Chapter Seven
More guests were brought to the party. Food showed up, and Jane just stared at all the activity. Ahheel and her pack showed up, with Mini and Ahheel bustling her into the house for a quick change for Jane and Terro.
Orla came in to get the little boy after he was dressed in a cute male-styled sarong over his diaper. “Aw, Jane, you look beautiful.”
Ahheel and Mini finished putting flowers in her hair, and Mini smiled. “You look lovely, Jane.”
“Thank you, Mini. Are you enjoying your transplantation to the islands?”
Mini nodded with her cheeks flushed. “I am kept rather busy, but the story ideas keep coming.”
Ahheel chuckled. “Her mate visa has been ratified, and she’s now ours forever.”
Mini snorted. “That doesn’t sound creepy at all.”
Jane watched as the alpha kissed her beta sweetly. Mini was dazed and blushing when her alpha kissed her forehead and said, “Time to go.”
Mini sighed. “Jane, count to five and come out when you are ready.”
The oxymoron wasn’t lost on her, but she took the bouquet of flowers that had appeared with Mini and breathed to calm herself. When ready, she walked to the door and stepped into a floral-scented wonderland.
Packs, couples, and singles were standing around, each holding a flower. There was an archway at the end of the yard, and that is where Andreux and Terro were waiting.
A woman’s voice sang softly, but Jane couldn’t make out the words. The trees rustled, and as she walked the path, the flowers were thrown into her path one by one.
She looked at her son with the flower clutched in his little fist. Serin, Deno, and Kekoa were standing nearby, but she only had eyes for her men.
The singing continued from the crowd, and Jane walked to her son, the scent of flowers everywhere. The crown she was wearing gave off a heady perfume.
Terro began to hop with excitement, and he let out a toddler squeal as she got there. Terro handed her the flower, and she stroked his hair above his own floral crown. A dark hand took the flower from her hand and tucked it into the crown on her head.
They stood with one hand holding the other’s, and Terro had his arms stretched high to join them.
Kekoa said, “It is my pleasure to witness a new family linked and with the appropriate paperwork.”
The gathering laughed.
Serin said softly, “The spirit of the island decided that you were the match for one of our oldest family lines but had to figure out how to get you together. It used the same mechanism that brought Eonic to Monique, but it had to work faster, and your own magic made things awkward, sea witch.”
Several people chuckled.
“So, here you are with the product of that first meeting with the hopes for a larger family to help the islands thrive. You will have a long road ahead of you, but I believe that with Terro’s help, you two can manage. That being said, I still need you as the final editor, so, Andreux, maintain your Wi-Fi signal, or I will send the life of the islands to wither your crops. You mess with my productivity, and I will mess with yours.” Serin smiled brightly.
“Right, now, your vows if you wish.”
Jane looked at Andreux. “I forgot about many things, but when I saw your son, things made a bit of sense. We went looking, but you weren’t online, and your image wasn’t anywhere until Serin invited me to the islands. At that point, every single person knew who you were exactly. I considered it a sign.”
Andreux laughed. “Spending years with flickering memories of our meeting was torture. I gave up on everything but work. When I got the call, wow, was it only yesterday? It was earthshaking. I got myself to Ligo’s a moment later and saw you standing there with our son in your arms. My soul left my body and rushed back with fire of purpose. Making you happy and keeping you content in the islands while our son grows and we tried to get him siblings were my priorities.”
There was a lot of laughter, and it was mostly masculine.
“Whether our life together brings us other alphas, or only this one, more betas or omegas. Heck, even deltas are okay. I am happy to spend every day with you, showing you the beauty of the islands and making sure to provide you with unlimited Wi-Fi at all times.”
Deno held out his hand, and flowers and vines wrapped their hands together. Serin flicked her fingers, and the flowers turned to glowing light under their skin.
“Oooooooo.” Terro stared at the sparkles.
Jane and Andreux laughed, and he picked up their son. They turned to face their friends and his family. They kissed and heard, “Oooooo.”
