Page 81 of Stitched Up in You
Power begins to churn in my sternum as I lock gazes with Bernadette. I can’t let her do this. If she were to get hurt…
A profound sense of emptiness stretches before me at the thought of being left to this existence without her. If I were to lose her, the city would never recover from the explosion of my power. I’m already far more attached to her than I've ever been to another, and her loss brings to mind a yawning pit of despair like that of a volcano, erupting and spewing destruction.
“Calm down, big guy. This’ll be fun,” Bernadette says.
My brows shoot up as the corners of my mouth twist in contempt. “Nothing about this is fun, and you’re not going. You could become overwhelmed easily because these society events are intense.”
Her red brows come together on her forehead and her face flushes. “Did you forget that I’ve had social and etiquette training since I learned to walk? Just because I don't like wearing heels doesn’t mean I don't know how.”
“We know Charles keeps the list of those administered with the formula on his personal phone. He’s notorious for doing business at odd hours and only his secretary has access to thecomputer database. It's doubtful they're stored via the usual means, which is why we need you to somehow gain entry to his phone,” Mikael states.
“I can do that,” I bite out. If we need someone to do such a thing, anyone else can do it. It doesn't have to be her.
Bernadette raises a brow at me from down the table. “Oh so you know how to bug mobile software and install the spyware necessary to get the listwithoutthe user needing to click anything?”
My jaw grinds in my mouth. “Someone else then,” I mutter.
“You can run code on the device through proximity alone?” Mikael asks her.
“Of course I can,” she scoffs, as if what he speaks of is simple.
Pride fills me along with a hefty dose of respect as the pair go back and forth using words and abbreviations for things I know nothing about, and a quick glance around the room tells me it’s obvious the team has a new respect for Bernadette.
“It’s at the Pierre,” Mikael announces.
Orange begins to cloud my vision as a twisting, hot sensation coils in my stomach. The desire to touch her, to claim her and force the mating bond to go faster, courses through my being.
“Wait, The Pierre? Oh my gosh, are we going on the red carpet?” Bernadette gasps.
My eye begins to twitch at the idea of being forced to stay stationary while she performs some clandestine operation to get the formula back from the humans.
“Oh my gosh, I’ve got to tell Aubrey. She’d never forgive me if I didn’t. I’m going to need my phone back. I can use a malware tag along with all the execute codes needed to crack inside without anyone noticing,” she says, excitement bleeding into her tone.
The table erupts in chatter about what they want to implement, and a pulse beats at my temple as my hands tighten to fists.
The longer they speak, the more obvious it becomes that she may be right in that she's the only one who can do the job, and we don't have the time to outsource someone else.
She has to go.
The realization means I’ve no choice.
I get to my feet. “Lock up on your way out,” I tell them, over their presence entirely.
Once I reach Bernadette’s side I pull her from her chair, ignoring her protests while possessiveness explodes within me.
“Hey!” she shouts.
I toss her over my shoulder, smirking inwardly at how her complaints drown out Mikael’s grumblings about planning accordingly. It can wait.
They all can. There will be more than enough time to go over the plan again come morning if Mikael is that worried about it. For now, there are other more important matters at hand.
“Fine, I guess we’re leaving,” Bernadette mutters above my shoulder as I march her from the room.
Bruno whistles, and I can hear Mikael’s soft chuckle, but I pay them no mind.
I make my way upstairs as she chatters about meaningless things happening tomorrow, while my mind whirs with how to increase the bond quickly.
The most obvious course of action is for me to fuck her senseless. Need batters my control as the urge to bend her to my will surges forward, but more than that, a protectiveness that seeks to give her what I can of myself to make her stronger rears its head.
