Page 40 of Bonds of Fate

“You’re being so good, kitten, but we can’t play without a long talk, and we don’t have time. You come to me later, and we can discuss it when we’re both thinking clearly. For now, ask Luca. Luca, you may do as you like, but we’ll talk later.”

Luca’s head whips around at this unusual sexualcarte blanche,and he jumps down with a kiss on his cheek. “Thankyou!” He’s got Nix’s wrist in his hand, and he’s dragging him over to the couch beside Leo, where he goes to his knees and reaches for the zipper on those skinny jeans.

Just as the gate buzzer rings.

They’d forgotten Erin Christie’s appointment, and there was not one dick in the room that wasn’t hard.

Luca looks like he might cry. “Noooooo. Sugar, you said I could.”

Nix grabs Luca’s cheeks and looks directly into his teary eyes. “I will save it for you. You can wait, right, baby? When the lawyer leaves, I will come right back here, and you can make me come.” Gideon is surprised, but he really should have known his kitten would do just the right thing.

“Okay. Luca can be good. Sugar, do I need to ‘people?’ I want to be in my bed instead.”

“You can go. Do you need someone? I’m sorry, but I need to be here with Jay and Nix.”

It’s too much for Luca to decide, and Gideon is grateful again that Leo sees it.

“Luca, let’s go be in your bed and watch Supernatural—that Sam Winchester is yummy. Be sure to say hi to Erin for me. See you after, Nixie.” He kisses Nix’s head.

“Yay! Carry me.” Luca snatches two more pieces of toast from the plate Gideon is clearing—all while perched on Leo’s back.

With Luca safe, he tries to focus on the task at hand.

Jay slides open the glass door to air out the lingering scent of sex, keying in the gate code on his phone for their visitor.

Nix smells so much like sex-vanilla, and there’s no hiding it. He’s shifting in his seat uncomfortably, and Gideon tries not to think of why. Visions of a slippery slick hole are not going to get his wolf or his dick tocalm the fuck down.

The doorbell rings, and Jay answers with the usual pleasantries. Meanwhile, Gideon keeps a close eye on Nix, waryof a repeat of the Riordan-and-Ewan incident. But knowing a visitor was expected seems to make a difference—or maybe his kitten is just getting better at controlling his burgeoning instincts.

“Erin, this is our mate, Phoenix Rena. Nixie, this is your attorney, Erin Christie.”

They nod at each other in greeting as Jay gestures for Erin to take a seat near the open door, where the fresh air drifts in.

She doesn’t so much as blink, completely unfazed—but Gideon is astonished to catch the delicate scent of jasmine, unmistakably beta. Strange. Most professionals making house calls to another pack’s den wear scent blockers, just as the Kennedy pack had. It’s a basic courtesy.

Nix, however, tilts his nose in the air, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.

“Good afternoon, Nix. Thank you for seeing me at your home. I hope I haven’t offended you, but I thought you might prefer to be able to sense my intentions in all the ways Weres have at their disposal?” Ah. Thoughtful. He exchanges his annoyance for appreciation, especially when Nix is far more relaxed, impending dark conversation aside.

“Thank you, Erin. I’m new to this, and I appreciate all the help I can get navigating the changes. I’m grateful you could meet me here.” His kitten is well-spoken, and his smile has evidently held yet another person captive.

Erin clears her throat and stares for a bit longer than is polite, running her finger over her own cheek like she’s vicariously tracing the freckles on Nix’s cheeks. Yup, another admirer.

“May we offer you refreshment? Coffee? Water?” Gideon can be polite, too. Probably.

“Oh no, thank you, though. I hate barging in on you at home, but as I mentioned, I think we should speak away from the office. Nix, may I speak in front of Jay and Gideon?”

That Nix is surprised at her consideration is an understatement. How it speaks to his life’s general lack of autonomy makes Gideon’s heart hurt. The thought that anyone would be grateful even for the novelty of these–the smallest of courtesies–is abhorrent.

“I’myourattorney, Nix. Anything you say to me is confidential, and your alphas have no sway over my decisions, my ability, or my commitment to do what’s best for you. Do you understand?”

“I think I do, yes. Thank you. Jamie and Gideon can stay.”

“Good. Have they told you much about the case against Mr. Hayes?” His kitten flinches at the name.

“Maybe we could call him the accused?” Jay doesn’t enjoy hearing it either, and Gideon just wants him calledThe Deceased.

“Of course.”