“Or,” she teases, “I could keep my promise with the girls and make it up to you tonight.”
I groan and nuzzle into her neck, breathing her in like it will help me survive the day without her. “But that’s so far away.”
“What if I told you Grace is taking me to get my birth control mark today?” She tilts her head just enough to tempt me. “I was hoping we could have a littlesexy timetonight.”
“You’re killing me, sweetheart.” The image alone sends a fresh wave of agony through my already tortured dick.
I’m glad Grace thought of birth control. As much as I’d love to fast-forward our relationship so that I can be as close to Nevaeh as physically possible, I don’t want that at the expense of my mate’s well-being.
Adding another kid to the mix is not the right move for our little family. August deserves our undivided attention for at least a couple more years. And Nevaeh and I are still figuring out our rhythm. We’re in no place to handle the responsibility and stress of a newborn.
To my immense displeasure, Hazel interrupts just as I’m about to convince my mate to ditch the girls.
“Shoo away, Conquer. I can see you’re trying to ruin our day.”
“I’m doing no such thing.”
“Liar!” the three of them call out in perfect sync.
I tickle my mate for not taking my side and don’t stop until she is breathless and laughing so hard it fills every crack in my heart.
I don’t think there’ll ever be enough words to tell her how much I love her.
I kiss Nevaeh one more time before rising from the chair and turning to leave, but the sight of her smiling like a fool stops me in my tracks. I walk back to her, standing behind her chair.
Ten more minutes won’t hurt.
There was a time I would’ve smacked myself for even thinking about skipping work, but all my work ethic flew out the window since my mate came along. Now, I’m constantly finding reasons to spend all my time with her.
“Would you look at this lovesick fool?” Hazel groans. “Go away, Anxo. You have to work for both of us today.” As if I need a reminder of that cursed stack of paperwork waiting for me.
I wrap my hand around Nevaeh’s neck and gently tilt her head back. “I’ll be back soon, baby. I’ll miss you.” I press a soft kiss to her lips. I’ll only be a floor away from her, but even that feels too far.
“I’ll miss you more.” And when she pouts at me with that adorable face, I can’t help but kiss it away until she’s blushing and smiling again.
My beautiful sweetheart.
“Don’t make me throw up my breakfast.” Hazel throws a chip at me, and that’s my cue to get lost before she throws something sharper.
I stomp my way to the office like a sulking child because all I really want is a full day alone with my mate, preferably horizontal.
I sit in my chair, bitching and moaning about the mountain of work for a solid thirty minutes before I actually get started. I wish Grace and Hazel were around. They make sure I don’t purposely choke myself on paperwork.
Good thing my parents left for another one of their endlessvacations. They dropped by a week, and I spent the whole time worried about having to drag Nevaeh off their mangled corpses when she finally snapped.
Their presence brings out something darker in Nevaeh. She hovers close, protective, like she’s waiting for them to pull off something shady.
My mate is fiercely protective of the people she loves, but she has no reason to stress about my parents. They haven’t so much as looked in my direction for years, let alone plotted to hurt me.
Because I have the worst luck imaginable, my peace lasts barely an hour before my office door slams open. Seiji, aka my childhood headache, strolls in, followed by his personal muscleman, Harvey.
“You have your own office, Harvey.”
“He does, too.” He points out, nodding toward Seiji.
“He’s the leech of my life. I was hoping at least you’d let me work in peace.”
“Oh, but Iloveyour company, brother.”
