Chapter 59
Chapter
Fifty-Nine
Istood in front of the door to his room.
After our talk at the hot springs, I wasn’t planning on going back to my room.
It had been so long since I had slept with Colton.
I was both nervous and excited. Opening the door, the light was on and the door to the nursery was also open.
Hearing a splash in the bathroom brought a smile to my face.
Leaning against the doorframe, I smiled.
Colton was in the bathtub, the water up to his chest. Kayla was in his lap, naked as she splashed around in the water.
From here I could see the soft smile on his face.
How much love he had for our little girl.
It was a moment I would always remember. The memory seared into mind.
Colton leaned his head back, catching me staring from the doorway. “I thought that was you.”
“I’d hope so. No one else should loom in the doorway.” I stepped into the bathroom and kneeled down next to the tub.
“You say that, but you would be surprised.” He chuckled when my eyes narrowed. “When Kayla was really little, Lauren, Beau, Candy, and sometimes even Tyson would loom close to steal her away. Sabrina just straight up came in and stole her sometimes.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “I swear. I knew they were going to be bad, but not that bad.”
“It was nice.” He looked back at Kayla, rubbing soap between all her rolls. “I wouldn’t have made it without them. They pushed a lot, but it was only because they knew if they didn’t, I was going to run myself into the ground.”
I reached out and moved some of the wet hair out of his face. “I’m glad they were here. I’m sorry I wasn’t.”
He shook his head. “You’re here now. That’s all I care about.”
Rinsing Kayla off, I grabbed a towel and wrapped her up in my arms. She was delighted to have me rub her down while Colton got out. My eyes wandered to his body, watching before he glared at me.
“I can feel you through the bond, Mar. Keep your horniness to yourself.”
I snorted. “How could I?”
“You already got me today!”
“I’ve got some making up to do. My mind might not remember the time, but my body does. I feel starved without you.”
Colton rolled his eyes, and I moved Kayla into one arm. Reaching out, I grabbed his jaw, pulling him in close. His eyes widened. Caught in my pheromones and my grip.
“Did you roll your eyes at me?”
“Habit?”
I growled. “There will never be a time, little wolf, that I don’t want you. I always will. You being naked is nearly as good as you presenting yourself to me.”
His cheeks flushed, and I gave his lips a swift kiss. “I know it’s going to take some time for both of us, but if I’m not allowed to love and lust after you, we are going to have another talk.”
He smiled and shook his head. “Then lust away, Alpha.”
As he walked by me, I slapped his ass. Colton squeaked, and I laughed. Kayla squealed as well. She wiggled in my arms, and I made my way into the nursery. She wiggled the entire time I tried to change her diaper. It had been so many years since I’d done it; it took me a minute to remember how.
Colton ended up coming up behind me, watching was amusement as I struggled. He reached out once I was done and adjusted it a little before handing me a onesie she could wear. It was even harder to get her into.
“She’s so…chunky.”
He laughed. “She just keeps wanting more. Dean says she’s fine. She’s just a chunky baby. She’s also long too. In both aspects, she’s in the top percentile.”
“She’s going to be strong.”
“She’s going to be like you.” Colton glared at me. “I’m not dealing with her when she’s going to push her Alpha command on me. That’s going to be all you.”
He patted my back, and I laughed, lifting her up and carrying her back into our room. Colton fell onto the bed before groaning. I sat down on the other side, leaning my back against the headboard and let Kayla sprawl out on my chest. Her noises were constant, and I couldn’t help but marvel at her.
“Alright. Hand her over. Maybe we can get her to sleep at a decent time if I fill her up.”
I handed Kayla to Colton, who adjusted her on himself. She knew immediately what to do, latching on, and I could see him wince before settling back into a comfortable position.
“Do you need anything?”
Colton shook his head. “I’m good. If you want to sleep, you can. It’s not worth the both of us being awake like this.”
“Will you wake me up? In case she doesn’t go down or if she cries. I’m not quite tuned to her crying yet. I’ve been working on it though.”
He smiled over at me. “I will.”
Lying down all the way, I watched them for a little while. Colton’s eyes shut, and he hummed as Kayla ate. My heart clenched. This was my family. Mine. We were back together, finally. I wanted this more than anything, and now I had it. Right here and now.
“You’re staring.”
“You’re worth staring at.”
Colton chuckled. “I’m glad my eyes aren’t open.”
“Oh, I know you rolled them.”
Reaching out, I put my arm over his legs.
