by Honor James
“It riles up the Wraith,” he told her. “Bloodlust and real war is the worst. It’s nearly an instant shift from man to Wraith,” Davyn explained. “But competition of any kind gets him edgy, and the more intense it gets the more likely he is to break free. I also have a lot less control on him in those situations. It’s why I’m never in the training center for more than a few minutes at a time.”
“Oh.” Lina’s eyes went wide. “Gotcha. Well that makes sense then. Right. So you don’t get to be around on game day because trust me, Aiden and Jackie become vicious in their gaming, and the last thing we need is a Wraith tossed into the mix. No offense.”
Chuckling, Davyn shook his head. “None taken. Believe me, everyone would be much happier without a pissed-off Wraith loose and making life miserable. Trust in me, he can be a real…well, you know.” He grinned, very aware of two little sets of ears listening to every word said.
She snickered and nodded. “Yeah, I have a feeling I know.” Looking to Dahlia, she smiled. “How do you handle his Wraith?”
“I love his Wraith and that Wraith loves me as well. I feel him often, reaching out and stroking me. It’s the most amazing feeling ever.”
“That’s ’cause you tamed him and love him and all that other stuff,” Davyn said, shifting Amy slightly in his lap. “Anyone else and he’s still a snarling, ravenous beast ready to tear through the lines hard and fast.”
“Except with the babies,” she noted and nodded. “He’s practically purring right now while you hold Amy in your arms, darling.” She whispered, “I can feel his happiness at holding a baby in your arms. He loves it, honey, very much. He’s going to be a terror when it comes to our baby, isn’t he, love? He’s going to be very hard to control if anyone hurts her.”
“That would be an understatement,” Davyn said with a grin to her. Letting Amelia grab his finger, he smiled. “The Wraith does calm around children though. They are truly innocents without any marks on their records, unlike adults.”
“Exactly. And I have a feeling even when these babies get older, the Wraith will still be smitten with them. He wouldn’t hurt anyone he considers family.” And that was what she was trying to make him realize. “They are family. So are Aiden, Lina, all of the Teams. They are our family, and your Wraith wouldn’t hurt family.”
Lifting a brow at her, he tipped his head in a small acknowledgment. She was at least partially right, but when it reached a certain point there wasn’t anything more but the desire to hurt those with sins on their souls. Some things though he wouldn’t discuss in front of others.
“Anyway, that’s neither here nor there, honey. For now we have us as our family,” she told him with a smile. Bouncing Tony in her lap, she gave him another small hug. “I think that it’s time for this little guy to be put to bed, don’t you?”
“He won’t want to go, not with someone to cuddle and adore him still here,” Aiden said with a grin. “Neither will Amelia. They are so alike in that it’s slightly scary.” He chuckled. “But if you two want to take them up to their room and read them a book, go for it. They’re clean, fed, and sleepy, so you shouldn’t have much trouble turning them into little unconscious blobs.”
Dahlia looked to Davyn and smiled. “How about it, honey? Why don’t we go ahead and go up there so that we can get these little ones into bed?” she asked softly. “Somehow and someway we will get these little darlings to sleep and then life will be good. Well for their parents and for a time at least,” she teased.
“Getting them to sleep is easy,” he said, standing up with Amy. “Convincing them to stay asleep may be a little harder,” he told his mate as he held her chair so she could stand with Anthony. “We’ll put them to bed and rejoin you in a few,” Davyn said to Lina and Aiden.
Dahlia followed Davyn up the stairs, smiling down at Tony, who gripped her hair tighter in his little fist. “I rather adore you as well, little guy. I think that you are just too sweet, honey, and I will gladly come to visit you often.” The little guy had a place in her heart, just like Amy did as well as Jackie and Allister’s twins.
Entering the baby’s room on pure Wraith instinct, Davyn looked around. “All right, now what?” he asked his mate. Aiden had said something about a story, but what did one read to two little Dragons?
