Me:This conversation took a turn I was not at all prepared for. I’m very uncomfortable now.
Nemesis:My job here is done. You’re welcome.
Me:I’m going back to work now. Schedule to keep.
Chapter Thirteen
Kendrick
The cold woke me, and I unconsciously wiggled my aching limbs towards the heat source I felt at my back. Strong arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me into a solid, warm body. A soft blanket fell over my just-starting-to-shake body, wrapping me in warmth and the scent of peppermint and mocha.
With a soft sigh, I let myself relax, and drifted back to a pleasant sleep.
The next time I awoke it was to Bal’s growly voice softly urging me to drink. The rim of a cup touched my lips, one of his arms supporting my back and holding me up. Cool water slippedpast my dry lips, and I swallowed automatically. I got to enjoy a few more sips, before the cup was taken away and I was gently laid back down.
Blinking my eyes open, I stared into Bal’s silver ones. The room was bathed in soft morning sunlight. Bal looked a little rough around the edges. Dark circles smudged the skin beneath his eyes. His glorious hair was loose, spilling over his shoulders, and rumpled. He was also splendidly naked, all long limbs and pale skin, bathed in the sunlight crossing over the bed.
He looked disheveled, and sexy, and he smelled like sex. My cock gave a twitch, but that was all the interest I could manage.
My heat was well and truly over, and I was a bit disappointed by that fact.
Bal had been…the absolute best alpha and lover. Strong, fierce, tender, and caring. And he had a magnificent cock and knew just how to use it.
He brushed the matted hair back from my forehead with a gentle smile. “Welcome back. How do you feel?”
My voice came out rough, as I gave my limbs a tentative stretch. My body ached, my muscles feeling strained, yet well used, and my hole gave a twinge. “A bit sore, but good. What day is it?”
“The twenty-seventh.” He helped me sit up, fluffing soft pillows behind my back, then offered the cup of water to me.
Taking it from him, I took a sip. “We missed Christmas.” I couldn't hide my disappointment.
“We did. But your family is planning a redo for you, once they know your heat has passed,” he told me, smoothing the blankets across my lap, yet making no effort to cover or hide his own nudity. “I think they even held back some of the kids' presents, so you wouldn’t miss them opening them.”
I realized he had missed Christmas Eve too. Missed making sure Nik got all the presents delivered on time, and whateverelse it was he did to make sure the world had a bright and merry Christmas. Missed the thing he worked so hard for all year long, and took so seriously, to spend my heat with me. I had vague memories of us talking about it, in between my bouts of heat. Of him telling me his assistant was filling in and he was exactly where he wanted to be.
My chest bloomed with warmth, and a strange emotion I couldn’t identify, at the thought that maybe that meant he was starting to feel about me the way I was feeling about him.
Because I was most definitely starting to have new and exciting feelings about Balfour. Somehow, over the years, we had formed a real friendship, which had started to become more with the first touch of his lips against mine.
The charade of pretending to be his boyfriend had been much easier to pull off than I expected it to. And a part of me didn’t want it to end. A part of me–a big part of me–wanted it to somehow be real.
Especially after the incredible heat we had spent together.
There were sides to Bal he didn’t show to just anyone, but he was starting to show to me. He was like an onion, with layers upon layers, that someone just needed to take the time to peel back to get to the real heart underneath. He kept so much of himself hidden, saving it for a special person. For his special person.
I realized I wanted to be that person. The person who was privileged enough to see all he hid from the rest of the world.
Swallowing hard against the lump in my throat, I peered at him over the rim of the cup. “I’m sorry you missed Christmas Eve.”
He gave a one shouldered shrug, not looking sorry that he had missed the big night. “They handled it well enough without me. I’ve trained Anderson well. Besides, you needed me more.”
The heat brewing in my chest bloomed into a full-on fire, that I didn’t know what to do with. Instead of thinking about it too hard–or at all–I rubbed a hand down my itching chest and stomach. “I need a shower.”
My skin was covered in dried sweat, slick, and cum. Besides I needed a minute to get myself under control, and away from Bal’s penetrating silver gaze.
“Stay right here,” Bal instructed, gracefully sliding to his feet. My eyes trailed over all his naked skin, the smooth muscles, the long, flaccid cock, nestled in a patch of silver curls. Up his washboard stomach, to his well-defined chest. For a man–a being–who mostly sat behind a desk, he had the sculpted body of a god. It was really quite unfair. I had to spend way too much time in the gym to get the little bit of muscle I had.
He hurried out the open bedroom door, and I was so fascinated watching the globes of his round ass flex as he moved, I did exactly what he had ordered me to do. Not moving a muscle from the bed. A minute later, he returned and before I could protest, he scooped me up into his strong arms, bridal style.
