Hired to Breed (The Hired Series Book 3)

by Leann Ryans

  Tearing the sheets off the bed in the hopes it would diminish the smell of her, Liam threw himself down on the mattress. He’d spent the morning with his brother Sean arranging his apartment, but he wasn’t tired, and his mind kept chasing itself in circles.

  He pulled his sketchpad off the bedtable to occupy himself but realized the pencil was too short to use comfortably, and he didn’t have another on hand. Grumbling to himself, he rolled to his back and stared up at the ceiling.

  Even with Sean now close by, his brother had to work and wouldn’t be there to distract him all the time. His parents had decided against moving to Eden since he would only be there for a few months and it wasn’t worth selling their home over, so he needed something to keep himself occupied.

  Deciding to see if he could find anyone looking for part-time help, he got up and pulled on a pair of shorts to fetch the tablet from where he’d left it on the couch. On his way back to his room, a sound caught his attention, causing him to freeze in the hallway outside Annalise’s room.

  He didn’t hear anything at first and was about to move on when another muffled moan reached his ears. A grin spread across his face as he moved closer to her door, careful to remain silent.

  The heavy breathing was almost too quiet to notice, but the occasional moan slipped through, sending a fresh surge of blood to his groin. The half-mast he’d sported since his shower went rock hard again, his balls throbbing with the need to unload inside her.

  Biting back his own groan, he gave himself a squeeze as her sounds grew higher in pitch. He knew the moment she came, all sound suddenly ceasing in a silent cry before more muffled noises came through the door.

  Fighting the urge to storm into the room to lap up her release, he backed away. He knew there was no way she could satisfy herself the way he did, and the fact that she’d already given in to the temptation to try made him hopeful that she wouldn’t insist on her scheduled visits for too long.

  He retreated to his room, closing the door quietly behind him. The fist of irritation around his chest had eased, and exhaustion hit, the emotions of the past few hours draining him more than the physical labor of the morning.

  Lying down on the bed, he heaved a sigh. Things were a mess and not going anything like he’d hoped. His only consolation was there was still plenty of time.

  Deciding to wait till morning to look for a job, he closed his eyes and indulged in the fantasy of what he’d wanted to do to Annalise. Something he hoped to get the chance to do once she realized how things could be if she loosened up a little.

  25. Annalise

  She was groggy the next morning, and the irritation from the day before carried over. The way Liam treated her after dinner… She couldn’t even express how it made her feel.

  Used. Dirty. Unwanted, and undesirable.

  He’d barely touched her, doing the minimum to give her what she needed.

  Exactly how she asked him to.

  The anger wasn’t at him, though she told herself it was at first. No, the anger was at herself, for being upset that he’d done as she demanded and kept it impersonal. Despite the way it made her feel at the time, she couldn’t fault Liam.

  The anger and distress did little to curb the lust that had risen within her. The burning spread from her core through her limbs, her belly clenching in pain despite being seeded by the Alpha.

  Nothing said she needed to orgasm or be knotted, but her body demanded the release. After stripping and climbing into bed, she gave in.

  With the fingers of one hand buried in her cunt and the other hand strumming her clit, she did her best to imitate what Liam had done to her during her heat, but reality fell short. She orgasmed, but the gasps of completion turned to sobs of frustration when it failed to satisfy.

  Crying herself to sleep wasn’t a new experience, but it had been years since it happened. It wasn’t something she’d missed, and the weakness it showed only made her angrier.

  By the time she’d dressed and made her way to the kitchen, she was in no mood to see the man responsible for her agitation. Shirtless, one hip leaning against the counter as he stared down at the tablet and sipped from a mug, he was more tempting than he had any right to be. Noticing the dimples in his lower back only made her seethe more.

  “Do you have to strut about half naked all the time?”

  Her snappy tone surprised even her. She could usually keep a better rein on her mouth and emotions.

  Liam’s gaze was icy when it lifted to meet hers, brows raised. For one moment, her heart stopped, the look in his eyes reminding her who the predator was before his lips tipped up and she could breathe again.

  “Did someone not sleep well?”

  The thought that he’d heard her the night before crept in, bringing heat to her cheeks. Turning to pull a mug from the cabinet and set the coffee maker, she assured herself she’d been quiet, and the walls had sufficient sound proofing.

  “Actually, I want to discuss something with you if you have a moment.”

  His tone changed from teasing to serious, and when she turned around, he’d set his mug on the counter and faced her. It was Saturday, so she didn’t have work, and she wasn’t going to see her sister until the next day, so she had no reason not to listen.

  She was still tempted to say no simply to escape his presence.

  Crossing her arms over her chest, she nodded for him to go ahead.

  “There’s not much here to keep me occupied, so I was going to look into finding a temporary job. I’ll be sure it doesn’t interfere with your Tuesday and Friday evenings.”

  The reminder of the night before had her narrowing her eyes, but she couldn’t find a valid reason to deny him. She was busy with work during the week, and it wasn’t like she needed him hanging around the house.