More laughter, and then, Jane closed her eyes and threw the bouquet toward the gathered ladies. Aeryn caught it and pumped it into the air. “Wooo! My turn. Get up there and look pretty, guys.”
Jane blinked. “What’s going on?”
Andreux murmured, “Ceremonies for those ladies who didn’t get one. Vows and flowers, torches and food. Now, we get to eat.”
There were low tables, and Andreux started to introduce her to staff from their tea plantation. They were all enthralled with the adorable little boy who was stuffing shredded pork into his mouth with all his fingers.
Jane was about to move, but Andreux got the vegetables into the bowl and paused Terro to sip from his water cup.
Large fingers held some food to her mouth, and she met Andreux’s gaze as she accepted. The moment was altered when chubby, shiny fingers grabbed some sweet potato and mushed it into her mouth. She chewed and laughed, and dinner was underway.
One by one, the couples, triads, and quads said their vows in the shade of the trees next to the wide archway made of flowers, were blessed by the spirits of the island, mind, body, and spirit, and then settled down to eat.
“This is a big party.”
Andreux nodded. “It is, but everyone helped to get what we needed here. Sohar’s yacht has been in transit since dawn.”
“So, you planned this?”
“For close to three years. Eat. I’ve got him.” Andreux took over Terro’s meal management, and Jane actually got to eat.
She looked out at everyone having a lovely time, the ladies and their alphas and others wearing garlands, including Kekoa and his three. Haravin and Alohi looked lovely with their garlands. All of the betas and omegas looked happy. It was the ceremony and celebration that had been missing in the mating frenzy. The alphas looked happy that their mates were happy, and the food was amazing.
When Terro cuddled up against her lap, she stroked his hair. “Long day, huh, little buddy?”
Orla arrived and scooped him up. “I have him. You two have your last night without him unless I happen to be on this side of the island.” She grinned. “Or you flit over to me.”
“Is that what we are calling it now?”
“Sure. It is too cute to be anything else. Your hair puffs out and everything.” She settled Terro against her shoulder. “The guys and I will get him to bed and stay on a rotation.”
“Thanks.”
Andreux nodded. “Thank you.”
Orla took Terro to where Ligo and Iro were waiting. They headed to the guesthouse, and voices quieted as they passed.
Jane looked to Andreux. “Now what?”
He leaned toward her. “We try and remember what that night was all about.”
“Oh, nice plan.” She kissed him, and a second later, they were inside his bedroom as he removed the fabric from her body but left the flowers.
She flicked her fingers, and he was as naked as she was. His grin was white in the darkness.
He lifted her and set her on the bed, keeping his body from touching hers except for the contact between her thighs as his fingers slowly sought her sex and teased into her. She was a little bit self-conscious at how easy it was for his digits to slide in. It wasn’t giving birth; she was just so slick he could have gotten a coconut in there.
He circled her clit slowly and then faster until she started to tense. She saw the mask around his eyes glowing and stared at him as he shifted to align his erection with her flexing channel.
He eased into her, and she wrapped her thigh around his hip to open completely. She moaned as she took him in, and when she arched into him, he bit her shoulder. She had heard of links gradually growing during the mark, but theirs snapped together thick and wide. She felt the strange sensation of being inside her hot, wet grip, and she felt him ease in with surprise rippling through him. When pleasure answered his movement, he released the bite and licked the mark.
Jane tried to pull back from how deep she was in his senses and felt him doing the same. Feeling that he was enjoying himself was far different from being inside his mind.
He raised his head. “All thoughts your own now?”
She lifted her hips to him. “Yes. How about you? It had to have been disconcerting.”
Andreux smiled. “I will get used to it.”
He threaded his fingers through hers and pinned her hands high on the bed as he eased into the edge of his knot. The memory of the burn of the knot wedging into her made her arch, and the edge of the band pressed into her slick opening.
Andreux’s eyes flared hot gold, and his hips slowly thrust as he smiled at her before they locked in a kiss that took them through a frenzy of her trying to impale herself of his knot and him thrusting in as he came, and then, he held still as his cock throbbed.
