Page 19 of Toy No More

Swallowing, I force myself to take a deep breath and push it aside. I’m fine with it. I have to be fine with it. It’s work. Just like my work is work. Jasper isn’t mine to control or hold back, as much as I am not his.

We pull away from each other. “How about we watch that movie I told you about, huh? I see you made breakfast. Smells good,” he says, still holding my hand softly. The way he smiles at me, tender and thankful, makes me feel loved.

I don’t give a crap about his movie, but I want to relax on the couch together and be close, so I give him a quick peck before backing into the kitchen.

“I’ll bring it. Go sit.”

Jasper drops his stuff on the side table and strolls into the living room. “You take care of me so well, don’t you?” I hear him sit down with a sigh while I heat the bacon and eggs. “By the way, Christian Price was very satisfied with your efforts. It looks like yourstellar performancewas the final push he needed to agree on that deal with us. Well done as always, doll.”

I pause, feeling my mouth go dry.

I don’t want to think about him. Not now. “Oh? Good,” I mutter, quickly turning my attention back to the food.Food, bring food to Jasper. Relax together. Jasper and I, no one else.“Let’s not talk about work,” I say, trying to hold my voice steady when bringing him his plate.

Jasper sits on the couch with his arms spread out across the back of it and legs set wide, smirking at me. He seems happy and content, so I put the plate down and sit next to him.

“Go on. I already ate.”

He wraps his hand around my waist and pulls me in, pressing our lips together. “Thank you,” he whispers before kissing me properly, deeply. He does that thing with his tongue that I like, so I let my body fall limper, melting into him. No matter the remainders of someone else’s smell, Jasper’s muscular form is warm against me, and the scent of fresh ocean air overtakes my senses.

I expect him to start eating, but instead, his hand drifts further down, sliding under the fabric of my boxers.

A wave of aversion slithers across me.

“This isn’t what I had in mind,” I whisper hesitantly.

His pheromones grow stronger, filling my chest as I breathe in. Gently, he rubs his palms against my upper thigh and leans in again, kissing my cheek. “I’ll eat after. But first…didn’t you miss me? I’ve missed youverymuch.” Jasper’s lips move down to my neck, then my collarbone. Unlike the men who left those marks on me, who pushed and pulled me all night yesterday, he’s gentle. So gentle I want to cry.

I know I should give him this. Ididmiss him, too.

Nodding, I let him push me back against the couch and watch his lustful expression while he pulls my robe off my shoulders. With hands that held someone else and lips that kissed another, he caresses and tastes and claims my body again, at least erasing the shadows of those who weren’t him.

This is a blessing. This is the best I can hope for in this life, even if it isn’t perfect.

As Jasper looms above me, I empty my mind.

Somehow, I blink and find myself back in the Dollhouse. Feeling strangely hazy and out of it, I glance around. The going is slow this evening. I’m blanking on what I did the past few hours, but it wouldn’t be the first time that had happened.

I run my eyes across the room. Sadie is on the stage, getting humiliated by some poor fool who thinks he will break her. To his dismay, or perhaps arousal, she’s clearly enjoying everything he’s doing. I’m glad at least someone can get the best out of all of this.

Looking further, I notice Daya chatting up two of Jasper’s men. Kobe is one of them. Finally, my mind sharpens with interest. They all seem to be just wasting time—she giggles at something, throwing her ponytail around as she twists and turns playfully. Daya is nowhere near ditsy, but she plays the role of a flirty, ditsybaby girlpretty well.

When she steps toward Kobe after he says something and touches his chest, laughing, it looks completely natural and smooth. Kobe meets her eyes, smiling in a way I haven’t seen him do before.

A ping of discomfort slashes through my chest.

Am I… Why am I feeling jealous right now?

With a frown, I lick my lips and face away. What the hell is wrong with me? The boredom must be melting my brain.

I decide that getting a drink would only benefit me, so I turn to the bar. Unfortunately, a certain somebody is already heading in the same direction. The sound of heels clacking against the floor pulls my attention toward the female patron walking through the room, and she’s looking right at me.

I can tell someone is an alpha by their gait alone, and she definitely is. Tall, with wide shoulders, but still very feminine in her short dress and a formal jacket, the woman of about twice my age has her eyes set on me with a scary intensity. I’ve seen her around before, but never had her as a client.

Guess that’s going to change.Forcing a smile, I seductively lean against the bar and wait for her.

“Hello there, darling,” she speaks in a dignifying, polite sort of voice. The deepness of it is what gives it the edge some might find quite attractive.

“Evening,” I say in a honeyed tone, glancing up and down her body. Alphas love it when omegas glare at them as if they are the best thing on god’s green earth. She’s emitting pheromones already, making it very clear that’s exactly what she wants. They’re unusually strong and crisp. She smells like caramel and oak wood, an uncommon but not entirely unpleasant combination. “What can I help you with?”

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