Chapter 17 – Vanessa
Chapter Seventeen
Vanessa
“It could have been worse,” Magnum says, cradling my head in his hand as he helps me rinse the conditioner from my hair. “You totally protected me.”
I snort. “You were awake before I was.”
“Yeah, but you hopped right up, covering me with your body like a human shield. You had no fear. It was crazy hot.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely, princess.” He grinds his half-hard cock against my stomach. “And you got me a job. You’re a killer negotiator.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Did he say you were hired? I thought that was still up for discussion over breakfast.”
“Nah, I’m a shoo-in. We’re staying optimistic.” He chuckles, pulling me up and out of the spray of water. “Goddamn, Vanessa. You’re so fucking pretty.”
My eyes dart away, and I shake my head. “I look like a drowned rat.”
“Not even close.” He dips his head, kissing me tenderly.
I’m so lost to the meeting of our mouths that I barely register when my back lands against the cool tile of the shower wall.
Magnum’s warm, slick skin pushing against my front isn’t any more forgiving than the wall. My insides hum, loving the feeling of being trapped, and I almost wish he would lift me up, wrap me around his chest, and do more than kiss me.
Damn omega instincts.
That would be a bad idea with Moretti waiting for us. Then again, it might be a good point to make. He’s not going to get his way all the time. Not if I have anything to say about it.
Magnum’s fingers dig into my jaw as he pulls back from the kiss.
My chest heaves as I stare up at him from under my lashes, and he growls, slamming my back against the wall as he devours me all over again.
“You can’t keep looking at me like that, or we’ll never make it out of here,” he murmurs, nipping at my lower lip.
“I like you a lot,” I blurt out before I can stop myself. “Please don’t leave before we can get to know each other better.”
“You can’t get rid of me that easily.” He brushes his nose against mine, smiling against my lips. “What we did last night was basically foreplay. I still owe you a solid dicking. Plus, it’ll be fun to see how many rooms of the house we can get to before your husband snaps and tries to murder me.”
“Holy shit. You do have a cheating fetish.” I laugh, slapping his chest.
He snorts. “Nah, princess. I have a you fetish.”
My anxiety is high as Magnum and I enter the kitchen. Angel is nowhere to be seen, and I better understand what she meant about this place being a dickfest.
Hawk and Moretti are at the table, and the latter pops out of his chair. Since I saw him in my bedroom, he had time to get dressed. The man is sexy in everything, but the suit he wears fits his tall, lithe frame a little too well.
Shit.
Letting Francesca go might have been a premature choice. She clearly knows how to pick a killer suit.
“Help yourself, Magnum,” Moretti says, prowling toward me with his eyes locked on mine. “I just need a moment to speak to my wife.”
I blink repeatedly, and apparently I don’t protest in time.
Moretti’s hands land on my hips, spinning me back toward the doorway I just came in through. He edges up behind me and guides me out into the hallway. Once we’re a sufficient distance from the kitchen, he steps around in front of me.
It’s unfair how sexy he manages to look. We had the same amount of time to get ready. I showered and got into a fresh outfit, but there was no time to address my hair or even think about makeup.
There are women who are able to look stunning without a stitch of makeup on.
Like Angel.
She has a brand-new baby, wasn’t wearing any makeup, and she’s still beautiful.
I’m not one of those women.
My skin is uneven, I have dark circles under my eyes, no matter if I get a full night’s sleep or not, and my nose has a bump on one side that can only be camouflaged with the right combination of concealer, bronzer, and highlighter.
It’s not that I think I’m hideous when I’m fresh-faced, but I use makeup like an added shield. I always feel more confident when I’ve had time to perfect my look.
Moretti can take a five-minute shower, run his fingers through his hair, and climb into his suit that fits like a glove in less time than it takes me to dry my hair.
I have no idea why it makes me want to punch him in the throat, but here we are.
The man in question brushes the backs of his tattooed fingers over my cheek and tucks an out-of-control wave behind my ear, grinning down at me.
My eyes narrow.
He looks far too pleased, and I wish he would speak.
“Are you going to say whatever you brought me out here to say?” I ask, smiling back.
