A McCarthy Christmas [Moonlight Shifters 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Morgan Fox

  “Yes, honey. You’re going to be a daddy.”

  Jonah’s legs were like Jell-O, his knees wobbling. Sebastian braced up against him. “I remember what this feeling was like,” he said with a snicker. “Just wait until the baby’s born.”

  He leaned against his brother. “I think I need to sit down.”

  Brie moved closer to hold him. “Are you okay?” He watched as fear replaced hope.

  “I’ve never been better,” he told her, his words shaky with his overwhelming emotions. “I almost lost this. I almost ruined everything.”

  “But you didn’t. You’re coming home, and you had planned to before I even told you about the baby.”

  That was true. “But—”

  “But shit sake, Jonah. You experienced a midlife crisis. Who hasn’t had one of those?” He patted him on the back. “You’re getting everything you’ve ever wanted. Be happy. Enjoy it. Embrace it, but stop mucking over the shoulda, coulda, woulda’s.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s getting old.”

  Leave it to his brother to soften the experience. “Right,” Jonah said with a sigh. “I’m on it.”

  Brie smiled. “I missed this. I missed the three of us being us.”

  Sebastian wrapped his free arm around her and kissed her cheek. “Maybe if Jonah here can pull it together, we can get home and enjoy a little Christmas festivity and make some new memories.” He shot his brother a lopsided grin. “I think the rest of the pack would like to know about a certain little pup.”

  “Pups,” Brie corrected.

  Jonah’s knees buckled.

  Chapter Nine

  “Well, look what the wolf drug in from out of the woods,” Ryken said with a snicker, leaning up against the side of Zane’s truck.

  Brie made note that both he and Luken had put on gray sweatpants. Thank goodness for small favors. A few years ago, Sebastian had instructed all the lycans in the pack to keep extra pairs of pants in their vehicles in case of emergencies. This qualified. Brie imagined it was a rule that had been implemented to keep from scaring those who were not used to seeing a bunch of primally charged naked men running about.

  Brie spotted Kayla still wrapped in her blanket and sighed happily, wrapping her two lovers in her arms. Kayla ran for her, crying out, “Mommy,” and her heart swelled as her daughter reached them. The moment was perfect.

  “Shall we head back to the ranch?” Ryder asked gruffly, his deep voice scraping the back of his throat. “I’m sure Bianca and Brody are wondering what happened. When Tiffany called, I sort of jumped out of the truck as we were heading to your place.”

  Brie moved toward him and hugged him. “Thank you for that, by the way.”

  Ryder smiled, glancing up to Sebastian, and the two shared an understanding nod. Brie didn’t want to drive. She wanted to sit with Kayla, so she asked Ryder if he would. He was more than willing. Sebastian and Jonah sat beside her, while Ryken and Luken drove with Zane. Time moved quickly, and before she realized it, they were pulling into the driveway at McCarthy Ranch.

  Home.

  Sebastian opened the door and a cold burst of air shot inside the vehicle. The temperature continued to drop, and the snow began to fall harder. Holding her daughter safe in her arms, the weather didn’t seem to frighten her as much. Instead, she welcomed the idea of a white Christmas.

  Dominic and Reyes descended the steps of the ranch house. “Thank the moon she’s okay,” Reyes said. “You gave us quit a fright, young lady.”

  Kayla frowned and hung her head, muttering, “I’m sorry.”

  Brie and the others joined them on the porch, and she rubbed Kayla’s arm. “Let’s go inside and have something good to eat and drink.”

  “I’m up for that,” Dominic said with a wink.

  “Me too,” added Ryken, kneeling to hug Kayla. “Come on.”

  When they entered the house Kerri rushed to hug Kayla. The two of them shared a sisterly moment that had Brie choking on her emotions. Her little girls were the most precious things in the world. She squeezed Sebastian’s hand as they looked at them. But the moment only became perfect when Jonah took her other hand and did the same thing.

  “How about we order that pizza,” Megan said, waddling her way to the kitchen. “I’m starving.”

  “That sounds like a great idea,” Brie cheered, looking at her daughters. “You guys ready for some pizza?”

  “Yah!” Kayla and Kerri shouted in unison.

