Page 23 of Vallaverse: Noir
His lips flatten and he gives me a flat look, but he steps away from the bed and sits back down in the chair. “When did you last eat something substantial?”
“I'm fine.”
“Just answer the goddamned question. You need to take care of him, right? Make sure he's fed? Warm? Sexually fucking satisfied? Right? Well, I need that exact same need in regard to you, sugar plum. Answer me.”
“Did you just call me sugar plum?”
“Yes. What was the last thing you ate and when did you eat it?”
My anger fades into mild irritation, but he's right. I won't argue for the sake of arguing. He is my Valla. I don't know exactly what that's going to mean for me, but it's still true. “I ate a sandwich for lunch before I checked into the hotel. I liveon bagels and coffee, lots of coffee, with the occasional sandwich thrown in here and there.”
Pierce closes his eyes, pressing his thumb and pointer finger to his eyebrows as he takes a long-suffering breath. “Unacceptable.”
“Don't start.”
“What did you take in the bathroom?”
“That's none of your business.”
He cracks his eyes, daring me to not answer.
“An anti-inflammatory,” I huff. “That's all. For the leg.”
He opens his eyes the rest of the way and sits back against the back of the chair. “Lots of questions there, but we can talk about that later. Beckett will probably sleep for a little while, don't you think?”
I shrug, rolling my eyes as Pierce follows the movement of my breasts. “Maybe. He does seem exhausted for the moment.”
Pierce smooths his large hand down his thigh. “Come sit with me.”
“No,” I snort. I don't sit on laps.
“Don't be shy. I had to hand you over as soon as I knew you were mine. Surely, you can sit with me for a conversation. I can try to massage some of the ache away, if you'll let me. Come sit with me.”
“I can't.”
“Why not?” He gives me a crooked smile and it's a fight not to return it.
“Because I'm naked.”
He covers his mouth to keep from waking Beckett with a laugh. “Dana, I've been watching you ride that Omega for the past few hours. I've seen every bit of you and touched none of it. Come sit with me. I want to hold you and think about how this is going to work between the three of us.”
I cross my arms over my breasts and plant my feet. “I won't be cowed, Pierce. You might be an almighty Valla, but he's still my Omega. Not yours.”
“He will have to be ours, though, won't he? I can't see how it's going to work otherwise. Come here. Don't make me beg.”
“He's my Omega,” I repeat without moving a muscle. “Not yours.”
“Come sit with me, Alpha. You can sit on the arm of the chair, or even the dresser if you prefer. I just want to be near you.”
“I'll walk to you. I'll sit with you. But he is my Omega,” I declare. “Not yours, and not ours. Mine.”
“You are mine and anything that is yours is also mine.”
“No,” I argue, my previous anger returning. “He is mine alone. Mine to take care of. Mine to protect.”
“As you are mine to care for and protect.” He smiles patiently. “As I just said.”
“He is mine, Valla. Mine.”