He broke the kiss and carefully rolled to his back. He reached up and straightened her crown. He cupped her cheek, and she leaned her head into it.
“I think that is a fair start.” He smiled.
She straightened and slowly drew her nails down his chest. “But not the end, right? It would really be disappointing to have a child-free night and have it ended so soon.”
He ran his hands up her body and cupped her breasts. “I didn’t remember enough of our first night. I am going to build some new memories.”
He rocked her against his knot, and arousal built quickly. She was teased into a shivering orgasm that had her voice escaping in a squeaking gasp.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of the night.
Jane felt the pressure wave that went along with a transport. She groaned and pulled her sheet to her chest as she tried to yank her aching self into consciousness. The light outside indicated about six thirty.
She smelled coffee and sat up against the headboard that had a few more marks on it this morning.
She heard small, thudding feet and grinned as the door was battered open.
“Mama!” Terro came running in and held out the small plate in his hands. She took the precarious cream cheese bagel and set it on the side table before lifting him up and onto the bed.
“Morning, sweetness. Did you have fun with Orla?”
He giggled and nodded shyly. Andreux came in wearing a sarong and carrying two cups of coffee. He was beautiful.
She grinned. “I thought it would be tea.”
“Tea is business. Orla said you like coffee, so coffee it is.” Good morning, gorgeous.”
She settled Terro against her and took the coffee carefully.
Terro looked at her and touched her neck. “Owie?”
“No, sweetie. Just pink.”
Terro stood up on her and kissed it with a wet smack. “Better?”
“Much better.”
He started looking and found the bite mark. “Owie.” He kissed it, and she smiled. “That feels better, Terro.”
Andreux sat next to them and said, “He’s gonna be busy.”
Jane grinned. “I am keeping the sheet on.”
Terro left wet toddler kisses on her shoulders, neck, and arms and then sat down, beaming. He looked at Andreux and blinked, scooting forward.
Jane smiled. “Your turn.”
The scratches she had left on his chest were attended to by their toddler, who sat back with satisfaction.
Andreux put his arm around her and moved closer. Terro settled between them and sighed. “I could get used to this.”
Jane laughed. “I hope that your adjustment is quick because when he has a dream or comes to us early, that little foot is going up your nose or into your mouth.”
“I will manage it. I consider it a challenge.”
She rested her head against his shoulder and sighed. Her whole body was throbbing, and she started doing math. Terro probably wouldn’t be an only child by the middle of the following year.
“What was that?”
“Oh, just some math.”
He chuckled. “Honeymoon baby?”
“I don’t know if I can keep that up for a month.” Jane sighed.
“Sore?” His fingertips caressed the new mark.
“Aware. Very, very aware.” She chuckled. She looked at the scratches on him. “Sore?”
He rubbed them. “Aware. My back is definitely aware. Also, when did you bite my ass?”
“I dunno. Somewhere around two in the morning?” She wrinkled her nose and laughed as Terro did the same. She held her hand up, twisted it, and a coconut appeared. Terro grinned in delight and began to roll it around on the sheets.
“What is the deal with him and coconuts?”
“We sat through a tour and lecture about the coconut, how they float in and set roots down and then are dramatically plentiful. They are food, water, fibre, and material. Oh, and they are round, and you can throw them. And like people, they are one thing with a different face that can be removed with effort. I am guessing that he got stuck on the round part, but now, he loves coconuts.”
Andreux nodded and said, “That was a good tour.”
“It was. Serin took us around and explained that just because they weren’t originally supposed to be here, they were still needed and wanted.”
“Oh, she was talking about your imports.” He smirked.
“Yes, a whole lot of coconuts. You get to be a pineapple, I think. That makes Terro a pina colada.”
Terro was chattering as he played with his toy. He looked at her and smiled.
Andreux sighed. “That is the first and last trade show I am ever going to.”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t want to flit and bring you home in pieces.” She looked up at him with a feral grin.
“That sounded dangerous.”
