AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 7
Brennan
After the perfect dinner, we retreated back to the bedroom. I was in a complete haze of love, and the lust was there too, but I held it in check. We’d gotten this far. I could be patient.
Once back inside our suite, Riley closed the door behind us and pulled me to him. Time slowed down as he reached up and cupped my cheeks, bringing me down to him. I put my hands on the small of his back as he leaned his body into me, pushing up on his tiptoes. What followed was the perfect first kiss. Sweet and tender, with a hint of shyness. When we pulled apart, both of us were smiling like idiots.
So this is how it feels to be in love.It was well worth the wait.
“I know you said we don’t have to do anything tonight,” he said, looking past me toward the single king bed, “but I want to.”
My adrenaline spiked, but I held my bear in check. “If you want to, then I want to.”
“Okay. I just need to go check on the kids. I’ll be right back.” He stood on tiptoe again, kissing me with a light nip on my lower lip. “Hold that thought, okay?”
“Okay,” I said, more breathless than I’d ever been in all my life.
Riley left the room, and I touched my lips like a heroine in a Harlequin novel. I should feel ridiculous, letting this bubbly feeling get to my head and heart. Maybe that's what made it all the more special. An alpha in my position wasn’t supposed to experience these kinds of feelings. Vulnerability, affection, connection, love. Yet, here I was, having the most human experience of all.I can be brave and let myself get lost in it.There was nothing left to do but wait until Riley got aback and the next chapter of our love story could start.
It look longer for him to return than I expected, and when he got back, it was with a fussing, crying Holden in his arms.
“I’m so sorry, Brenn.” Frustration was written all over his face, and a look of apology. “Holden hasn’t been feeing well today, and they would have kept him, but the moment he saw me he threw a fit. Petey was fine with the carers, but Holden wasn’t having it. So, I have to take care of my baby.” Riley patted Holden’s bottom and kissed his forehead. “You said you were okay with waiting, right?”
“Of course I am. Don’t get me wrong, I was excited for our alone time, but I’m a patient man.”
Riley chuckled. “This is the life of a parent. This is what will be happening from now on when we want to have some ‘us’ time, so this is a good time to get used to it.”
“The highs and lows of being a dad, right?”
Riley nodded as he rocked Holden back and forth. “Right.”
“How about we all lay down together?”
“That sounds like a great idea.”
Our plans were ruined for now, but I understood that this was the challenge of being a parent, and it was good to start having these moments to practice for our future as a real family. I considered myself to be a mature and evolved person, so I accepted the fact that the kids’ needs came first.
I helped Riley change into his pajamas, because Holden started wailing every time he thought he was going to be put down. He was fine with me holding him for short intervals while Riley changed, clinging to the fur I sprouted to reassure and comfort him.
The three of us settled in for bed, Holden sniffling and kicking his legs every once and again, but finally settling down when he was snuggled between the two of us. He shifted to his baby squirrel form, and Riley and I pressed closer together, arms wrapped around each other with him in the middle. It fulfilled me and made my inner alpha bear feel satisfied to provide safety and comfort to my family. It wasn’t long before we all feel asleep like that, a little fitful, but together as one.
A few hours later, in the first hours of the new morning, Riley nudged me awake. Holden was whimpering, back in his human form, and he looked terrible. Something was just off about the little guy who was usually wrestling with me before breakfast.
