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.

“She all but admitted that she’s just trying to get cash from me.” He 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 woman is getting from him. “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 wife 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 his masculine arms to take me.

I need him.

Desperately.

As though he can hear my thoughts, Garrett pulls at the buttons on my blouse and unclasps my bra. After carefully exposing the soft, supple skin that awaits him from beneath their protection, he stares for a long moment before playing with my nipples with his fingertips. They elongate and harden under his careful touch.

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 of masculinity pushing back toward me as he takes me in another kiss. The desire inside me continues to grow as my pussy 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 breasts, licking and sucking on my nipples as his hands undo my skirt. When he reaches beneath the fabric, he moans as he discovers my opening dripping wet for him.

Garrett continues moving downward, working his lips over my stomach and to my exposed folds. He quickly laps at my juices, teasing me with just a hint of what he can do before burying his tongue inside me and eating me out.

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 core moves to my pussy as my world explodes. Wave after terse wave of pleasure courses through every inch of my body, sending my orgasm 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 course 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 knot 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. I buck into him harder, changing the angle to put more pressure on my clit.

“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 in the most powerful orgasm I’ve ever felt. Full body sensation overtakes 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 I can’t wait to see the permanent evidence of his mark. Everyone will know that I’m Garrett’s and 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 goosebumps 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. It’s wrong and I won’t do it again.

But it’s not just me I have to think about.

“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 Oscar 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.”

“Angie…” 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 giggle escapes my throat as I exhale. “I’m sure Oscar 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 woman 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 a secretary.” 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 family.

“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 I have to be with you.”

And I know he means it.