“I have defended myself and Terro from predatory males. Apparently, we made an adorable set, just ready for acquisition.” She smiled. “I have a delightfully strong right hook.”
His eyes were outraged. “They tried to acquire you?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged. It was pretty normal in her circles. The ladies of the book club were known to be powerful. It was attractive to alphas with a strong protective streak. It was common knowledge that many of the ladies had suffered, and it appealed to the heroic knight in a lot of them. They soon learn that the ladies survived out of force of will, not being saved. They survived on their own. They recovered with help. The ladies of the book club were not for the weak.
Andreux smiled. “I am glad I didn’t have to find out firsthand. I mightily appreciate your muscle tone.”
She grinned and looked at them. “So, you two are both dressed. What are the chances that I can sprint to the bathroom without witnesses.”
“If you can sprint, I will get you another bagel.” The look in his eyes was amused.
She made a face, and he grinned. He grabbed Terro. “Come on, little man. Let’s leave Mom some time to get dressed.”
“Dressed? I am going for a shower.”
He nodded. “Come on, Terro. Grandmama is an early riser, and I think she would love to stuff you with pastry.” He chatted to Terro as they left.
Jane set her coffee down and flipped the sheet aside, getting out of bed with a groan and walking slowly to the bathroom. She was in the shower when Andreux joined her and helped rub her down.
She groaned softly as his fingers worked her tight muscles into a relaxed and floppy state. “Now I am regretting not finding you the last time.”
He chuckled. “I have my regrets as well but only for the missed time.”
“Is my bag in your room?”
“Our room.”
She sighed. “I didn’t finish my coffee. Don’t be cute.”
“I am adorable, and I make adorable babies. Wanna cuddle together and do math later?”
“I don’t think we are going to be short on cuddling. You seem very touchy.”
He chuckled. “I can’t believe you are home with me. I can’t believe he is here, that he exists at all.”
“I can believe it. Sometimes a dream, sometimes a nightmare. He’s a fast little dude.”
“He’s our fast little dude.” He held her.
“You are adapting to fatherhood really well.”
“Part of me knew he was here, but the other part of me was horrified at what that would mean for you.”
“We both made it through with flying colours.”
“If it happens again, I want to be there.”
Jane looked up at him. “If it happens, you will definitely have been there.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Of course I do, but I love a good joke. How excited was your mom?”
“She was sitting at her bistro table in the garden. She was ecstatic. My father put him on his shoulders, and they all went for a walk in the tea field.”
“I am seeing the benefit of living close to family. Your parents are excited by Terro.”
“They are. He’s so cute.”
“And kind. I hope he grows up to be a good man.”
“He will. He would not dare be anything else.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
Far too soon, she was dressed and had her bagel and coffee, following him to the kitchen table. She sat up and rotated her wrist.
“What was that?”
“Sunscreen for Terro. I hope Eonic doesn’t drop him. He’s gonna be slippery for a bit.”
Andreux took her half-consumed coffee from her, washed out the mug, and refilled her cup. “So, what do you think I should wear today?”
“Loose trousers and a shirt. I will wear something with long sleeves so Terro stops kissing it better. He will do it all day. I once banged my elbow, and he kissed the bruise for a week.”
He brought his own coffee and hers. “So, how did we get such a sweet son?”
“I have no idea how he came out of all that growling, snarling, and moaning.” She smirked.
Andreux laughed. “So, when do you want to make a calendar to guess at when a sibling will start?”
“Can the math wait until after my coffee?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“Trust me on this. I don’t like talking about my cycle on an empty stomach.” She ate the bagel while he looked at her suspiciously.
Afterward, they brought out their phones, and she pointed at her period tracker. It was due to go off in ten days.
She finished her coffee and set it down. A moment later, she was hugged, and her face was covered with kisses. “Hold it, hold it. We aren’t going to know for weeks. We just had good timing.”
He grinned. “I think Terro will make a good big brother.”
“I think so, too. Whenever it happens.”
He cuddled her and kissed her, and they were still in that position when Monique arrived to see if they needed a fruit platter.
