Page 47 of Excess

I moved my arms out of the way so she could lower her feet to the mattress, and she immediately unfastened the front clasps of the corset, letting it fall open to either side of her.

“That’s not going to help this go down any faster,” I muttered, keeping myself lifted on my forearms so I could admire the dips and curves of her body.

“Sorry,” Inika replied serenely.

I snorted. “Minx.”

She seemed surprised as I leaned down to kiss her, though she immediately reciprocated, her fingers finding that magical spot on my neck again.

Why hadn’t I been kissing her this whole time? What was wrong with me?

Inika hummed contentedly, giving me a lazy smile as she flopped back onto the mattress. “I can’t believe you made me hold up my knickers for you.”

“Liked that, did you?”

“What does that say about me?” Inika mused. “No, don’t answer that question.”

“Yeah, let’s not. I don’t want to examine why I want to do the things I do to you.”

“Well, a lid for every pot, as the saying goes,” she shot back with a flirtatious smile.

I didn’t even want to think about that. I couldn’t let myself think that Inika was my perfect fit. If I did, I’d never let her go.

And if I kept her, I’d never make her happy.

Chapter 14

INIKA

Ugh.

I was so sticky.

There was still a week or so until my heat hit—I’d never been less prepared for it in my life—but the symptoms were really making themselves known this time around. It took all of the energy I had to crawl out of my nest and stumble into the bathroom, blasting the shower on lukewarm to cool myself off and scrubbing my sweat-soaked skin clean. Chances are tomorrow, I’d wake up feeling completely normal. This was just a little preview of the symptoms, but they wouldn’t kick in properly for another few days.

I exhaled, pumping a liberal amount of Om-Guard body wash onto a washcloth. It was time to end the arrangement with Blake. It had to be. He—very reasonably—wasn’t going to join me for my heat. I had to put some emotional distance between us now, especially if I was going to go ahead with an alpha-for-hire from Prendre.

Maia was drinking coffee in the kitchen, and I opted to join her there to eat breakfast, while Graeme huffed at the change in routine.

“So,” Maia began, giving me a sidelong look. “Your parents really wanted to talk to you yesterday.”

I grimaced. “Sorry. It didn’t even occur to me that they’d be bothering you too.”

She shrugged, unbothered. “I just kept repeating that I’d passed on their request for you to call them—which I did, though I don’t think you read it—and left it at that.”

“I avoided my phone yesterday. I might do the same today. I’ve got plenty of work to do—I’ll just hole up in my office and only respond to company emails.”

“Fair. You haven’t really given me anything to do, but I have some Om-Guard stuff to work on if that’s cool?”

“Of course.” Technically, Maia was partially employed by the company too. Once upon a time, I’d really needed an assistant. My social calendar had been full, I’d hosted events, and served on boards and committees.

But perhaps I didn’t really need one anymore? I wasn’t doing any of that stuff and I had no intention of starting it again.

“Mmk. I might head into the office then if you don’t need me. Mix it up a bit,” Maia laughed, putting her cup in the dishwasher. “Have a good day.”

“You too,” I murmured. Graeme had already disappeared, possibly to go and unnecessarily supervise Blake who I’d heard arrive but hadn’t seen as he’d bypassed the kitchen.

I ate my fruit and yoghurt alone in the cavernous room, feeling a little smaller than I usually did. Papa had chosen this house for me. It was around the corner from my parents and it had been purchased by the family trust, so it wasn’t even technically mine. Not really.

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