“Where do I put the suitcase?”

JT hauled his luggage inside the beautiful foyer of Alec’s home, his gaze taking in the sights differently now he knew why he was here. To think he’d raced out of here twice before, in a hurry to escape the passion Alec had unlocked in him.

Soon as he was over the opulence of Alec’s home, his gaze had shifted back to Alec’s ass as he led him upstairs.

“I didn’t want to show you your room yet,” Alec was saying, “but dinner’s not ready, and we might as well occupy ourselves.”

JT snorted softly, an image of Alec under him, the omega naked and writhing for more of the alpha’s touch, begging for a good dicking, and whining his name—that could certainly be one way they might while away the time left until dinner.

“In here,” Alec said, a bit sharply when JT had joined him on the left side of the stairs, and he paused in front of the first door on the left corridor. Alec disappeared in a room a few doors down.

How was he supposed to know when all the doors upstairs were closed? Seriously, did anyone need this much space upstairs?

Rich people, he thought sullenly.

JT filled up the doorway for a moment, ducking his head to avoid thumping it.

Alec spread out his arms before wrapping them around his middle. “Do you like it?”

“It’s fine,” he said, keeping his response short. From what he could see, it had everything he needed…and then some.

The four-poster bed was a bit in excess of pillows. JT pictured Alec rooting around for a bunch of pillows, stealing them from all the other rooms he presumed were guest rooms as well, and bringing them here. It was a comical image, one that brought a smile to the fore.

”I’ll let you rest and settle in.” Alec backtracked from the door then, holding up a finger. “Actually, I wanted to go over the contract first. Ensure we’re both on the same page here.”

JT crossed his arms, nodding at Alec to continue.

Drawing out his phone, Alec closed the bedroom door. “We’ll record our conversation. So we can avoid ‘he said, he said’ later.”

“You don’t believe I’m here for the right intentions.” JT frowned. He couldn’t be working with someone that didn’t trust him.

Alec’s pretty mouth also flipped down. He shifted on his feet, the gesture smacking of his discomfort. “Listen. It’s precaution for you too. I mean, do you trust me?”

“Yes,” JT snapped without hesitation. “Otherwise I wouldn’t be signing up for this crazy idea.” He didn’t add how desperate he was for what that inheritance money promised in helping pay Parrot’s debt. In the meantime, he’d work on the side, help make small payments.

“I just want to turn over every stone before we do this.” Alec held out the phone, the recording screen turned to face JT. “And I’d like it on the record.”

“Fine.”

Alec nodded. “All right, here goes.” He tapped the recording button on his phone’s screen. Introducing himself using his full name, he promised JT his share of the inheritance soon as they had a bouncing baby boy. Holding the phone out to JT, he said, “Your turn.”

“Jeremy Tucker here, better known as JT.” He kept his eyes on Alec as he made his legally binding oath to him. “I promise to help Alec make his baby, just like he promised to give me my money. We’re a team here. Partners.”

As he handed the phone back, he asked, “What if that gets into the wrong hands?”

“It won’t.” Alec was vehement. Changing topics, he then said, “About the wedding. I won’t be inviting family or friends. Most of the people coming are my mom’s friends. They get good gossip around. And we want that gossip, the believability that this is more real than it really is.”

JT leaned against one of the posters of the bed. “We’re on the same page there, too. None of my friends are coming.” He wished it could be different. Only they’d all be better off in the dark. The Strix was a brotherhood first, a biker’s club second. And though he’d want them in on this, JT could see how he’d have to share Parrot’s debt with the loan shark.

That could change how Phoenix and the others at the clubhouse saw their president. Parrot wouldn’t be infallible to them, a pillar of strength and sound mindedness. At least, that was what JT feared most happening. Parrot being stripped of his title and his patches, and all because JT couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

It would be easier if everyone remained clueless as to what he had planned here with Alec.

“We done here?” JT asked, needing to be alone with his thoughts now. Much as he liked Alec, he also had to be communing with himself—preparing for the wedding and all.

Alec smiled. “Yes, we’re done for now. Make yourself comfortable then.”

JT was about to move out of his way when he heard a crash farther down the hall, back in the direction of the staircase. Snapping his head to Alec, he stopped short of asking what the hell made that noise—particularly as he had the sense they were alone.

