Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 219 - Stolen Moments

Ella

It isn’t easy to extract Sinclair from the nursery, not after he delighted the children with confessions of his soft side and got roped into endless games of tag and hide and seek. When he eventually shifted into his wolf and started giving the pups rides on his back, I thought Isabel was going to have a conniption. Only naptime brought an end to the fun, though I wasn't thrilled when he suggested we go back to our suite rather than snoozing with the pups. Of course... that was before I realized he intended to nap with me - or not nap, as it were.

I waved goodbye to the children as Sinclair carted me out of the nursery in his arms, a delightfully rumbly laugh vibrating in his chest. "Couldn’t we adopt some of them?” I inquire, kissing his neck. "Just a couple dozen?"

Sinclair gazes down at me indulgently, "Baby when this war is over we can adopt as many pups as you want, but I think we should hold off on giving our enemies more targets for the time being."

"Fine." I groan, throwing my head back dramatically. I hear an appreciative purr, and belatedly realize the movement has given the wolf an excellent view down my dress. I giggle, attempting to pull the fabric together to cover myself, but my mate arches a threatening brow.

"Don't you dare." Sinclair warns, "We've got limited time and much to do little wolf."

I can guess he’s referring to the summit's kick off in the morning, but I'm surprised to see him so early in the afternoon. "Does this mean you finished working?" I ask, licking my lips.

"It wasn't easy, but I made it happen. We’ve got to steal whatever time together we can."

He kicks the door to our suite closed, and I hear Philippe and the other guards disperse to give us privacy. "Aren't there things we should talk about before tomorrow?" I inquire, not wanting to deal with business but also feeling unprepared for the politics awaiting us.

"As far as I'm concerned, that bomb upended half the work I did on this trip and we’ll be entering unchartered territory in the morning whether we talk about it or not." Sinclair replies, tossing me onto the bed. "I would much rather spend our evening this way."

"But

as he strips off my clothes, "I've made my decision

a low growl fills my ears, calling my own wolf out to play. " Bossy alpha.”

a lethal grin, "I seem to remember telling you that I’d be keeping a list of all

at attention, and any hints of the civilized, bubble bath-taking politician are gone. He's pure animal now, and my instincts are driving me to see just how far I can push

I don't have any idea what you're talking about." I quip, pouting my fully lips. "I only did what I thought was

tactic you want to choose, little wolf? Because I was going to focus on the small stuff -leave the serious things for later." He pulls in

too close to home. Now Sinclair wasn't merely going to concoct sensual payments for made-up infractions like wearing clothes in his bed, he was going to address the greatest conflicts in our time apart - things that were part and parcel

in agreement, dropping my

it out of the way." I nod again, because I agree. My mate almost dying was certainly a huge distraction, as is my lineage and the war, but the disagreements and fights we had along the way will only fester if left unresolved. No

with everything I am, and everything I ever will be?" Sinclair inquires, searing me with his

I’d be lost without you?" I counter, blinking

neglect for my well being. At times we go around in circles, 'You were dead!" I cry, about half an hour into the debate. "I needed to find

know you would grieve, but I need you to know that killing yourself or our child is the absolutely last thing I would want. I would hope you would move

you?!" I interrupt, "because I have to say if the tables were turned I would be pretty offended if you got over my demise in a couple of days!" I can see Sinclair getting ready to jump in, so I add, " Besides it wasn't that serious! I would have

what the doctor

the doctor about me!"

about you." He bites back, "So help me Ella, if I do die and you stress yourself into a