His Inheritance

Something Borrowed

Steve was just waking up when he heard the soft knock at his door. He didn't have time to answer before Dyson quietly let himself in and closed the door behind him.

"We've made some progress in figuring – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!" Dyson's gaze landed on them on the bed, and his eyes comically widened before he spun around, facing the other way.

Steve opened his eyes at that. He was aware she was there in his bed sleeping next to him. When he looked, he saw she was on top of the duvet on her stomach. The red Henley he'd put her in to sleep had ridden up, showing the sleek curve of her lower back. Her delectable ass was on full display there, covered barely by little black panties.

He didn't want to wake her. He felt like he could use some coffee – or Scotch – before taking her on this morning. Sitting up, he threw his legs over the side. Carefully, he used the covers on his side of the bed to cover her up.

Rising from the bed, he grabbed his robe from the foot of it, pulled it on.

"Okay," he said.

Dyson looked relieved to see he was wearing boxers beneath the open robe. He motioned Steve to follow him.

Scott waited just outside the door, waved at them as he left his bedroom.

"Stay here, yeah?" Dyson told the brunet who nodded.

They ended up in Steve's study. He decided on coffee, which was set up at his bar. Dyson closed the door and spun to face him.

Steve could feel the disapproval before he finished pouring his coffee. Dyson was eyeing him hard.

"Just don't, Dyson," Steve told him. "You knew where she was sleeping last night."

"You're not married yet," Dyson told him meaningfully. "And she's... inexperienced."

Steve let his coffee cool for a moment.

"I'm not making any demands here," he told him honestly. "Hell, I've waited over two years for her."

Dyson's look was skeptical.

"Look, I appreciate how protective you are of her," Steve told him. "You've been more of a father to her in the last couple of years than her own was her entire life."

Dyson nodded. "I have. And since her real father is gone now, I'm going to tell you that while you're my boss, and today is your wedding, I do expect you to... show restraint."

It was all Steve could do not to react to that. He was the boss of a very powerful crime syndicate. Dyson had served his family for two generations now. And yes, it was Steve's wedding day.

Dyson had never stood up to him like this before.

"Restraint?"

"I see how you look at her," Dyson told him. "And I'm not the only one. Take it easy with her is all I'm saying. She's not one of you side pieces."

Shaking his head, Steve cut him a look. "No, she's not. But you changed her expectations bringing that up, didn't you?"

Dyson shrugged. "How long will it last? You have certain things you like and she... Look, I'd like to think you'll end up caring about her. But enough to give up everyone else?"

Steve didn't like the feelings that thought brought him. He pushed them down.

"I broke things off with Katerina," Steve told him. "I don't have plans to look for anyone else. But speaking of Kat, how the fuck did her necklace end up around my wife's throat?"

Dyson shook his head. "We turned over everything in her room. It's clean. Clint and Scott helped me track down every single person who was here yesterday. Stylists, caterers, help. Everybody. We got nothing right now."