It reminded him he knew very little of his host…and his partner in crime. Yet JT had spent the past two weeks getting a doctor’s check-up to clear his sexual health, as well as picking up his new fancy suits, getting his beard shaved and keeping his jaw clean, and trading his nose rings for smaller studs. The tattoos he could do nothing about, and seeing as their contract had no ‘until death do us part’ clause, JT figured he was cool on that front.

That and Alec hadn’t mentioned a problem with his body modifications.

Which brought him back to Alec—who was this omega? What had he gotten himself into, and with whom?

Alec’s eyes widened, the raw fear opening his mouth, prompting him to babble, “I’ll be back. Uh, change and settle in. You can unpack your suitcase into that dresser and anything that will crease into that closet. It’s a walk-in. And, um, I’ll fetch you for dinner.”

JT remained in his path.

Alec halted, nearly ramming into JT, anticipating he would move. When the alpha didn’t, Alec craned his head, a frown replacing his smile. “What?”

“Is it just us then?”

Before Alec answered, a thump-thump interrupted him. “I have to go,” he blurted then. “I’ll be back.”

“Alec.” JT folded his arms over his chest. “Are we alone in this monster house of yours?”

Alec stared at him with those wide, innocent eyes, his mouth shut now, his jaw tense, but lips trembling. In fact, his whole body quaked slightly, as if standing still took a massive effort.

Finally, he said, “No.”

“No?” JT raised his brows.

“My mother lives with me. Or I technically live with her.” He pressed his hands together, in prayer mode, holding them up to his face. “Now would you please get out of my way? I need to check on her. She’s coming down for dinner, by the way. So, um, wear one of the suits Bo fitted for you.”

That was it.

No explanation. Well, not yet. JT stepped aside, letting Alec pass with another breathy “Thank you.” Moving into the hall, the alpha watched Alec hastily entering the first room down the hall, the one by the staircase—the one he’d steered JT away from before showing him his guest room.

So, Alec lived with his mother. Huh? JT hadn’t seen that coming. Then again, one member made this large house a bit lonelier. And it did tamp down the odd fear that Alec braved his nights alone.

It also made this situation more awkward.

Had he already told his mother about what they were doing? What would she be like when JT met her? Surely, no mother would want to trade her son for a fake marriage in which money was the end purpose. And Alec was young enough to still be finding his way around the world. JT had thirty-five years to do that.

Stirring from his rooted place in the hall, he went back into his temporary room. Tackling the suitcase would give him something to preoccupy his curiosity. There was no way he was trailing after Alec and eavesdropping on the omega and his mother. Doing as Alec pointed out, JT tucked his folded articles into the sturdy cherry pine dresser, hiding away his biker cuts, his suits going up in the walk-in closet.

After he was done, he zipped up and set his emptied suitcase into the corner, his feet moving in the direction of the French balcony. His room faced the expansive backyard. Acres of plot stretched out in the blue-gray dusk, the white snow illuminating everything, brightening up the world despite the darkening sky.

JT released the curtain, and he drew out his phone.

Parrot hadn’t called yet…meaning he hadn’t arrived home and found the note JT had left on his bed. Or maybe he had, and he was stewing over JT’s sudden departure. Though he had ample time to talk to him, the last two weeks of preparation for moving house had kept JT from Parrot. It hadn’t helped that Parrot was still giving him the cold shoulder.

JT had the sense that his beta friend and roommate had dug in his heels on this silent treatment, assuming that JT’s suddenly busy schedule was a reason to avoid him—and therefore a reason to ignore him.

“Stubborn ass,” JT said, his thumbs poised to key a message to Parrot, ask after the note, highlight that he had left their condo. He started a lengthy text, and when he ran out of characters, he read over the message, frowning.

JT had rambled on about Parrot taking care of himself, of cleaning up and ensuring that the house didn’t get infested with cockroaches. What he hadn’t done was ask after the twelve thousand and the loan shark, and he hadn’t asked if Parrot was angry at him. He certainly hadn’t apologized.

Shaking his head, he deleted it.

A knock on his door forced him to back out of the text app, and tuck the phone back into his pocket.

“Come in.” JT hadn’t thought his voice was gruff, but there it was, pulsating with the jagged guilt of leaving Parrot behind and in the dark about his future marriage…and baby-making plans.