  “I’ll call,” Tiffany replied, moving to her phone. She ordered the pizzas and tapped Zane on the shoulder. “Let’s go. They’ll be ready about the time we get there.”

  Without complaint, Zane was up and leading Tiffany out the door. In a little over thirty minutes they were back with a dozen large pizzas. Brie was glad she and the other women had baked cookies, breads, and pies earlier that day. The pizzas didn’t last long, and the men groaned for more.

  Brie, Tiffany, and Tabitha laid out the spread of desserts on the dining room table, and again the table was swarmed by hungry people.

  “Maybe you should’ve baked more,” Bianca said, eyeing her husband’s plates. “Let me know if you need me to run to the store to get more food.”

  Brie laughed. “I think we’ll be okay.” She pointed to the stack of untouched goodies on the counter and Bianca grinned.

  “Smart woman,” she praised, rocking her newborn daughter.

  “I know the demands of feeding a pack of wolves,” Brie teased.

  “Anyone up for coffee? I could use a warm cup,” Tabitha asked, adding water to the reservoir of the coffeemaker. “It’s freezing outside.”

  “Poor little pup,” Ryken joked. Tabitha was the youngest lycan of them all. As it was, everyone in the group was either lycan or fey, and in some instances both.

  “Hey,” Tabitha breathed. “Not funny.”

  Luken moved to kiss her cheek, wrapping her in his arms. “I’ll warm you up, baby.”

  She twisted around and draped her arms around his neck, kissing him back. “I like the sound of that.”

  “None of that. Kids are present,” Bianca said with a laugh, pretending to cover her baby’s eyes.

  Brie smiled, stepping out of the kitchen and into the playroom to see Kayla, Kerri, and Dom Jr. playing together. Her heart was overcome with the sights and sounds of the holidays in full swing around her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Jonah, laughing and talking with the others. He must’ve sensed her eyes on him as he looked to her.

  Smiling, he hooked his finger at her to join him. She did, and as she approached, he stood. Sebastian was standing at the fireplace with Dominic and Reyes, while Megan sat beside them warming her hands. Ryken, Tabitha, and Luken all moved out of the kitchen and found seats around the living room. Ryder took his daughter from Bianca’s arms and sat down on the sofa where she and Brody joined him. Zane was comfortably seated in a reclining chair with Tiffany draped over him.

  Family.

  Jonah wrapped his arm around Brie’s waist and kissed her cheek. “May I have your attention?” he called out and soon all eyes were on him. “I have an announcement to make.”

  Brie smiled and remembered that Kayla and Kerri were in the playroom, she called to them using her magic, and immediately they came out of the room with Dom Jr. and joined the rest of the group. Dom Jr. crawled up onto his mother’s available lap, while Kayla and Kerri moved to sit on the stone footing of the fireplace next to Sebastian.

  “Today I received some news that I’d like to share with my family,” Jonah began. “My lovely wife informed me that we are expecting twins.”

  “Well, hot damn,” Ryken cheered.

  “About time,” Luken added. “If there’s a God, you’ll have twin girls that are as beautiful as their mother.”

  Luken raised a glass, and the room cheered. Tiffany’s eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Brie.

  “That’s not funny,” Jonah countered. “If it’s boys, you only have to worry about one happy stick. If its girls, you ha
ve to worry about them all.”

  The men chuckled.

  Brie gasped.

  Kerri moved up to tug on Jonah’s pant leg. “Uncle Jonah, what’s a happy stick?”

  Brie, leaned down and said, “It’s a big stick you use to smack balls with around in the yard, honey.”

  “Oh,” Kerri breathed. “I want one of those.”

  All the women snickered and the men shifted uncomfortably at the references to a stick smacking balls. Brie turned to Jonah and muttered, “Where’s your filter?”

  He cringed.

  “My dad says a happy stick is a—” Megan quickly covered Dom Jr.’s mouth with her hand.

  “Okay, I think someone needs a bathroom break.” She eyed Dominic menacingly. “Honestly, what are you teaching your son?”

  Dominic helped her up, taking Dom Jr. from her arms as they headed toward the bathroom. He shrugged. “I’m not teaching him anything. But Reyes,” he started.