Grabbing a book that looked well worn, Dahlia took one of the rocking chairs and nodded to the other. “Take a seat, honey,” she said. “Read the book, honey, and make sure to try to use some characterizations when speaking in the characters’ voices.”
“Me?” he squawked, keeping his voice down as he sat in the other rocker. Grabbing a blanket, he eased Amelia to his shoulder and draped the blanket over her to keep her warm. At Dahlia’s look, he muttered under his breath and took the book. Flipping it open, he gave it a quick read and rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”
“Yes seriously,” Dahlia grumbled. “I’m busy giving this little man some serious loving, so you can read.” She settled the boy in her lap and began to rub his back gently, hoping that the boy would soon be ready to head to sleep.
Shaking his head, Davyn lifted the book. “Once upon a time,” he began with a cringe. It was no wonder kids were so delusional. They thought everything was a fairy tale and everyone lived happily ever after. That the knight always was good and protected the fair maiden from the dark and evil. Reading along, he winced now and again at some of the crap in the book.
About halfway through the book Dahlia reached out and touched her hand to Davyn’s arm. “They are out, honey,” she whispered. “Come on, let’s get them tucked in, grab the baby monitor, and then we will head down, all right?”
Nodding, he set the book aside and stood slowly. Moving to the large crib, he leaned in and eased Amy down to the bedding. Stepping out of the way, he waited as Dahlia did the same with Tony. Turning, he picked up the baby monitor and turned on the main station before handing her the remote piece to it.
Dahlia smiled down at the twins, watching as they curled into each other and smiled. “They are so cute.” Leaning into Davyn, Dahlia wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him. “They are amazing, aren’t they?”
“They definitely are,” he agreed, softly wrapping his arm around her waist. Resting his cheek to her hair, Davyn watched the twins wiggle in closer to one another before letting out little sighs. “Let’s leave them to sleep,” he whispered, tugging her toward the door.
She moved along with him toward the door and then when they were outside she slipped her hand into his and smiled. “The year and a half is going to nearly kill me, you know that, right? I can’t wait for our baby to come into the world, love.”
Lifting her hand, he kissed her fingers. “But it will be well worth the wait, love. You will have to remember the long wait for a baby with any future ones we have. When you want another, that is. If you forgive me for this pregnancy any time in living memory.”
That had her laughing, and she nodded. “I know, darling. I have a feeling that I really would be able to forgive you fairly quickly, darling. I would because I love children and I would love to be able to have as many kiddies as we can over the years.”
“Well, we can have as many as you want,” he promised her as they headed down the stairs and back toward the dining room. “I’m all up for giving you a few dozen.” Davyn grinned at her. “Over the years that is.”
“Many years. I don’t want our babies too close together at all. I think that I would rather have like ten years between pregnancies. How does that sound, love?” She would be perfectly happy with having a dozen or so years between each child they had.
“Works for me. Gives us lots of time to practice,” he commented, kissing her cheek as he guided her to a sofa. Lina had coffee and dessert out on the coffee table. Sitting, he tugged her down into his lap as he looked at the other couple. “The children are unconscious.”
Lina smiled. “I figured that they wouldn’t last very long. They likely wanted to keep up because they were get
ting loved on by new people, but alas they simply couldn’t make it,” she teased. “You both were good with them. Thank you for that.”
“You are welcome. Thank you for giving us a chance to have some time with them,” Dahlia said with a smile.
“They are good babies,” Davyn said honestly. “They are going to grow up into amazing adults, but honestly, I don’t envy you the teen years at all. I’m already living in absolute terror of that with ours.” And then the early twenties when they would know for sure, one way or another.
That had Lina laughing and nodding. “Trust me, they will have so many protectors and they will seriously be watched all the time. I have a feeling that they will both have people that will always watch over them.” Especially Amy. Patryk would be there for her, and if she wasn’t mistaken, it would be a lifetime thing.
Sending his mate a dark and warning look, Aiden growled low in warning. He would not deal with those thoughts from her about his baby girl.
