Page 31 of Claim Me
"Interesting. Do you change your mind every five minutes? Because you said you have morals. That you wouldn’t let anyone die if you could do something about it. Let me quote you: ‘I will never again put another person at risk.’"
His voice stays calm, edged with faint mockery, like he’s talking to a teenager whose emotions are all over the place.
I blink, uneasy, and look away. He’s right, I couldn’t.
"Okay, good point. Maybe I wouldn’t let that happen, but the question is whether I even want to do this. You, of allpeople… the irony. Blue Lowen, the man half this country hates. Maybe I don’t want to be your bodyguard. Sounds like hell, twenty-three attempts? I’d become a target myself."
"Fair."
Blue turns and walks over to the table.
He sets down a small electronic business card. I’ve seen those before, they’re expensive. It shows his PA’s availability in real time, when you can call and when he’s unavailable. You can request a callback or schedule a meeting.
"If you change your mind, contact my assistant, Simon."
Then he heads for the door. Just like that.
I stand there, stunned. A storm of emotions surges through me, my whole body buzzing with this strange energy, this desperate urgenotto let him leave, wait, wait… what the hell?
"Wait!"
Damn, what is wrong with me?
Blue stops and slowly turns back to me. I’ve noticed he has two modes. Either completely still, like a statue, or sharp and edged with irony. Right now, it’s the first one.
"Will I be able to finish my degree? I’ve got one year left. Online, obviously."
"Yes. You can attend as long as it doesn’t conflict with my business obligations. In those cases, you provide protection. Otherwise, if you have exams, I’ll adjust and make sure you have time to take them."
"My sentence is ten years. Is that how long the contract lasts?"
"Yes."
"And what about… since this is basically a job, and the marriage is only on paper, and it’s ten years… that’s a long time to stay celibate. Would you have a problem if I… had… relationships?" I feel heat rise to my face. "With other omegas."
Is that a flicker on his face? Barely there, but I catch it.
"As long as it doesn’t interfere with your work. And keep it discreet. Not in my face."
"Understood."
A brief silence.
"Will I be able to… see my family? I have my brother and two half-brothers, and I visit my parents regularly. Can I keep that?"
"Of course, again, as long as it doesn’t interfere with my schedule."
"Under the Second Chance program, the participant has to wear an ankle monitor and stay in their contractual husband’s residence. What about that? Won’t it make my job harder?"
"In my case, the judge would approve a modification. The ankle monitor will keep you within about three hundred and twenty-eight feet of me. That’s your designated range."
"One last question. You realize I can only protect you when I’m awake, right? My ability doesn’t work when I’m asleep."
"I’m aware."
Silence. We hold each other’s gaze.
I can’t read anything on the surface, but somehow… I can still read something. Not from his expression, but from his energy.
