“Yes, I found it one day and for some reason, when I went inside, all the feelings were muted so it was very easy for me to block them. If I tried to do it in the house, it took a lot of effort and I could only do it for a very short period of time.”
“How often did you go to the cave?”
“At least once a day…even if it was only for half an hour…just to get some relief.”
“Holy shit! That bad, huh?”
“Yeah, it is, well was, until now. I got better managing it and it helped when I didn’t have to deal with my father’s hatred anymore, but yeah, it was no picnic.”
“So having my wolf in you feels like another invasion.”
Dakota checked his wolf.Well that’s a surprise!“It does…or did…now not so much. Actually my wolf is better than he’s ever been. I think it has to do with all the love your wolf is giving him,” he said. Then checking with his wolf again, continued, “My wolf has had a hard time with my empath ability because he regarded everyone’s feelings as a threat so that’s why I had to get away and escape to a place where I could block them.”
Slate tightened his arm around his mate’s waist, keeping Dakota in contact with his chest, and said, “You know, babe, I’m in awe of you. When I was growing up, I had a hard enough time trying to deal with justmyemotions, so for you to do what you did is simply amazing…just fucking amazing!”
Dakota’s face turned pink, embarrassed at the praise. “Thanks.”
Kissing his mate’s head, Slate took a moment to nuzzle in Dakota’s curly hair before saying, “I think Steel will be here shortly with our romantic dinner, do you want to shower with me first?”
“Yup, but how can you be so sure your brother will make us dinner?”
“Two words…Jackson and Oracle!”
Giggling, Dakota rolled over and looked at his mate. “So before we shower, do you want to get rid of the elephant in the room?”
“What do you mean?” Slate asked, stalling for time. After the discussion they just had, he wasn’t sure howDakota would react to finding out about the pup growing inside him.
“Duh! Am I pregnant?”
Slate searched Dakota’s face for hints of what his mate was thinking about the subject but finding none, he inwardly sighed, knowing there was only one answer regardless of how his mate felt. “Yes you are.”
“So you were intoirchigh?”
“I was.”
Dakota’s hand dropped instinctively to his belly.Holy fuck! I’m going to be a daddy!He stared at his mate, not knowing what to think. Then he said the first thing that popped into his head after finding out. “I have to do some research to see what foods a pregnant shifter should eat.”
Slate burst out laughing. “Babe, I think what you made for Jackson when he was pregnant will be just fine.”
Looking at his mate in astonishment, Dakota replied, “Maybe, but there might be something more I should be eating for our pup. Oh, my gods, I should have thought of this when Jackson was pregnant and what about Ian or Kieran for that matter? How could I be so careless? Oh no, what if I caused Jackson’s problems during his pregnancy by not making the right foods for him? Babe, I must do that research—I don’t want anything to happen to our pup if I can prevent it.”
“Come here,” Slate said, rolling on his back, pulling Dakota onto his chest, and then wrapping his arms around him. “Babe, trust me, you had nothing to do with the problems Jackson had. Mom said it just happens sometimes. But if it will keep you from worrying, then by all means let’s research the best diet for a pregnant wolf shifter.”
Dakota nuzzled Slate’s chest, loving the definition he found there. “I love your tits,” Dakota said.
“Tits?” asked Slate.
“Yeah, tits…you know…pecs. I love guys with a nice cut chest because it just makes me want to grab and squeeze and bite. Would you consider getting your nipples pierced?”
“Wait a minute…I’m still on the word ‘tits’.”
Dakota lifted his face to look at his mate. “What about it?”
“Uhmm, just never heard that word used before to describe my pecs. Where did you hear it?”
“I don’t know where…oh yeah, I remember…there was this dude I met in a gay bar…” Dakota paused when he heard Slate growl. “Uhmm…the guys I knew at school always referred to pecs as tits. When we were out at a gay bar, checking each…” he stopped after another growl, “never mind. That’s when I knew I liked a man with a nice, defined, pair of tits…along with a great ass…but a well cut chest really turns me on. Uhmm, maybe you’re too old to know about tits.”
Slate’s mouth dropped open.Too old?“I know for a fact I’m not old and I’ll prove it to you tonight…that is, if you can keep up. Now I think we better shower or my brother will find us still in bed and naked.”
