by R. A. Boyd
They would make everything better for each other. It had been less than three days, and she’d fallen headlong into absolute love with Bastian. With his family. It was crazy, but it was perfect.
She and Bastian had the rest of their lives to learn from each other, support each other, and explore the world through the other’s eyes.
Happy wasn’t a word she could use to describe how he made her feel. She was thankful to be part of this clan and grateful to be Bastian’s mate. She knew that the hard part was over, but even if it wasn’t, they would face it together.
The best of their lives was right in front of them, and they would face everything together.
Chapter 15
Two months later
“I like the blue and gold one better,” Nev said as she showed Bastian the living room set she’d picked out. “The walls are beige, and this would really stand out, but still look warm and comfortable.”
Bastian looked between both of the pages she’d printed off. She held them up so they could see which set might fit the room better.
Nev watched as he closed his left eye to focus on the picture she held in her right hand, and then did the same for the one in her right hand.
Chewing his bottom lip, he nodded and closed his left eye again. “You’re right. I thought the green would be better, but nope. Blue it is. Did you eat the last strawberry pastry?”
Nev pursed her lips and gave a half nod/half-shrug. “Technically, I didn’t. I shared it with Andi. She’s using the ‘I’m eating for two’ thing to the extreme. I think Andi, Cass, and Riley are driving into town later. Riley needs maternity clothes, and Andi wants to get more pastries because she needs them. She’s like four weeks pregnant. I don’t know if cravings kick in that soon.”
She wouldn’t argue with her. If Andi said she needed pastries, Nev would hand over the pastries.
The men of the Ghost clan were thoughtful when it came to the women, not just their mates, but every woman who lived here. They all came together and made sure Riley and Andi had whatever they wanted. If Riley said she needed more cantaloupe or orange juice or potato chips with chocolate sauce, the closest man would jump up and rush to her aid. It was funny. They were muscled up, snarling, growling, fallen angels who hid saber-tooth cats inside of them, but any woman – Ghost clan or not – who wanted something, did not have to wait too long if one of these men were around.
A while ago, something like that would have made Nev feel as if the men thought of them as damsels in distress, but that wasn’t the case. They were considerate and wanted to be there for them. And they were angels.
“It’s good to see the old Cass again,” Bastian said as he sat down on the couch and pulled Nev into his lap. “I’m happy she’s up to leaving the community now.”
“Yeah. I’m happy my mom introduced us to Sheila.”
Sheila was a five-foot-tall, one-hundred-pound medium whose empathic abilities were extraordinary. She’d already taught Cass to shield herself from the bulk of people’s emotions and showed Nev how to shut out relentless spirits who wanted to follow her around while asking for countless favors.
Bastian kissed her neck and ran his fingers along her waist. Nev would never get used to him caressing the extra roll of skin around her mid-section, but when she complained, he told her how he loved the feel of her soft, feminine body.
“How was the run last night?” he asked.
Nev frowned and looked down at him. “I think I had performance anxiety. Cass, Emma, Willow, and Audra shifted, but I couldn’t. Heck, even Paige shifted and flew around the woods for a few hours. I couldn’t get my saber-tooth to show herself. I’m going to go out by myself later and try it. She’s been so quiet the past few weeks.”
“How are you feeling?” His fingers stopped stroking her side. Instead, he splayed his large hand and against her belly and pulled her close. Cupping the back of her neck, his lips captured hers in an urgent kiss as he inhaled deeply.
She shifted in his lap and wound her arms around his neck. Bastian’s kisses had the power to stop time and set off explosions behind her eyelids.
Nev groaned as he ended the kiss with three light pecks to her closed mouth. “We’ve never talked about having children. Would you like them?”
“Yes. I think I never wanted kids with Derrick because it didn’t seem real. Maybe part of us knew we weren’t ‘The One’ for the other. But I do want children. You?”
“Absolutely.” His smile grew as he stroked her mid-section. “You’ve noticed that Riley can’t shift, right? The process of Changing is too hard on the body, so when a woman gets pregnant, her animal goes dormant.” He ran his nose along the curve of her jaw and inhaled again. “I should have picked up on it sooner.”
Her eyes flew to his face as his words sank in, and he curled his arms around her. She flung her arms around him, hugging him tight enough to hear the muscles in his upper back pop.
“Sorry,” she said, wincing as she released him. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling to bring his gaze to hers. “Wow. That’s just… wow.”
Something grew inside her heart that caused heat to rush to her eyes. She didn’t want to cry right now. This moment was too perfect to have tears show up and ruin the party. When Nev, or any other woman for that matter, cried in front of him, he panicked and started offering ice cream or hugs. She would be okay with hugs.
His hand slid over her hair as he pulled it from the bun she kept the wild mass of tight curls in. “I love you, Nevada. Reach into that drawer over there for me, please,” he said, pointing.
Nev looked behind her at the end table on the side of the couch. When she opened it, she saw a navy blue velvet box. Her hand froze as she realized what it could be, and she put her hand down when it Bastian scooted over and grabbed the box.
Once he righted her on his lap, he opened up the box and presented the contents to her. A pear-shaped halo diamond set in rose gold with pave diamonds along the band sat nestled in the black fabric.
It was perfect.
Nev’s heart drummed in her chest as she watched him remove the ring.
“I have waited for you since the beginning of time, Nevada Margaret Pierson. You are the most kind, sweetest, most thoughtful person I have ever met. Moving back to New Rose changed me, but you made me better than I ever thought I could be. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Nev laughed thickly as the tears finally broke through, but she didn’t care. Bastian rose up and kissed her tears away and then ran his lips along hers.
Nodding, Nev held up her left hand and said, “Yes, Bastian. I will.”
He slid the ring on her finger and then kissed each of her fingertips. “Your mom, by way of Cass, helped me pick out the ring. Do you like it?”
Of course, mom helped him. She wouldn’t be the wonderfully semi-meddling woman she was if she didn’t.
“I love it, Bastian. And I love you so much.”
“I love you more than the breeze in the heavens, Nev. Thank you for your heart and for our baby.” He laid her back on the couch and rested his head on her belly, kissing it before he hovered above her and slowly tasted her lips.
Luckily, the craziness of the first few days with Bastian and the Ghost shifters hadn’t been what her life had become. Once the Rogues were gone, they lived life in an easy passing of time where they all enjoyed each other’s company. But, even if that was the life she’d been pulled into, Nev would have embraced it and fought beside them.
The Ghost shifters lived in her heart.
Bastian was part of her soul. Even with his grace returned to him from her, he would always be part of her.
He behaved as if she were the most precious gift that he had the honor of holding in his hands. In his heart. Bastian made her feel more alive than she’d ever been, and Nev could only hope she made him feel the same. She adored him, loved him, and lived for his easy smiles.
Nev thought she had everything before she moved to New Rose, but B
astian had given her so much more than she ever thought she needed or wanted.
And she was happy. So supremely happy to be mated to the love of her life, and to be part of the most powerful clan of shifters the world would ever know.
The Ghost shifters of New Rose were her sky. And Bastian was the blazing Sun that lit the whole thing on fire, making it clear that this was where she belonged.
THE END
Are you ready for the Ghost shifters of Salvatore, Maryland?
Ambrose gets his story in:
The Shifter’s Lesson
Available August 4, 2020
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Other Works by R.A. Boyd
The Line of Lilith Series
Hunted by Angels
Lady and the Pack
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