Blaidd
She seemed happier with the French toast than the ring, but then my gaze dropped to her belly—and to how long I’d remained knotted inside her that morning. I added another slice of French toast to her plate before cutting into mine.
“Are you trying to make me fatter?” she asked, pointing her fork at me.
I felt her amusement through the bond this time and relaxed.
“I’m feeding my babies,” I said, loading berries and toast onto my fork.
It wasn’t so hard, was it? Fenrir asked.
I listened as she chatted about what Anji had bought the twins. About moving into our new home next week. What Lielit didn’t know was that I’d also bought a second house further down the street—for her family.
No. It wasn’t, I replied. I never thought I’d bow to anyone.
Fenrir hummed, and the bond pulsed.
I could feel her—and Bouda—just as she could feel us. It was new, and we were still learning. There was no hiding from one another with the bond in place.
It made us stronger.
Fenrir said he felt revitalised.
Perhaps that was the result of complete freedom.
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She sat in her new rocking chair with the matching stool, overseeing my work as I built the cot. The instructions were laid out neatly, along with the various parts. I nudged a bolt into its pile before rereading the instructions for the double cot.
“You could’ve had them build it when they delivered it.”
I glanced at her as she popped a cashew into her mouth.
“And have their filthy stench in the nursery?” I scoffed. “It was bad enough having the movers inside while they set up the other rooms. No thanks.”
We’d moved into our new home—a nine-bedroom house with all the facilities we’d need as a family. I counted six more throat punches before every bedroom was filled with our pups.
Fenrir snickered. Worth it.
“You could’ve saved yourself all this trouble,” she said. “We have less than a month to prepare.”
“We’re both off work.”
“I’m practically on bedrest. You’re not even a qualified medical practitioner,” she grumbled, the packet in her hand rustling. “I’ll get bored—and you know what that means.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No, dear. It’s a promise.”
I tightened the bolt.
“I’m adding a child lock to the fridge,” I muttered.
The truth was, we’d been inseparable since the bond. Anji was more than capable of running her business, and my staff were far too afraid to make mistakes in my absence. Over the next two weeks, additional security measures would be put in place to ensure our home was safe.
In the meantime, my priorities were simple: organising our new home, caring for my heavily pregnant mate—and tying Lielit to the bed.
“As if a child lock would stop me.”
I grinned at the thought of her trying to torment me. If only she knew her little tricks no longer unsettled me in the slightest.
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She lay propped up in bed, flicking through a magazine. I knew she knew why I was here. She would’ve heard me coming up the stairs—we shared the same heightened senses.
“Do you really want to do this?” I asked when she continued to ignore me.
“Do what?” she replied innocently, setting the magazine atop her belly.
“This,” I said, holding up the red face towel she’d slipped into my white wash.
“All of my clothes and the bedsheets are pink.”
“You should be more careful, then.”
I moved closer.
“My Egyptian cotton, twelve-hundred thread count sheets are ruined.”
“Mmm,” she hummed, tapping her lip. “Pity.”
She’s horny, Fenrir said with a lazy yawn.
I inhaled.
I’d been so absorbed in the nursery—and she’d been asleep by the time I came to bed—that I hadn’t noticed.
I dropped the offending towel and pulled my T-shirt over my head, pausing only to kick off my slippers.
“You ruined an entire load just to get one stuffed inside you,” I murmured as I shoved my shorts down. “Oh, you’ll get one—just not where you expect it.”
By the time I reached the bed, her scent had flooded the room.
“Extra protein is good for me,” she said, flinging the magazine aside.
“Shameless,” I muttered, shaking my head.
I climbed onto the mattress and tugged the covers down before untying her thin cotton robe. When I saw the black lace-and-silk creation beneath it, a groan tore from my chest. She always had the upper hand.
And I never wanted her to change.
I slid the fabric up over her belly, pressing a kiss there before shifting lower. A smile curved my mouth just before I buried my face between her thighs.
I’d be here a while.
Maybe edging her before giving her what she wanted would calm her down.
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The glow of the laptop screen cut through the dark.
I rubbed a hand over my face before glancing at Lielit.
She was calm—happy, excited, all at once—while I sat up night after night, torturing myself with statistics about the risks of twin births.
She didn’t want to be induced. She didn’t want a C-section.
It was real. It was happening. Anaya and Owain would be here soon. And if the numbers meant anything, sooner than we expected.
This wasn’t something I could control. But I had one of the best doctors on call, and she’d assured me her team would be ready—day or night.
Power and money couldn’t quiet the fear. Ensuring Lielit had the best care was all I had to offer.
I closed the laptop and set it aside, easing myself closer so I could hold all three of them. Sleep only came once I felt the babies move.