Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Isaac’s mind was blown. He’d expected some amount of chaos. He’d even anticipated that his mate would have a heightened sense of vision. He had not, however, imagined her demonstrating that so precisely before they’d even consummated their union, or she’d had her first shift.
What he wanted to do was strip this dress off her, kiss every inch of her body, and show her what it was going to feel like to be loved by him. He wouldn’t do anything she wasn’t ready for, of course, but his instinct was to claim her, not to bring her up to speed on all pack business today.
She couldn’t be put off, though. And now he had almost as many questions as her. How the hell was Jayce’s mate already demonstrating heightened abilities?
“Are you mad?” Amber murmured.
“No, Little one. I’m not mad. I’m frustrated because I just got you, and I don’t want to share you. Nor do I want to bombard you with details about the pack just yet.”
She lowered her gaze to his chest. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
He rubbed her thighs over the layers of her dress and her shifts. “No, Baby girl. Don’t think that. You have a lot to tell me, and I want to hear all of it. We all do. Don’t mistake my frustration with the situation as being directed toward you.”
He picked up her fingers and brought them to his lips, kissing them. “Look at me, Amber.”
She lifted her head. Her pulse was elevated, and she was breathing heavily.
“You are the single most important person in my life, and you always will be. There are a lot of customs among Alpha Protectors and their mates that you’re not aware of.
Ordinarily I would share those with you gradually, but you’ve been inundated with information, so it’s going to be impossible to ignore your questions.
Will you try to trust me to tell you the important parts as we go along? ”
“Yes, Sir.”
He kissed her fingers again. “First things first. The mates of Alpha Protectors do speak reverently to their men, and it’s fine to address me as Sir, but most of the time, you will call me Daddy.”
Her cute little brows furrowed. “Daddy?”
“Yes. You may have noticed our size difference,” he joked.
She giggled.
“Well, it’s also in our nature to nurture and protect our mates at a much deeper level than what you’ve witnessed in the valley. We are bossy and overprotective. In time, you’ll grow to understand the dynamic and embrace it.”
“You’re going to feed me a bottle like I’m a baby,” she muttered.
“I’m going to feed you a bottle because my instinct is to make sure you have the best nutrition and because I want to hold you and care for you in ways you’ll learn to crave and expect.”
“You made me a rainbow room. It has strange furniture in it.”
Isaac sighed. “Will I have any surprises for you, Little girl? Or did Jayce’s mate tell all my secrets?”
Amber played with the front of his suit jacket, making him wish he’d taken it off. “She didn’t mean to do anything wrong. She’s scared and confused.”
Isaac nodded. “I bet she is.”
“She came to me, wondering if I was having visions, too.”
“It is unconventional, but I understand, Little one.”
“Please don’t be mad.”
“Amber, I’m not mad. I promise.”
“Will Jayce be mad?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Why is she having visions?”
“I don’t know. I suspect we’ll never know. Many of the recently mated women have a variety of abilities. We think it’s nature’s way of preparing us for something that’s coming. It doesn’t shock me that Jayce’s mate is having visions. Are they of the future?”
“I don’t think so. I think they were all of current events.
She could see Rylee here helping you put my room together.
She knew that Rylee doesn’t eat many types of food and that her mate doesn’t force her to.
She could see other mated couples in their homes, but she didn’t know who any of them were.
She assumed you were my mate, and she assumes Jayce is hers. ”
“Don’t you fret, Little one. It will all work out. Did she tell you about the clothes your friend and the other Little girls would be wearing?”
“She only mentioned they were pretty. She left out the fact that they were…babyish.”
He chuckled. In spite of the unconventional nature of this mating, she was a true delight, and his heart was overflowing with emotion.
“It’s confusing at first, but you will learn to be my Little girl.
Mine to coddle and mine to worship. You will submit to me and follow rules that are meant to keep you safe and healthy.
It’s a lot to take in at first, but it will all become second nature in time. ”
“I’m nervous,” she admitted.
“I know you are, Little one. I’ll do my best to mitigate that. Let’s start by you relaxing in my arms and taking a bottle, okay? You need the nutrients and the fluids. I promise you’ll feel better with something in your tummy. Plus, it will be bonding for both of us.”
“Can I maybe change into one of those new dresses first…Daddy?”
