by Daphne Snow
He had his back to her and he began his voice sounding gloomy and distant. "My father was Raepheal Benson. He owned basically half of Brooklyn and had the other half in his pocket." She had heard of the Bensons and their accumulated wealth but had been too busy with her own family falling to pieces to pay attention to anyone else.
"He discovered his mate, my mother Irina, working for a friend of his." He let out a breath as he cracked eggs and poured milk into a crystal bowl.
"That's good isn't it. I mean everyone wants a mate." She quipped unsure of his reluctance to tell her his beginnings.
"Well, my mother wasn't good enough for my father. She was a maid, not a wealthy heiress. He refused to claim her for years." Frannie wrinkled her brow but said nothing not wanting to risk looking like a hypocrite as she also tried to refuse the claim. She doubted she would have made it for years though.
He whisked the mixture with cinnamon and pumpkin spice flavoring from what she could see. She was intent on hearing the story but she wouldn't deny her mouth was watering.
"Eventually he couldn't hold out. My mother was too beautiful, everyone saw that. Though he laid no claim on her he wasn't a fan of other people's interest in her. She actually looks a bit like Sonya except for the eyes. She had green eyes." That explains where he got those gorgeous emeralds she had a hell of a hard time looking away from.
"Was she a shifter?" It wasn't common but there were times a mate was not a shifter. Sometimes they'd be human or on the even rarer occasion a bloodling.
"Yes, she was a lynx shifter. Unusual but not rare. She was from Russia originally and came over with her best friend. It was another reason my father denied her as his mate though. Claimed he didn't want to 'taint' the bloodline." She didn't miss the hiss in his voice or the slam of the knife as he cut the bread into triangles before letting them soak in the mix.
"Anyways she gave birth to me and my father kept his distance after. From both of us, he didn't acknowledge me as his son until he knew I was able to shift into a bear. He took me from her and only allowed her to see me a few times a month. Normally when he had to go out of town. My mother soon became my babysitter." The sharp intake of breath drew his attention. Frannie was trying so hard not to cry. A shifter child normally doesn't come into their beast until between four and six. To think that he had been ripped away from his mom so young was devastating.
She tried to give him her best reassuring smile but she knew it was wobbly and forced. He took it though sadly smiling back. He started frying up the french toast and it smelled heavenly but her stomach turned as he continued his tale. She hated this is the most he had talked and it was of such horrible memories.
"When she demanded more from him. More time with her son, more time with him even. He berated her and told her she was nothing to him but a womb. It killed her. He killed her. And I was raised to become a cold machine...like him."
"What about his soul wouldn't that have killed him or at least hurt him?"
He let out a choked chuckle. "That was just it though he never claimed her so he barely felt a scratch when she died. Sent her body back to Russia before anyone could say goodbye."
Frannie said nothing as she stood off the stool and went to hug Alex from behind needing to provide him the same strength he provided her. He was so quickly becoming her entire world she hated to see him hurt. He slumped his shoulders, an emotional battle he'd chosen to give up when she wrapped herself around him.
"My mother's family wanted me to marry Sonya. She was like family to them after all. To them it was the only way I could show them I wasn’t like my father. We had a short engagement after my fathers death. But I didn’t love her and I hardly even liked her so I cut it off. I wanted to honor their wishes. Wanted them to see me as a part of the family.” Fran nodded into his back no longer afraid of losing him.
“AFter I broke it off though they can’t see me as anything but a monster.”
"But you're not! You’re not cruel or evil. You're not your father Alex. They have to know that." He flipped the bread in the pan as she still held him.
"I've never given my mother's family a reason to believe I'm any better. I only kept that picture because it reminded me there was a short time when they accepted me. They hate me." Her grip on him tightened at those words. He was a little chilly at times but never this frostbitten man he's playing himself up to be.
"I don't believe that. You're kinda nosey and an asshole and-" He tensed under her unnecessary scrutiny. He knew what he was it would do them no good for her to bring it all back up.
"But you're warm too." After placing all the french toast on a pristine ebony lined porcelain plate he turned in her embrace and she stepped back as he folded his arms across his massive chest.
"How do you know?" For the first time she had seen uncertainty and doubt in his eyes. She would see those gone if she had anything to say about it.
"Do you care that I'm just some poor environmental worker?" His lips were pursed in a line as he shook his head no.
"Do you care that my family are a bunch of drunks?" Again a no.
"Are you going to continue looking for Mina and the others?" This was more for herself than him. A nod made her breathe a sigh of relief.
"Would you ever throw me away? For any reason Alexander Benson would you throw me away?"
“Never.” He growled without hesitation. She stepped back into him and laid a soft kiss on his forearm across his chest.
"Then you’re a good man. You’re nothing like you father Alex." She looked at him intently, the words she so desperately wanted to speak on the tip of her tongue. Thinking about her future here with him was what gave her courage.
