Kieran kissed her knuckles, pride swelling in his chest.“Free.That’s the legacy we’ll give them.”
The conversation turned lighter, playful.They debated names, each suggestion shot down with laughter or groans.Liam swore he’d fight to the death to prevent one of their sons from being named after his great-uncle Seamus, who was apparently infamous for falling asleep in his soup.Josie teased that maybe their daughter should be called Violet, which earned a dramatic groan from both lions at the thought of raising a miniature version of their deadly friend.
As the night stretched on, they spoke of the Pride itself.Kieran admitted he felt hope for the first time in years.With the ESE working alongside them, with traitors being hunted, with Caruso gone, maybe the children they were bringing into the world would never know the same kind of fear they had grown up with.It was a fragile hope, but it was real.
Josie rolled onto her back and looked at both of them, her hair spilling across the pillows.“I don’t want our cubs to only know safety behind walls.I want them to see the world, to know it’s beautiful too.Not just dangerous.”
Kieran considered that, his hand tracing slow circles over her belly.“Then we’ll show them.We’ll take them to the forests when they’re old enough.To the rivers.To the mountains.We’ll teach them strength, but we’ll also teach them joy.”
Liam grinned.“And mischief.Don’t forget mischief.If they’re anything like their mam, they’ll be clever little devils.”
Josie threw a pillow at him, and they laughed together, the sound echoing off the high ceiling of the room.It felt like life returning, like the walls of Pride House themselves were breathing easier.
Later, as they began to drift again, Kieran murmured, “Do you remember when we thought we’d never have this?That the war would take it all before we even had a chance?”
Josie turned to him, her hand cupping his cheek.“I remember.And that’s why I’ll never take it for granted.”
Her words burned into him.He tucked her closer, inhaling the soft scent of her hair.“Then let’s promise right now—no matter what comes, we protect this.You.Them.Us.”
Liam’s hand covered both of theirs on her belly.“Aye.Sworn.”
Josie whispered, her tone telling them that she was very close to sleep.“Sworn.”
They lay there longer, drifting in and out of talk and touch.Josie confessed she feared she might not know what to do with three cubs at once, and Kieran and Liam reassured her with stories of how the Pride would surround them with support.They laughed thinking of Violet arming their toddlers with tiny batons.
“God help us if Violet babysits,” Liam muttered, which made Josie laugh until tears spilled down her cheeks.
Eventually, Josie’s eyelids drooped.Kieran and Liam both pulled her closer, their hands resting protectively over her stomach.“Sleep, love,” Kieran whispered.“We’ll keep watch.”
Liam’s voice was soft but fierce.“Always.”
And as their mate drifted off, both cousins exchanged a silent vow over her head—loyalty to her, to their unborn cubs, and to each other.Whatever battles remained, they would face them together.
****
Klarissa lay betweenthem, her skin slick with sweat and flushed from the heat of their presence and the intensity of their attention.Rune’s mouth still lingered against the inside of her knee while Kamon pressed kisses down her spine, their hands roaming, greedy and reverent all at once.And now, as her body quivered with each touch, she wanted more.
“Both of you,” she whispered, voice ragged.“Now.Please.”
Rune growled low in his chest, his eyes glowing with hunger.Kamon slid behind her, lifting her hips as Rune settled in front, his gaze locking with hers.There was no hesitation this time—only need.Rune lay on his back, pulling her toward him, until her pussy hovered over his cock, she whimpered when he pressed the hard head of his cock against her entrance.She pressed down, swirling her hips as she took him to the hilt, sighing once she was fully seated, reveling in the groan of satisfaction he made, and the way his fingers clutched at her hips.
When Kamon pressed against her shoulder gently urging her to lean forward, she placed her hands on Rune’s chest and held there.
“Just a little cold my love,” Kamon whispered before he kissed her neck and she felt his fingers working along her back entrance, chilled with the lube he was using to lubricate her for his possession.The thought of that had her body releasing cream.
“Fuck, Kamon,” Rune growled, “she just released sweet cream all over my cock.Whatever you are doing, our beautiful mate loves it.”
Kamon growled.“Me too.”
Then after a while she felt him stretching her entrance, pushing first one, then a second and then finally a third finger into her body, stretching her to make it easier for him to take her.Just as she was about to scream at him to hurry the hell up, she felt the lubricated head of his cock pressing against the ring of muscle of her ass.She continued to breath deep as he pressed into her, with a few short pumps of his hips, he was lodged to the hilt within her.She sighed at the full feeling that came with that.
“You have me,waan jai,” Kamon rasped from behind her, his hands slipping around her to fondle her breasts, before sliding to her shoulders for leverage.Then all three of them began to move.
Every thrust was a promise, every kiss a vow.Rune’s hand claimed her breast, his thumb circling her nipple until she arched into his mouth.Kamon held her hips steady, his rhythm powerful, relentless, as he pressed into her with a groan that vibrated through her bones.She was surrounded, consumed, every part of her claimed by them.
“Look at us,” Rune commanded, his voice a snarl of possession.She obeyed, eyes fluttering open to meet his as he drove into her, the intensity of his stare nearly undoing her.
Kamon bent over her back, his teeth grazing her shoulder.“Ours,” he growled.“Always ours.”
