TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 119

One hundred and nineteen

Cameron walked in through the front door and my heart skipped. I hated that reaction. Seeing him shouldn’t do this to me.

Alpha Kieran arrived with gifts for me, my mother, and James, stuffed into paper bags. I forced a smile and gave him a quick side hug. She had talked about taking things slow; her burning face betrayed her.

“Alpha Kieran, if patience is your virtue, it hides well.”

Cameron and Franklin laughed.

“Come on,” Kieran said. “I was nearby and thought I’d stop in. Besides, the tea at Wildfangs is excellent.”

The excuse was ridiculous, and everyone laughed anyway. Kieran smiled like he knew exactly how charming he sounded.

“Alpha, if you’re here for my mom, shouldn’t you ask me first?” James said.

“Fair point, my boy.” Kieran clapped his shoulder. “Do I have your permission?”

“That depends.”

“Careful,” I said. “James negotiates like a gambler.”

“Fair,” James said. “But I negotiate because I protect my mother.”

“And I respect that,” Kieran said.

“Forgive my manners,” my mother said. “Come in, sit.”

We moved to the living room. I stayed at the far end from Cameron. It didn’t stop me from looking at him. Every time I did, he was already watching me.

What surprised me most was James talking with Cameron.

I kept getting caught in that awkward dance of looking away and looking back, but I still heard Cameron tell James to enroll at the Beta Academy.

“They’d never pick me,” James said. “I could never make Beta.”

“Never say never,” Franklin said. “You’ll regret not trying.”

“Listen to him,” Cameron said. “Franklin used to be a wimp. Now look at him, all muscle and ready to fight.”

“He’s lazy,” my mother said with a smile. “He doesn’t want the military pushing him harder than he’s ever worked.”

“That’s not true,” James said, bristling. “I’m not afraid of work. But if Alpha Cameron can vouch for me, I wouldn’t mind enrolling.”

“Done,” Cameron said.

I watched the whole exchange and hated what it stirred in me.

The way he spoke to my brother filled me with warmth I didn’t want.

“Dinner, everyone,” my mom said as she stood.

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Kieran stood. “Not yet. I… may I announce something?”

My mother shifted with discomfort.

My heart did several flips when she nodded and he took her hand.

“Susan, things have been rough,” he said. “But I’d like to take you to dinner.”

James whistled.

Franklin and Cameron tried to hide their laughter. Kieran shot them a warning look.

My mom frowned behind her glasses. “You came all this way to ask that?”

He nodded. “And I’ll do it again. You deserve to be asked properly.”

“Mom, just say yes already,” I said. She shot me a look.

“And if I say no?”

I swallowed a groan.

“Then I’ll thank you for the honesty,” Kieran said. “And I’ll keep waiting.”

James giggled like the whole thing entertained him far too much. Mom’s mouth curved into a smile.

“You know what, James?” Franklin said. “Why don’t we play another round of that game? I promise I’ll beat you this time.”

Franklin steered James away, giving my mom and Kieran space.

I slipped into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water and smiled to myself. The respect in Alpha Kieran’s gesture spoke louder than any promise.

The room shrank the moment Cameron walked in behind me. I set the glass on the island and turned.

“It’s nice to see your mom smile again,” he said.

I nodded.

“It still feels unreal,” I said. “Everything is falling into place for her. First the eye surgery that restored her sight. And now an Alpha mate.”

Cameron’s gaze was on me.

Then it hit me.

What was he doing in the kitchen?

“Did you need something?” I asked.

His eyes dropped to my stomach.

“How’s that going?”

I sighed and looked away. “Still getting used to it. Some mornings I wake up feeling fine and the day goes well. Other days I feel like shit.”

Concern sat in his eyes, along with words he didn’t say.

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“Can I touch?”

I blinked, confused. Then I realized he meant my belly.

I wasn’t sure it was appropriate, but the baby was his, so I let him.

He stepped closer. His hand settled on my belly. Warmth spread through me as his hand moved over my skin.

I wore a tank top. His hand rested against bare skin.

I forced myself not to close my eyes, not to show how much his touch affected me.

