Page 42 of Consider The Lilies

I give him one more quick kiss. “Good.” I reach for the doorknob. “Meet you down there?”

“I’ll be there in ten.” He opens a drawer beneath the sink, grabbing his comb.

Moving quietly through the dark bedroom, I glance at the bed to make sure the omega is still asleep. The second I hit the hallway my heart begins to race. That went well.I think.

I use the back staircase, taking the steps two at a time down to the kitchens. The smell of cured meats and fresh-baked bread fills my lungs. I love this time of day. The house is still asleep at this hour, except for the kitchen staff. It’s the perfect time to get things done you don’t want others to see or overhear.

“Lucy!” I yell when I see the beta’s red hair flash across the room. She freezes up at the sound of my voice then spins. She has an eager look on her face, always ready to please. “I need a word.” I march past her and into the next room.

The beta follows me into the servants’ dining room. It’s a decent-sized space, with one long wooden table and a dozen or so chairs. It’s not used very often, but I think the staff take their breaks here sometimes.

“What can I help you with, Ms. Ito?” Lucy looks up at me with those giant blue eyes and her tight little bun, and I lose the last of my self-control.

I crash my mouth to hers, kissing her deeply. It takes her a second to react, but when she does, she moans, melting against me. She’s always stunned when I kiss her without warning. I kind of love it.

My sweet beta opens her mouth for me, letting me deepen the kiss. I plunge my tongue between her lips, savoring her fresh, sweet flavor. We stay like this for a while, making out like teenagers with her back pressed against the door and her hands in my hair.

She’s so soft in my arms, so small and willing to do whatever I want. I love it.

I love her.

“Fuck, you taste like heaven,” I growl as I break the kiss. While she smells like an ocean breeze, she tastes like honeysuckle. It’s an unusual combination for a beta.

“Yuki,” she whimpers my name with those wet, pink lips. “I stayed up late last night.” She bites her bottom lip, moaning when I slip my hand up her skirt, feeling the edge of her thigh-high stockings. “I was hoping to see you.”

“Sorry, baby. I was working.” I caress her cheek, wanting to channel my fingers through her hair. “I wish you’d wear your hair down.”

“I can’t.” Her hands slip up my back, feeling the firm muscles along my shoulders and spine. “Mr. Stanley likes all the staff to have their hair up and off their necks,” she reminds me.

I’m well aware of those rules. I helped write a lot of them.

At the time, it felt important to have the staff present themselves in a neat and orderly fashion, but right now, I fucking hate that rule. I hate her tiny bun and stiff black dress and ugly little tennis shoes. I want her naked and sweaty, and begging me to let her come.

“I know that look.” Lucy narrows her pretty eyes as I slip my fingertips into the top of her stocking. “We don’t have time to have sex.” She glances at the clock on the wall. “I need to make sure Stefan’s breakfast is ready. I have very strict orders on his diet.”

“How was it yesterday?” I ask, eager to hear the details.

“It was really nice,” Lucy says with a sweet lift in her voice as I move my hand up her thigh, squeezing her tight ass. “Stefan is really bashful, but he’s also very kind.” I slip my hand up to her hips. “I can tell we’re going to be good friends.” She smiles wide. “I really like him.”

I can’t help the breath of relief that leaves me.

The last thing I wanted was for this omega to be a massive burden on Lucy. I didn’t want his failing mental health to rip her apart. She’s so loving and empathetic, feeling deeply for those around her. But it seems Stefan isn't as broken as I feared.

“I still can’t believe you convinced Mr. Stanley to let me watch over him,” Lucy says.

“I told you. I have a plan.” I release her ass, holding her pretty face in my hands. “The second Stanley got in the car with that omega, I knew he and Bear would be obsessed before the week was out.” I roll my eyes, thinking about Stanley’s repeated insistence he only wants to fuck the kid and not mate him. But alphas are incapable of having casual sex with omegas. They get the tiniest taste of slick, and the fuckers fall head over heels in a matter of seconds.

“But how will me spending time with Stefan convince Mr. Stanley to let you mate me?” Lucy asks as I smooth my handsdown her neck. It’s a fair question, but I don’t have time to explain everything in detail to her.

“Trust me,” I say, kissing her pretty lips. I linger there, loving the feel of her in my arms. “Stefan is all alone. He wants a friend, and you’re too wonderful for him to resist. He’s going to fall in love with you in no time, and Stanley won’t be able to deny the boy. When the time is right, I’ll explain that you and I have a thing and that I want to mate you. It’ll all work out.”

Twin lines pull between her brows. “Do you want me to…be…with Stefan?” she asks, clearly confused. But I can hear the hopeful lift in her voice.She must really like Stefan.

And I can’t help but smile at the thought. “I won’t lie,” I drop my voice to a throaty purr, “there’s something very enticing about the thought of you commanding that little omega.”

“Little?” Lucy snorts. “He’s bigger than me.”

I let out a quick laugh. “I want you to do whatever your heart desires,” I say honestly, remembering the drunken confession Lucy made to me a few months back. She’s had a crush on both of my alphas since the moment she started working here. It’s very cute. “Whether you want to be with Bear,” I pause, loving the way her face burns bright red, “or me or Stanley, or even Stefan, I just want you to be happy.”

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