Page 62 of His Master

“We could even draft a set of revised bylaws, including whatever specifications you need,” Frederick said.

I was exhausted, but I still had enough of a brain to say, “All that’s really needed is the ability to oust a family member without the entire company dissolving. And to get rid of that draconian non-compete clause my uncle put into place.”

“Mason said something to Victor about the two of them potentially doing business together,” Simon mentioned with a smile. “Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“It would,” Ollie said, smiling between me and Simon like he loved the idea of me not only joining the family through a bond, but through business as well.

“Leave this with us and we’ll handle it,” Frederick said.

Their kindness nearly knocked the wind out of me. I so wasn’t used to being part of a functional family that actually stuck together and supported one another. It was a far cry from the competitive nature of my own family, so much so that it just about short-circuited my brain. How could people who had only just met me, and who could see the collar and restraints that marked the nature of my and Simon’s relationship, just offer support that could only be hired for tens of thousands of dollars? How could anyone be so nice?

Simon rested a hand on my thigh under the table. “We’d be grateful for any help you can give,” he said softly, glancing from his parents to me, then smiling softly. “But right now, we really need to get some sleep before the board meeting this morning.”

“Yes, of course,” Ollie said, getting up and taking everyone’s empty coffee cups. “You two go nap for a few hours.”

“I still have some questions,” Det. Shirley, who had listened to the whole conversation about Victory Holdings like she was taking mental notes, said. “Not about the kidnapping. I can see now that is a non-event. I have questions about your uncle’sbusiness dealings. They connect a little too perfectly with some other things I’ve been working on.”

“I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have about it,” I said, trying to fight through my exhaustion.

“Later,” Det. Shirley said, holding up one hand. “You’re clearly exhausted, and you have bigger fish to fry at the moment.” She reached into the inner pocket of her jacket and handed me a business card. “Here’s how to contact me if you need to.”

I thanked her, grateful for her help.

We all stood and a round of goodbyes were said as Det. Shirley left. Then Ollie insisted on showing Simon and me through the house to Simon’s bedroom, even though Simon obviously knew where his own room in his home was.

I could tell his parents were treating him differently, though, and I didn’t think it was the collar and restraints. They accepted our roles so readily that I knew everything Hayden had hinted at earlier was true. The way they treated Simon now was more like a respected guest, like a married son, rather than their baby.

“They’re acting like we’re already married,” Simon said, by way of an apology, once we were alone in his room, beginning to undress for what I hoped would be a few hours’ sleep.

“Well,” I said, “aren’t we, in a way?”

Simon caught his breath. “Are we?” he asked, hope and uncertainty radiating from him.

I approached him and helped him out of his shirt. I didn’t stop there. Piece by piece, I stripped off everything he was wearing, down to his socks and shoes.

When Simon stood naked, wearing just the marks of his service to me, already growing hard, I clasped my hands on both sides of his beautiful, tired face and tilted it up to me.

“Simon Kipling,” I said, holding his gaze with a hard stare that I could feel melted him straight into his slave place. “You’remine. I own you. You are my possession in every way…and you are my heart. You are the air in my lungs and the cum filling my balls.” I couldn’t hide the wicked grin that took my lips with that last comparison.

“You will marry me,” I went on. “I want our bond to be on every level, physical, social, and spiritual. You are my everything, and I want the world to know it.”

Simon drew in a shaky breath. “Yes, Master,” he whispered, his lip wobbling. He then added. “I love you.”

I smiled even more. “I love you, too, sweetheart,” I said, then slanted my mouth over his for a kiss.

It was a sweeter kiss than my alpha wanted to take from him, but for that moment, my heart overrode those rough, possessive instincts. That primal alpha, the one that wanted to own and subjugate and put Simon in his place with my cock, was a major part of me, but it wasn’t everything about who I was. Especially after the kindness I’d been shown in the last twenty-four hours, I felt the softer, caring part of me, the part that would one day be paternal, rising up to caress and embrace my omega as well.

We stood at the very beginning of being entirely new people, hopefully better, more fulfilled people. I was so excited about it that I could hardly contain myself.

“Now,” I said, back to sounding harsh and cruel as I took a moment to breathe in Simon’s sweet, omega scent. “Into bed with you.”

“Yes, Master,” Simon said breathlessly, then rushed to do exactly as I’d ordered.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Simon

Three days. It had barely been three days, but my entire life had changed on a profound level. I obeyed Victor’s order, climbing into my own bed, but feeling as though it and me and everything in my world now belonged to the handsome, powerful alpha who had placed a collar around my neck and set me free from the false version of myself I’d been up until that point.

---