Sorenson frowned and shook his head.
“I don’t know about this…I must do some research.”
“Don’t take too long,” Jake told him. “The full moon is tonight. If you want me to breed Ani and get her pregnant in order to circumvent the dire warnings of the prophecy, this is the only shot we’ll get.”
Sorenson scowled.
“Yes, Jacob, I’m well aware of that. But you’ll forgive me for thinking that your motives are less than pure. Only yesterday you were so against breeding the Royal Omega and now you’re not only willing but eager.”
Jake shrugged and squeezed my breast.
“It’s what Ani wants. She always did have me twisted around her little finger.” He started to drop a fond kiss on the cheek but I turned my face up to his and caught his kiss on my lips instead.
“Oh, Jake,” I moaned, and kissed him more deeply. “Please, breed me—I need your knot in me! Please.”
“All right, baby—I told you I’d at least think about it,” Jake murmured, kissing me back as he fondled my breast. “Just try to relax and I’ll help you come again in a little while.” His hand slid down between my legs and he cupped my pussy.
“That feels good but it’s not enough,” I told him, spreading my legs for him. “It’s never enough. I need you to knot me Jake—I need it.”
“Professor please—can’t you see they’ve had a change of heart?” Ophelia pleaded on our behalf. “Anastasia understands now and Jacob loves her and he’s willing to give her what she wants and needs. Just look at them—they can’t keep their hands off each other!”
Sorenson shook his head at the two of us, still moaning and kissing on the bed.
“I must consider this,” he said at last. “I will return.”
Then he turned and left the attic, tromping down the folding stairs in a way that seemed extremely unpromising, to me at least.
TWENTY-FOUR
“We’re going to have to go further to convince him,” I told Jake, as I took a bite of scrambled eggs. Ophelia had prepared another brunch tray for us and, for the moment at least, we had the attic to ourselves while we ate.
“How far are we talking about?” Jake asked, frowning.
I took a deep breath, trying to think how to say it. I had been considering this as I toyed with the ham and eggs and French toast with real raspberry syrup and crème fresh. I knew what I thought needed to happen—I just didn’t know if Jake would go along with it.
“Well?” he demanded, frowning at me. “You’re planning something, Ani—something you think I’m not going to like. Stop trying to think of a way to sell me on it and just say it.”
“I think…” I swallowed hard as I looked up at him. “Jake, I think you’re going to have to fuck me,” I managed to get out.
“What?” He looked at me blankly. “What are you talking about? That’s what we’re trying to avoid, Ani!”
“I don’t mean tonight under the full moon,” I told him. “I mean, a little later on today. Look, think about it,” I went on quickly, before he could object. “If we let Sorenson see that we’re willing to go that far together, surely he’ll believe we’re willing to take it a step further and let you knot me too.”
“You’re talking about me taking your virginity,” Jake said darkly. “I won’t do that to you, Ani. I won’t.”
“You have to,” I argued. “There’s no other way! Look, I’m not saying you should knot me, Jake. Just…just enter me and maybe…maybe come in me.” The words were sticking in my throat, but I got them out somehow anyway. “When Sorenson sees we’re willing to do that, he’ll believe you when you say you’ll go further.”
“And what makes you so sure this is going to work?” Jake demanded.
“Because after you do it, I’ll moan and cry that it isn’t enough—that the silver is making me need more because it’s interfering with the sensation or keeping my needs from being satisfied or something like that,” I told him. “You know I can put on a very convincing act.”
“Well…you’re a pretty good actress, I’ll give you that,” Jake growled. “I would have believed you really wanted me to touch you and make you come earlier if I didn’t know better.”
“And I would have believed you really wanted to touch me and make me come,” I said lightly. A part of me couldn’t help wishing that we weren’t acting—that all of this was real. But I knew better than to wish that, especially knowing how Jake felt about our familial relationship.
He looked at me seriously now.
“Are you sure you want me to do this?” he asked quietly. “For the rest of your life, you’ll remember it was your own brother that took your virginity.”
“Stepbrother,” I corrected him. Reaching up, I cupped his bristly cheek in my palm. “At least…at least I know you’ll be gentle with me—right?”