Grinning, Davyn wiggled his eyebrows at his own mate. “I think they are having an internal and personal disagreement,” he whispered loudly to her.
Lina nodded. “Yes, we are at that. My poor Aiden can’t see what’s pretty clear in front of him, but that’s okay. One day he will figure it out, and until then I will just be there to run interference so that he doesn’t break one of Daddy’s rules and kill one of our guards.”
“Oh, I’m not going to kill him,” the Dragon said very concisely. “I’m only going to ensure that he wishes I had,” Aiden said with a low, deadly growl.
“I’m guessing it’s Patryk?” Davyn asked and grinned at the snarl he got from the other man. “I thought so. He’s always had an interesting connection to Amelia. It’s there even now.” His Wraith could trace it quite clearly.
When Aiden began to growl even more, Lina leaned over and laid her hand on his. “Honey, he would never, ever allow her to miss her childhood or her freedom. When it becomes too much he will ask for a different assignment. You know it as well as I do.”
Grumbling under his breath, he let out a sigh. “I know, doesn’t mean I like it any, woman,” he muttered to her. Grabbing her hand, he yanked her into his lap and hugged her close. “I still plan to beat him on occasion, sweetheart, just so you know.”
“And he knows that and so do I. I’m perfectly fine with that. In fact I really insist on it, because if he can’t keep up with you then he doesn’t deserve to be in her life. So teach him very well and make sure that the boy is very well prepared before he takes off.” Leaning in, Lina brushed her lips to Aiden’s shoulder and breathed him in with a happy sigh. Gods, I love you, Aiden.
You’re embarrassing me in front of our guests, he teased her with a grin as he kissed her hard and fast. Thank you for distracting me, angel. Aiden rubbed his nose to hers lightly as he gave her a good squeeze.
“Now then.” Dahlia cleared her throat and looked to the couple that was all but necking. “I do believe that is our cue to leave.” Besides, she honestly couldn’t wait to get home with her Davyn anyway. Maybe they could play in the hot tub again before it was time for them to sleep.
Jolting to his feet, Davyn tugged her up with a grin. “Absolutely. Thank you for a marvelous dinner, the babies are darling, best of evenings to you and all that. Cheers,” he said and basically bum-rushed his mate for the door.
Dahlia’s laughter flowed behind them. Calling out her good-byes to the other couple, she heard Lina yelling out Aiden’s name and blushed. “Yep, we got out just in time.” Well, it didn’t hurt that it meant that she got to go home and play with her bond-mate as well, but that was not the point. Right?
“Of course it’s a good point,” he chuckled, throwing the lock on the door handle and yanking it closed behind them just as he heard clothing ripping and buttons hitting the floor. “Hopefully they keep it down so they don’t wake the babies.” Davyn grinned at her as they moved for their car.
“Oh I think that they have likely learned over the months how to keep it down, honey. Something tells me that those two could be very quiet so that they could have each other even if the babies were asleep in the same room with them.” Dahlia looked up at Davyn and smiled. “Just as I’m sure we will learn one day, honey.”
“We’d better. I’d hate to traumatize our little girl.” He grinned at her. Pressing a kiss to her lips, he pulled the door open for her. “Let’s go home and pretend we’re trying to get pregnant all over again,” he teased softly.
“Love how your mind works, Davyn my love, so very much.” Dahlia squeezed his hand tightly in hers and grinned up at him. “I think we should hurry home. I’m thinking that we need to have another lovely swim. I so love spending time in our pool.”
“Good idea.” He grinned at her and got her into the car. It would be a very fast ride home.
Chapter Fifteen
Sticking his head cautiously around the corner, he smiled at his very pregnant mate. She was close to giving birth to their daughter. Very close. Leaning against the doorframe, he watched as she folded the little outfits very carefully and set them into the drawers of the dresser and change table. He knew she was nesting. Knowing her time was close, she was putting all those final touches on everything.
“You can come in closer, you know.” Dahlia hadn’t even turned from folding the baby clothes when she spoke. “I really think that you should come in closer and rub my belly and back again. I’m aching and I’m feeling more than a little needful right now, honey.”