  “Don’t add me to your Dominic debacle,” Reyes said. “He’s got your DNA coursing through his veins. There’s no telling what will shoot out of his mouth.”

  Kayla hadn’t said a word since Jonah made the announcement and Brie wondered if the news somehow upset her. She didn’t look happy to hear the news. The day had been a trying one for her already.

  Brie kneeled beside her. “Kayla, are you all right, honey?”

  Jonah followed her down to one knee. “Are you happy about being a big sister again?”

  She grimaced, her eyes watering. “Would you be mad at me if I’m not?”

  He swallowed hard. “No, I won’t be mad. But I’d like to know why you’re not happy.”

  She blinked, glancing down to stare at the floor. “Are you replacing me, Uncle Jonah?”

  Brie’s heart dropped to her belly, but before she could respond, Jonah had Kayla swept up into his arms. “Never,” he told her. “Never. Never. Never. Our family is growing. It’s a blessing. You will always be my best girl, no matter what.” He reached down to feel Kerri at his leg and said to her, “And you will always be my angel. Both of you can never be replaced.”

  “Besides,” Brie said, her stomach knotting with the one little detail she hadn’t mentioned to her husbands. “You’re going to have brothers.”

  Jonah’s smile grew. “Sons? Really?” He kissed Brie. “I can’t believe it.”

  Sebastian groaned. “Me either.”

  Jonah’s eyes watered as he smiled at Sebastian. “Jealous, big brother?”

  “Maybe a little,” he said grinning with a heavily arched brow.

  Ryken snickered. “You know there’s a sure way to guarantee the sex of your child. It would appear Brie did all the work to get the two you have, Sebastian.”

  Sebastian slanted him with a hard look.

  Luken chuckled. “Yep, and It would seem Jonah did all the work this time around.”

  The twins fist bumped.

  “Seriously inappropriate,” Tabitha told them.

  Kayla turned to face Sebastian as he closed in to take her from Jonah’s arms. “Oh, Daddy. Uncle Jonah could never have girls. He’d make us silly dorks, where you make us princesses.”

  “Hey,” Jonah stressed. “Being a silly dork takes practice and great skill.”

  Brie’s eyes flooded with tears, but she held them back as she listened to the dialogue of her family unfold around her.

  “I want to be a silly dork,” Kerri replied. “Mommy, can I please be a silly dork?”

  Brie picked her up to hug her, brushing back her raven-black hair. “You can be whatever you want to be,” she told her.

  The children all started running around and acting as silly as they could. One after the other, they began to grow tired, even though they continued to say they weren’t.

  “Come on,” Megan said to Dom Jr. “Santa won’t come if you don’t go to sleep.”

  “Ah, Mom,” he said with a long drawn-out groan.

  “That’s a good point,” Brie added, standing to collect her daughter. “Tomorrow will get here faster if you get some rest.”

  “But, I’m not tired yet,” Kayla said, yawning. “I want to stay up with Uncle Jonah a little longer.”

  Jonah moved to hug her, picking up a half asleep Kerri along the way. Brie and Sebastian followed after them as they headed toward their room. “You know, I bought you each something special for Christmas, but it won’t arrive until morning. So you need to get some sleep first.”

  Kerri yawned. “Okay.”

  Brie took Kerri from his arms and laid her on the bed. Sebastian helped pull the covers over the top of her, kissing her on the forehead. Kayla clung to Jonah.

  “Please don’t leave again, Uncle Jonah.”

  “Baby girl, I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry I made you think I was leaving you. I would never do that. I love you way too much for that. Plus, I made you a promise that I intend to keep. I belong here with you, your sister, mother, and father. We’re family. We’ll always be family.”

  She squeezed him again. “Good,” she said, easing back to give him a stern look. “I’m going to hold you to that too.”

  He smiled. “I would expect no less.”

  Sebastian took her from Jonah and hugged her, placing her onto her bed. She reached up to hug her father again, kissing his cheek. “I love you too, Daddy. You and Uncle Jonah make the best daddies ever.”

  Brie’s eyes watered, and she quickly blinked the emotions away. “Okay, let’s go to sleep now. Christmas morning will be here soon.”