"I could never be as in love with you as I am if you were." Her lashes fluttered down hiding her eyes from him. They stood in silence like that for long seconds before he moved. She began to fidget and her anxiety rose, she tried to think quickly of how to rectify the situation.
"I-" She was cut off by a soul-searing kiss. A kiss so intense it told her the depth of his emotions. He loved her just as much as she did him. It made no logical sense they both knew that but there was no point in fighting what they knew in their hearts to be true. Once he finally released her he pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes.
"I love you Francesca. You are everything to me and you will stay with me always. I don’t care if I have to tie you to the bed for the rest of our lives you wont leave me again. " She smiled at that. Isn’t that all she's wanted this whole time to know the real depth of his emotion so she didn’t fear she’d be tossed away. She knew now he would never, could never let her go.
“Ok big guy.” ANd she lifted to her tiptoes and kissed him gently on his stern mouth.
Eventually getting himself back into Alexander mode he demanded she sit down and eat the gigantic stack of warm french toast he had placed in front of her. At the look of disbelief on her face as to how he expected her to so much he handed her a knife and fork and gave her a warning look. He sat next to her a large stack in front of him as well. Again she smiled and it was starting to feel like everything really was going to be okay.
She just wished Mina was safe at home laughing with Ya-Ya and pissing off Zelik. A dark guilt-ridden feeling washed over her as she ate. Her chews slowed until her worry and disgust for herself took over.
Alex was watching her, his face growing solemn as her once starving pace diminished considerably. He must've felt her sense of dread. He placed a hand atop hers and squeezed lightly.
"We will find her. I promise." His voice was gentle and she knew he was doing everything in his power to bring her back. But it didn't quell her worry that she may never see her best friend again, never be able to apologize for being a complete bitch before everything.
Here she was eating the best french toast she'd ever tasted, her mate confessed wholeheartedly he loved her and she was pregnant. She should be in complete bliss but none of it would ever feel right without Mina to share it with.
>
"What did Sonya tell you?" He asked drawing her attention away from her lost kindred spirit. Her pale parlor changed quickly to a pink hue. He had kept his end of the bargain telling her his problems with Dr.Gorky. She should tell him. He was the father after all. Then why did she falter? He had said he loved her; she knew he wouldn't toss her to the wayside.
He gathered her up in his arms and sat her in his lap without so much as a straining groan. The feel of his muscles under the simple black shirt was amazing. She drew little circles on his pectoral as he lightly caressed her hip. His subtle touches though was quickly making her think of less wholesome things.
"Francesca I won't keep asking." A wicked grin showed up pushing the rest of her dreadful feelings away. He is annoyed shall we tease him. Fey taunted but Frannie agreed it'd be rather fun to really make him work for it. Before she did though she asked Fey a question that had been lingering around for a while.
I knew. I do not know when but I knew. Fey confessed. Any other questions Frannie may have had disappeared, they didn't matter now.
"I don't know if you can handle it." She told him the glint in her eye suggestive. He arched a perfect brow. She hopped out of his lap a look of defeat on her face as she slumped her shoulders. He watched her carefully as he always had, waiting to see her next move.
"I think I'm going to call Zelik and tell him. We are close after all." The instant and intense green fire that flared to life in his eyes was captivating. He stood immediately following her movement as she started to leave the kitchen.
"Francesca!" He didn't shout it more of a loud angry growl as she picked up the pace, careful not to strain her still weak body. His long legs were closing the distance quickly as she raced up the steps. He took them two, three steps at a time. He growled audibly again as she had the audacity to giggle.
Posted guards looked on with knowing grins and scared looks as she ran past them back to the bedroom. He was silent as he followed her close behind. Every time he reached out to grab her arm or shoulder he hesitated giving her enough time to move away from his grasp. Once the sliding doors opened enough for her to squeeze through she ran over to the nightstand to grab her phone.
She wasn't really going to call Zelik; she honestly didn't know how he would react anyways. The look of pure possession on Alex's face as he stalked in wrenching the phone gently from her grasp was making her gitty. He tossed her phone behind him and grasped her hips firmly in his large hands. The door slid close keeping the guards from hearing.
"You would rather tell that prick than me? Do you think there is anything he could provide you better than me?" He growled out and nipped at her ear. She stifled a moan and then hit him where she knew she could strike more than one nerve.
"He could be a better lover." She felt his hard cock pressing up against her core and how his hands grew tighter on her as he took in her words. When she looked up at him under her long lashes she gasped at the pure emeralds his eyes had glittered into.
"No one will ever make you feel as good as I can." It was her turn to arch her brow daring him to show her. He didn't disappoint. He kissed her harshly before sucking at her neck and nipping the tiny scar that marked her bond to him. In her mind his aura which had flared angry and sad for weeks was now a flaming purple and wild, the little white light she knew as her child danced brightly beside it.