  Turning to take her coffee from the machine, she gave Liam a nod. He hadn’t phrased it as a question, but she knew he was looking for her permission.

  “That sounds like a good idea.”

  He flashed her his dimple, sending a wave of heat through her. He’d done his duty the night before, there was no reason for her to feel like she needed him again, but she couldn’t deny the way her nipples tightened into hard points and her panties grew damp.

  Moving away before he could notice the signs of her arousal, she tried to think of an excuse to escape, but he saved her by heading to his room. Letting out a sigh, she ran a hand over her face before swallowing a large gulp of bitter coffee.

  Getting Liam onboard with her plan for what she needed from him had been easier than it was to convince her body she didn’t need more. If her instincts had their way, she’d be wrapped up in the young Alpha all day, not denying her base urges.

  But giving in could lead to things she wasn’t prepared for. She didn’t need a mate to raise a baby, she was perfectly content to do it on her own. Getting tangled up with Liam would only lead to complications later on, and she couldn’t take the risk of putting herself in that position.

  Stepping out onto the patio, Annalise looked over the river below. She pulled in a deep breath of the crisp air, reveling in the quiet she’d never found within the city. She’d only been in Eden a short time, but the beauty of it had grown on her, and she knew she’d miss it when she moved back home. She wasn’t even looking forward to her trip to see her sister the next day, knowing she would have to deal with the crowds and the noise.

  Resting her arms on the railing, she let out a sigh. It was tempting to ignore her responsibilities for the day and spend it enjoying the outdoors instead, but she’d never been the type to do things like that. She planned out her days and stuck to a schedule, always dutiful.

  Turning away from one temptation, she steeled herself against another as she noticed Liam through the glass. Even in jeans and a t-shirt, the man’s body was sinful, and half exposed he set her on fire.

  Wide shoulders tapered to a narrow waist. One she knew her legs fit around just right.

  Annalise shook her head, c
utting off that line of thought. She didn’t know if it was hormones, that Liam was an Alpha, or the fact that she’d been alone so long, but her libido had been on overdrive since her heat, and it was getting distracting.

  She pulled in another long breath before stepping inside to head to her office. It may be her day off, but she could use work as an excuse to hide in her room and ignore the Alpha sharing her home. If she didn’t, she may end up doing something she’d regret.

  26. Annalise

  Annalise bit her lip as another wave of nausea passed through her. There was nothing left in her stomach to lose, bile the only thing she spit into the white porcelain. When the first month passed without morning sickness, she’d thought she was in the clear, but the beginning of her sixth week had assured her she wasn’t going to miss out on one of the worst parts of pregnancy.

  As strange as it was, she welcomed the nausea and sickness. She’d waited so long to get pregnant; she would have been disappointed to miss one of the mainstays.

  Rinsing her mouth out, she brushed her teeth again before smoothing her dress over her belly. It wasn’t noticeable yet, but she felt like there was more of a bump there than before, and it brought a smile to her face.

  She was surprised to see Liam outside her bedroom door when she opened it to head to the kitchen.

  “Are you okay?”

  His brows were drawn together, shoulders tense as he stared down at her. She flushed at the thought that he’d heard her retching, but it was sweet he’d stopped to check on her.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Just morning sickness.”

  His eyes trailed down her, leaving heat in their wake. She’d hardly seen him in the month since he started working except at dinner.

  And their scheduled times.

  She pressed her thighs together as she thought about what would come after dinner that night. Even though he barely touched her during their sessions, she still looked forward to it with a craving that was near addiction. She woke each morning wishing for the taste of him, and fell asleep each night trying to imagine his length locked within her. It had become almost impossible not to beg for his knot when he spilled in her.

  Returning his gaze to her face, he kept her trapped in her doorway, unable to get past him unless she squeezed between him and the wall.

  “You’re eating? Staying hydrated? You should mention the sickness to the doctor to be safe.”

  She raised a brow at Liam, a smile teasing her lips. It was cute to see the big male showing concern.

  “I am. I’ll mention it when I see her this afternoon. I get to hear the heartbeat!”

  Annalise was so excited she couldn’t help announcing it even though it seemed like a silly thing to be thrilled about. Liam’s eyes widened, his body going still in front of her as air rushed from his lungs. She watched his throat work before he finally sucked in a breath.

  “Did you… Do you want to come?”

  She didn’t know why she asked. She doubted he had any interest in the child they created since he wouldn’t be there after the birth, but her sister hadn’t been able to come, and she didn’t have anyone else to share it with.

  Liam winced like she’d stabbed him, and he took a step back from her. Looking away, his hands clenched by his sides.

  “I—I can’t. I have to work.”

  He took the few steps to his bedroom door, turning to look back at her before moving inside.

  “Just let me know everything’s okay.”

  He disappeared before she could respond, finding herself swallowing hard at the sadness in his gaze. She’d forgotten Ms. Haranne said family meant a lot to him, and hadn’t thought to tell him in time to schedule a day off. She wasn’t sure if he was upset he couldn’t go, or at her reminding him what he was missing.