There was a soft sigh that escaped him, and I sucked in a breath.
When I touched him like that, our bond thrummed.
I could feel his emotions almost like normal.
The softness of his love that thrummed through was incredible.
Nuzzling into his side, I closed my eyes.
“I love you, Colt. Thank you.”
He hummed. “For what?”
“For giving me everything I could dream of.”
Colton was quiet for a while, and I felt myself drifting off. “You’re welcome, Alpha.”
The pain. It was so much that it was blinding. I tried to move, but I was stuck. I couldn’t move. It burned. Gods, it burned. My body was being torn apart, and I was shaking.
It hurt. My mouth opened, and I let out a roar. I was dying. I was dying and I couldn’t even fight.
Mar.
I’d just gotten them back. I just gotten my mate and my daughter back. I couldn’t die. It was too much, though. It was spreading. Spreading down my entire body. I was losing my grip.
Mar!
My chest was heaving. I was trying to force myself to breathe, but it was hard. It hurt so much. Everything hurt so much. I wanted to say I was sorry. That I tried. That I wasn’t losing myself. That I was…
“Marcus! Wake up!”
My eyes flew open, but my vision was blurry. Hands were holding me down, and I thrashed against them. Still, they held me down, and I roared, ready to spit fire.
“Alpha! It’s okay! It’s me…it’s just me!”
I couldn’t understand what was being said. The pain was too much. I needed…I needed to get free. I needed to get back to my family. I needed to run.
Suddenly, a scent slammed into me. My breath caught, my entire body freezing. It wrapped around me, holding me tight. I knew it. Cardamom with that splash of cinnamon. Colton. Colton’s scent.
“It’s okay, Alpha. It’s okay. It was a nightmare. I’m here. You’re safe.” His voice was soft, his hands brushing against my skin.
“Colt…” My voice croaked out.
His hand, which was pressed into my chest, lightened and ran down my front. “That’s right, I’m here. Take a breath. You’re okay.”
Swallowing, I closed my eyes. Slowly, I breathed in his scent.
It had a sense of calm, but his worry wove through our bond.
The pain was gone. The nightmare was gone, but it felt too real.
A pain too overwhelming to be fake. Dad warned me I might also remember the pain they put me through.
I’d have a couple of flashes of it, but that was the worst I’d ever felt.
The next time I opened my eyes, I could see straight. Colton was observing me, and I reached out, brushing his cheek. He smiled, but I could see the tears shining in his eyes.
“I’m okay.”
He nodded. “I’m right here.”
I reached out and pulled him to me. He lay on top of me, his head on my chest. Breathing in his scent, I felt myself calm down completely.
It had been so long since I scented him.
He wore his crystals all the time, and I knew he did before because this room didn’t even have a hint of his scent in it.
I’d wondered if he ever got the chance to breathe, but with how strongly it slammed into me, I guessed not.
“Thank you.”
Colton hummed, not saying anything. His hand rubbed my front, and I chuckled as he paid extra attention to the squish. I wanted to slap his hand away, but feeling the bond and the sparks was too nice. Slowly, I felt myself fall back into an exhausted sleep. A dreamless one. A painless one.
Walking into the kitchen, Colton and Laila were talking while Dad cut up some meat that smelled like he had smoked it. Coming up behind both of them, I kissed the top of Colton’s head. My sister-in-law glared at me.
“Since when did you get kiss privileges?”
“Don’t be mean. He always has that privilege.” Colton flashed me a smile. “Good afternoon.”
I glared at him. “You said you would wake me up.”
He put his hands up. “Would you believe me if it wasn’t for a lack of trying?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think I was that exhausted.”
Opening the fridge, I pulled out the milk container and poured myself a glass. Everyone was watching me, but Colton’s eyes were wide. My eyes narrowed, and I took a sip. The moment the milk touched my lips, I looked down at the glass. Mom burst out laughing, and Colton was chuckling.
“What is your breast milk doing in the fridge down here?”
“There isn’t anymore room in the nursery fridge. That’s the excess.”
My dad pointed the knife he was cutting the meat with at me. “I am convinced that’s what did it.”
“Did what?”
Laila jumped in, smirking. “Colt and Candy were playing a little prank on you.”
Mom huffed. “It wasn’t even a prank. We just weren’t correcting him.”
“Yeah right. You both knew what you were doing. You were absolutely pranking him.” Dad jumped in.
“You, my wonderfully horrible mate, are not allowed to say anything in the matter.” Mom hip-checked him.