Page 61 of The Wedding Planner's Manny
“Thank you,” Rhys said softly as he came down from his high.
I chuckled and laid down on the bed next to him. “It was my pleasure. You don't have to thank me for that.”
“Okay.” Rhys nodded, but I could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. Oh well, that would come with time. Because I planned to keep him around for a long time. “There's something...” Rhys paused, searching my face with his eyes. “There's something I need to tell you,” he finally got out.
“Yeah? What do you need to tell me? You're not pregnant withanotherchild are you?” I tried to joke to release some of the tension I felt radiating off him. How could he be so tense so soon after the fun we'd just had? Whatever he wanted to talk about had to be big for him.
Was that why he'd sucked me off?
Because he wanted to put me in a good mood for this conversation?
I wouldn't have been surprised to learn that pleasing your alpha with sex was a survival strategy for Vinist omegas. I thought Rhys knew that he didn't have anything to fear from me...
“I talked to Jeremiah on the phone yesterday,” Rhys said quietly.
I suppressed a sigh. At least that explained why he was falling back on old habits. The memory of his ex. I wished I could delete it from his mind, erase all the lessons the asshole had taught Rhys. “What did you talk about?” I leaned up a little, propping my head on my hand, studying my omega. I couldn't help but feel protective, and a little possessive, whenever Jeremiah's name fell from Rhys' lips.
“The divorce papers. He still hasn't signed them.” Rhys picked at some lint on the bed sheets. “He says he wants me to watch him sign them.”
“You're not going back to Crystal Bay,” I said sharply before I could stop myself. Those people had hurt him and I'd be damned if I let him back in their vicinity.
“I'm not going.” Rhys rested a hand on my arm and when I inhaled, the air was thick with his omega scent. I knew what he was trying to do, even if he wasn't aware of it; he wanted to calm me down with his omega pheromones. But breathing in his scent had the exact opposite effect on me in this situation—I only felt myself grow even more possessive. I wanted to wrap him in my arms and never let go. He wasminenow.
“You're damn right you're not going.” I knew I had no real power over him, but this moment, I liked to imagine that I could stop him from ever leaving the safety of this bed if I so chose. I felt like a wild animal, wanting to bare my teeth at anyone who threatened my omega.
I never knew I had that in me.
And Rhys' next sentence didn't make it better. “Jeremiah's going to come here,” he said.
“Not if he knows what's good for his health.” I nearly hissed. I understood now why Rhys wanted me relaxed for this conversation, but to hell with that. I wasn't going to calmly discuss Rhys coming into contact with that asshole again.
“It might be the only way I'll get him to sign the papers,” Rhys insisted. “He doesn't believe I really want the divorce.”
“Oh, I'll tell him just how much you want that divorce.”
“You'll talk to him?” Rhys sat up, expression brightening as if this was what he'd wanted from the start.
I sat up too, slightly confused. “Youwantme to talk to him?”
Rhys looked down at his belly, and then, so did I. He was getting really big now. The sight almost made me want to pin him to the bed all over again. “Jeremiah can't see me like this,” he said. “Not without another alpha by my side.”
I blinked. What he was saying made sense, but still... “You want to make him believe it's mine?”
“Itcouldbe! For all he knows, we could have been seeing each other from the moment I came back to Oceanport.”
“I'll do anything for you and the baby, Rhys, but what if he asks for a paternity test?”
“He won't. I know him. His pride will be too hurt. Especially when I show him the paper I've been writing.” Rhys’ eyes narrowed in determination.
“What paper?”
“The one I was writing when I met Jeremiah. I’m turning it into an article. Everyone needs to know what it's like to fall into their hands.” He deflated. “I'm rusty and I don't know if I can actually get it published anywhere, but even just working on it helps.”
I could imagine that. Putting his experiences on paper would help him process them, and it was a way to rebel against the community that had abused him too—and one that was so genuinely Rhys that I almost had to smile. “I think that's a great idea. You should finish it and shop it around. I'll help you.
I'm sure I know someone who knows someone who... you know how it goes.” I vaguely waved my hand.
“Idon'tknow how it goes, but I guess I have you for that.” Rhys smiled. “You're really going to help me with this? And with Jeremiah?”
