While walking down the aisle toward the supply room to fetch my jacket, I feel that familiar pull when Thorne is near—his closeness creates a tingling sensation in my body and an intense sense of yearning.
He appears at the end of the aisle, slipping through the doors and approaching me with slow, deliberate strides. I stop by the door to the supply room—a mundane room, yet so full of meaning. It remains Thorne’s favorite place to take me, and I sense that’s what he’s about to do.
He stops in front of me, his golden eyes narrowing. “Hello, my love,” he says.
The low rumble of his voice reverberates through my body, and my knees go wobbly. As always, my body’s response to him is powerful and instantaneous.
“Hi, my love,” I reply softly, having long since given up feeling ridiculous about being affectionate with my husband, my mate, my fate—it’s just the effect he has on me.
Thorne’s eyes dip down, and he reaches out, sliding his big palm over my belly. “I love how you look pregnant,” he murmurs.
When his eyes lift to meet mine, I feel weak, almost dizzy with need for him. His hand drops away, and he reaches past me to push open the door into the supply room. A moment later, the door clicks shut behind him, and I hear the sound of the lock engaging. It’s not as if anyone would appear unexpectedly, but Thorne always locks that door. The sound is like a match thrown into the raging fire inside me.
Despite my practical needs when working, I don’t ride when I’m this far along in my pregnancy, so I’ve mostly been wearingthe loose, flowing dresses I’ve grown to love here. They’re simply more comfortable, especially when I’m pregnant.
His hands slide down my hips. “How was your day?” he murmurs as he bends low and nips the side of my neck. I shiver all over, arching into his touch like a purring cat.
“It was good,” I say between pants and moans. “How was yours?”
“I missed you all day.” When he lifts his head and his heavy, laden gaze meets mine, my heart thumps hard and fast in my chest.
“You say that every day, Thorne,” I tease lightly, trailing a fingertip along the rugged line of his jaw and down his neck. His tail twitches, and I bite my lip, trying to contain the desire rampaging through me.
He lets out a low growl. “I need you now.”
“I’m yours.”
He spins me around, and I rest my elbows on a nearby table. His hands slide down my sides, curving over my belly and then down around my hips. When I feel the press of his hard length against my bottom, I push back into it, wiggling in invitation.
The cool air strikes my heated skin as he lifts my dress, the contrast only amping up the sensations coursing through me. I’m not wearing any panties—I almost never do. I could never have imagined this version of myself before I came here and before I met Thorne. Because when he’s here, I know that when I see him, I will want him, and he will want me. As a result, we need to make it as easy as possible to give in to that desire.
He drapes my dress around my hips, and I savor the feel of the calloused surface of his palms as they curve over my bottom. “My love,” he praises me as I arch my bottom up a little more and step my feet farther apart.
He teases me, his touch gliding over my bottom and up my thighs but never quite touching me where I want it. Impatiently, I feel my desire build, and I demand, “Thorne, I need you.”
His chuckle is a whisper on the back of my neck. He sinks two fingers inside me—I’m already wet, already ready. “I love you,” he says softly, his tone patient and urgent at once.
I hear him moving swiftly, then I feel the hot brush of his arousal on my skin—a subtle, electrifying touch. I bite my lip, finally letting out a deep moan of satisfaction as he fills me slowly. Whenever we have sex while I’m pregnant, I feel so cared for. He’s gentle in a way he usually isn’t, and I love the sense of connection between us. He nudges into me fully, slowly rocking deeper and deeper, and I push back into him.
“Please… I need…” My voice breaks, and he pumps a little deeper as I rock back to meet him.
“That’s my good girl,” he murmurs.
Even though I’m pregnant at this moment, I feel fertile—an elemental force—whenever we’re together, and I’m full with child like this. He withdraws, and I feel his seed dripping down over me before he sinks inside me again and reaches around. He knows exactly what I need. He knows how to touch me, to tease my plump clit until pleasure breaks over me. I cry out, clamping down around his thick length, savoring the feel of his release filling me.
He curls around me, staying inside as he dusts kisses on my neck. We slowly disentangle, and he helps me tidy up before we begin walking together back to our home. Our little girl is waiting at home with her favorite nanny and squeals when she sees us together. Thorne scoops her up and spins her in the air before showering her face with kisses.
I have come to love so much of this life—and yes, I absolutely love being adored and worshiped by my husband. But beyond that, I love the mundane evenings when we put her to bed andrelax together, just cuddling and talking about our days. I love watching him clean up in the kitchen after he makes dinner for me. And I love falling asleep beside him, resting against his strong body while his tail curls around and holds me close.
EPILOGUE
Risa
The rain lashes me, striking my cheeks with stinging drops. I duck my head, wishing for a little shelter. I keep moving, counting my steps anddashingthrough the darkness until I reach the old horse barn. I push through the doors into the quiet shadows.
Once I’m inside, I let out a sigh. My breath is coming in heaves. I feel my way along the edge of the wall and push through another door into what used to be the feed room. It’s only here where I feel safe turning on a light. I don’t even know if anyone other than me knows there’s still power to this old barn.
Pushing the hood back on my battered rain jacket, I shrug out of it and shake the water to the floor. Even though this kind of rain isn’t particularly pleasant, Earth hasn’t had rainstorms in decades. For the past few weeks, we’ve been having them in bursts.