Alec opened the door, his hand on the door handle tightening. “Dinner’s ready almost. You can head downstairs if you’re all done in here.” He took a look around, his avoidant gaze piercing JT’s heart, twisting his gut and churning his stomach something sour.

With his heart knocking away faster over his ribs, JT nodded noncommittally. “I’m almost done here. I need to change is all.”

“Is something wrong?” Alec stepped into the room.

JT had slipped and the tension wafting off of him signaled Alec like a homing beacon. He’d have to be careful around the omega, apparently. Last thing he wanted, or needed, were his two worlds colliding and exploding spectacularly in his face.

“No, I’m fine. Just a bit famished.”

“Oh,” he said, offering a small smile. “Sorry for the wait. I, uh, guess I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

The sight of his smile softened JT up for a moment. Nodding again, he massaged a hand over his jaw, unused to how smooth his skin was without the cover of his rough, black beard. “Yeah, see you in a bit, kid.”

Alec closed the door, his soft footfalls growing faint at his exit.

JT drew out his phone again, knowing that no message from Parrot awaited him. He had his phone on, and therefore no excuse to be checking it like crazy. Tucking it under his pillow, he abandoned it for the closet.

Choosing the first suit he grabbed, he dressed blindly, his movements sluggish as his mind turned over what Parrot could be doing right then…and also how his first dinner would be like with Alec, and the omega’s mother.

Alec met him in the foyer, still wearing his button sweater and dark wash jeans, his bow tie the only touch of formality in his outfit. They couldn’t be an odder pair, and it had nothing to do with JT’s foot on Alec, though that added to the hilarity of meeting each other halfway.

“You went with the three-piece suit. The plaid wool looks good on you.”

JT looked down at the dark blue suit, shrugging. “I wouldn’t have a clue. Though I guessed I wouldn’t go wrong, since you chose your favorites.”

Alec shifted his gaze, an embarrassed, but happy smile lifting his cheeks. “It’s this way.”

JT followed him to the dining area, set off from the cavernous open layout for the family room and kitchen. Passing the interior French doors into the room, JT eyed the large dining table. It could seat twelve people, and yet only one thin woman in head-to-toe gray sat near the middle of the table, her hand stilling in its motion carrying the champagne flute to her mouth.

Face veiled, JT imagined she would have to lift it up to enjoy the beverage.

She settled the glass down at Alec’s address.

“Mom, this is Jeremy Tucker,” he said, turning to the alpha with a ready, bright smile. “JT, my mom, Isolde Melville.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jeremy,” she nodded, and that was it. She remained stiff until Alec sat and JT mimicked his action. They were waited on by staff that flabbergasted JT. It was like he’d stepped into another life. And he thought the condo was too pricey for him. This was…something else, that was for sure.

“I hired them for the day,” Alec whispered, leaning in.

They sat together, facing his mother, who ate daintily, lifting up her veil and aiming her fork for her small, pink mouth. JT spied red scars over her left side of her jaw, but he redirected his attention elsewhere before she caught onto his interest.

Alec had so readily shared information about the temporary wait staff, JT wondered if he could ask more about his future mother-in-law. It would be best done with the two of them alone though.

Later, he promised. He had some questions for Alec. And they still had to discuss the contract he’d been talking about; the one that would protect both of their interests in this charade of a marriage, and if Alec did get pregnant.

JT didn’t want any child of his raised apart from him, so they’d have talk co-parenting. He couldn’t believe he was even thinking about doing this.

Sneaking a glance at Alec, and the omega’s hearty appetite, JT remembered why he wanted Alec…why he needed him, and why he’d agreed to this craziness. He hadn’t shaken Alec out of his system, and the only solution it seemed was more sex. Since he’d already tried to forget him—he had three years of failed proof of it.

That and the thought of Alec with some other alpha, belly rounded from another’s seed, had made him see red.

Mine, he thought.

Alec licked his lips and looked his way. Seeing the unspoken concern in his eyes, JT shook his head. Under the table, he found Alec’s thigh and rested his hand there, smiling when Alec’s body stiffened. He kept his hand there possessively, eating more voraciously now, glad that he’d already sliced the tender roast beef tenderloin.

Eating heartily was important as he planned to burn through most of those calories getting to know Alec better…in his guest room.

Squeezing his lover’s thigh again, JT indulged the same dangerous thought once more, Mine.