She looked at them and said, “Eonic has introduced Terro to half the island. He also said that Terro got really slippery about an hour ago.”
Jane grinned. “Sunscreen.”
“Ah. Right. I had forgotten about that. I used to grease this one up from head to toe. You can do that all from a distance?”
“Yes. I don’t know how, but yes. When I have a thought, I try it, and when I manage it, I file the skill for later.” She smiled. “I learned how to change a diaper right off.”
Monique laughed. “As most mothers would.” She looked at Jane and got excited. “You are glowing.”
Andreux started laughing.
Jane blinked. “What?”
Monique smiled. “I may not be able to flit or transport, but I can see the next mother on the island.”
Andreux chuckled and pulled Jane into his arms. “I will be with you every step this time.”
“Cool. I will ruin your shoes.”
He laughed. “I only wear shoes to leave the house.”
Monique smiled. “Andreux hasn’t quite grasped that morning sickness doesn’t confine itself to the mornings.”
Jane sighed. “I did not think that his aim would be so accurate.”
He hugged her. “I tried my best.”
“Yeah. You really did.” She laughed. “I think I know why I forgot the first time. I would have been blushing for weeks.”
He lifted her and kissed her. Andreux was smug. “I am hoping to keep that blush going until our anniversary.”
She sighed, and then, their child landed in her arms. “Mama!”
Monique snorted.
Andreux smiled and said, “Mother, can you grab the bottle out of the fridge? I want to try something.”
Monique got the bottle in question, and when she handed it to her son, Terro started headbutting Jane.
Andreux eased him away and put the bottle to his mouth. The ravenous attack made the alpha wince.
Jane felt like an idiot. “He can get what he needs from coconut water.”
Andreux nodded. “It is also warmer here, and he needs to hydrate, so there is his fascination with coconuts.”
The bottle was going down like Terro wanted to get hammered.
Jane eased the bottle from him, and Terro’s eyes were shining. He didn’t let the bottle go, and his eyes started glowing gold as he pulled the bottle back to him.
She sighed. “I really hope the next one is a girl.”
Andreux chuckled. “I am willing to keep trying for a girl if it isn’t.”
Monique smiled. “We are planning an extension to our house and this one.”
Jane sighed. “You work fast.”
Andreux chuckled. “She decides fast. We are now on island time. We have to wait on the local construction crews. They can take a while.”
“I will talk to Serin and Kekoa. They will figure something out.” Jane smiled. “It’s nice to know people who can bring in workers from the mainland.”
Monique blinked. “Why would they do that?”
“Because Serin is Terro’s godmother, and Kekoa likes the little dude. Anything to keep me and him happy.”
“Why is she interested in keeping you happy?” Andreux asked.
“Because I have the only child in two island chains. He’s proof of the island spirit’s grip on her people and the curse. For Kekoa, he is just looking forward to being a father himself and wants to make sure that growing families out on the islands are taken care of. That includes us.”
“We answer to Kimo. He owns these islands.” Andreux chuckled.
“Then call him. We are going to need some renovations and extra baby rooms.” She smirked.
His voice got husky. “How many baby rooms?”
“At least four.”
Monique grinned. “I will make the call.” She darted out of the room, and Andreux blinked.
He met Jane’s gaze. “I would be happy with a total of two.”
“Yeah, but you are good-looking, and I want to keep you on your toes while I work. You taking care of the tea business and the houseful of kids should keep you busy.”
“It doesn’t take that long to make kids.”
She looked at him and covered Terro’s ears. “It does the way you fuck.”
He grinned and kissed her. “You are very good for my ego.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You are horrible for mine. You are far too pretty. That’s probably why my memory of you was just pieces. I would have lost my nerve if I remembered all of you.”
He frowned. “Are you saying that I am better looking than you?”
“Andreux, I am very practical. I am me. Standard, brown hair and brown eyes, plain Jane. Mother to a very pretty son.”
