Page 26 of An Uncertain Claim

“And whose fault was that?” I asked tartly. My fake attitude slipped into a chuckle when he responded.

“I have no problem taking responsibility for last night.” His silver irises melted. “If you want to pretend you didn’t beg for your orgasms, I’ll remind you after you’ve had some sleep.”

My body heated and I pressed my legs together. I fought him every time, so I didn’t understand why it turned me on to such a degree when he reminded me of my capitulation.

“Because deep down, you long to give up control.”

My gaze had shifted, but it flew back to him. “How do you keep answering questions I haven’t asked?”

Nathan stroked his beard, thinking before he finally revealed his conclusion. “I’m not sure. It’s a sense I have sometimes. I don’t hear you the way I do with my pack. But sometimes your emotions filter into my mind and I can infer your questions from them.”

I thought about the instances when I’d wondered if his emotions were bleeding into my mind. “Doesn’t that bother you?” Because it didn’t sit well with me. It reminded me too much of being in a pack with an Alpha and a hive mind. Giving Nathan control when we had sex was one thing, but I didn’t like the idea of anyone inside my head. And even though Nathan had the ability to communicate with his pack, even see inside his enforcers’ minds, no-one had access to his.

So I was stunned by his answer. “No.” He observed me for a moment before adding, “You’re my mate, Peyton.”

He said it as if it were just that simple.

But nothing between us was simple.

Chapter Fourteen

Peyton

“Answer my question, baby,” Nathan demanded, and I had to stop and think. “You look tired.”

I raised a single brow and leaned back in my chair. My smart remark died before it reached my lips when my back muscles uncoiled and began to ache.Shit.I shouldn’t have been hunched over the computer for so long.

“Let’s go, Peyton,” Nathan said as he stood. “You’re in pain and tired. We’ll figure something else out.”

“Like what?” I asked incredulously. “I’m your only shot at this. You’d risk this mission because my back hurts and I’m tired?”

Nathan looked as surprised as I sounded. He ran a hand through his hair as his gaze drifted to the chessboard, and whatever he noticed there made him frown. “How long, Peyton?”

I shrugged. “I’m close.” I couldn’t believe he’d seriously been considering mission failure, and it seemed Nathan couldn’t either. My panther, however, was delighted with the care he’d shown with his instinctive actions.

He returned to his seat, his frown now directed at me. “I’m giving you two more hours.” He tapped the watch strapped to his left wrist. “I’m counting.”

Since I’d never known Nathan to say anything he didn’t mean, I believed he’d drag my ass out of the office in exactly two hours, so I dove back in.

One hour and thirty-seven minutes later, I punched my fist in the air. “Got it!”

Nathan’s eyes lifted from his tablet, and he raised his brow. “Really?”

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t insult my skills when I just saved your ass.”

A corner of his mouth quirked as he quickly moved to my side and bent over the desk to look at the screen. “I’ll be damned.”

“You don’t have to sound so surprised,” I grumbled. “I told you I could do it.”

“Yes, you did,” he admitted. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

Nathan’s ability to own his mistakes never ceased to throw me for a loop. Most men who had even a fraction of the power that Nathan did would never believe they were wrong, much less admit it. But I’d learned that Nathan felt mistakes were a part of growth. I’d seen the way he handled his employees when he’d given me a tour. He was blunt when giving them feedback, but then he told them how they should have handled it and what to do in the future before moving on. I’d only seen an intolerance once, and it had been justified, in my opinion. A supervisor had mentioned that someone had made the same mistake three times and it had set the research back each time. Nathan instructed the supervisor to send the employee to Tanner’s office and to find a replacement.

Nathan had the ability to inspire rage and explosive passion in me, but I’d also come to admire him. His patience and willingness to teach would make him a wonderful father.

Less than a minute later, Tanner and Lisa hurried into Nathan’s office, both looking flabbergasted.

“Baby, let Lisa sit so she can send the information to our team,” Nathan instructed.

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