Chapter Ten
“I’m the alpha of my pack,” he said. Shit, he’d forgotten all about the clause in his grandfather’s will. “I need to talk to you about something, but not right now.”
“Is it serious?” she asked.
“No. It’s just something I want you to know. We’ll get into it later.” He would only admit to himself that he was a bit nervous about her knowing about his grandfather’s will, but he hoped that by then it wouldn’t be a big deal to her.
“That’s fine.”
He smiled. “Let’s get off the phone and try to get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning. I’m having a van brought to your house with a few guys that will lift the boxes.”
“Who do you think carried them down the stairs?” she asked.
He scowled. “I don’t want you to do that. You could get hurt, and I won’t have it.”
He heard her sigh. “Promise me you won’t carry any more.”
“Fine. I won’t.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“Goodnight, Gideon.”
“Goodnight, mate.”
Gideon hung up and set the phone aside on the nightstand.
He should have thought about the fact that just hearing her voice made his erection even harder and more uncomfortable.
He turned on his mattress and punched his pillow.
He was going to be miserable all night, and he knew jacking off wasn’t going to help.
The only thing that would appease his lust was fucking his mate until they both passed out.
He finally gave up when the night started to lighten with the sun coming up. He showered and dressed.
As he walked through the house, he noticed how his footsteps echoed, and there was no sound but that.
It made him want Jessica there with her staff, so he’d hear more than himself.
He wanted the house to have life again. It hadn’t since his grandfather died, and Gideon had been so busy since then that he hadn’t noticed until that moment.
In the kitchen, he brought out some eggs and broke them into a frying pan before dropping a few slices of bread into the toaster. He pulled out the juice and grabbed a glass and a cup for the coffee that had just started.
After his meal, he cleaned up his mess and walked into his office. He didn’t expect his mate for a few hours, so he decided to get some work done to fill the time until she got there.
He was lost in thought when his phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Alpha, it’s Luca. We’re heading to your mate’s house. Can you tell her that we’re coming?”
“Yes. You’ll have a few more boxes because my mate is bringing a few of her staff with her.”
“Do they know about us? What we are?” Luca asked.
“No. Not yet, but Jessica doesn’t seem worried about it. The staff have been with her for years and are devoted to her.”
“That’s good to know.”
“If you have any problems, call me.”
“I will.”
Gideon dialed Jessica and smiled when she picked up, and was breathless. “Are you jogging?”
“No. Why do you think that?” Jessica asked.
“You’re out of breath, mate.”
“It’s been a hectic morning. We had to wait until my father and sister left, and of course, they took their time.”
Gideon chuckled. “Are you ready to go? Because my men are headed there right now. They’ll be in a white van with a bakery name on the sides.”
“Why?”
“We needed something big enough for everything, and we look less conspicuous,” Gideon told her.
“That’s a good idea. I’m pretty sure my family won’t try to find me, but I can see them coming after Addy and Lucie.”
That really sucked. He knew she tried to sound indifferent, but he could still hear the underlying hurt they were causing and wanted to demolish them.
“I’d like to see them try to come here. I’ve hired a few security guys.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not taking any chances with you,” he said. “I won’t be able to be with you one hundred percent of the time, so I want to know you’re safe.”
She didn’t try to talk him out of it, and he was pleased. He knew they’d have disagreements, but when it came to her safety, he wouldn’t budge.
“I’ll see you soon. Remember, don’t lift anything. My guys will take it out to the van.”
“I know. I’ll be good,” Jessica said.
He grinned because he knew that was costing her a little pride, but she didn’t fight him.
Over an hour later, Gideon paced in front of his front door, impatiently waiting for his mate.
Finally, he heard the driveway alarm bell and walked outside to see the van pull up and stop in front of the stairs to the front door.
One of his men got out of the van and opened the slider. The first thing he saw was his mate. Just being able to have his eyes on her was enough to appease him, at least for a little bit.
Jessica smiled at him as she walked up the stairs.
“Hello,” she said when she stopped.
“Hello. You took your time, mate.”
He could tell she was trying hard to look innocent and not like she was about to laugh.
“I’m sorry, mate,” she said.
It was the first time he’d heard her call him that, and it meant more to him than he thought it would. He lifted her against his chest, dropped his head, and took her mouth with the passion that had taken over his body.
Someone clearing their throat behind them had him raise his head. He stared down at her for a moment before he turned to face Luca.
He ignored his packmate’s grin. “All of Jessica’s things will go to my room, and we’ll show these two ladies their new home. After they pick which suite they want, we’ll move their things in.”
He wrapped an arm around Jessica’s waist and led the ladies down a hallway. He opened the doors. “Take a look, ladies. Pick whatever one you want. They are all basically the same, but the one at the end is bigger than the rest, and is by the door to the kitchen.”
It didn’t take long for the women to choose. Lucie decided on the one the cook had the last time, and Addy picked another larger one across the hall from the cook.
“If you want to wait in your rooms, I’ll have the men deliver your boxes and suitcases.”
“That is fine. Thank you, sir. I think we’ll be very happy here,” Lucie said with a big grin.
“I’m glad to hear it. If you need anything, we’ll be up in the master suite. There is a phone in the kitchen. Just dial three. The kitchen’s number is one, and, Addy, yours is two.”
Addy nodded. “Thank you.”
“I’ve had a cleaning service come in once every couple of weeks. What do you think about continuing? You two will be in charge of what needs to be done. I don’t want either of you to be overwhelmed.”
“Whatever you think, sir,” Addy said. “Once we get used to the house, it will be easier for us.”
He nodded. “Good.” He turned to Lucie. “The kitchen was redone a few years ago. It has barely been used because it’s just me, so you’ll be the first professional to cook in it.”
Lucie smiled broadly. “Now that is a pleasant surprise.”
“I thought you’d like it. Now you can make the room your own. You’ll probably need to make a grocery list. Get whatever you need. I can have someone go to the store for you, too.”
“That’s fine, sir. We’ll see how much we need,” Lucie said.
He turned to Addy. “That goes for you, too. I have no idea what you need or what brands. The cleaning service brings their own. I don’t even know if we have a vacuum. Good luck trying to find it,” he said and chuckled.
“Don’t you worry, sir. Lucie and I will take care of everything.”
“Sounds good.” He looked down at his mate. “Are you ready to go check out our room?”
Jessica pressed her lips together.
“Uh oh, that’s her stubborn look,” Lucie said.
Jessica stuck her tongue out at Lucie.
“I’ll see what the problem is. I’ve got my ways of getting information ... or getting my way.”
He chuckled when the staff laughed, and Jessica snorted.
“Would you like dinner tonight?” Lucie asked.
He looked at Jessica. “We’re staying in tonight, but I’m not sure we have enough food. We could always call out for pizza.”
“We’ll see what we can do. What times are you thinking of for meals?” Lucie asked.
“Oh, Hell. I don’t know. I’ll discuss it with Jessica.”
“You might have a problem with that, as the girl seems to forget to eat sometimes.”
Jessica narrowed her eyes. “Tattletale,” she said to Lucie.
“That won’t happen anymore. I guarantee it,” Gideon said.
Lucie crossed her arms over her chest and nodded once. “Good.”
“Come with me,” Gideon said and led her up the stairs and into their bedroom. He watched her walk around the room and look out the windows. It surprised him when he felt a moment of anxiousness when she didn’t say anything.
“If there is anything you want to change, go for it. This is your house now, too.”
His shoulders relaxed when she turned, and he saw her smiling. As long as she was happy, he was fine.