Page 61 of The Don’s Omega

He grimaces. “I worry the non-exclusivity clause is going to cause problems between us as time goes on.”

“You do?”

“Yes. It never should have been included to begin with.” He shrugs. “With that in mind, perhaps when we add the clause about Fabio, we should remove the part about sleeping with other people as well. Since we’re already changing the original contract.”

Shocked, I hold his gaze. “I can’t believe you want to take that clause out. You’re the one who put it into the contract in the first place.”

“Yes, you pointed that out already,” he says testily.

“Why take it out?”

“I just told you, I think it might cause problems between us.”

I laugh gruffly. “I find your sudden change of heart difficult to swallow.”

He lifts one shoulder. “Having never claimed an omega before, I underestimated the effects it would have on me.”

“And you’re saying since you claimed me, you don’t want anyone else?”

“Didn’t I just say that?” He sounds annoyed. “How many times do I have to say that claiming you has changed my thoughts on the matter? I didn’t expect the bond to kick in so quickly, but it has. I know you feel it too, Elio. The sudden possessiveness.”

“A little.” I downplay it on purpose. The last thing I want is him thinking he has even more power over me.

“So what do you think?” He reaches over and caresses my cheek, his lips quirking when I shiver at his touch. “Shall we remove that clause?”

I try to fight how weak his touch makes me feel. “If… if we keep changing things, Kessler will wonder why we even signed the first contract to begin with.”

“Fuck Kessler,” he says harshly. “The contract needs to serve our needs, not his.”

“Yes.” I pull my gaze from his. “But if I’m honest, I don’t trust you. How do I know you won’t still sleep around, but just not tell me? I’d end up feeling like a fool.”

He huffs. “If I say I won’t, I won’t. I’m many things, Elio, but I’m not actually a liar. At least, not to those who’re close to me.”

I laugh. “Are we close, Marcello?”

He hesitates, then he takes my hand. His skin is warm as it cradles mine, and his expression serious. “Look, regardless of how this relationship came about, you’re my omega now and I’m your alpha.” He glances down at our intertwined hands. “Whether we like it or not, because I claimed you, there’s an undeniable bond between us. It’s far stronger than I think either one of us expected.”

“It is, yes.” I grimace. “But even so, I’m not sure, Marcello.”

He scowls. “What are you not sure of?”

“If we should get rid of that clause or not.”

He lets go of my hand, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “Why not? You want to sleep with another alpha?” His mouth thins. “Is it that alpha who texted you at the wedding? Paul?”

My face warms. “His name is Pete and, yeah, he’s partly the reason.”

He stands, his high cheekbones flushed. “You can’t be serious. I’m Marcello Foschini and he’s a nobody. You’d choose a nobody over having me to yourself?” He sounds outraged. Or maybe it’s bewildered.

“It’s not that I’m choosing him over you,” I say.

“Don’t lie. You want to sleep with him, don’t you?”

I let out a harsh breath. “You keep thinking this is about the sex, but it’s not. If I were to… spend time with Pete, it would be about the emotional connection as much, if not more, than the physical.” I meet his gaze. “I don’t think that’s something you could give me, and I need that.”

He curls his lip. “You don’t think I can fulfill your emotional needs?”

“I worry maybe you can’t,” I admit. “Even if you tried, the odds of you being good at it for three years? I don’t see it happening. I don’t think it’s in you.”