My Second Chance Mate: A Shifter Romance, page 18
He suddenly perks up again and says, “Yeah. We can play trucks and legos, and uncle Jeremy and uncle Greg can give us horsey rides, and it’s gonna be fun!” After saying this he plants a big, sloppy kiss on Harmony’s stomach before whispering to it, “Just be a baby brother, okay?”
I laugh at his determination and suddenly hope, for his sake, that it is a boy. Although I know that no matter what he wants, he'll still be a great big brother to a little sister if that’s how things turn out. I just hope Harmony and I can work through this rough patch before the baby is born.
“You might not be able to play those things right away because he or she will be really tiny but the baby can join you and mommy for your bed time stories,” I offer.
“Oh,” he thinks it over. “I guess but I’m gonna pick the storiEs because babies can’t read, daddy,” he says as a matter of fact. I was going to point out that he couldn’t exactly read yet either but feared the mama wolf in Harmony would come out and bite me so I settle for, “Good idea.” Harmony then helps him lie back in bed and we both kiss him goodnight.
When Cody is settled, I lead the way out of the room. Once in the hallway, I turn around and come face to face with my love. Not expecting my sudden stop, she bumps into me shooting tingles everywhere our skin touches, causing Harmony to jump back. My wolf whimpers at the loss of her until my eyes finally take in what she is wearing and we both start whimpering at the sight before us.
Harmony had been under the covers while on the bed with Cody, so I didn’t get a chance to take in her choice of pajamas. I knew she had been running a little hotter than normal due to her pregnancy. That probably explains why she is dressed in only a thin strapped green top that hugs her newly enhanced chest and judging by the lack of straps or lines, she didn’t have a bra on. It's paired with green and black striped pajama shorts that end just below her delicious butt cheeks. Her hair is up in a messy bun with a few strands slipping out here and there.
I'm hit with such a jolt of lust and arousal that it's nearly impossible for me to hold myself back from her. She looks at my tight features with big doe eyes before catching the scent of my arousal in the air and a wicked grin spreads over her face. She steps closer to me, causing her chest to lightly brush mine, and send shivers through my body. I clench my hands so tightly together I'm probably leaving nail marks on my palms. My wolf is growling at me to take her now while my human is arguing that now isn’t the right time.
While I’m having this battle with myself, Harmony takes the opportunity to place her hands on my shoulders and use me for balance as she gets on her tip toes to whisper in my ear, “Are you hot, Trevor?” To which I can only nod causing her to get closer. Her lips are touching my ears now and whispers, “Now you know what I feel like every night while trying to sleep. Tense and hungry for the satisfaction of a cool breeze . . . “ She's really working me up here. I feel as if I'm going to bust a nut as she continues, “yearning for the relief my body craves after this endless torture that consumes my body.”
I'm losing oxygen to my brain as it all rushes south and just when I'm about to lose complete control, she steps back and to the side of me and starts to walk off, throwing over her shoulder, “The only cure for me when I feel heat like that is a very, very cold shower. I suggest you take one as soon as possible.” Savage.
She just worked me up to the point of no return then left me burned by my own heat. She's good. Very good. When she decides to pay someone back, she gets the job done. If I didn’t already know it, I surely knew it now. I'm never gonna mess up again. The punishment is far too painful. Shooting one last longing look at my mates retreating figure, I turn toward my room, hoping her payback will end soon. I need her back in my arms and bed but first I need a cold shower. A very, very cold shower.
***
Harmony
Walking away from an aroused Trevor is so hard to do. Especially since my wolf is screaming at me to turn around and hump that boy till I can’t feel my legs. I have to stay strong. I have done well this week in my torture of Trevor and judging by the emotions on his face, all the lessons I want him to learn are embedded in his brain.
I thought he would have blown up at me about the whites becoming pinks, but he took it with a grain of salt, heading out to buy a bunch of new shirts and socks and even rocking one of the pink undershirts at one of the training sessions. It makes him look like a yummy, mouthwatering cotton candy on a stick. Fighting my urge to give in to him that day took all of my energy. Not only is this pregnancy making me emotional, it's also making me horny and denying my cravings is torture.