  Letting out a sigh, she rubbed a hand across her belly. Things were still tense between her and Liam, and she didn’t know what to do about it. Her mood swung from wanting to keep him at arm’s distance, to wanting him buried inside her permanently, and he seemed to avoid her just as much as she did him.

  She shoved the worry aside as her stomach rumbled, reminding her it was empty. She was surprised to feel better already since the nausea usually lingered, but she wasn’t going to miss a chance to eat while she could.

  She made a quick breakfast, being sure to leave enough for Liam to eat before he left for the construction site. She’d been surprised to find out he was working for Sandra’s mate, Austin, but it made sense that the construction crews had extra work for anyone who was willing to do it.

  The day passed at a slow drag, her excitement for the afternoon making each minute last a lifetime until it was time to go. She was in such a hurry she showed up to the office twenty minutes early and paced the waiting room until she was called back.

  Stripping out of her clothes, she pulled on the gown and waited for the doctor, not caring about the discomfort the rest of the appointment would bring. Nothing mattered as long as she got to hear her baby’s heartbeat and know it was okay.

  Annalise could barely keep herself still, and startled when the doctor knocked on the door. The smile she received let her know the doctor knew how excited she was. After the usual basic questions about how she was feeling, the doctor finally put her tablet aside and indicated for Annalise to lie down.

  “I want you to try eating a bit more since you’ve lost some weight, but otherwise everything looks good. Let’s listen to that baby. I know that’s what you really want.”

  She barely noticed the feel of the gel on her belly as the doctor moved the wand around. It took a moment, but finally the thump, thump, thump echoed through the room.

  Her smile split her face as tears filled her eyes. Being told she was pregnant was one thing, but the sound of the baby’s heart ticking away inside her was confirmation that everything was going well. That it was real.

  Annalise missed the doctor’s furrowed brow as she wiggled the wand a bit more before smoothing her expression and pulling it away. She barely noticed the exam, or the prick when the doctor took her blood, too busy replaying the sound in her head, wishing there was a way to listen to it constantly.

  The only part she paid attention to was the doctor telling her to schedule an ultrasound in a few weeks, and once again she couldn’t wait for time to pass.

  27. Liam

  His chest ached for the rest of the day, despite doing his best not to think about what Annalise said. What he was missing.

  Liam knew it was better not to think about the baby growing inside her, he couldn’t afford to get attached, but it was impossible not to notice the way she glowed with happiness. He wanted that for himself and hated that he was missing an important moment.

  Grunting as he pushed another piece of sheetrock into place, he glanced over at Austin. He’d been shocked to see the man who ran the site working alongside the rest of them, but it’d raised his respect for the Alpha. Too many higher-ups refused to get their hands dirty, leaving it to their underlings.

  Liam hadn’t known anything about construction when Austin took him on, but Liam was an Alpha, and most of it was plain physical labor that didn’t take much training. Austin had contacted Ms. Haranne to be sure she didn’t object to Liam doing something that could cause injury, but once she’d given her approval he’d taken Liam under his wing.

  Liam had grown to like the other Alpha and envied what he had with his mate. Seeing Austin with Sandra and their little boy caused an ache in his chest that went deeper than mere bone and tissue, but he tried to push the jealousy aside. It only made his time with Annalise harder to bear.

  He gritted his teeth as he remembered what day it was. Bad enough, the bomb she’d dropped that morning, but he had to suffer more torture before the day was through.

  He didn’t know how much more he could take before he broke and rutted her the way his instincts demanded. It had become habit to sneak into the hall after she went to bed, listening to the sounds of her pleasuring herself. It was pure a
gony, but he couldn’t deny the need to hear her.

  The blare of a horn announced the day was done, and he sat back to look at what they’d accomplished. It was satisfying to do work where he could see the results of their efforts at the end of the day, and when his time as a stud was done he’d decided he would request a construction job again.

  Grabbing his things, he turned to say goodbye to Austin but noticed Sandra was already there with Elijah. Choking down the surge of envy that burned the back of his throat, he ducked his head and left.

  Annalise was cooking dinner when he entered the apartment, talking on the phone. He assumed it was her sister since she wouldn’t be talking to anyone else after work, and it was confirmed when he heard her say her nephew’s name.

  Giving her a nod when she glanced up at him as he passed by, Liam headed to his room to clean up. She’d gotten her panties in a twist the one time he’d arrived late and tried to sit down without showering first, and as amusing as it was to see her worked up, he wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.

  Usually he left his tools and things for work by the door so he could grab them as he was leaving in the morning, but she would be in his room after dinner, so he shoved them into the closet. Annalise was anal about things being put away properly.

  “Everything has its place, and every place has its thing, and it doesn’t belong anywhere else.”

  Liam snorted at the memory as he tugged his shirt over his head. She’d been griping about the way he’d put the groceries away, and she’d looked so serious he hadn’t been able to stop himself from cracking a grin. Every time he’d brought home groceries since then he’d been sure to hide something out of place.

  Taking his time in the shower, he made sure the dirt and the sweat of the day was gone before stepping out to towel off. He was just in time to hear her call that dinner was ready.