The space between us disappeared. His gaze dropped to my lips. Desire burned there.

“You’re strong,” he said in an almost whisper. “Six months feels like forever now, but you’ll get through it.”

Silence settled between us until he spoke again.

“So, what are your plans after the baby is born?”

I didn’t know if he meant the question honestly, or if he was reminding me that once this contract ended, I would never see him again.

I shrugged. “I’ll leave. That was the agreement.”

His hand lifted my chin.

“Is that really what you want?”

A tremor ran through me.

“What I want doesn’t matter here. You shouldn’t be saying things like that.”

“I’m asking for honesty. It stops us pretending.”

I frowned.

“Pretending?”

He nodded.

“Kiss me, Lisa.”

I gasped. “You shouldn’t ask me that.”

“I know,” he said.

I didn’t understand why he was making this harder. I knew if we kissed, it wouldn’t stop there.

“I can’t.”

“You can’t, or you won’t?” he said, stepping closer. “Fine then. I’ll turn around and leave.”

Something snapped in me.

I grabbed his collar and pulled him down, crashing my mouth against his.

His warm lips parted immediately under the pressure of mine. The first touch sent heat rushing through my face as our mouths sealed together. His tongue pushed past my lips, stroking along the length of mine in heavy sweeps that made my own tongue curl back against his.

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My lower lip caught between his teeth, the sharp pinch making me gasp into him, then he sucked it gently, tongue flicking over the tender spot. His breath poured hot into my mouth, tasting faintly of lemon, while my hands fisted tighter in his shirt.

Every press and pull of our lips left them swollen and slick, tingling from the constant friction.

I pulled away.

“You…we shouldn’t have done that,” I said, breathless.

He shrugged, far too relaxed for what just happened.

“We can’t hide the truth forever. We’re attracted to each other.”

The word attraction felt weak compared to what I felt, but I kept that to myself.

“Don’t push me away.”

I almost laughed.

“Push you away? I’m protecting what’s left of this complicated-”

He cut me off with another kiss, deeper this time. His mouth opened wide over mine and my nipples hardened painfully against the fabric.

He groaned into my mouth, and one of his hands slid down to grip my ass, fingers digging in deep through my jeans, kneading the flesh in possessive squeezes that lifted me slightly onto my toes.

I rocked my hips forward, grinding my pelvis against the hard ridge of his cock trapped behind his zipper.

His other hand joined the first on my ass, both palms clamping down, spreading me slightly as he pulled me tighter against him. Every roll of my hips dragged my clit along the thick length of him, sending sharp pulses up my spine. Our mouths stayed locked, wet and messy, as his hips snapped in short, controlled jerks that made his erection pulse harder against me.

I pulled away, breathing hard, and put distance between us.

“She needs you,” I said. “I’m walking away before this turns into something we’ll regret.”

“Lisa,” he called.

I shook my head and walked away from the pull that kept dragging me back to him.

I stayed away from him for the rest of the night, and he respected that.

Not long after, they all left.

James kept throwing out theories about how my mom’s new relationship might evolve. I remained silent for the most part.

“Early night?” my mom asked as I stood.

I kissed her goodnight and went upstairs.

Sleep refused to come. I tossed in bed while Cameron’s touch and mouth filled my head.

The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache and felt too cranky to greet the nurse.

“You need breakfast and your medication,” she said.

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I forced down some pancakes. Then she brought the pills and vitamins. Two of them were huge.

“How is this supposed to go down my throat?” I complained, while my mother laughed at how childish I sounded.

I swallowed them with a lot of water and almost gagged.

“It tastes like chalk,” I said.

The nurse smiled. I couldn’t tell if it was sympathy or amusement.

“That’s because they’re full of minerals your body needs. Your body is building a child. That requires cooperation.”

I rolled my eyes.

“How did pregnancy turn into military training?”

“We don’t want to risk deficiencies during pregnancy.”

I finished the water and felt the heaviness settle in.

After everything my body was going through, I wouldn’t even have the right to this child.

It hurt, but it was the truth.

A transaction.

That’s what I kept telling myself.

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