Finishing out the day after Garrett’s visit is tough. Like, the hardest day I’ve had since I started working here. But when I leave my office and see his car parked beside mine, a small grin tugs at the corners of my mouth.

I don’t know if I should trust him. Everything in my past is telling me not to. But then my heart chimes in and tells me to slow down and open my eyes. A great guy who knows my biggest secret is willing to fight for me. At least, fight for the chance to get to know me better.

Why wouldn’t I at least try to be open about the idea?

I’m not sure what’s possible between us, but I care for Garrett enough to at least see what might come of this strange situation we’re in.

He steps out of the office and closes the distance between us in a few long strides. He has a piece of paper held between his fingers that seems to be the reason for the intense look in his eyes. “Angel.”

“Garrett.” I stop short in the middle of the parking lot, waiting for him to speak first.

“Timothy all but admitted that he’s just trying to get cash from me.” Garrett hands over the sheet of paper, and I quickly glance at it.

“Two million dollars?” My jaw drops at the ridiculous amount of money this man is getting from Garrett. “That doesn’t sound like ‘leave me alone’ money. That sounds like a lifetime of ‘child support’ money.”

He sighs and reaches for my hand. When I instinctively give it to him, Garrett pulls me against his chest. “It’s ‘stay the fuck away from me and my mate’ money. And I’d pay a lot more than that to get rid of that leech and get you back.”

“Your mate?” I crane my neck to look up at Garrett, resting my chin on his firm chest.

“I’d like you to be.” He smiles then drops a kiss on the tip of my nose. “If you can forgive me for being an ass up until now.”

“I wasn’t sure if you felt it too or if I was just imagining it.” I close my eyes and exhale. “You haven’t been an ass. I wasn’t ready for anything either. I’m still not sure I am…”

“But?”

“But my heart broke when I thought you had a mate at home, and I realized how badly I wished things were different.” I squint against the sun then rest my forehead on his chest. “And when you came back today, I might have made a promise to myself that I’d stop pushing you away.”

Garrett slips his hand between us and tilts my head back with this thumb. “No more pushing?”

I shrug and give him a grin. “No more pushing.”

“And you’re willing to see me outside of this place? Like on dates and…overnights?”

I laugh and smack at his chest. “What, are you trying to save a few bucks?”

Garrett doesn’t respond with words. He just closes his eyes and lowers his mouth to mine, taking me in the sweetest and most passionate kiss I’ve ever experienced. All my stress and doubts disappear as this strong man holds me in his arms, showing me just how much I mean to him without saying a single word.

When he breaks away, I’m almost dizzy from the lack of oxygen. If not for Garrett’s firm grip on me, I might have fallen to the ground. But his hold doesn’t waver as he looks me in the eye. “Well then, my angel, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

Garrett’s house is larger than life, and once I park behind him in the circular driveway, I can hardly focus on anything else. He practically sweeps me off my feet and carries me inside, covering me with kisses until we end up in his bedroom.

His bed is soft as he places me on one of the lush pillows adorning the top of a gorgeous comforter. The plushness of the bed and everything on it makes me feel like I’m floating in the clouds. Garrett’s lips move down my body as it screams out for him to take me.

I need him.

Desperately.

As though he can hear my thoughts, Garrett pulls at the buttons on my shirt. After carefully exposing the hard skin that awaits him from beneath its protection, he stares for a long moment before playing with my nipples with his fingertips. They harden under his careful touch, sending a shiver down my spine.

I moan as he pulls back from me briefly, and my eyes fill with desire while he removes his shirt, showing the sculpted body I’ve come to crave. I move my hands down his body, allowing my palms to press against the solid muscle pushing back toward me as he takes me in another kiss. The desire inside me continues to grow as my ass becomes soaked.

This strong, chiseled, masculine man hovering over me barely has to touch me to get me wet and ready for his huge cock. Garrett moves from my lips down to my chest, licking and sucking on my nipples as his hands undo my jeans. When he reaches beneath the fabric, he moans as he discovers I’m dripping wet for him.

Garrett continues moving downward, working his lips over my stomach and to my exposed cock. He quickly laps at my precome, teasing me with just a hint of what he can do before burying his face into my crotch and swallowing my cock.

Once his mouth is on me, I can’t help but squirm. I reach for my nipples, giving them a few tweaks as Garrett’s tongue has me almost ready to explode.

