To see my powerful husband melting over his children brought tears to my eyes, even more so when he lifted Rorie out of her carrier and rubbed his nose over hers.
“Aurora Mason, our little witch.” He smoothed a hand over her red hair and peppered gentle kisses over her face. “You look like your momma,” he said, setting Rorie in her crib. “I’m still in shock and awe that I have children and a beautiful wife. I never imagined myself as a father.” He rubbed a hand down her back. “I love all of you so much it hurts.”
I cried and laughed at the same time, words escaping me as I held Luna in one hand and Ellie in the other.
He proceeded to take Luna from me.
I was mesmerized, unable to move or tear my gaze away from the sight of Sam with his beloved children. Every fiber of my being seemed to vibrate with emotion at the sheer beauty of the moment, an uplifting feeling that left me breathless and overjoyed.
Maybe I was consumed with an overabundance of feelings, but I swore I could sense the magic in the room. The sensation was a cross between tingles and light, feathery touches dancing along my skin.
“Sam, do you feel the energy in the room? Or am I just too sentimental right now?”
Once he’d cooed and whispered sweet nothings to our raven-haired, violet-eyed beauty, Luna, he took Ellie from me. “There’s definitely magic. I can feel yours. In fact, your eyes are glowing yellow.”
“They are?” I had no idea.
“Remember, heightened emotions can trigger your magic.” He played with Elara’s—or as we called her, Ellie’s—red curls, admiring his daughter, who had blue orbs the color of the ocean off Bora Bora.
I had to somehow work on being more aware of myself. I certainly couldn’t have my eyes change color on TV.Holy hell.That would stir some new viral videos. But that was a worry for another day.
While Sam tucked Ellie in, I sighed as I took in the nursery. The room itself was magical with the gray walls, the hint of blues and pinks in the curtains, musical crib mobiles of safari animals, the gray-and-black elephant rug, two rockers beneath the window, and stuffed animals scattered about.
Sam came over and draped an arm around me. “I feel your tension, baby doll.”
“I keep having moments of relief, but when I think of them growing up, fear grips every muscle in me. I want them to have an ordinary childhood—play dolls or trucks, sports, learn music if that’s what they’re interested in, or anything other than supernatural shit.”
He guided me to face him. “We will make sure they have as normal a childhood as possible. But we can’t shield them from who they are. Plus, we need to teach them how to control their powers, how to fight, to protect one another, and in doing so, they’ll be better equipped to face whatever dangers are dropped in front of them.”
I shivered. “A mom can dream of a peaceful existence for her children.”
My parents had tried to give my sisters and me a quiet upbringing without the bloodshed or rushing into a state of emergency because a hoard of vampires had overtaken my uncle Jack’s ranch. But prior to us learning that vampires were real, our home had been bathed in love—family dinners every night, my sisters and me riding horses, playing in the yard, and doing all the fun things that kids do. Sam and I could do the same.
“I just want them to understand that despite their inhuman abilities, humanity is just as important to supernaturals as it is to humans,” I said.
“Baby doll, we have time. They’re not even walking yet.”
I snorted. “They might be in a few months. Remember, their growth isn’t normal compared to human infants.”
“Okay, I need to take your mind off things. Does foreplay ring a bell?”
He got a snicker out of me. I gave our precious sleeping children one last look before he and I went into our master suite.
The second I was in our bedroom, I flopped onto the king-size bed, sighing and reveling in the softness of the quilt beneath me.
Sam flipped the switch on the wall, and the lamps on the bedside tables were illuminated.
I rose up onto my elbows. I’d almost forgotten what the room looked like. The walls were painted a soft blue, a large, framed photo of Sam and me at our handfasting ceremony hung over our dresser across from the bed, and an oversized chair sat in the corner.
A sharp hissing sound filled the space, drawing my attention to the entrance of our en suite.
Sam unzipped his jeans, then bent over to untie his boots.
“Are you about to give me a show?” My lady parts awakened.
“I’m about to take you to heaven.” His raspy tone sent delightful shivers south to pinch my clit.
“Round one of foreplay.” I adjusted my position on the bed and curled my legs underneath me. “I want to watch you strip, then play with yourself.”