The dinners were tough to get through, but I admired how he just accepted things for the way they were, no questions asked. He could’ve used his alpha authority to make me or any of the others bring him some of the food I made, but he never did. He just sat there eating as if nothing was amiss.
Then tonight, the gentle way he was with Cody and the look that crossed his face when Cody mentioned a baby sister finally did it for me. I can’t continue on my path of payback without hurting us both and taking a step back in my goal toward maturity. Besides, continuing on is just plain petty. I wanted him to learn a lesson and judging by his reactions to my schemes, he learned it well. It's time I give my man a much deserved reward. I'll let him sweat it out one more night. Tomorrow I'll surprise him with a big breakfast in bed while persuading him to have me for dessert first. I think my wolf just did a little happy dance.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Lessons Learned
Trevor
After another night of tossing and turning, I give up on getting any sleep and just stare at my ceiling. I watch the moonlight change to sunlight and miss the warm body of my mate cuddled next to me. I miss watching her eyelids flicker while she dreams, or the way her nose twitches when I run my finger over it. I even miss the occasional hand to the face when she turns to search for me next to her. I just plain miss her. As I contemplate sneaking into the guest room to watch her sleep, I hear movement outside my bedroom door. I listen quietly for a few moments, wondering if it may be Cody coming to wake me up when the door opens and shuts quietly. I sit up abruptly to tell whoever it is to knock next time and am met by the smiling figure of my mate.
She's dressed in one of my white button up shirts that falls to her knees and the sleeves are rolled up to her elbows. In her hands is a breakfast tray. I'm so shocked I forget to take a breath and wind up having a coughing fit as soon air rushes into my lungs. I'm literally hacking up my lungs and she quickly puts down the tray to rush to my side and pat my back.
“Trevor, are you okay? Do you need some water or something?” her sweet voice asks, filled with concern.
All I can do is nod and she runs to the bathroom, returning shortly with a glass of water. I gulp it eagerly, clearing the dust from my throat and turn to look into the worried green eyes of the woman I love. “Thanks,” is my brilliant first word to her.
She smiles and says, “You’re welcome. I knew my appearance would be a surprise but I wasn’t planning on causing you to almost lose a lung.”
I return her smile. “It wouldn’t matter. I already lost my heart to you, why not add another organ to it?”
Her face scrunches up though the smile is still there. “Awww, that was really sweet. Cheesy but sweet.”
I can only smile back and revel in the warm vanilla and honey scent that clings to her skin. I want to grab her in my arms and never let go but I'm not sure of her purpose for being here. After the progress I made last night, I can’t risk messing up again. Plus, I don’t want to have to go through another cold shower and if I lay any part of my body on hers, that will be exactly where I'm headed.
Just as I'm about to ask her what brought her here, she jumps up off the bed. She must have read the lust on my face and decided to leave. That's not the case though as she surprises me by picking up the forgotten tray and bringing it to the bed. She motions for me to scoot up to the head board and then she places the tray on my lap. There's a plate of eggs, bacon, ham, and toast with some cut up fruit in a bowl to the side. She filled a mug with coffee just the way I like it and has a tall glass of orange juice as well. I look from the tray to her, back to the tray, and finally rest my confused eyes on her amused ones.
“This is a peace offering. Sort of. I’ve tortured you enough over the past week and I think you’ve learned your lesson. No matter what I threw your way, you never complained or used your alpha authority on me. You let me do what I needed and understood why I needed it. Your words hurt me deep, Trevor. I understand it mostly came from your fear. I hope now that you’ve gotten a taste of what life without me as your mate could be like. You’re no longer going to worry about the what ifs and start concentrating on what is.”
