Page 209 of Knot Their Soldier: Part Three

Her hand comes down on my shoulder, then slides slowly over the front of my jacket. "You listened to me in there. Let me say my piece without interrupting."

"I generally make a habit of listening when you are being competent."

She laughs under her breath. "That was almost nice, Prime A...lpha."

She drags out the pause just long enough to make it obvious what she almost called me.

Prime Asshole.

Her old insult hangs between us, filthy now in a way it never used to be. It should annoy me, and once, it did, but now all I can think about is how wet it makes her when I stop pretending I'm the gentle sort of Alpha and let myself be strict with her. If my little Omega wants her Prime Asshole, I can be that for her. Especially if it leaves her flushed, needy, and climbing into my lap to ask for more.

I slide a hand up the back of her neck and squeeze, not enough to hurt, rather to make it clear I am done pretending she is still the one in control.

"Go on," I say quietly. "Finish it."

Her lashes flutter. "Finish what?"

"That mouthy little insult." My thumb presses under her jaw until she gives me her full attention. "You worked very hard to make sure I heard it. I expect you to have the courage to say it properly."

A pulse jumps in her throat.

"Prime Asshole," she murmurs tentatively, eyes narrowed with suspicion.

I hum and tap her cheek with my finger. "There you are."

Her pupils widen, and the musk of slick hits my nose. She's perfuming unconsciously, and the scent never fails to make my head fuzzy.

"You're not mad?" she asks, her eyes darting between mine, desperately trying to read my expression.

I like that she's a little afraid.

"It pleases me that it gets you wet." I lean back in the chair and let my eyes move over her face, her throat, and the quicker rise and fall of her chest. "And I like that you still haven’t learned when to keep that smart mouth shut, because it means I get to remind you of your manners."

She bites her lip. "When did I forget my manners, Alpha?"

Her breath catches when I slide my hand from her neck to her waist and tug her closer until she has to brace harder on the armrests to keep from falling into my lap.

"You distracted me before the meeting and I couldn't concentrate," I say. "You whispered filth in my ear, then stood at my side looking pleased with yourself while I tried to run a command briefing with a hard-on."

Her cheeks flush deeper, but she still smirks. "You managed."

"I did." I let my gaze drop to her mouth again. "That does not mean you’re not going to pay for it."

The smirk wipes off her face, and the bond lights up with a rush of hot arousal that drags a low growl from my chest.

Halley shifts between my knees, rubbing her thighs together, slow and deliberate. "That sounds promising, sir."

My hand tightens on her waist. "Do not push your luck, Omega Specialist."

"Or what?"

I stand so fast the chair rolls back a few inches, and she lets out a startled gasp. The movement leaves her trapped between my body and the desk, my hands braced on either side of her hips. For a heartbeat, I do nothing except crowd her space and watch the realization move over her face.

This is what she wanted. She wanted me to lose control. To give her a taste of being with the asshole Prime Alpha she lusted after back in training camp.

"You want to know what I was thinking about instead of running that very important meeting?"

Her lips part, and her breath is coming quicker now. "Yes," she breathes.