“Connor isn’t protective over anyone,” I say. “I’m working on Seamus.”
“Yes, Connor’s always been a bit of a lone wolf. He’s fit in with the two of you, though, so there’s hope for him yet. Put together a plan on what you’ll be doing for your woman and keep me apprised. How is your other mission going?”
“The Serpents in the city have gone underground or moved away. There are a few locations we’ll be checking out in the next weeks. I hope to be done with their bullshit by the end of the year, though the timeline might be extended.”
“Fine.” Sergei pauses. “Go take care of your woman. And, if Kira gave you advice, follow it to the letter. That’s an order.”
“Got it. I’ll keep you updated.” Sergei hangs up without saying goodbye; I make my way directly back to my room.
The bathroom door is still closed and faint tendrils of steam curl out from beneath it, but there’s no sound of running water. Only aminute passes before Mira makes her appearance, and my heart nearly stops when I see that she’s wearingmysweater. It’s old, a team sweater back from my high school football days, and it falls nearly to her knees. She looks fuckingetherealin it.
She stares at me; I stare at her. Several long moments of silence stretch out. If I had my way, this is the moment I’d sweep her into my arms and fuck her into next year, but she’s had a long and very trying night. Now isn’t the time for sex.
“I, uh, hope it’s okay that I took your sweater,” she murmurs, sounding adorably bashful. “I liked the way it smelled.”
I guess I’ll be dousing all of my clothes with the cologne I wear, then. If she wears nothing but my clothes for the rest of our lives, I’d die a happy man.
“More than okay,” I say, stepping forward and tentatively taking her hand in mine. She’s flighty, and I don’t want to spook her. “I like it very much. I might instate a new rule that the only clothes you’re allowed to wear to bed aremyclothes.”
A reluctant smile spreads on her lips, and she allows me to pull her into my arms. I hold her close, resting my chin on her head, breathing in the fact that she’s here and she’s mine, whether or not she’s ready to admit that part yet. Slowly, her arms wrap around my waist, and my heartsoars.
“I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier,” she mutters into my chest. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I know,” I say evenly.Consistency is key. “I’m not mad at you; I get that it’s been a whirlwind of a night. But, please, stop putting us on opposite sides. That’s not where we’re supposed to be. We’re a team.”
“I don’t know if we’re a team, but I don’t think we’re enemies anymore,” she says. Her fingers idly pluck at the fabric of my shirt.
“We were never enemies,” I say, allowing a note of teasing in my voice. “If we were, I wouldn’t be nearly as nice to you.”
“Nice to me,” she repeats drolly. “Are you referring to that time you literally chased me down in the woods at night? Or when you proceeded to hold me captive here? Or—”
“Hush,” I say, not masking my exasperation. “It’s all working out, isn’t it?” Without waiting for her to respond, I tug her over to the bed and settle her under the comforter. It’s the work of a few seconds to strip down, throw on a pair of sweats, and climb in behind her. I pull her right into my chest; again, she comes willingly, and this time, something frighteningly possessive unfurls deep within me. A ravening, ravaging beast that screams to claim his mate and lock her down for eternity.
“Are you okay now?” I murmur into her hair, stroking my hands over her belly.
I wonder what it’d be like if and when it swells with our child.
Not if, I decide.When. I’ve only ever thought about kids in passing, and the thoughts were fleeting. The turns my life took as soon as I hit college essentially removed even the idea of children from the equation; I couldn’t imagine bringing them into my world. While I share a close comradery and bond with Connor and Seamus, the activities we partake in aren’t the safest. Having a kid always seemed cruel.
But now… now I want to find a way. It’d amaze me if Miradidn’twant children; she has a naturally maternal presence. I want to have those children with her; I want to watch our baby grow inside her. I want to raise the kidwithher.
I hold Mira until I’m sure she’s asleep, then I gently slip my fingers beneath the hem of her sweater and circle my fingertips over the soft skin of her navel.One day, I promise myself.One day I’ll put a baby there.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mira
Iwake up in the morning to a soft, pleasant sensation of something fluttering against the back of my neck. It almost feels like the wings of butterflies beating against my skin, accompanied by the heat of a hot body against my back. The pleasant sensation is quickly upended by a sharp sting as Dorian sinks his teeth into my nape, causing me to arch against him with a gasp. I fist the sheets in front of me when he snakes an arm around my waist and slips his hand beneath my borrowed hoodie, wrapping it around my breast and squeezing it tight.
He releases my neck from his teeth and trails his lips over to my ear. “Good morning,” he rumbles.
A small moan is my response as he squeezes my nipple, causing warmth to spark in my core.
“Dorian…” My words trail off, lost to a groan as he twists my nipple and snakes his other arm around me, fingers gliding between my folds.
“You’re not wet,” he observes, sounding extremely displeased at the fact.
“I just woke up,” I gasp. “Keep doing that and it’ll change pretty damn soon.”
