Before Genesis could argue with that pronouncement, his oil-slicked fingers found her clit and began to work. She gasped, hips rocking in time with his movements, grinding against the steely press of his cock. Soon, she was climbing, stomach abuzz, everything disappearing except for Orlando’s body touching hers. Genesis moaned, practically vibrating with her imminent release.
“If we’re making this fake courtship look real, I should mark you,” Orlando said, his voice uncharacteristically rough. “Do you trust me?”
Genesis’s head cleared for a moment, a spike of fear distracting her from her pleasure. Did she trust his mouth on her neck, staking a claim, albeit temporary? It would make the fake courtship more official.
“Yes,” she whispered, finding that it was true. She did trust Orlando Rossi, more than either of his packmates, and she knew he would always respect her autonomy. “I want you to mark me.”
Orlando growled, lowering his mouth to the juncture of her neck and shoulder. He sucked hard on the skin, nipping and licking and teasing, before latching on again, pushing Genesis right back to the peak. His fingers moved deftly, gathering her slick, then returning to her clit with firm, quick strokes that sent her tumbling over the edge.
Genesis came screaming Orlando’s name, soaking his lap as her hips bucked violently. He kept his mouth against her neck, marking, bruising, claiming, promising, hoping. Genesis’s orgasm intensified, dragged out by the exquisite pain of his mouth branding her skin.
It didn’t feel pretend at all.
Afterward, when he tucked her into bed, contented and exhausted, he asked if she’d like him to sleep over. Respecting her boundaries. Always making sure she felt safe.
She asked him to stay.
Genesis watched Orlando slip out of his suit, folding it neatly on the armchair before climbing into bed. He was surprisingly well-built, despite his atypical litheness for an alpha, and Genesis wanted a lot more than the brief glimpse she got of him. It was probably for the best, however, exhausted as she was. When Orlando pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her, she all but melted. She was asleep in record time.
Fake courting Pack Rossi was quite the experience. Mornings came with flowers and sweet notes, or breakfast in bed from Orlando. She spent long hours walking the property with Gabriel, talking about everything and nothing while he showed her glimpses of his process for making his unique art. There were thoughtful gifts like her new cowboy boots, delivered with typical gruff nonchalance by Luke, and afternoons spent sharing a sandwich with Duchess the chicken while watching the grumpy cowboy work up a sweat. If Genesis was lucky, he’d strip off his shirt and show off his massive biceps and a burly chest covered in silver hair that she loved to run her fingers through after a little afternoon delight in the barn or wherever else Luke felt like having his way with her.
There were lively debates over delicious meals, mind-blowing orgasms, and lots of old-fashioned charm. Genesis liked it more than she expected. She had to remind herself repeatedly that it was all pretend.
There was nothing fake about how Pack Rossi looked at her when she arrived at the main house before dinner with her fathers. She’d dressed in plum pumps that matched her lipstick and a black, tea length, vintage style bodycon dress. The best part was the surplice neckline that showcased her neck and collarbones, and the deep purple bruise there. It was stark against her golden skin.
All three alphas growled approvingly when they saw her dolled up and showing off their temporary claim. Their pleasure tugged at something deep in her core, filling her with glowing pride. It felt far too real.
Dinner with her fathers started out way better than Genesis expected. With one of her dads and her stepmom back inLondon managing the business, Genesis wasn’t outnumbered by her parents for a change. And they’d insisted she choose the restaurant, giving her full control of her home court advantage.
Genesis selected a local tapas place with an upscale, cozy vibe that she loved. Pack Rossi were perfect, immaculately dressed gentlemen. They opened doors and pulled out her chair, making sure she had everything she needed as if it was the most natural thing in the world—refilling her water glass, offering her wine or more food, draping a jacket around her when she shivered, smoothing a wayward curl before it could fall into a raised spoonful of soup. Her fathers watched their casual displays of affection with approval, obviously completely believing their courtship.
Genesis reminded herself it was fake when her temporary alphas engaged her dads in easy conversation about their respective businesses, travels, and mutual associates. Orlando was as smooth and shrewd as ever, Gabriel full of his usual warmth, and even Luke had dialed up the southern charm. Genesis could practically see her dads calculating when they could reasonably expect the mating announcement. Everything was going exactly as she’d hoped.
She should’ve known it wouldn’t last.
“It’s such a relief to know you’re so well taken care of, Genesis,” Henry Parker-Valentine remarked after most of the food had been eaten and they’d had a few after-dinner drinks. “Your stepmother will be ecstatic.”
Genesis tensed immediately, bristling at his patronizing tone. Her fathers had been bearable all evening, even if they had been posturing a bit with their manly alpha bullshit. They’d kept the conversation on safe topics—their businesses, Gabriel’s art, renovating Luke’s family farm—and Genesis had begun to think this night might go off without a hitch.
Orlando took her hand, intertwining their fingers and lifting her hand to his mouth to press a kiss against her knuckles. Genesis met his cool hazel eyes and felt instantly calmer. That look said,don’t worry, I’ve got you.
“We feel exceedingly lucky to be given a chance to court Genesis. We hope she wants us, but we know she doesn’t need us aside from heat tending,” Orlando said, gazing at Genesis with very convincing adoration. “She is obviously more than capable of taking care of herself.”
Ellis Valentine gave Henry a warning look before smiling broadly at Orlando. “Of course. Genesis is very smart and independent. But it isn’t like she’s ever been on her own, really.”
Icy rage stiffened Genesis’s spine. Despite the roaring in her ears, she put on her practiced bland journalist face. Still, there must’ve been something in her eyes because Ellis’s smile faltered.
“I’ve never been on my own?” Genesis was surprised by how calm her voice sounded when she was so full of fury. Orlando squeezed her hand, and she took a breath, eyes fixed on her father.
“Well, not precisely,” Ellis hedged. “I mean, you had the best care money could buy at the academy. Then private omega housing at university, and now your fully paid for loft in a secure building—which you can sell for a substantial amount, now that you’ve found a pack. Consider it our mating gift to you.”
Genesis pulled her hand free of Orlando’s so that she could clutch the table. She needed to anchor herself before she jumped across the booth and ripped her father’s throat out. She leaned forward, glaring at Ellis so fiercely that he visibly recoiled.
Her voice was low and lethal when she spoke again. “How generous, Ellis. As usual, you’re eager to pay someone else to deal with me. You have the audacity to say I’ve never been on my own?You? The fathers who sent me away when I was sixyears old, mere months after my motherdied. You moved on and left me to grieve among strangers while you built a new life for yourself. Every other student at that boarding school was at least twice my age. I hadno oneuntil Avery. And now you have the unmitigated gall to sit here with a straight face and tell me I’ve never been on my own?How fucking dare you?”
This time, all three of Genesis’s dads flinched. She felt a hand on her back—Gabriel’s she thought—and it might’ve been the only thing keeping her from exploding. Her dads looked at each other, having one of those silent conversations packmates so often held.
It was her quietest father who finally spoke. Though Genesis didn’t know her parents very well, she knew that Charles was the neutral middle between the calculating Ellis and brash Henry.