I stare at her in awe. I probably look like a little lost puppy in a shop window who’s finally found someone who wants to take him home. I'm afraid to believe this is real. What if it's just another part of her payback? A trick to reel me in then crush me?
“It’s not a trick, babe.”
I feel a huge weight being lifted at her silent message to me. Her blocks are finally removed and I can sense the truth in her words. I bring my hand up to cup her cheek.
“You’re letting me back in?” I ask through our newly restored link.
“Yes and as an extra reward that’s not the only place I plan on letting you back in,” she replies with a sultry smile on her face.
Every single part of me rises to attention at her words. I have to reign my dirty thoughts in. She probably meant her heart, right? After what I did, there's no way she's letting me anywhere near the promised land anytime soon.
Reading my thoughts again she says, “You never left my heart, Trevor. You were always in there no matter how much you hurt me.”
My whole body relaxes hearing that she never stopped loving me then tightens again as her meaning sinks in. “You mean, yo-”
She cuts my words off as she crushes her lips to mine while weaving her fingers through my hair. It takes me a minute to get over the shock of it, but once I do, I fling the tray aside and bring her over me so that she's straddling my hips. All that separates us is the cotton of her underwear and the thin sheet covering my otherwise naked body. I grip her hips tightly and nearly lose myself completely at the moan that action brings from her. I move my hands slowly up her torso to the top button of my shirt that still covers that glorious body I've been missing. I pull back from our heated kiss to be sure that it's okay for me to go further. She stares back at me through glowing green eyes, letting me know her wolf is very much with her at this moment. I feel my eyes flash as well and in the next moment she rips the shirt open herself and brings our lips together once more. This kiss is filled with all the longing and pent up desire we feel for each other during our separation. Each time our lips touch, the sparks get stronger and when our tongues blend our tastes together, it's euphoria.
Our hearts race together as if in competition with one another to see who can out race the other. Our hands wildly roam the other’s body, remembering all the dips and turns along the way. As lust recedes and passion takes over, our strokes and kisses becomes gentle. I flip her so that she's lying under me and break away from our kiss so that I can look into her eyes for a moment before letting mine travel down her body to rest on the two rosy buds seeking attention. Not wanting to deny my mate anything, I eagerly grant their wish and send Harmony into instantaneous ecstasy. When she gradually returns to me, she's met with my look of surprise and she blushes.
“Yeah, um, they’re really sensitive now. Dr. Stevens said it’s normal. All part of being pregnant,” she explains with a shy smile.
The reminder of my child growing within her is like a mental ice cold shower. My body, however, is not deterred one bit being that it's so close to her center. I do have to pull back a little so I can ask, “I’m sorry, babe. I just got carried away. You’re too irresistible and it’s been so long without you. Is it even safe for us to be doing this? What if I hit him or something?”
She looks at me for a moment then bursts out laughing. Her laughter at my serious concern causes me to lose all enthusiasm in parts down south. Feeling me soften against her thigh brings Harmony out of her laughing fit, and she quickly tries to soothe my ego. “No, no, no. Don’t think I was laughing at you. It was cute that you were worried you’d hit him, but even though you are massive in that area, there is no way you’re long enough to do any damage.”
My brows furrow at her use of words. I'm a little offended. I'm damn well long enough to do damage. She starts giggling again at my expression, but reigns it in to say with a smile and twinkle in her eyes. “Yes, honey. You can do wonderful, fulfilling, extraordinary damage to me which you know I love but our baby is completely safe in his little cocoon, high up in my body and far enough away from your massive hammer.”
I feel myself start to harden at her words of praise. “Really? Extraordinary? I think hammer is too small a tool. More like mallet.”
Rolling her eyes she says, “Oh my gosh. Someone really needed an ego boost, didn’t he?”
I blow a raspberry on her neck to show her what I think of her teasing. She squirms and giggles at my actions. I love hearing her laughter once again. I stop so I can look at her and be sure. “So, what we’re doing is okay?”