His heart soared. She was so precious.
“I suddenly feel like I’m suffocating under these layers,” she added.
“That’s the best idea in the world, Little one.” He stood, holding her close, and carried her through to the nursery. “I know you’ve seen the rainbow room, but have you seen in the closet yet?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“I get to have at least that one surprise?” he teased, nuzzling her neck.
She giggled, the sound delightful. “I guess you didn’t have the closet open during any of Sienna’s visions. Or she didn’t tell me about the contents.”
He slid Amber to her feet next to the closet and opened it.
She gasped as she stared at the rows of dresses. Like the room, they were in a rainbow of pretty colors. She clapped her hands together and covered her mouth, bouncing on her feet. “For real?”
Isaac had never been so elated. The look on his Little girl’s face at seeing such a simple thing as new clothes was enough to make him love her to pieces.
He didn’t need anything to influence him to love her.
His feelings for her were growing by the minute.
Even under the incredible stress of the weirdest day ever and all the unexpected new information bombarding them both, he wanted to smother her with kisses. And maybe lick every inch of her body.
Her blond curls were adorable and bounced around her as she rose onto her toes to finger the dresses.
He scooped her back up and held her around her hips so she could reach better. Maybe he should have put the rod in at a lower level. But no. He would be the one to dress her. She didn’t need easy access.
“What color, Little one?”
She leaned forward and touched a simple white dress covered in many colors of polka dots. “This looks comfortable.” Her eyes widened as she faced him. “Does this mean I don’t have to wear drab long dresses ever again?”
“Well, you’ll still need a few long dresses for any time we go into the valley.
But not ugly ones like the ones you’ve been wearing your entire life.
I have a few prettier ones tucked in the back.
But when we’re up here in the mountains, you’ll wear shorter dresses in all the colors.
When you’re cold, I’ll add leggings and sweaters. ”
She giggled again. “This is so exciting. Can I go change in the bathroom?” She looked down at herself. “The ceremonial dress is the prettiest I’ve ever worn, but it doesn’t compare to anything in this closet. I got jealous as soon as I saw all the other women’s dresses.”
Isaac took the dress off the hanger, closed the closet, and couldn’t resist kissing his excited mate. What started out as a simple peck to her lips turned into more, just like it had when he’d kissed her the first time while they were still in the ceremonial room.
Amber grabbed his face and kissed him back, her soft whimpers making him want a lot more from her.
He wouldn’t rush her, though. It wasn’t the way of his people.
Most Little girls were very nervous on the night of their mating.
It was customary to let them set the pace, wait until they were ready to consummate. Pushing them was not advised.
Isaac carried her out of the nursery and into the master bedroom as he ran a hand up her back, confirming what he’d suspected. This dress wasn’t coming off without his help. There were dozens of intricate buttons running up from her bottom to her neck.
He set her on their bed, laid the dress next to her, and cupped her face. His heart raced as he stared into her pretty brown eyes, so big and curious. Her pulse increased as he held her gaze.
His voice was deep and scratchy when he spoke. “How did you get this dress on, Little one?”
She swallowed. “My mother buttoned it.”
He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. Her skin was so soft, and he loved how it pinkened as she realized she couldn’t get out of this ceremonial gown without help.
“I won’t rush you to consummate our mating, Amber. I’ll never rush you. You’re not expected to take me into your body today. You’ll know when you’re ready. But I would like it if you let me help you change. Can you do that?”
Her cheeks turned an even darker shade. She licked her full pretty lips. “Yes, Daddy,” she whispered.
He loved that she’d so readily accepted the endearment. Surely she could feel the bond growing. A part of her knew she would submit to him in many ways. It was innate. Plus she’d had a clue before arriving because apparently the next Little mate to join them had visions.
Isaac needed to call Jayce and bring him up to speed. The Alpha needed to know that his mate was watching him. It wasn’t her fault. The visions were probably scaring her to death in many ways, but nevertheless, Jayce needed a heads up. It could wait, though.
Isaac kissed his mate again, lingering on her lips, tasting her, enjoying how she leaned toward him and moaned into his mouth. No, he wouldn’t rush her, but it wouldn’t be necessary. His Little girl would be desperate for everything he had to offer her in no time.