Page 71 of The CEO Alpha’s Substitute Mate

He nods, his lower lip sticking out stubbornly, and I know this tell. He’s in a mood.

“Did you have a good talk with your dad?”

Luca makes a face. “I don’t like him.”

I sweep his hair off his face, chastising him lightly. “He’s your father, and he cares for you. You can’t say that.”

“Dad says I have to go to the office with him more and do my homework with him,” Luca complains. “He says the tutor will teach me in front of him!”

“And?” I raise a brow, peeling off his shirt as Reid walks in. Reid hands me a towel, and I wipe the sweat off Luca’s body. “Maybe he wants to spend more time with you.”

My son gives me an unconvinced look. “Why?”

“Because he’s missed so much time with you, Luca.”

Luca bites his lower lip. “But if I stay with him all day, what will you do?”

I give him a firm look. “I’ll find something. But it’s important for you to give your father a chance. He’s missed you all these years.”

He just looks sulky, and it occurs to me that all these years he’s always hated being told what to do. He’s always found ways to get out of things. I always thought he was just a stubborn child, but what if I was wrong? What if this was part of his alpha bloodline?

“Luca,” I begin seriously, “I want you to spend time with your father. I mean it. And listen to him. You have to respect him.”

His lower lip protrudes even more, and I bury my maternal instincts, which just want to take him in my arms and tell him he doesn’t have to do anything he doesn’t want to. I give him a kiss on the forehead. “Come on. Do you want to take a shower? Can he, Salar?”

“I’ll do it,” Salar offers. “He’s going to be a bit dizzy, and I want to keep an eye on him.”

I can see the protest in Luca’s eyes, but I shake my head. “Go, baby. I’ll be right here.”

Alone in the room, I look down at my hands. Reid is still standing by the door, and I ask, “Where’s Callum?”

“In his study. He has meetings throughout the day today.”

I recall Salar’s words about what Callum went through, and my heart twists in my chest. If Callum has lived such a tumultuous life, I’ll have to be the bridge between him and Luca. As for Callum and me…

I don’t know what’s going on between us, but I know his touch is addictive, much too addictive, and that terrifies me.

❦ ❦ ❦

Luca is asleep by the time Callum makes an appearance. Half the day is gone, and the sun is setting. I’m sitting beside Luca when Callum enters. He stops in the doorway, and I glance at him. His expression is unconcerned as always, but I’m learning that I can read some of his moods through his eyes. Right now, I’m looking at a concerned father. He comes to stand beside me, and I look up at his face. “He had a light dinner and just conked out.”

“I see.”

His words are short, but his tone is quiet.

“Are you okay?” I look up at him, and the question seems to startle him, as if nobody has ever asked him that before.

He takes his time in answering and then says, “I will be spending some time with him from now on.”

I nod. “That’s probably a good idea.”

Once again, he gives me a surprised look. “I was expecting you to fight back.”

I laugh lightly. “Guess I surprised you.”

His hand comes to settle on my neck, and his thumb strokes the sensitive skin of my nape. “He is resistant to my authority.”

“Stop calling it authority and treat him like your child and he might be more willing to be around you,” I advise.