I bite my lip to keep from laughing and squeeze his ass. “Don’t worry, princess. The world could end, time and space could collapse, and Daddy would still find this ass and fuck it, do you know why?”
“Because it’s yours.”
“That’s right.”
“And if your dick falls off?”
“Like you said, I’m a werewolf, and we have regenerative powers. I’d grow it back, longer and fatter and stuff you so full you’d feel me every time you blinked those pretty lashes of yours.”
He groans. “Guess I’m waiting two weeks.”
“That’s if you behave. I’m adding a day for telling your handsy friend about us without my permission.”
“A whole day? C’mon. That’s so unfair.”
I rub my thumb over his lips again. They’re extra tempting today. He needs to leave. “You’re dismissed, McKinnon.”
“But …” He rests his head on my shoulder as if he needs me to carry his weight for just a second. I let him, threading my fingers into his hair, infusing him with some of my strength. He takes a long inhale. “Thank you, Daddy.”
He shines a smirk in my direction before he lifts his duffle over his head and almost skips out of the classroom.
What’s happening to him?
What’s happening to me?
I just had him in my arms, and I already want him back.
I lean backward in the chair, steepling my hands. “Update me on the Ryan Savage situation.”
Tate looks away. Suddenly, he’s a little boy again, one hand in the cookie jar, his mouth about to tell me he’s not taking a cookie, even though I can see that he is.
“Tate.”
“Ryan wants to switch schools.” Tatum’s tight-lipped.
“Why aren’t you happier?” His thumb circles his palm, and he can’t look me in the eyes. “Tate,” I snap.
“His father won’t let him. It was all a waste. If he came here, it would be against his father’s wishes, so no funding.”
Thatwouldexplain the devastation on his face, and yet, I don’t think that’s it. “Maybe it wouldn’t be a waste. Maybe there are other reasons you want him here.”
“There are no other reasons,” he snaps, too fast. “Savage was supposed to be my way into his father’s fat pockets. I’ve already started looking at other prospects.”
Okay, I’ll leave that alone for now, but I think my brother … how do the kids say it? Caught feelings.
“Besides, there’s another big fundraising event at the end of November, and I’ve decided to increase game tickets to as much as I’m allowed. People will pay it to see Ace.”
My jaw tightens. I don’t like the idea of Ace being ogled like a commodity. He’s mine. Not for their admiration. For my use. My hands. My leash.
“That’s a lot to put on his shoulders. He’s not a show pony.”
“Yeah, he fucking is. Agents and teams are chomping at the bit to sign him—that’s the literal definition of a show pony. Don’t feel sorry for him, he knows what he is.”
I hide the way my insides smile. My princess is an arrogant creature to his core, proud of every pair of eyes that follow him. But for Ace, it’s how he enjoys the limelight. And that’s enough. He doesn’t need the added stress of being the one cog holding the whole machine together.
Besides, the only gaze that owns him is mine.
“And yet he’s got to keep up his grades to legally remain on the team,” I remind him.
