Page 23 of Breeding Clinic

My biology wants me to give in. To surrender to the strong, virile alpha who got me pregnant. We’re a scent match. I’m carrying his baby. My instincts don’t understand why I’m not already bitten and claimed and building my nest.

But life is more complicated now than it used to be in our caveman days. We’ve evolved.

My panties grow damp from his close proximity. The heat from his palm. The way he touches me. The horniness is because of the pregnancy. All that extra blood flow my body shunts toward my uterus. My nipples tighten into hard points that rub against my bra.

Liam adds the book to our stack and leans over me. He groans in my ear. “If you keep smelling this fucking good, I’m not going to be held responsible if I get us banned from the property for lewd behavior.”

“Then you should probably stop touching me. I can’t help it.”

“Neither can I, kitten. You were made for petting.” He sniffs my hair, then withdraws and neatens his stack of baby books. “Is there anything else you want? My treat.”

“Really?” Those are dangerous words to say to a bookworm in a bookstore. No matter how many books I own, the answer to that question will always beyes.

“Anything,” he promises. “As many as you want.”

I drag him to the romance section. He watches, amused, as I pore over the shelves with serious determination. There’s a lot of historical and paranormal romance among the contemporary, but not much else. Nothing too taboo or fun like you can find online. But that’s fine because I read a mix of genres.

While I’m debating between two books, a dark romance and a popular romantasy book, he peruses the aisle. I read their blurbs, then read the first page or two to see if I like the author’s style. The romantasy is written in a tense I don’t prefer so I put it back and find another option. A werewolf pack romance. I love the pack romances the most.

”This is wild,” Liam says, flipping the pages of a book. “Are all of these like this? I had no idea. I thought romance books were sweet.”

His question pulls my focus out of the book I’m skimming. “Which one is that?”

”There’s more of these sitting out on a table. Something about viral books. There’s one about a girl and her priest, a minotaur getting handjobs, and a blue alien. This one’s about the Irish mob.”

My eyes snap to the book he’s holding, to see its cover. But I can’t see it from this angle. The color drains from my face. It can’t be. “What’s it called?” The words squeak out of me.

He glances at me, confused, then tips the book up.

My stomach drops.

It’s mine. I knew its sales were doing well, and I’d been tagged in a lot of review posts on my socials, but I didn’t know it was in bookstores. I don’t pay much attention to reviews and social media or it makes me self conscious when I write.

Liam squints, studying me. “Have you read this one?”

I pretend to study the shelves. “Mmm.” God, I’m such a bad liar.

“Wait… Is this your book? That’s not your name on the cover.”

Looking around, I make sure nobody is paying attention to us. “Will you keep your voice down? Give me that.” I reach for the book, but he pulls it away at the last second. Scowling, I reach again.

He puts it over my head like this is a game of keep away. “No way. I’m gonna read this so I know exactly what my girl likes.”

“It’s fantasy, not reality. I’m not into everything I write about.” I go on my tip toes and stretch up to reach it.

Why is he so fucking tall?

Liam holds the book infuriatingly one inch out of reach. “Then you won’t mind me reading it. Apparently I could use the pointers because this mafia boss has mad dirty talk game.”

“Give me the book, Liam. I’m not kidding.” He can’t read it. I’ll die of embarrassment.

Instead of doing what I say, Liam maneuvers the book open one-handed. He starts reading it right there in the store while he fends off my grabby hands. It’s infuriating how easily he thwarts my efforts to grab the book from him. His other hand slides down to palm my ass and give it a squeeze.

I stiffen in surprise. “Stop that,” I croak.

He uses his pinky to turn the page. He’s surprisingly dextrous. “Hold on, kitten. They’re doing it on the table while the old boss bleeds out on the floor and the lieutenants all watch. Wow, this is graphic.”

With a pained groan, I close my eyes. He’s never going to let this go or pretend this didn’t happen. When the hand on my ass starts to knead, my eyes pop open.

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