Dagger was rock hard, dying to have her. When she lowered herself onto him, the way he tipped his head back into the pillow told me she wouldn’t have to work hard.
“You feel fucking incredible, gorgeous,” he told her.
“Mm, you feel better.” Her hands ran all over his chest, as she slowly rocked her hips. “You’re so worth the wait. And so fucking sexy.” I stood a little straighter, reveling in the family resemblance.
He groaned as he gently held her hips and softly instructed, “Figure eights, Cowgirl. Make figure eights. That’s it. That’s my good girl.” She followed his lead, swirling her hips. “Yeah, that’s it. Just like that.” His hands traveled up her stomach to her breasts. “Now lean back a little and brace your palms on my thighs.”
She obeyed and let out a low, surprised, “Oh.” Face toward the ceiling, eyes shut, she was a vision I couldn’t tear my eyes from.
“Serenity,” Dagger murmured like a man talking in his sleep, all rough edges gone from his face and his voice. “Serenity. I love you. Don’t stop. You’re my good girl. Forever.”
“I love you too, Dagger,” she murmured back, almost a whisper, and I could tell by her smile that he came right then, as she said his name.
Dagger sank into the mattress, breathing heavy, but then his head popped up in surprise. Serenity sat up straight, but she didn’t look as startled as she peered down at their joined bodies.
“You trying to make cute little babies with me, too, Detective Bad Boy?” she asked.
Understanding hit. His knot had appeared, just like mine had the first time we made love.
“Looks like it,” Dagger answered, shell shocked.
Seb was looking on in total confusion.
“Huh? I…” He dropped his voice just for me to hear. “I thought she couldn’t.”
“I’ll explain later,” I said for everyone to hear, “but the short story is it might be possible with a paranormal bond.”
“Really?” Seb’s face lit in a moony look that made me chuckle softly. His happy cry drew Serenity’s gaze, shimmering with joyful tears.
“That’s amazing,” Bryce said, springing out of his seat.
Serenity nodded. “But no matter what, no matter if we have little ones running around or not, we’re a family. And I couldn’t be happier.”
Serenity
Ispent the morning of New Year’s Day tangled up with the four loves of my life. At some point I’d been passed by way of strong arms from the bedroom to the living room’s largest chaise-lounge, where I now lay gasping as Hunter helped me clean the remnants of our lovemaking striped across my skin. I caught a drop on a fingertip. Salt with a hint of cinnamon.
I’d started last year shivering and starving on the streets, wandering in search of a warm corner to curl up in until I could earn a dollar.
This year, I woke in a lavish country estate, halfway between New Lincoln and New Omaha, surrounded by affection. I had great new friends to share holidays with, too. We’d spent Christmas with Beatrice—who was happily adopting me as a daughter and the other three guys as additional sons—and we’d rung in the New Year with Ceci and her guys at their place. Ceci and I met up whenever we could, filling up a text thread in the interim.
I also had a great job at Midas that was still going strong, anddespite the distance, it was only a twenty-minute commute to the news station.
By helicopter. Yep, my ride to work was a freakin’ helicopter, and I only had to commute half the week, which was lovely, but I had to admit to child-like excitement every time those whirring rotor blades could be heard across the farm’s swaying lakes of corn, pear and plum. Not many people got the view Bryce, Seb, and I did on our journeys to the office.
Hunter kissed my stomach, and I caressed the spot where his lips had lain, right above our baby. I could still hardly believe it. Pregnant! I was pregnant!
Every dream I’d ever had was coming true all at once, and I could hardly keep up. It left me dizzy sometimes. Or maybe that was the baby doing that. I wasn’t sure. We’d only found out a week ago. When Seb sensed a whole new set of emotions stirring in my womb. The bond between him and our child was already forming. We didn’t actually know the biological father, but it didn’t matter, and we didn’t plan to try and find out. If we had our way, there would be several little ones running around the house.
That wasn’t all we had planned either. Bryce was organizing a ceremony and banquet for all our exchanges of vows, making our commitment to each other official. We’d declare our love on the farm, amidst the wholesome cradle of nature, surrounded by smiles and well-wishers.
But outside of our haven, things in New Nebraska weren’t quite as peachy. Though illegal drug use had plummeted after Dagger’s precinct locked up the few surviving members of the Marchand coven, hate crimes against half-breeds and humans were rising in the cities. Winterborn’s gubernatorial campaign was rapidly gathering steam, and his chief supporter, Clyde Blunton, was spewing even more hatred from the Temple’s pulpits than ever before. Stupid fools playing their political games. The deep divisions they wanted could only ever end in disaster…
I saw Bryce walk onto the rainy terrace stark naked and sat up, curious. He peered into the crowded, charcoal sky with his arms outstretched, as wisps of steam oozed and fluttered into the blustery breeze. I threw on a silk silver robe and padded up behind him into the brewing storm.
I circled my arms around his chiseled waist. “You realize you’re getting soaked out here in this freezing rain, don’t you?”
He placed his palms on top of mine and rubbed as lightning sliced through the clouds. A roll of thunder sped the rain spatters into rattles. We were both drenched already, but the water felt great against my flushed skin. A romp with Bry always made the fire magic he’d passed to me bubble up. It never felt dangerous because I was always so relaxed afterward, but cooling off after in a cold shower like this was always welcome.