Andreux set her down, took Terro and his bottle, and disappeared. He popped back into the room and scooped her up. “We need to have a talk.”
She blinked. “Why?”
He sat down and kept her close. “Jane, I need you to understand something.”
“Um, yeah?”
“I have never wanted a woman as much as I wanted you. When you smile, my heart melts. Your smiles and laughter raise the spirits of those around you, and I have dreamed of you, furious that I could not recall more for nearly three years. Having you next to me, I didn’t want to sleep. I wanted to stay awake so that you didn’t turn into a dream again.” He kissed her cheek. “My current dream is to stop fearing that you will disappear in my sleep. I don’t think I can live without you now that I have found you.”
The heavy throbbing of sincerity through their link was unmistakable. She winced. “I am not going to disappear again. I am not in a hotel room with a rutting alpha anymore. That is why I panicked when I woke up. Aside from the full body ache.”
He sighed. “So, you woke up next to a strange male, uncomfortable with no memory of how you got there. I can see your point. If any of our girls end up in that situation, there is going to be blood spilled.”
She smiled. “I think you are going to make a good dad all around. There is something so calm about you that relaxes me.”
“To the original subject matter. You got picked on a lot?”
“Yeah. My cousins were a blonde and a redhead.” She inhaled. “I heard about my shortcomings frequently, so when I was eighteen and filed my first patent for a game circuit design, my uncle finally stopped calling me plain Jane. And it changed to just Jane. Money does that to my family, so I made sure that I always had a lot of it.”
“Jane, are you wealthy?”
She ducked her head and shrugged. “Maybe.”
“And you pretend that you have a normal job?”
“I do have a normal job. I was never going to just coast on early success. I worked for it, and I kept it up. I have enough now to stay with Terro at home until he’s an adult, but that would just be wrong. He needs other kids, school, and socialization. Even alpha training. He will have educational needs that I can’t fulfill. I will keep an open mind for questions, but you were always in the plan. When he entered school, I was going to start DNA searches. If I could get a gross location for the gene pool, I would have started looking, and as you know, they pointed me right to you.”
He chuckled. “Yeah.”
“They saw Terro’s mask, and their eyes got huge, and they nearly stumbled over themselves pointing to this island.”
He grinned. “It’s a small community out here. About to get a bit of a boost.”
“I don’t know how a dozen babies will make a difference.”
“They are the start. Your advertising campaign is luring people over and industries who want to encourage a slow pace of life. Kekoa is ready, and they have an immigration portal designed for Wonder so that they don’t have to continue using Emerald for intake.”
“You know a bit about this.”
“I talked to Serin and Kekoa. I know what the plan is.” He leaned in and rubbed his nose against hers. “If I ask nicely, will you show me the first drafts of the show adverts?”
She nodded. “I could use a second set of eyes. Belle got a lot of footage heading into the strait, and what happened next is hilarious.”
He grinned. “My mother has Terro for the next hour, so why not? Want popcorn?”
She nodded. “I will patch the files together.”
He kissed her and said, “I am glad he gets his intelligence from you. I can’t think of much right now.”
She laughed and got up, heading slowly to the computer room. She spliced the files together, he returned with a plate of snacks and popcorn, and they watched Belle set sail, and Jane made notes.
Jane tensed when the motorized vessel entered the strait and the fin came toward them.
Watching Belle jump into the water and turn into water with her navel at the waterline was amazing.
Jane made notes as the titans wrestled, and Belle won and dragged the vessel to the other side of the strait. Belle then crawled onto the boat, and they continued on their tour.
“Wow. I am not going to restrain myself from telling Xo that he got beat up by his mate.”
Jane chuckled and started to cut particularly good angles that could be used for a trailer, as no one on the mainland would know that the people were real.
Whatever magic was making the enhanced alphas, betas and omegas hid them from the world at large. No one remembered the surprising portions of the exposure. That detail was going to make the islands a very fun place in the years to come, and Jane was going to enjoy every minute of it with her new family locked to her side.
Life on the islands was going to be an endless adventure... but first, they had to get this show up and running.