Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

“I mean when I told you my life wasn’t my own, that
includes decisions about things like if I marry. And who.”
Shocked, I push away from him and stand back, gaping at
him in disbelief. “You’re joking.”
“No.”
His expression backs up the word. He looks like he’s
attending his best friend’s funeral.
“So who decides for you?”
When he doesn’t answer and just stands there staring at me
like someone died, I know.
With an unfolding sense of dread, I say slowly, “Your boss
decides. Maxim Mogdonovich.”
His voice edged with misery, Kage says, “It never mattered
before. I assumed I’d always be alone. The way I always have
been. There was no possible version of my life I could have
imagined that included something like this. Someone like
you.”
Cold, hard reality dumps a bucket of freezing water on my
head. The true scope of my situation becomes painfully clear.
I’m in love with a man who can’t have children.
Who can’t live with me.
Who can’t marry me.
Who might, in fact, one day be required to marry someone
else.
And he’d have no choice in the matter.
He’d do it to honor his oath.
When I take a step back, Kage reaches out and grabs my
wrist. He pulls me against his body, takes my face in his
hands, and growls, “No matter what, I’ll always be yours.
You’ll always be mine. That won’t change.”
“It will if you’re married to another woman! Or did you
think I’d share?”