Page 84 of Knight With Benefits

I ran my hands down her sides, watching her lips lift even though her eyes were closed as she wet her hair. My bites glared red on each side of her neck, multiple clean crescents covering the older scars, already half healed from the power of my saliva. Instinct drove me to tug her closer and lick over them again.

Gwyn shivered but didn’t try to pull away, letting me tend to the wounds. A trickle of lust leaked through the bond, tangling with mine, but there was also the feeling that this wasn’t the time.

Reluctantly, I pulled away and reached for the soap to help her wash, restraining myself to a gentle pinch of her nipples and squeezing of her backside. I had to give up the washcloth and let her handle between her legs, because nothing would have stopped me from giving her an orgasm or two if I felt the heat of her or smelled a hint of slick.

Checking my phone again once I’d dried and dressed brought back reality and renewed anger, but Gwyn’s gentle touch on my chest slowed me.

“Food first.”

Anxiety twisted beneath the calm I clung to, tangling with fear and rage. Someone was targeting my omega, damaging her property and threatening her safety. My bear was infuriated that anyone would dare, my alpha side urging to protect her at all costs, while the rational part of me knew there was danger to more than just her no matter what path I chose.

I was in the middle of frying eggs as Gwyn looked out the window, sipping a cup of coffee, when my phone rang and startled me out of the circling thoughts I’d been trapped in. I didn’t recognize the number but decided to answer anyway, the feminine voice on the other end unfamiliar.

“Carl Priler?”

“Yes?”

Gwyn turned to stare at the phone I’d placed on speaker, her brow arched in question. I shrugged, my attention torn between the eggs and who it might be.

“I’m Leigh Blackburn. Gabriel reached out on your behalf and asked me to help you with a law issue.”

Gwyn perked up and came closer as I moved the skillet off the burner, all interest in food forgotten for the moment.

“Yes. I think my mate can give the details.”

Pride bloomed in my chest at being able to call Gwyn my mate, and even her startled stare couldn’t dampen it. I nodded toward the phone, urging her to speak.

“Umm, hi. My name’s Gwyn Cogann. I have a, umm, question about, uh, inheritance I think?”

There was silence over the line for a second before Leigh responded.

“Give me the details.”

Gwyn explained the situation with her prior mate dying and her receiving his life insurance, which she used to purchase the café and duplex, and then her son claiming it belonged to him.

“And just to verify, you were the beneficiary on the insurance? Alone? There was no separate will?”

Gwyn nodded before remembering the other woman couldn’t see her.

“Correct. My—Anthony forgot to change it after the boys were born I guess. I was the only one on it, and he didn’t have a will.”

“I figured as much since the insurance released the money to you. They tend to be quite thorough with making sure things go where they should. Your son has no claim at all, and even if he tried to sue for some reason, you already gave him possession of the home you’d shared. That would be seen as more than enough to satisfy any obligations you had to him. I can send over paperwork stating as much if you’d like something official.”

Gwyn raised her gaze from the screen, staring at me as if she wasn’t sure.

“We would appreciate it,” I said. “Thank you. Do you need an email or address?”

“I already have your information Mr. Priler. I’ll get it to you this afternoon.”

The call ended abruptly, and for a moment a new tide of anxiety rose over her saying she already had my information, but I pushed it away as I watched Gwyn, focusing on the current problem. She should have been happy to know her son couldn’t legally take the café from her, but her expression and the feelings leaking through our bond showed it was more complicated than that.

“You okay?”

She seemed torn, cocking her head before letting out a sigh.

“Yeah. It’s a relief to know I didn’t do anything wrong. I just wish this whole mess wasn’t happening.”

I pulled her against me, resting my chin on top of her head when she laid it against my chest. I hated that she was so torn up over something her son caused, but I was glad to be able to offer her comfort without wondering about her feelings anymore.

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