ey

sat on the bare wooden edge of the bed, searching my memory of

h to inherit Alpha genes but had no family backing-otherwise

, I rolled up my sleeves and began wiping

tcase, shook it out with a sharp snap, an

d from the bathroom. Emory was taking a shower, and te

how that scent made my tense shoulders d

up an empty glass and stepped out

living room, the bathr

white towel slung low around his narr

ted planes of his chest, tracing over a ja

opping the glass in my hand as my f

ren't you wea

tever I want," he replied, his vo

a glass of amber whiskey and downed it in

n, I glued my eyes

came out to g

r and go back

s down on the marble co

and bolted back into the guest roo

shrill ring of my cell

informing me that the resignation letter I had submitted la

washed over me. As long as I still had my job, I

ged into a neat navy office suit

g table, wearing a bespoke white dres

eld a simple egg sandwich, and the other held a thick, pan-seare

lifting his eyes from the screen, p

nk y

ss from him, sat down, and

across the polished tabletop, stop

ed in, sign this,

ack letters spelled out: Prenuptial Cohabi

line by line, my chest grew

hereabouts, entering his private space, or claiming a si

ontract written to guar

apartment in Graystone?" I let out a bitter

a sharp flash of mocker

sh enough to empty your bank accoun

s the face, and I shot to my feet,

tted out, my voice shaking.

, Emory folded his arms across

your