“A night filled with orgasms should have left you more relaxed,” he says, stepping closer.
“Yes, well, I woke up to Hawk pointing a gun at Magnum’s head, which ruined the relaxed vibes. My cortisol is probably through the roof.” I edge backward, and my ass bumps the wall.
He tsks and follows me forward. “The biker needs to up his game.” His forearm lands against the wall above my head. “I expected a much warmer welcome this morning. I’ve gone out of my way to make this transition as easy as possible for you.”
My head tilts.
I don’t think I can deny that, but I’m also wondering what else he has in store for me. Moretti is fond of mind games, and I’m left waiting for the other shoe to drop. There’s no guarantee that he isn’t just trying to lull me into a false sense of security.
His suit coat hangs open, and I slide my hands up his button-down. It’s dangerous being this close to him when his scent affects me on a foundational level, but I’m not above playing the cards I was dealt.
“Give me your word that you won’t hurt Magnum.” I stretch up onto my tiptoes, wishing I had strapped myself into a pair of heels before leaving the pack bedroom. “Promise that he’ll be safe here and none of your men will give him any trouble, and I’ll be as sweet as pie.”
“Is that right?” he purrs, and his pointy canines press into his lower lip.
My fingers dig into his chest to keep from doing something asinine, like grabbing his tie and yanking his mouth to mine.
“Yes—within reason.” I bat my lashes, smiling sweetly. “I’ll blow you away with my stellar attitude, for at least a day or two.”
“Deal.” He chuckles ominously, and it makes me wonder if I made a bad call. “I have a meeting tonight with several associates. It’s what I brought you out here to discuss. Now that I have a wife, I’ll be expected to bring you as my date.”
His head dips lower, and he brings his hand to my hip. With the way his forearm still rests above my head and the wall at my back, I’m well and truly trapped.
Not that I want to get away.
My instincts scream that it’s risky to have this alpha completely focused on me, but my body buzzes, waiting to see what comes next.
It’s probably a sign that I lack self-preservation skills.
Moretti brushes his lips over mine and pulls away again all too quickly. “Wear something short and flirty. I want them green with envy when they see you on my arm.”
I swallow thickly, offering a shaky nod. “G-Got it.”
Holy shit.
Did I stutter?
I hate that he throws me off so completely that it’s evident in our every encounter.
If I thought dinner last night was awkward, I was wrong.
Breakfast is on an entirely different level.
Hawk barely looks at me, while Magnum scoots his chair closer to mine, repeatedly commenting on how I should eat something.
My nerves are shot, and even if the food smells delicious, I can’t bring myself to actually eat any of it. That’s just asking for an upset stomach.
Moretti mostly stays focused on his phone, but my anxiety rises all over again as he puts it away and assesses the table.
“He’s right. You haven’t touched your food.
” He nods at my plate before his eyes meet mine.
“You can fill out the forms on the clipboard in the pantry if you have any special requests or food aversions.”
“I’m good.” I smile tightly. “Just not very hungry this morning.”
The overwhelming urge to nest washes over me from nowhere.
Moretti continues to stare directly at me, and I squirm in my seat. Magnum tosses his arm around the back of my chair, and I ache to bury my nose in his chest to hide from Moretti’s prying eyes.
Maybe I came off the suppressants too quickly? How badly could they really impact my health? I mean, I’ve been on them for way longer than the doctors recommended, and I’m okay.
Moretti finally nods, his eyes cutting to Magnum. “I assume you have more than the clothes on your back?” He arches a blond brow, gesturing at Mag with the pointer fingers of his interlocked hands.
“I do,” Magnum says, running his fingers through my hair.
Does the man have a death wish?
Could this be any more awkward?
Holy shit.
Am I going to have a panic attack over breakfast?
That would be embarrassing.
“That works out perfectly,” Moretti says. “You and I will head out to handle that. I’d like your opinion on something, anyway. Vanessa, darling, do you have something to fit with what I asked you to wear tonight?”
“What’s tonight?” Magnum asks, glancing between us.
