“It’s simple,” I said. “I love having you full to the brim with my scent, seeing your belly bulging with it, because it cements how thoroughly and irrevocably you are mine. You carry the evidence of our coupling for days, and it satisfies that primal urge in me to show off to the world that I am your mate.” I smirked at his aroused squirming and how easily his cheeks flushed pink. “And unless my senses are failing me, pet, you seem to enjoy it too.”

“Well, yeah. It’s hot. I like you being all possessive and territorial. It makes me feel wanted and… I don’t know, secure?”

“Never doubt how much I want you.”

“I don’t.” He huffed in frustration, though it wasn’t aimed at me. “I guess I’m only asking ’cause I wasn’t sure if, since you’re next in line, you had a deep-rooted instinct to… sow your seed. Like, are you hoping to procreate for the good of the realm? Or is it just you, you know?” Luca worried his bottom lip, his gaze on my chest as he contemplated. I opened my mouth to answer his question, but before I could, he sighed and blurted, “Are you content with what we have, or are you looking for more?”

I flinched.

There it was, the reason for his probing.

He thought I wasn’t content with only him.

I cupped his cheek, urging him to look at me. The uncertainty in his eyes broke my heart. “I have all I need with you, Luca.” I hoped the sincerity in my tone would be enough to soothe him. “Neither consciously nor subconsciously do I seek anything more than what we have, I swear to you. Forgive me if I’ve made you believe otherwise.”

He studied my face for a beat before sinking into my touch, the tension in his body loosening. “It’s not you. I just overthink, as you know.” He huffed a self-deprecating laugh, and I nodded. “I don’t know… This all just seems a little too good to be true sometimes, and part of me is still waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s dumb, I know. I trust you, and I can feel your contentment through our bond, so I should listen to that, right?” He sighed again. “My brain just likes to work against me sometimes.”