Page 68 of Damaged Princess

She frowns.

"Wrap your legs around my back," I tell her, giving her a grin.

She listens, tucking her legs behind my body as we sit chest to chest. I pull the water out from under my arm, setting it beside us. Then I grab the plate and stretch back into the cushion. It'll help her feel more secure since it gives her a feeling of confinement.

I keep an arm around her lower back and grab the sandwich in the other, offering her a bite. She frowns, but eventually she takes a small bite.

"Such a good girl," I praise her.

Anastasia rolls her eyes with every compliment, but she sure does continue to eat until there's only crust left. She eats a few of the grapes and apple slices along the way.

"You did so well," I tell her, running my palm over the back of her head.

She gives me a bashful smile that sends a pulse of possessiveness through my system.

I clear my throat. "Do you want to snuggle in the nest with me?"

She stares up at me from under her lashes and nods. She's such a dichotomy. She's bold and outgoing at times, and so vulnerable and tender at others. It's no wonder my interest is bordering on obsession. It absolutely triggers my impulses to care for her and she'sfinallystarting to let me in.

I need Ana to see that she has value other than just for sex or to look pretty. She is beautiful, don't get me wrong. She's so stunning sometimes my mouth goes bone-dry when I look at her.

It's just that Anastasia seems really good at keeping the physical act of sex separate from feelings. I'm pretty sure it's a defense mechanism, but I want to break down her walls. If this is going to work long-term, the only way to do that is to build a solid foundationoutsideof heat sex.

"So what you're saying is it's always pure craziness with your family at the holidays," Ana says, running her hand over my chest.

I laugh. "Yeah, pretty much."

"That sounds awesome," she murmurs, staring across the room. "It wasn't like that for me growing up. Our house was huge and empty of friendly faces. I don't think I'll ever puzzle out how my sweet mother ended up with my father."

I run my hand over her back and shoulder.

"You'll never have a holiday like that again," I assure her. "My family is wild, but there was always someone around to keep you company, and we'll have that, too. Did you know Wolfe's parents' pack has eight?"

"We talked about it briefly during one of the nights Vik had Wolfe stay with me while he was working out." She laughs. "I was pretty much ignoring the hell out of him back then, though. I honestly can't imagine living with that many people on a regular basis."

"It's a lot of chaos," I say, smiling down at her. "But it's also a lot of love and laughter."

"I want that," Ana says. Her eyes dart away quickly. "If we can ensure that this problem is taken care of. If not, it wouldn't really be safe for me to bring anyone else into my trouble."

"You mean children?" My mouth is bone-dry all of a sudden. I know I want a yard full of kids, but Ana doesn't answer so I go on. "How do you feel about the idea in general?" I can't hold back the question because, let's face it, alphas and omegas tend to have huge families.

She stays quiet for a few more long seconds. Finally she nods. "I'd like to have a daughter one day. My mom and I were really close. I know Wolfe has developed a weird fascination with saying he's going to knock me up."

She snorts.

"I like the idea of at least a couple kids. That way they always have someone to keep them company."

"I know you'd be an awesome dad," Ana says, snuggling closer to my side. "I'm pretty sure Wolfe is about to pop in here at any second. His giddy excitement is getting closer."

My heart pounds wildly under her palm. She can't bust out something as monumental as telling me I'd be a good dad then segue into Wolfe coming in…

Okay, I'm pouting.

The door pops open, and Wolfe comes inside.

The waves of her heat have been erratic, and I'm really starting to get concerned that we'll have the bad kind of company right when it hits.

"What's up?" Wolfe asks, kicking off his shoes and stomping over to climb the stairs to the nest. "No sex? God, you two are moving at a snail's pace. You were passed by a turtle three trips around the track ago."

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