  “Okay, Mommy.” Brie kissed Kayla’s forehead. Before she left, she whispered, “Don’t ever scare me like that again, okay?”

  Kayla nodded.

  “We love you.”

  Sebastian and Jonah headed for the door. Brie followed, switching off the bedroom light. It seemed that everyone was already eager for bed. The day had been exhausting.

  “We’re going to call it a night,” Luken said as Sebastian, Brie, and Jonah returned to the living room.

  Brie moved to hug Tabitha. “Come over in the morning, whenever you’re ready. I’ll have breakfast going by seven, since I’m sure the kids will be up early.”

  Dominic and Reyes were also showing signs of retiring for the evening. “Megan’s already in bed. She couldn’t even come back after putting Dom Jr. to bed,” Dominic shared. “We should do the same.”

  Jonah remembered one important detail. “I need to head back to Dallas to get my car. After you told me about the babies, I couldn’t think of anything else.”

  “Is it that Important? Can’t you get it after Christmas?” Tiffany asked, moving up to the counter.

  He frowned. “The kids’ presents are in the trunk.”

  “Would you like me and Tiffany to go get it?” Zane asked. “I need to run by the clinic, anyway.”

  Tiffany looked surprised. “I didn’t know that.”

  “I forgot a few things from my office. Do you mind coming with me? I sort of need another driver.” Zane moved up to place his arm around her, and she softened against him.

  She smiled. “Of course not. I’ll go with you.”

  “Wow, thanks. Okay. The keys are tucked up under the rear tire,” Jonah told them.

  Zane and Tiffany said their good-byes, and within a few minutes the house was quiet. Everyone had gone home or to their rooms. Brie stretched. The tension from the day had left her body stiff and tired. But when she entered her bedroom, all the aches and pains seemed to vanish. She watched for a minute as her lovers moved about the room, preparing for bed.

  Sebastian was putting on his boxers and slipping under the covers on his side of their enormous bed, while Jonah was brushing his teeth as naked as the day he was born. She smiled, enjoying the tempting sight.

  Jonah seldom wore clothing to bed. He told her it was to make morning sex easier, explaining that all she had to do was roll over. Heat flooded her cheeks as she’d considered a marvelous Christmas morning.

  �
�Are you eye-fucking me, Brie McCarthy?”

  Startled that he’d noticed, she wiped the blushing look from her face and headed toward the bathroom. “No. I was just pleased to see you both getting ready for bed.”

  Jonah finished brushing his teeth. “Is that so?”

  Turning on the shower to warm the water, she began removing her clothing. She didn’t have to turn around to know that Jonah watched her. But when he didn’t say anything to her, she couldn’t help but incline her head to look back at him.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I can’t believe I didn’t notice,” he said, glancing down to her slightly round belly.

  Brie touched her stomach. “You were focused on the negative, Jonah. You didn’t think it was going to happen so of course you didn’t notice that I already was.” She grabbed a fresh towel from the linen closet and hung it on the rack beside the shower. “I’m actually surprised that the babies haven’t revealed themselves.”

  Jonah chuckled. “You mean like Kayla and Kerri did, making the bed levitated and shit move throughout the room?”

  Brie smiled softly. “Yes. Like that.”

  Sebastian pushed open the door. “Boys,” he explained, closing the door at his back and shoving his boxers down his legs. “I’ve heard that they’re a little more laid-back than girls can be early on.”

  Jonah folded his arms over his chest. “Or they’re just more wolflike and possess a little less magic.”

  Brie laughed. “Oh, I’m going with the boy excuse. Sorry, Jonah, but my magic is too strong for these babies not to have it in them.”

  Brie stepped around the stone wall that divided the bathroom and shower. The shower had entrances at both sides and three showerheads for each of them. No sharing required.

  “I really do hope they have magic,” Sebastian said, slipping around the corner into the shower. “Teaching them to hunt will be interesting.”

  Jonah chuckled, joining them. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to it.”

  “And I’m looking forward to not working at the firm anymore,” Brie announced, and both her husbands looked at her.

  “What?” Sebastian finally asked. “You don’t want to be a lawyer anymore?”