TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 25

Twenty–Five

LISA POV

I was already in bed when Cameron’s footsteps reached my door.

Nine o’clock exactly. He kept a schedule, and I had learned that quickly. I bathed earlier, applied the lubricant, removed my clothes, and lay back on the bed waiting.

Earlier that afternoon I stood at my window and watched Evangeline return from the hospital. Cameron helped her out of the car, one arm around her waist while she leaned heavily against him. The pale blue dress she wore made her look fragile.

The sight twisted something in my chest. It hurt knowing I was sleeping with her mate, even if she had agreed to it.

Nadia and Franklin were waiting at the entrance. Nadia kissed Evangeline’s cheek while Franklin carried her bags inside. I closed the curtains and stepped away from the window.

Now Cameron stood outside my door.

I took a breath and forced myself to relax.

The door opened. He stepped inside and shut it behind him without looking at me.

No greeting. No acknowledgment.

He started unbuckling his belt. I lay back and spread my legs.

He positioned himself and pushed inside.

Air rushed out of my lungs. He didn’t slow down or give me time to adjust. He drove into me hard, faster than the first night, each thrust knocking the breath from my chest.

Then something unexpected spread through me.

Heat built where we were joined and rolled outward in a wave of sensation. My body responded before I understood what was happening.

“I don’t want to do this,” Cameron muttered, his voice rough. “I don’t want to feel this.”

He moved harder.

“You’re going to carry my heir,” he said under his breath. “I’ll keep filling you until it works. That’s all this is. That’s all you ar

are,“de

are,

The words should have hurt.

Instead another surge of pleasure rolled through me.

My wolf stirred at the dominance in his voice and the way he held me down against the mattress. He drove into me harder. I pressed my face into the pillow and bit down to stay quiet.

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This was supposed to be clinical. A transaction. My body ignored all of that.

His scent thickened around us and my body reacted instantly. I lifted my hips without thinking and softened beneath him, letting him drive deeper. The scent shifted, turning heavier, musky enough to make my head spin..

We weren’t mates. None of this should have felt this intense.

Then he knotted.

The sudden swell locked us together. Cameron went rigid above me and let out a low growl before realizing what he’d done. A curse slipped from him as he tried to pull away, but the knot held us together before loosening enough for him to withdraw.

Warmth spread inside me as he pulled free.

More than the first time.

He stepped back from the bed, breathing hard, while I lay there trembling and feeling him spill from my body.

He grabbed tissues, cleaned himself with sharp movements, threw them into the bin, zipped his pants, and left.

The door slammed behind him.

I stayed on the bed staring at the ceiling while tears ran into my hair.

Not because it hurt.

It hurt less this time. That was the problem.

My body had responded. My body had liked it.

I pulled the blanket over myself and buried my face in the pillow while the sobs came. I hated that my body was cooperating. Hated that the pain was fading. Hated that pleasure had been there at all.

Eventually I forced myself out of bed and went to the bathroom. My phone sat on the counter where I had left it. I opened the ovulation app.

Peak fertility.

Five days left.

Five more days of this.

I thought about telling him not to come back until then, that we could skip a few nights, but the thought faded quickly.

I needed the money. My family needed the money.

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The next morning a servant knocked on my

door

“Lady Evangeline requests your presence at breakfast.”

My stomach tightened.

“When?”

“In twenty minutes. The small dining room.”

I nodded and closed the door.

Twenty minutes to face the woman whose mate had been inside me the night before.

When I entered the dining room Evangeline was already seated at the head of the table, looking radiant despite her hospital stay. She smiled when she saw me.

“Thank you for coming. Please sit.”

I sat across from her while a servant placed eggs, toast, and fresh juice on the table. I stared at my plate and lost my appetite.

Evangeline bit into her toast. “You’ve been here over a week and you still behave like a stranger.”

I looked up.

“You stay in your room. You rarely come out. You never eat with us.” She took another bite. ” You know you’re free to move around the house, right? You’re a guest here.”

A guest.

That was one way to describe it.

“I didn’t want to impose.”

“You aren’t imposing.” She smiled. “I’m feeling much better today. The doctors say the crisis passed. I should recover soon.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“It was awful though,” she continued. “The pain The blood. I was coughing up so much blood, Lisa.”

I shifted in my chair. “I’m sorry you went through that.”

“It’s the intimacy that triggers it,” she said. “The bond pain. When Cameron is with you, tears through me.”

My throat tightened.

“But I thought you and Alpha Cameron performed a muting ritual.”

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re retur

Her smile slipped for a brief second before returning.

“Who told you that?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No, it’s fine.” She waved it away. “I’m just surprised Cameron mentioned it.”

“He didn’t. We bar

speak.”

“Oh.” She relaxed slightly, TRAN

we attempted the Still Howl. It didn’t work as well as we

hoped. I felt the pain the first night, but we’ll attempt it again if necessary. Let’s hope you conceive quickly.”

She sipped her tea. Guilt twisted in my stomach. I’m so sorry.”

“It isn’t your fault.” She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “You’re doing exactly what you were hired to do. I’m grateful.”

She pulled back and continued calmly.

“I just want us to be clear about something. Your time here is temporary. You’re providing a service, and you’re being compensated generously.”

“I understand.”

“Good.” Her smile stayed polite. “You need the money. I appreciate that you’re not trying to complicate things.”

The door opened.

Cameron walked in.

My body went rigid.

Evangeline lit up. “My love.”

She stood and wrapped her arms around his waist “I didn’t know you were joining us.

“Just for a few minutes,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

They sat together with Evangeline holding his arm. I stared at my plate and forced a bite of eggs down my throat.

The door opened again and Nadia walked in, looking half–asleep as she poured herself a glass of juice.

Franklin followed behind her.

“Morning, everyone.” He looked at me. “Lisa, what are your plans today?”

Every head turned toward me.

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“I don’t have any.”

“Would you like to see the city?” Franklin asked. You haven’t left the estate yet. I could show you the pack, maybe a few historical spots.”

“That sounds nice.”

Franklin grinned. “Great. There’s a bakery downtown that-”

“Is this really the time for sightseeing?” Nadia cut in. “We need to train more soldiers and reinforce the borders. You don’t have time to play tour guide.”

Franklin shrugged. “We don’t work twenty–four hours a day.”

“She’s temporary,” Nadia said flatly. “After the child is born she leaves. She doesn’t need to learn pack culture.”

“Nadia,” Evangeline said gently, “there’s no need to be harsh.”

“Someone should say it.”

I set my fork down. “It’s fine, Franklin. I’d rather stay indoors anyway.”

“Nonsense,” Franklin said. “Unless the Alpha objects.”

He looked at Cameron.

Cameron had been staring into his coffee. He glanced up.

“Take her wherever she wants.”

Then he stood and walked out without another word.