Page 43 of Consider The Lilies

Lucy bites her bottom lip, clearly uncomfortable with me bringing up Bear. “Mr. Stanley is scary,” she mumbles, conveniently not mentioning Bear and Stefan. I think about pointing that out, but I don’t want to embarrass her more than she already is.

“The only thing that matters to me,” I say, “is that you’re by my side with my mating bite on that pretty neck of yours.” I brush the unblemished spot beneath her ear.

How I’ve fantasized about marking her.

Claiming her.

Making her my perfect little mate.

“I want that too.” Lucy looks up at me with those big blue eyes. “I promise I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t.” I kiss her forehead, wishing we could both disappear for the day and lie in my bed wrapped around one another. “Can I see you tonight?” I angle my head down, looking into her expressive eyes.

“Yes, please.” She bounces once on her feet, unable to hide her excitement.

Waking Up

Stefan

“Good morning, Mr. Kane,” an unknown voice startles me, and I jerk awake.

“Alpha?” I whisper into the dark room, wondering where Jack is.

“Mr. Stanley had an early meeting to attend.” A woman moves next to the bed, opening the big black curtains. Light pours into the room, making everything way too bright. It takes my eyes a second to adjust, but when I finally look up at the woman, I realize I recognize her. She was here the morning I saw the doctor. I don’t remember much about her, other than she was here, and then she was gone.

“How do you know my name?” I ask, finally able to see the beta’s face. She looks to be in her thirties. Or maybe even early forties. I don’t know. I’m not good at guessing people’s ages.

“Ms. Lucy told me.” She pulls the puffy blanket off me, but I cling to the sheet, not wanting her to see me naked. “Come on.”The beta gives me a friendly smile. “I have orders to get you ready for the day.”

Keeping the sheet pressed to my chest, I slowly sit, and the skin along my belly feels weird. I look down, realizing I have Jack’s dried cum all over me. It’s everywhere—my chest and stomach, and even on my inner thighs.How did it get there?

She holds out a hand to help me up, but I shy away from her.

I know a beta’s sense of smell isn’t nearly as strong as an alpha’s or omega’s, but I can’t help but wonder if she knows what we did last night. She has to. I bet everyone knows. After all, we’re sleeping in the same bed.

“Um…” I can’t remember her name. “Ma’am?

“Jessica.” She gives me a friendly smile. “My name is Jessica. I’m Mr. Stanley’s personal maid.” She steps to one side and holds out her hand, silently telling me to get up. “He’s instructed me to help you with whatever you might need. Can I get you anything before we clean you?”

I don’t even know what to say to that. It feels weird to tell someone what I want when I’m perfectly capable of doing things on my own.

“Can I go to the bathroom?” I ask as I shimmy to the edge of the bed. I keep the sheet around me the best I can, but it shifts as I move, exposing my legs.

“Of course.” Jessica reaches out, going for the top of my sheet, but I lean away from her, wrapping even more of the thin fabric around my chest and legs.

“Good morning.” The bedroom door opens, and Lucy steps inside. She’s wearing the same uniform as yesterday, but she has on black tights today.

I don’t know why, but the sight of the sweet beta sends a wash of relief over me. I think I’d rather she helped me in the bathroom rather than Jessica. Not that I have anything against Jessica. I just know Lucy a little better.

“I was about to help Mr. Kane into the bath, but he’s a little reluctant to get out of bed.” Jessica gives Lucy a tight smile. They share a look, and I can’t help but wonder what it means. Hopefully, they don’t think I’m being intentionally difficult.

“Can I help?” Lucy’s bright blue eyes move from Jessica to me. “Would that be okay?”

I nod, gripping the sheet as if my life depends on it.

Lucy holds out her hand, helping me stand up. “Jessica, will you get Mr. Kane something to wear?”

The brown-haired beta nods once as Lucy leads me across the room and into the bathroom. The second we’re inside, I marvel once again at its size. Is every room in this house so ridiculously big? I wish I had been allowed to see more of this place yesterday.

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