Their Mating Rituals [Paranormal Protection Unit 4] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Honor James

  “There is that,” Aiden said with a chuckle.

  Adjusting the baby, Jackie looked to Aiden. “Where is this little darling’s bottle? I have a feeling she’s about to start to scream soon if we don’t feed her.” The way the little girl had been snorting and wiggling around in the blanket told her that she was about to start to scream for sustenance.

  “Here.” The nurse passed one to Talon and one to Aiden. “They both need a feeding and then we will do all the paperwork. We need to weigh, measure, and so forth so that they can then get some sleep,” she told them all. “I’ll go check on your mate, Aiden. The doctor should be done, so we can move her to the private room where you’ll all spend the night.”

  “Allister, honey, will you grab us a burp cloth so that when these little ones spit up we will be able to wipe it up quickly?” Jackie asked her bond-mate since Aiden was busy holding his son.

  “I’ll grab the cloths,” Aiden said with a smile, handing Anthony to Allister with a bottle. Moving to the room he grabbed two cloths and, coming back out, passed them over to each person feeding a baby.

  Jackie snorted and grinned. “You just didn’t want me going to check on Lina,” she teased Aiden. “It’s okay though. You should go and check on her. The babies are perfectly safe here and are now getting their bellies filled. Do what you need to for your mate.”

  “I will.” He grinned at her and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Make sure Talon doesn’t go into shock, will you?” he murmured. The big Dragon seemed to be off in his own world as he stared down at the baby girl he fed.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t let him fly away from us,” Jackie assured Aiden with a grin. “Go. Give her lots of hugs from us and tell her how proud we are of her as well,” she murmured and touched his cheek. “You and she did good, brother.”

  “She definitely did.” He grinned, giving her a quick hug. Moving back into the room, he went over to his mate and stroked her hair. She was all cleaned up and lying there sleeping. “How’s she doing, Doc?” he asked softly.

  “She’s doing great,” the doctor told him and stood to move away. “I have her on a pain medication drip. It’s not a very strong one, but I don’t want her to have too much in her in case she decides to breastfeed.” She smiled and moved to stand beside Aiden. “Go. I’ll have her moved into one of the larger beds so you should be able to crawl up into bed with her. When the babies are fed, cleaned up, and measured, we will wheel the cubes in here so that you can watch over your family while you rest.”

  Nodding, he bent in and kissed his mate’s cheek, breathing her in slowly. Your father is enamored with Amelia, my love. She’s got Grandpa all wrapped around her finger. Pulling back, he chuckled at the small grin on her lips. She’d heard him. “Thanks, Doc, let me know when she’s all settled in and I’ll come in to be with her.”

  Well of course he is. She’s perfect and amazing just like her daddy, Lina said mentally with a grin. Her eyes were closed and she sighed. Goodness, how much longer until we can get to where it’s nice and dark and quiet?

  “The room we will move her to is just getting the security sweep right now and then we will get her moved,” the doctor said as she rocked back on her heels. “We need to make sure that all is okay before we move her.” Orders from Talon, orders none of them would argue.

  “Good,” he said to the doctor with a nod. To Lina he spoke on their mental connection. Soon, baby, another few minutes, just have to make sure the room is safe for you and our babies. T has the guards doing a full sweep and then the doc will move you over. Rest for now. I’m going to go and check to ensure that our kids haven’t convinced everyone to buy them everything under the sun.

  Darling, our babies don’t even know what buy means. I doubt that they have asked for anything, honey, especially since they can’t talk right now, Lina said with a smile. “Go, go and get our babies. I want to see them again.”

  “I’ll get them, darling,” Aiden promised softly with a smile. Moving out the door, he headed for the family and stopped as he took in everyone playing pass the baby and basically making fools of themselves. Digging out his phone, he activated the video camera and filmed the antics for a while. Lina would get a kick out of them. After a couple minutes he went over and stole his kids back, telling everyone to head home. They were going to get some sleep and everyone could come back and visit after that.

  “I’m leaving six guards here,” Talon told Aiden quietly as Allister and Jackie grabbed up all their stuff. “If you need more, let me know,” he murmured, stroking a hand lightly over each tiny head.