Alex kissed his way down her body ripping at the leggings that Sonya had helped her dress in. He wasted no time hauling a leg over her shoulder and diving in licking at her already swollen sex. Frannie grasped at his shoulders to hold on. She knew she missed him but she didn't realize how much until his hands were on her touching everywhere. She loved it and Frannie felt so at home in his arms.
His large hands fell to her ass which she knew he loved. She had caught him staring more than once. He squeezed and kneaded her whilst he ate her out like a champ. His tongue delved deeper and she knew she was close feeling her walls clenched around his ever exploring tongue. Her nipples tightened and her legs began to shake.
"Alex..." She breathed right at the precipice and then he just stopped. The whimper that escaped her was honest. He looked up at her his mouth glistening with her juices and her sex clenched again this time around empty air. She needed him so bad.
"Tell me, Francesca." She shook her head not willing to let him win this quickly, if she was anything she was stubborn. He released her ass from his hands and stood. He racked his hands gently up her front taking the shirt gently with him as he went. He stripped her bare whilst he stood there fully clothed but she could see the evidence of his arousal through the jeans he wore. She licked her lips excited. Before he could make another move to tease her into getting what he wanted she dropped to her knees.
Frannie grasped at the hem of his jeans and Alex went to grab her hands which she promptly batted away. There was no way right now he would stop her. She had been thinking about this forever. Sure she admittedly had no idea what she was doing but she wanted this regardless. She unzipped his jeans quickly and he sprang forth.
She grabbed him, his cock thick and heavy ready for her. She had dreams about him here in front of like this. But those were dreams and the reality was so much better. She kissed the head of his cock before taking one long swipe up the length of it. A hand immediately went to her hair at that. "Francesca..." He groaned out.
She guessed she was doing something right. Frannie had only ever given an unsatisfying handy but never sucked on a guy's cock before. So she tried to remember everything she had watched from porn vids over the years but none of it seemed right so she went with instinct. And instinct was telling her to take him in fully and fit as much of him in her mouth as she could. So she did just that.
At first, it seemed like there was no way in sam hell she could fit all of him. But slow inch by inch she did. Alexander groaned and fisted tightly as she did. The bite of pain on her scalp just urged her forward more.
"Good girl- Oh fuck!" A flash of Kaiser's face beamed into her mind. Him calling her a 'good girl' as she turned back to herself, right before he branded Mina.
She popped Alexanders cock out of her mouth, beads of precum dripped down the shaft. He looked at her, his face unreadable.
"Don't call me that anymore...okay?" She asked shyly, not sure how he would take it. She had begged him to before, needed it to get off even but now all she could think of was Kaiser when she heard those words. He grabbed her chin between his fingers and tilted her head up to look at him.
She expected to see disappointment, fury, something that said he wasn't happy with her words. But all she saw was those bright green eyes and understanding. He nodded, he didn’t ask why or question as to what to call her instead. He simply nodded. It was overwhelming. His love for her was astounding and all she wanted to do at that moment was make him feel as good as he made her feel.
She dove back in taking his hot steel once more in her mouth. She sucked and swirled her tongue around him. Taking him so deeply she gagged for a moment but didn't stop. She knew he was trying to control himself but the occasional buck of his hips told her it was hard for him. She was ravenous for him.
"Baby, stop." He let out his voice raspy and his hands sinking deeper into her scalp. He was close but she wouldn't let up not until he came. He tasted salty and his scent was so heady, she loved it.
"Francesca!" He nearly shouted as he pulled her hair harder and backed up a step his cock leaving her mouth with a pop. Her lips were red and saliva mixed with precum dribbled down her chin.
She had a dazed look on her face but she wanted more. She couldn't reach for him again though as he grabbed her up off her and held her close to his chest. Automatically she slung her arms around his neck and her legs as best she could around his torso. He was broadly muscled and her own legs were slightly chunky and hard to interlock. Her back stretched and ached but she didn’t care.
He kissed her as he held her, his lips and tongue melding with hers beautifully. She loved his kisses.
So possessive and wholly him. His cock prodded at her entrance slightly and she so desperately wanted to sink down onto it. He kicked off his pants and never once broke their kiss.
Next thing she knew she was straddled atop him on the bed, his cock at her backside and a feral grin on her mate's face. Frannie was grateful he seemed to have realized laying her on her back would cause her pain. It emitted a dull ache but her need for him overcame that tremendously. One hand lay on her hip the other on her breast tugging at her nipple and rolling it between his fingers.
She moaned loudly not caring who heard or if she sounded like a wailing cat. Frannie lifted her hips not able to wait much longer and plunged herself onto his needy cock. She fell forward pressing her hands onto his chest a dizzying gasp coming from her throat.
He groaned huskily. "Fuck baby." He whispered the deep dark tone making her feel hotter for him. He gave a slight buck but she patted his chest and shook her head. Her auburn wave framing her face gently as her face twisted from the throws of passion as she rode him.