“Vanessa and I have a date.” Moretti sounds entirely too pleased to deliver that tidbit of information before I had the chance. “If you need to grab something new, Hawk will accompany you shopping.”
I shake my head. “I have something.”
Going out right now sounds like a nightmare I want no part of.
“Well, you and Hawk can spend a lazy day around the house,” Moretti says, planting his hands on the table. “Don’t worry, darling. I promise to bring your boyfriend back in one piece.”
Magnum follows me into the pack bedroom, and everything in me wants to drag him into the nest and not let him leave.
My impulses are all out of whack, and I know that. I just don’t have the first idea how to make them chill.
Magnum takes off for the nest, and I follow. He mentioned that he needed to grab his coat before he could leave with Moretti, and I want to talk to him before he goes, even if I have no idea what to say.
He pushes open the door to the nest, heading inside. I have the overwhelming urge to ask him to take his boots off at the door, so he won’t walk across the plush carpet in them.
He crosses the room in a few large strides and climbs the stairs to the den nest while I’m still taking everything in.
The left wall has floor-to-ceiling cupboards, likely filled with extra blankets, pillows, and other nesting supplies.
Straight ahead is a small alcove with a bench seat that takes up the entire space. It looks out over the large picture window in the center, and there are two angled, smaller windows on either side.
The bench has a thick cushioned pad lining the top, several pillows, and a fluffy throw blanket.
Huh.
That might be called a bay window.
A large curtain lines the left side of the alcove, and it’s bunched up. I bet if I pulled the wand, the curtain would extend past the window, fully blocking out the natural lighting.
It’s a beautiful, cozy space.
Though it’s much too open for the first few days of my heat, it would be a perfect place to relax once the waves started to subside.
To the right, there is a set of stairs leading up to a den-style nest with three walls surrounding the oversized mattress. The fourth wall is another heavy set of curtains that can be pulled closed or left open for more space.
Magnum stands next to the bed, strapping himself into a holster that hangs under his arms. If he came onto the property with weapons, he probably shouldn’t have left them in the nest.
Then again, things might have gotten ugly if he and Hawk were both threatening to shoot one another.
I make my way up the stairs as Magnum pulls on his coat, zipping it up and hiding the evidence that he’s armed. The security guys who worked for my father were always carrying loaded weapons, so it’s nothing unusual compared to any other day in my life.
I’m still concerned about what will happen with no one around to referee him and Moretti.
Magnum swaggers toward me with a lazy grin. He has such an effortless style with the combat boots, dark-wash jeans, and black jacket. He doesn’t look concerned about the prospect of spending time with my husband.
Is he putting on an act to make me feel better?
“I made a deal to be extra sweet for the next couple days in exchange for Moretti guaranteeing your safety,” I say as Magnum slides his hand around, cupping my ass. “He sprang the date on me in the hallway before breakfast.”
“So the second he knows you have someone else vying for your attention, he suddenly wants his piece of the Vanessa’s-time pie?” Magnum laughs. “Color me shocked.”
“I have no idea what goes on in that man’s head.”
“Moretti is hard to get a read on, but Hawk isn’t,” he says, dipping his face close to mine. “He was certifiably pissed to find me in your bed this morning.”
“I like Hawk. He’s treated me better than any guard I’ve had,” I tell him. “He takes his job seriously. I think he was upset at Moretti for not warning him.”
“That or he wants to get in your panties. Not that I can blame him.” Magnum kisses me, dragging my lower lip through his teeth.
I melt into his front, wishing he could stay here in the nest with me all day.
Was the time he spent in here yesterday enough to saturate the mattress in his scent? If not, the pack bed definitely smells like a combination of the two of us.
The sensual kiss goes on until I’m clenching my thighs and barely holding myself back from begging him to fuck me.
My hormones are out of control, and his honey and lemon scent isn’t helping me stay clear.
He pulls back, and my eyes pop open as my chest heaves.
He smiles, palming my ass. “You’re so damn tempting. Don’t worry, princess. We’ll catch up after your date tonight. You promised me I’d get to snuggle with your sexy ass as I fall asleep, and that’s one marker I intend to collect on.”