Page 122 of Moth to a Flame

I’m about to text Beverly that I’m fully booked tonight.

She beats me to it.

Beverly:You’re going to say no. I know. You’re a possessive alpha and she’s yours. I get it.

Beverly and her wife are great. I’m sure Regan will like them. Another day, when her emotions aren’t wreaking havoc in her sweet body.

Beverly:Before you do, consider this. A. I’m feeling really fucking left out that Vince met her and I haven’t. B. Faith wants to meet you both and thank you for the new home. I hate disappointing my woman. So unless you want me pissed off that you made her sad, you two will come over tonight.

“She’s funny.” Regan’s next to me, not sounding amused in the slightest.

This isn’t jealousy, no. Heaviness. That’s what it is.

Minutes and hours have been slipping through an invisible hourglass without a single message or call from the prosecutor who handles her case.

The same heaviness weighs on my chest like a ton of bricks.

“She is.” I shoot Beverly a text sayingnot todayand slam the phone on the counter. Look up at Regan.

“I’d love to meet them. Her and her wife.”

While I’ve been texting with Beverly, something’s happened to Regan. Her dread has managed to bleed not just into her voice or her smile, but her entire face.

Eyes wide, lips slightly parted. Her cheeks are ghastly white.

As if she’s back in that park. As if the fucker might show up here and demand to take what’s mine.

Not on my watch. Never on my watch.

She’s with me here, in the store. I’ll remind her of that. For the rest of her life, I’ll remind her that she’s safe, protected, and mine.

I have my hand cupping her pussy. My fingers press into her jeans, feeling the metal of her chastity belt, squeezing. She doesn’t put up a fight when I yank her over to where I’m sitting.

We’re face to face. Her eyes widen a little more. Her pupils are larger.

She’s turned on, not afraid. That means I’m doing my motherfucking job right.

“You will. Over dinner first, then at my office on other days.” I tighten my grip on her pussy. My middle finger presses harder into her center.

It has to hurt, the metal digging into her flesh. But Regan’s addicted to the pain I give her. She moans, her chest heaving with each labored breath.

“Your office?”

My other hand has found its way to the side of her neck. I stroke her pulse point, feeling sick satisfaction from how her blood thrums for me.

“Yes, my office.” Staying away from her is impossible. I lean in, running my nose along the slope of her neck. Inhaling her sweet scent.

I bare my teeth and sink them into her shoulder.

I’m taking out my aggressive energies on her. More importantly, I’m grounding her. Through pain. Through reminding her no one could ever own or scare her but me.

“Some days…” That damn belt. I need to have her soak my fingers and come all over them. Except Rosemary would be back soon. “I’ll have to go there. Meetings. Remind them I’m the boss.”

“M-hmm.” She clutches on to the black T-shirt I have on. The store is naturally warm, so neither of us needs the extra layers of clothing. It’s even hotter now. “You’ll have to.”

“With you there.” Goosebumps prickle her skin wherever my lips and teeth touch. Her delicate neck, jaw, cheek. Wherever I mark her. “At my side. I’ll get you everything you need so you can work there. Next to me.”

“Landon, it’s not sustainable.” There’s zero conviction in her voice. None whatsoever since I suck on that area below her ear that she likes. “I can’t have our customers waiting over a day—Oh,oh—” Those are for me, these sounds, when I roll her nipple between my fingers through her bra. “For repairs that can take less than a couple of hours at best. I need to be here.”

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