“Garrett…” His name barely escapes my lips as he presses harder against me. The tingle in my belly moves to my shaft as my world explodes. Wave after terse wave of pleasure courses through every inch of my body, sending my release into overdrive.

Garrett looks up from between my legs, his eyes heavy with lust and his mouth covered in my come. I’m not sure when he released his cock, but as he stands, I see it hard and ready. Suddenly, desire floods my body again, as though my last round was just a brief sampling of the main event ahead of us.

Once he’s fully out of his slacks, Garrett positions himself between my legs and thrusts into me. His length fills me completely as he pushes in balls deep. I buck into him, every ounce of me needing him.

Needing his body.

Needing his cock.

I gasp in a breath as he pulls out and then slams back into me, thrusting his hard dick inside my channel until it feels as though I can’t take anymore. He continues to move in and out of me while his hands explore my body.

Garrett’s face is a mixture of lust and adoration as he pants breathlessly, each thrust joining the two of us together and bringing us closer to an inevitable climax. A ball of heat in my center begins to form as the now familiar tingling that only Garrett seems to induce fills my body.

His moans become louder, and I know Garrett is only moments away from shooting his seed into my channel, filling me with his warm come and locking me to him with his knot. I buck into him harder, changing the angle to put more pressure on my prostate.

“Fuck, Angel. I’m gonna come.” Garrett lowers his mouth to the side of my throat as he tenses, his shaft buried deeper than it’s been before. As soon as his sharp teeth nip at my tender skin, my body erupts, and I come hard in the most powerful release I’ve ever felt. Full body convulsions overtake me as Garrett marks me as his mate. Since I’m not a shifter, the traditional scenting ceremony isn’t necessary.

This moment right here, his teeth in my skin, shoving his magical saliva into my bloodstream to combine our DNA into something even more amazing than it already was, is our commitment to each other. My body responds to his claim by coaxing his heavy seed from his cock and holding it within me.

This is what I’ve been looking for.

This is what I need.

Both of us ride our climaxes, and then Garrett collapses beside me in satisfied exhaustion.

Warm kisses against the mark on my neck heal any remnants of the wound he inflicted, but there will be a permanent mark left as evidence of his claim. Everyone will know that I’m Garrett’s.

My belly tightens up as another small orgasm rolls through me. His kisses pepper my skin as his mouth glides from my ear and to my breathless lips. “You’re mine now, Angel,” he says against my skin. “Always.”

“Yes, Garrett.” I shiver at the possession in his voice. For many reasons. “I’m yours.”

Garrett growls near my ear, sending goose bumps flying across my skin. “My sweet angel, I want you in my bed…and in my life.”

I roll gently against him, allowing his hands to cradle my body and pull me against his solid form. The tear that slips from my eye makes me feel silly, yet somehow, this feels right. I’ve been fighting it, trying to convince myself that Garrett and I can’t be together.

Now I realize we can.

What seemed impossible just a few hours ago is now the only choice in my world. I can’t live without him either. I’ve tried and even just a few hours without him in my life is too many.

But there are still a few hurdles we have to overcome.

“It’s just that…” I’m hesitant to continue. Afraid that what I say next will ruin the fantasy world we’re currently in. The dreamlike state seems so fragile that I’m afraid it’ll crack and shatter at any moment.

But it’s better to know now than to find out when I’ve become more invested.

“What is it, Angel?”

“Well, there’s Henry too...”

“Ah yes…your nephew.” His soft chuckle in my ear has me cautious.

“He’ll probably be with me for the foreseeable future.”

“And?” Garrett seems oblivious to what I’m trying to say.

“And we’re a package deal.”

“Andre…” It’s one of the few times I’ve heard him call me by my real name. The sound of it dripping from his lips is magical. “I don’t expect you to change your life to be with me. I know your nephew means the world to you. And I hope that, given time, he’ll give me the chance to get to know him better.”

A laugh escapes my throat as I exhale. “I’m sure Henry won’t have a problem with that. Eli has definitely helped get him out of his shell.”

Garrett’s arms tense around me.

I turn to face him, noticing the worried expression on his features. “What’s wrong?”

“I do have one condition, and I’m not willing to make any concessions on this, Angel.”

“And what’s that?”

“That you no longer sleep with other men. Only me.” His tone is serious, and his blue eyes lock on to mine. “And I promise that you are the only man I’ll ever even consider sharing my bed with.”

“Garrett,” I say softly, knowing he’s not going to like what I have to say next. “You know I have to work. And Fate Advisors is the best place for me right now.”