The smile I missed so much forms on her lips. “It’s totally okay so stop wasting time talking about it and get to it. These pregnancy hormones have been wreaking havoc on me lately, and all I want to do is tie you to this bed and have my way with you till you can no longer walk on two legs.”
Cue the return of my stiffy, definitely at full attention now. I bring our lips together once more as I rest my weight on my left arm and move my right hand down her body to make sure she's ready for me. When I reach my destination, I feel the evidence of her arousal and know there will be no resistance. Bringing myself once again to her entrance, I ready for the promised land and stare deeply into her eyes as I ease into her. She moans my name and I catch her gasps with my mouth as we start an easy rhythm. Our bodies move in sync with one another and tingles shoot from where we are connected, traveling up my back, through my arms, and filling me with the sweetest adrenaline rush I’ve ever felt. As our pace increases, I sense her nearing completion. I trail kisses from her mouth to my mark. As my lips meet her skin she explodes, milking me of my own explosive release. “I love you,” I whisper in her ear.
After we both catch our breath, I move my weight off of her, but keep her hand firmly in mine. I turn to lie on my left side so that I can look at my beautiful mate. Her eyes are closed but a smile still lingers on her lips. I bring my finger tip to them and trace their fullness. She opens her eyes and looks into mine with love and forgiveness reflecting from them.
“I really am sorry, Harmony. Thank you for giving me another chance. I love you so much.”
She touches my cheek before replying, “I know you are. I love you too. Just promise you won’t do something like that again.”
“I can’t promise I won’t ever say anything stupid, but I can promise to think things through and talk to you about it instead of holding it in and blowing up. I’m not going to let my fear of losing you control me anymore. I can promise you that. As long as you believe in me, I’ll always do my best to protect you,” I vow.
“I know that, Trevor. But you also have to understand that I can take care of myself. I’m glad I have you to protect me but I’m not helpless. I’ve had the same training all the other wolves had and I’ve had Jared to practice on. He’s one of the best fighters, I know. You don’t always have to look over your shoulder to make sure I’m okay. Just love and be there for me, Cody, and our baby. That’s all I really need from you.”
“I can do that,” I promise, rolling on to my back and pulling her with me. We started kissing again, but have to stop when I feel something poking my hip. I reach under me to grab whatever it is. Once I have it, I bring my hand up between Harmony and myself and see it's a piece of bacon. Then I remember the breakfast she made for me and turn to my right to see the mess of food and drink on the floor and the edge of my bed. “Oops. Sorry, babe. I guess I really messed up breakfast,” I say with a guilty expression.
She looks at the same mess I'm seeing and smiles sheepishly. “About that . . . “ Then there's a banging on the door. I shoot up in bed for the second time this morning and am prepared for a fight when I hear Megan’s familiar voice shouting through the door. “Harmony, you are so dead. I know you’re in there! I could hear you moaning from outside.”
There's another voice. Probably Austin trying to calm her down but she isn’t having it. “No way. She’s going to get it. I cooked that breakfast for you and she conned me into helping her look outside for a supposed cat that she swore had been meowing all night. She sent me on a wild goose chase around the house, checking if her mysterious cat was hiding in any of the flower beds and when I come back in after finding no such thing and hearing her moans, I see that she’s stolen your breakfast. I am so gonna strangle her, pregnant or not.”
I growl at the threat. Even though I know Megan would never follow through with it. I turn to look at my mate who is now sitting as well but has her face buried in my arm as she shakes. Worried that Megan is actually scaring her, I start to tell Austin to take Megan away when Harmony lifts her head and I see she's shaking with laughter. “Megan, I’m sorry but you’re such a sucker and I needed breakfast in a hurry. You provided that for me. I promise I’ll make it up to you. I’ll be down in a few and I’ll cook you and Austin the biggest, most delicious breakfast. I promise.”
“See? Come on, babe. It’ll give us a few more moments in bed,” Austin coaxes Megan.
Harmony is still giggling next to me. She looks every bit the mischievous little sister I know her to be.
