years.
Eric rubs a hand over his face and curses. "My father was waiting out front and saw me before I could duck out again. He didn't know where I'd come from, so he didn't know about you. He was so fucking pissed about me throwing the party and the destruction and mess it caused. He...he told me to get the hell out of his house and never come back. I didn't want to tell him about you, but I didn't want to leave you, either. I figured it was better to let you sneak out on your own than have him say shit to you. I'm so sorry, Hope. I swear I wanted to see you again, but I didn't even know your last name. Hell, I still don't."
"Gabriel," I reply, barely blinking back my tears. I believe him, it's just that all these years I thought he'd simply walked away after he got what he wanted. I didn't know he lived there or who he was.
"Well, I'm glad I found you again, Hope Gabriel," he says, pulling me against his chest. "After that night my father decided to try and write me out of my inheritance. But fuck him, I'll find a loophole. At least, I hope I do. Tomorrow's problem," he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I let myself enjoy this moment in his arms, knowing I won't have many more before I leave with the boys and he has to marry a decent woman to give him heirs.
Not for the first time I wonder if I should tell him the truth that he doesn't need an heir, because he already has two.
Chapter Four
Eric
I wake up expecting to have Hope in my arms, but they're empty. I feel around the bed and realize she's gone and the sheets are cold. She must have snuck out during the night because she was here when I fell asleep.
Last night had been so fucking amazing. I don't know if I'll ever get enough of that woman. At least now she knows the truth about the night we were together. I wanted to see her and I would have if I'd known her last name or had been smart enough to get her phone number. At least I've been given this second chance with her.
Hell, I know we can't be together. She wants enough money to get out of this town and I'm stuck here, taking over for my father. I also know that when it comes down to it, in a few months I may have to suck it up and marry a shifter, because despite how much I loathe the responsibility, I don't intend to be the one who lets a dynasty that's lasted hundreds of years die out.
Continuing the bloodline is why I have to find an appropriate mate to ensure the Coughlin reign continues. Another shifter family is preferred, regardless of the animal of their house. The lion will always be dominant in heirs. Mating with humans is trickier. Some may provide adequate heirs but it's impossible to know in advance since the children won't be able to shift until years later when they reach puberty. Modern DNA testing done by our own specialized scientists may be able to predict, but it's still iffy at best.
Over the last week I think I've met with every type of shifter ever made, including a fucking squirrel woman. Courtney is from a panther pride, about as close a mate as possible since lionesses are extinct. She's beautiful, smart, and classy. I couldn't ask for a better woman to help me rule and give me strong and powerful heirs. Yet, not a single part of me is sexually attracted to her. Whenever I try to think about fucking Courtney my thoughts instantly go instead to a gorgeous redhead.
I've showered and dressed heading to my father's office to start sorting through today's problems, trying to figure out how to do the impossible which is to make everyone happy when Marjorie stops me in the hallway. I can tell by the usually cheerful woman's frown that something must be seriously wrong.
"Everything okay?" I ask.
"Your Grace, I'm sorry to bother you, but I thought you'd want to know that Ms. Gabriel is ill. I think we may need to call the doctor."
Fuck! I knew her blood count was low. Damn it! I should've called him yesterday. Is this why she left my bed during the
Eric rubs a hand over his face and curses. "My father was waiting out front and saw me before I could duck out again. He didn't know where I'd come from, so he didn't know about you. He was so fucking pissed about me throwing the party and the destruction and mess it caused. He...he told me to get the hell out of his house and never come back. I didn't want to tell him about you, but I didn't want to leave you, either. I figured it was better to let you sneak out on your own than have him say shit to you. I'm so sorry, Hope. I swear I wanted to see you again, but I didn't even know your last name. Hell, I still don't."
"Gabriel," I reply, barely blinking back my tears. I believe him, it's just that all these years I thought he'd simply walked away after he got what he wanted. I didn't know he lived there or who he was.
"Well, I'm glad I found you again, Hope Gabriel," he says, pulling me against his chest. "After that night my father decided to try and write me out of my inheritance. But fuck him, I'll find a loophole. At least, I hope I do. Tomorrow's problem," he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I let myself enjoy this moment in his arms, knowing I won't have many more before I leave with the boys and he has to marry a decent woman to give him heirs.
Not for the first time I wonder if I should tell him the truth that he doesn't need an heir, because he already has two.
Chapter Four
Eric
I wake up expecting to have Hope in my arms, but they're empty. I feel around the bed and realize she's gone and the sheets are cold. She must have snuck out during the night because she was here when I fell asleep.
Last night had been so fucking amazing. I don't know if I'll ever get enough of that woman. At least now she knows the truth about the night we were together. I wanted to see her and I would have if I'd known her last name or had been smart enough to get her phone number. At least I've been given this second chance with her.
Hell, I know we can't be together. She wants enough money to get out of this town and I'm stuck here, taking over for my father. I also know that when it comes down to it, in a few months I may have to suck it up and marry a shifter, because despite how much I loathe the responsibility, I don't intend to be the one who lets a dynasty that's lasted hundreds of years die out.
Continuing the bloodline is why I have to find an appropriate mate to ensure the Coughlin reign continues. Another shifter family is preferred, regardless of the animal of their house. The lion will always be dominant in heirs. Mating with humans is trickier. Some may provide adequate heirs but it's impossible to know in advance since the children won't be able to shift until years later when they reach puberty. Modern DNA testing done by our own specialized scientists may be able to predict, but it's still iffy at best.
Over the last week I think I've met with every type of shifter ever made, including a fucking squirrel woman. Courtney is from a panther pride, about as close a mate as possible since lionesses are extinct. She's beautiful, smart, and classy. I couldn't ask for a better woman to help me rule and give me strong and powerful heirs. Yet, not a single part of me is sexually attracted to her. Whenever I try to think about fucking Courtney my thoughts instantly go instead to a gorgeous redhead.
I've showered and dressed heading to my father's office to start sorting through today's problems, trying to figure out how to do the impossible which is to make everyone happy when Marjorie stops me in the hallway. I can tell by the usually cheerful woman's frown that something must be seriously wrong.
"Everything okay?" I ask.
"Your Grace, I'm sorry to bother you, but I thought you'd want to know that Ms. Gabriel is ill. I think we may need to call the doctor."
Fuck! I knew her blood count was low. Damn it! I should've called him yesterday. Is this why she left my bed during the
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