Page 58 of Laurels and Liquor

“Let’s get you home so I can get you dirty again, shall we?” he asks suggestively.

I perk up a little at that, skin flushing hot again. “Yes, Daddy,” I reply eagerly.

Mateo shakes his head and kisses me again. His eyes blaze into mine when he pulls away, and despite the thorough fucking I just received, my belly leaps and thighs clench at the look. “I thought it’d be weird, but hearing you call me that… fuck, that hits different.”

I smile serenely. “As long as you like it, I’ll keep doing it.”

Mateo nods. “Only in the bedroom, okay?” he asks hesitantly.

I nod again, snuggling into his chest. He keeps me tucked close as we head back to his SUV, holding my hand as we make our way back to the pack house. It’s only later when I’m lying in bed after a few more rounds that I realize I didn’t see where my panties ended up. I hope some poor worker doesn’t find them.

Chapter twenty-seven

Alexandra

Ipickthroughthestack of papers in front of me, looking for the document I received this morning, as my phone’s ringer cuts through the air. I pause only in my search to press the answer button, putting it on speaker.

“Is that you, Rhett?” I ask, eyes still scanning the papers in my hand.

“Good morning, love. It’s always a pleasure to hear your voice,” Rhett practically purrs through the line, and I can’t help my little chuckle.

“Usually that sort of talk precedes you telling me about something bad you’ve done,” I tease.

“I’ve been a perfect angel, haven’t I, Jason?” Rhett tosses back in mock offense.

“Angels don’t get their house guests wasted three days in a row,” Jason mutters darkly.

“Not my fault you thought you could beat an Irishman in a drinking contest,” Rhett says with a laugh.

“Then how do you explain the other two days?” Jason shoots back, voice rising slightly.

I laugh at their banter, letting out a little noise of triumph as I find the document I’m looking for.

“Your father responded, Jason. Would you like to hear this gracious letter?” I ask, redirecting the conversation.

Jason grunts his assent, and I clear my throat.

“‘Dear Ms. St. Clair, we have received the forwarded documentation regarding the pack status of one unbonded omega, Lydia Anderson. After review, we recognize the transfer of authority over the unbonded omega from the Chauvert Anderson Pack to Pack Saint Clair. However, we will need to meet to discuss details that were glossed over in your haste. We will forward additional documentation to your counsel in the coming weeks. Best wishes.’” Can you believe this load of bull?”

I finish reading and set the page down, leaning back in my chair and crossing one leg over the other.

Jason sighs heavily, quiet for a moment, before speaking. “Honestly, considering it’s probably my mother behind this bullshit, I’m surprised it wasn’t more strongly worded. Though I’m not sure what they mean by ‘details,’” he says at last.

Rhett swears under his breath and sighs. I can almost picture how he’d rub the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Is Louisiana one of those states that has alpha dowry laws still on the books? I would have thought they’d all been phased out.”

“Explain,” I prompt, the word clipped.

“Me mum once talked about how her Pa was expected to have a dowry set aside for when he found a mate. He didn’t do it, and me Gran wouldn’t have accepted the money even if he had it. Mum might be tough, but she learned how to burn her bras from the best. She ran on about how she wouldn’t be putting one together for me or Mia, because we shouldn’t need money to attract a worthy partner,” Rhett goes on.

“So you think Samuel is going to make uspay himfor Lydia? Like she’s some piece of chattel,” I scoff, hackles rising.

“Yeah, I know. I have a few cousins who still practice it, but they’re generally considered the family weirdos. They still believe in true mates and celibacy until marriage, like we live in some sort of fairy story and not the twenty-first century,” Rhett replies, just as incredulous.

“Don’t get me wrong. I was raised with some backward notions, and quote, unquote traditional values, but if you told my father that finding me a partner would mean negotiating an exchange of assets, he would have had a stroke,” I snort, amused by the idea of my father having to give something up for me to continue the family name. I would have died a virgin, for sure.

“It’s just an idea. We’ll have to investigate things to see if that’s what they’re referencing, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out to be true,” Rhett adds, laughing at the end.

“What do you think, Jason?” I ask dully, not liking where this is going.

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