“Needful?” he asked curiously, moving into the room. Putting a hand on her belly to keep her balanced, he smiled at the kick he got. Pressing his fingers into her back, he let the Wraith guide him to where her aches were as he massaged.
“Yes, needful of you rubbing me with your Wraith right there along the edge to make sure that you get all the aches like only you could do.” Leaning back against him, Dahlia sighed as she did so. “Goodness, I love it when you do this, honey, so very much.” It made her so happy to have him just simply touching her like he was.
“And here I was thinking something so much dirtier. Shame on me.” He chuckled. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he found one more of the knots and slowly worked it out. Rubbing his thumb around the spot, he slowly pressed harder until the knot gave in and eased up.
“Oh that’s so good.” She nearly moaned in relief for him as he rubbed at her. “So good.” She whimpered. “And you know as well as I do that I’m nearly constantly in need of you right now, love. We both know that I can’t seem to get enough of us being together, even with the creative ways that we have to make love now.” Since she was so huge, that was.
“You are not huge. You are beautifully rounded with our child,” he reminded her on a murmur as he found another knot. Working it out slowly, he grinned at her nearly orgasmic moan of relief. “You sound a lot like that when I make love to you or just plain fuck you for the hell of it.”
“Oh shit.” Dahlia reached back and closed her hand over his cock that was straining against his pants. “I think that you should just plain fuck me for the hell of it now.” She growled. “Because I’m desperate, but now that I’m no longer hurting I am needy in a completely different way.”
“Really?” he asked, rocking his hips so his cock pressed into her hand more. Slipping his hand down her belly, he reached into her loose pants to find her panties wet. “You do seem very needy,” he commented, stroking his finger over her clit slowly.
“Very needy,” she whimpered and pushed back on him again. “In fact I really think that we both need to get naked. Now. I need to feel you inside of me. Now.” She growled. “Because when I come I need you to be inside of me and coming right along with me.”
“But I like when you come all over my hand,” he teased on a pout. “All that nice, silky liquid sliding warm over my fingers,” he murmured against her ear. “But if you insist I’m all for getting you naked so I can feel that over my hard, aching cock.”
“Good.” She growled. �
�Then we need to get naked. Get to our bed. And you need to get inside of me.” She was panting, whimpering. She was also pushing back against him time and again as she did so. “Please, honey, Gods I need you.”
Cupping her, he slid a finger into her silky wet canal and stroked slowly. Wrapping his other hand around her, he tugged her shirt down enough to expose her loose breast. Playing with the nipple, he urged her forward toward the door. “Walk,” he breathed out, knowing it would be an interesting struggle to make their bedroom not ten feet away.
She could barely move, and he was demanding that she walk. A low growl escaped her lips as she tried, her pants around her thighs causing her to have difficulty. “Not happening. Here on the floor, honey, or you carry me, but it’s not happening as long as I’ve still got clothes on.”
Lifting a foot, he pressed her pants down. “Step out,” he said with a grin that thankfully she couldn’t see. “Now walk,” he ordered her, biting her earlobe gently. He wanted to see if they could make the bed without her exploding from an orgasm.
“You are so bad.” She smiled and thought, And so very good. She began to walk. Each movement was torturous as his hands on her body began to move once more. She stopped several times, whimpering in need as she did so, until they finally made it to their room. Davyn, please. She was so close, so ready, but dammit not without him!
“Bend over the bed. Brace your hands,” he said to her, moving her so that her legs were only a couple inches from the bed frame. Tearing her underwear off, he shoved his jeans down and kicked them off before he pulled her shirt off over her head and got rid of his own. When she bent over, presenting that fabulous ass, he grabbed his cock and stepped in to rub the head to her dampness.
“Oh yes.” Dahlia braced her hands on the bed. In this position her center of gravity was off, but he would never allow her to fall. “Now,” she begged as she pushed back against him. “Now, Davyn, before I go off without you dammit.”