“I’ve already got that handled,” he replies with a coy smirk.

“What did you do?” I quirk an eyebrow, curious to know what plans for my life Garrett has made.

“Okay, give me a chance to explain.” He gets the words out quickly to keep my temper at bay. “Mark is looking to continue expanding the advisory since it’s doing so well. We talked, and he thinks it might be a good idea for you to start doing some of the more administrative duties.”

“I can’t make the money I make now as an assistant.” The words seem harsh but true. I can’t take a cut in pay now, especially when I’m so close to making a difference for my people.

“Trust me, if I thought you’d let me pamper you completely and keep you from working, I would… But something tells me you’re not one to sit around the house and do nothing all day.”

He’s right on that account, but it still doesn’t mean I can afford to take a lower-paying job. With my arms crossed, I don’t say a word.

“Mark will fill you in on the details, but you’ll be overseeing the business…as a manager. And I’ve made sure he’s going to pay you what you’re making now.”

A smile reaches the corners of my eyes. “Overseeing Fate Advisors?”

“Yes.”

“And I don’t have to…”

“Never again. Well, except for maybe one client.” He waggles his eyebrows and chuckles.

“If that’s the case…” I walk my fingers up his chest. “I’ll have to increase my fee.” Leaning forward, I take his lips in mine and kiss him.

“Angel, I’d give anything for you.”

And I know he means it.

I’m innately grateful that Garrett is comfortable with Henry, but I’ve kept something from him for too long. It wasn’t an intentional lie by omission, but it’s serious and game-changing and something we should have discussed before he claimed me.

Garrett rolls over and opens his eyes, surprised to find me staring at him. “Angel, are you okay?”

I nod, not saying anything else because it would be a lie.

“Angel.” His curled finger slides along my jaw before his palm wraps around the back of my neck. “What’s wrong?”

“Why did you mark me?” I blurt out, hoping he doesn’t take the question wrong. “We should have talked about it first.”

Hurt and confusion battle for dominance in Garrett’s eyes. “Would you have said no?”

I shrug. “There are a few things you should have known before you made that decision.”

His hand slides down my back until it’s at my hip and Garrett slides me closer to him on the bed. “There’s nothing you can say that will make me regret mating with you, but you’re right. I should have asked your permission first. I got caught up in the moment and thought you felt the same intensity I did.” He rests his forehead on mine. “I’m so sorry for not giving you that choice.”

I swallow hard. “Is it possible to reverse if you do change your mind?”

“Why would I change my mind?” Garrett pulls back and looks me right in the eyes. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I love you, Angel.”

“For now,” I mumble, terrified of how he’s going to take my news.

“For always.” He leans in and kisses my mouth, just softly holding there for a long moment. “Now tell me what you’re so upset about.”

I take a deep breath and confess the words I’m sure will result in instant regret and anger. “I can’t have babies.”

Garrett tenses against me for a fraction of a second. “What do you mean?”

I close my eyes, unable to risk a glimpse of the disappointment he must be feeling right now. “I have a medical condition. I can’t get pregnant. That’s why I never became a surrogate like most of the omegas in my colony. And that’s why I never worried about protection with you.”

Garrett’s eyebrows furrow and he sits up in bed, pulling me onto his lap and covering us both up with the warm comforter. “Is the condition treatable?”

I shrug. “I guess, but it’s ridiculously expensive. I’ve never looked into it because all my extra money goes to my colony. They need me to take care of them financially, which is why I went to work for Mark in the first place.”

Garrett smiles and gives me a deep kiss, adjusting me on his lap when his thick cock starts to fill with blood. “Whether you can have babies or not is irrelevant to me. I want you, Angel. Not a baby maker.”

“Really?” Tears prick at the back of my eyelids as I fight to hold them in. “You aren’t mad?”

“No, I’m not mad.” He rubs up and down my spine as I melt against Garrett’s chest. “But if there is a treatment and you’d like to pursue it, I’ll pay any amount of money to make you happy. If the ability to have my pups is something you want, then that’s what you’ll get. I’ve never given a lot of thought to settling down or having babies, but if that’s important to you, then we should consider it.”

I lose the battle against my emotions, and tears flow down my cheeks as I bury my face in Garrett’s neck. “I’d like to consider it. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, Angel.” He kisses me hard and I can feel a new and deeper connection between us. “I’d do anything for you.”

I stare into his eyes, panting for air as I struggle to name the sensation I feel. “I love you too, Garrett.”