?” It’s only been a few days since his promise not to humiliate me in public again, and this is his first test. The first opportunity for him to do better than before.
Luca lets out a slow breath before shaking his head. “No, I guess not,” he says. “As Ryan mentioned, there’s no safety riskin his office.”
I’m not sure if he believes it, or if he’s trying to convince himself. It’s the truth. But his discomfort seeps out of him. He’s trying, though. And that means something.
Emily goes to sit beside Jackson, and he pulls her into his lap instead. They still have the shine of a newly mated pair. Not able to take their hands off each other. Struggling with separation. My heart clenches watching them. Wondering if Luca and I will ever have that ease.
We have sexual chemistry in spades. He is trying to listen to me more, and he has been attentive, even when I didn’t realize it, like with paying attention to my favorite foods and how I take my coffee. And I’ve seen him being kinder to others lately, even before we started sleeping together. He’s been taking on more of Jackson’s load regarding training too, helping his parents around their home, he’s even being less of an ass to Simon.
It helps. And now that I know he doesn’t actually hate me, arguing with him is a lot more fun. Pushing him and the way he challenges me. It’s a different dynamic now. One that’s fun and sexually charged. Not hurtful and dismissive.
But I guess we’re still figuring out how to act around each other. Yesterday, we had dinner with his parents because, apparently, Sunday family dinner is a regular occurrence for the Taylors. While I was still trying to take things slowly, his mom was talking about pups.
“Give us a chance, Mom. Sofia is only twenty-one. I’m sure she wants to live her own life a bit more first. Plus, I’m not ready to share her.”
It was nice that he had my back. Instead of leaving it to me to try to explain myself. And really nice that he isn’t in a rush. I’m not even sure if I want kids.
Luca lets out a low growl when I drop into a seat beside Ryan. And really? He’s starting already.
“Problem, Beta?” I ask, forcing myself to sound calm. But I can already feel the rage beginning to grow. Coursing through my veins, into my extremities. He can’t even pretend he’s okay with me having a conversation about the rescue mission. He’s going to lose his damn mind when he realizes I’m going on the mission.
“Just unimpressed with the seating arrangements,” he murmurs under his breath even though we’re all shifters and can hear him as clear as if he shouted. The seating? What the hell is he talking about? I always sit here.
“For fate’s sake, Fia. Your mate’s sulking because you’re not sitting close to him,” Ryan says dryly, leaning back in his chair and massaging his temples with his index fingers.
My jaw drops when I finally realize what’s happening. He’s not pissed about me being here; he’s pissed I didn’t sit beside him? A bark of laughter erupts from me before I can hold it back, and Luca shoots me a dark look. Full of promises of retribution when he gets me alone. My core tightens at the thought.
But still, I stand and walk over to him before sitting on his lap. His arms lock around me instantly, a rumble of satisfaction vibrating in his chest.
Emily’s mouth hangs open, and I get a twinge of embarrassment. I haven’t told her what’s been happening over the past fewdays, so this is a huge escalation, and while I’m certain Emily would support me with anything, she isn’t a huge Luca fan. And I can’t blame her for that.
I haven’t been his biggest fan either.
“So, let’s do some planning. Where are we with the warriors?” I say, trying to redirect the conversation away from Luca and my PDA.
