CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Samantha walked into Nate's office during the afternoon, knowing very well that the Alpha would be in a good mood. His mate was safe and absolutely far from anyone approaching her for the whole morning, after all.

She eyed the televisor and toys in the corner. Nate was already getting used to the pups, and he was planning how to use them to woo his woman. That was clever. She would have complimented him if only she wasn't there for another reason.

«Hey, are you going out with your mate on the weekend?» she inquired. «You must need someone to keep the pups, right?»

«What?» Nate asked, confused. «Who told you that?»

He hadn't asked Lara out yet, and they were supposed to spend the weekend all four together.

But having Samantha keep the pups...

«Not for the whole weekend,» he pointed out. Lara wouldn't accept going out for so long. «But Friday evening seems like a good idea.»

The woman smiled, all happy.

«What do you gain from it?»

«I spend time with my adorable nephew and niece.»

«Yes, adorable...» he sighed.

«I want to bond with them as well. Yet you're keeping all three of them hidden... You even took Lara Clayton away from my department!»

«She's my mate; why are you even interested in her?»

Samantha chuckled, moving her weight from one leg to the other.

«I just want to play with the pups.»

«Don't come complaining if they make you go bald.»

«Oh, come on... Such cute things! Moreover, you lucky bastard got twins! It's twice the cuteness.»

«It's twice the trouble.»

«Oh, what else would you like, ah? You have two pups and don't need to convince your mate to have others. I mean, even if you fail, two are better than one.»

She pouted, displeased for her bleak future. She would need to convince Rider to have a pup. And then another. All while keeping some distance.

She wouldn't ask him to bear any responsibility, and he would have accepted, eventually, because he liked the process.

But, for the moment, she could play with Nate's pups. They were cute and small, and she could train her motherly instinct.

Also, she needed a good reason to avoid Rider that week. After he had found out about her ears, she realised they were too close. She needed some time apart to cool down.

She had told too much about herself, and she was starting to feel curious about him. Even just finding out his age was enough to make her feel warm and content... What would have happened if they were to talk again? Oh, no, no... She only wanted sex from him.

«What are you thinking about?» Nate asked, his face blank but his voice suspicious.

«Nothing,» she sighed. «Just useless stuff.»

«So, you will babysit the pups while I date Lara?»

«Yes, of course. There's a cocktail party this Friday. One of the investors of our latest project sent an invitation... I think you two should go.»

«I wasn't planning on attending,» Nate said.

«Have you already sent a rejection?»

«No, I wasn't going to straight out reject him.»

«Well, now you don't have to. Bring your woman out to have fun. And you two can have dinner afterwards, or do something couples do like walking hand in hand under the moon... Stuff like that. A cocktail party isn't supposed to last for long, either way, so you'll have time to have plenty of fun later. I can keep the pups for the whole night if you two want to be alone.»

«That won't be necessary,» Nate sighed. He and Lara wouldn't spend the night together.

Not yet, and not for a long while. She had been clear about her intentions, and he wanted to respect her will. Even if they were fated together, he didn't want her to feel shame or guilt after falling prey to that powerful attraction. He was going to endure the pain and stress of being apart, all in exchange for her trust and affection.

«But it might be a good idea to go out like that,» he said. «Not being alone means she'll relax. Also, introducing Lara to other people will make her feel more stable, right? If I say she's my girlfriend in front of a business partner, she won't doubt my intentions anymore.»

Samantha scratched her head, confused.

«What does she doubt exactly? How bad can you be at flirting, Nate?»

«It's not flirting, Samantha! Lara has been alone for six years, and now she believes no one would be interested in her.»

«Why?»

«I have no clue.»

«Because of the pups? But if they're adorable!»

«Adorable like two raging... Ehm... They're territorial.»

«Of course they are. I mean, they're yours!»

«They will try killing anyone approaching Lara. But that's not what I meant. She doesn't know how beautiful and caring she is. She underestimates herself so much that it hurts me.»

«As far as I could witness, she's smart and hard-working. Not that it matters, but she could do all the tasks I gave her while she worked in sales. She can adapt, and she's pretty as a doll. She wears comfy clothes sometimes, but she'll look gorgeous in a pretty cocktail dress.»

Nate's eyes lost focus for a moment, and he didn't see Samantha or the office anymore. He could only see Lara, wearing a short and cheery dress, smiling at him and offering her hand to hurry up to the party.

«That's a good idea!» he said.

«Awesome,» Samantha exclaimed, grinning happily. «I'm busy now, see you later. I'll come to pick up the pups...»

«You can stay at my place. No need to carry them around, and they already are familiar with the penthouse.»

«Even more awesome. I won't need to clean up in this case.»

She turned her back and left, finally finding the guts to check Rider's message. She had kept it unread for days. She didn't want to fall prey to her instincts, so she needed a commitment to refuse him.

She didn't want to meet him too soon, but her mind wasn't clear around him. She could have ended up accepting just anything while it was better to take a break.

When her eyes finally - oh, finally, after the torture of a long waiting - read his words, she sighed. So much for waiting, all to see that.

- I can't help but see your pretty ass riding your pretty bike every time I close my eyes.