“Apologies.” He grins. “Please, leave my balls alone.”
“We need clothes,” I say. “And food. Where is Darian?”
“Went to get clothes and food.” Konstam rolls his eyes. “Aeric is gathering the family to welcome us back and be introduced to your woman.”
“Good,” I say absently, turning to check on her. “Good.”
She’s wrapped up in the blanket, watching us with wide eyes. I curse when I realize she’s yet again faced with my friend’s dick, but her gaze is trained on me. If she doesn’t mind the dicks swinging around, then who am I to complain? After all, it’s true that she should get used to some nudity here.
And my irrational anger when other men are near her should subside eventually… I hope. After bedding her. Sinking inside her and staying there for nights and days. Then, maybe. Maybe I will stop growling at every male looking at her or being in her vicinity.
I won’t apologize for that. I’m a dark fae and a wolf. I’m in a rut for her.
In fucking love with her.
I belong to her, body and soul, and all I want is time with her, to lose myself in her body, her laughter, her voice, her kisses.
But my family decides to bustle in, notified by Aeric, no doubt, and though I missed them dearly, I fucking wish for once they’d taken their time to arrive. I don’t want my girl to get too stressed and panicky. I haven’t even had time to warn her about the craziness that is the Canagans and their extended relations, who all decided to come welcome us home.
I can’t deny that joy fills me as they file inside. Okay, more like,burstinside, fighting one another to get to me faster, muttering and laughing.
Darian shoves his way through them, already dressed in loose pants, carrying a bundle of clothes for us. My cousins, uncles, aunts and other relations wouldn’t bat an eye at seeing us all naked, but I’m still thinking how to minimize the shock for my mate.
When I first met her, I wanted to shock her out of her rigid ways, her ignorance of the outside world, of her own body’s desires, and now all I can think of is how to protect her from anything that might upset her.
Darian thrusts a pair of pants into my hands, and I pull them on, while Konstam does the same behind me. By then, the first people have reached us, and I’m not surprised to see it’s my aunts. Since my mother vanished, they took over mothering me. Well, on the rare occasions that I’m home.
“Valen-pup, look at you! We were worried!”
There are three of them, and they smother me in their arms. They are tall, strong women. Mothering-smothering. Not that I can complain. I let myself relax in their hold, feeling indeed like a pup for a moment.
Then I pull back as my uncles fight with my cousins to grab me in their turn and toss me about like a ragdoll.
Which is where I need to put a stop. “Hey, cut it out, everyone.”
My words fall on deaf ears, but then Darian and Konstam growl and come pull me free of the writhing mass of family.
My uncles frown, but slap their sons and daughters upside the head and fall back.
“What’s going on, pup? Uncle Armin asks. “And who’s the cutie over there? Hi, girl. Don’t be scared. We don’t bite much.”
I turn around to see Rosie staring at us with huge eyes, but she is on her feet, and she has already pulled on a loose dress.
“Who are all these people?” she asks, her face pale.
“Rosie.” I reach for her and smile when she takes my hand without hesitation. “Meet my extended family. Family, this is Rosie, my mate.”
Her hand clenches in mine, but when I glance down at her, I find her smiling, too, her color returning.
A weight falls off me. “Don’t be intimidated by all these loudmouthed idiots. They are nice people, as you will discover when they shut up for a moment. Lina, Jandar! I’m speaking! Shut your traps.”
A giggle escapes her.
I grin. “Good. Now that I have everyone’s attention… Rosie will be staying with us.” I squeeze her hand in mine. “With me. She’s only staying if she likes it here, so put on your best behavior, okay? Please, I fucking beg you, don’t scare her away. It took me forever to convince her I’m not going to eat her alive.”
“Liar,” she whispers, but another giggle escapes her.
It’s a good sound. It makes my mouth twitch. It’s carefree and untainted by fear and doubt. I think I’m seeing the real Rosamund, and she’s more beautiful than ever.