  “We’ll be fine. They swept the room and I’m sure they have it more than secure right now,” Aiden told him honestly. “Go and get some sleep. Lina will likely want to see you tomorrow once she’s awake and had some coffee.”

  Nodding, Talon kissed each little head and then looked at Aiden. “They’re beautiful, Aiden. Don’t miss a single second of their lives,” he ordered his friend before turning and walking out with Allister and Jackie.

  Lina smiled sleepily up at Aiden when he came back into the room. “There’s my family,” she whispered and held out her hands. “Lemme see our babies, honey. I really wanna hold them.” She scooted over in the bed so that both babies could be laid down beside her. “They are so beautiful, Aiden,” she whispered softly, the awe and love for them clear in her voice.

  “The nurses want to weigh, measure, and whatever else they have to do first,” he told her honestly as he moved in closer. The nurses and doctor could pry them from her hands, which they’d likely have to do. Easing their daughter down closest to her, he settled Anthony on the outside so he was wrapped around Amelia’s back.

  Lina looked down into the faces of their babies. “I see that someone fed and changed you both. That’s very good,” she murmured. “And I will let them measure you two in a bit. For now I just really want mommy time with my babies.”

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stroked Talina’s hair lightly. “Well, you have your time, darling mine,” he whispered softly. “They will work around your desires to bond with our children, I’m very sure,” he told her. “Later, after everyone is tucked into their beds, I have a little video to share with you to prove that our family is completely crazy.”

  Lina grinned and shook her head. “Honey, I knew that they were completely nuts. It’s a part of what makes them so endearing. We love them all because they are all slightly off their rockers,” she teased. “But I still wanna see,” she added happily.

  “After the little ones are in bed and we are fully alone,” he said softly. While he didn’t mind poking fun at his family and friends in private and with them, he didn’t like doing it with others not of their circle. He liked the doctors and nurses, but not well enough to let them in on everything going on in their lives.

  “That sounds good to me.” She looked down at her children again and smiled. “They are truly amazing, aren’t they, Aiden?” She looked to her son, who was watching her intently, and stroked her finger over his chubby cheek. “Just like your daddy, aren’t you, my little man?”

  “How’s that?” Aiden asked curiously, looking down at Anthony before looking to her again. “What are you seeing, darling?” he asked her with a smile. She was seeing something there and he was curious as to just what it was.

  Lina grinned. “The way that he watches. He looks into the very core of a person. He’s watching and protecting his sister even though he is only a baby, just as he did when I was pregnant. That’s what I see, darling. I see him as the protector that you are, honey.”

  “That might just be the male genes,” he said with a smile. “Or it could be because he’s Dragon and it’s ingrained,” he murmured, leaning in to brush a kiss to her cheek. “Either way it is rather nice that he’s looking out for his baby sister.”

  “It could be. I just think that it’s because he’s your son,” Lina told him with a smile. “You are a protector and there is nothing that you can tell me, darling, th
at will get me to change my mind.”

  Smiling down at her, he shook his head. “I would never try to change your mind on anything, my love. You are too much like your father. Stubborn, pig-headed, mulish,” he teased and laughed at the look she shot him. “And I love and adore you for every one of your amazing traits, my angel.”

  “Well, that’s a very good thing, because I love you for all of those reasons as well. And I know that our babies are going to be just as stubborn and mulish as I am, and you’ll love them as much as I will.”

  “Of course I will love them as much as you will, babe. I already do,” he said, tugging a lock of her hair gently. “They are our babies, our future,” he murmured, looking to their babies. “They will be whoever they are meant to be and they will be amazing.”

  “They will, won’t they?” she asked with a grin. “It’s good that they are ours because I’m not sure Allister’s poor heart could have handled having a little girl.” She teased and looked to the little wonder that was at her side. “Goodness, you are beautiful, little Amy.”

  “No, my brother is quite pleased he has two boys. It seems to settle something in him and in Jackie, too,” he said softly. “I don’t think either of those two would have done well with a girl, though you may have to watch our Amelia closely. I have a feeling Jackie will want to filch her from time to time,” he told her with a chuckle.

  Laughter poured from Lina. “Oh, I’m sure that she’s not the only one. You said that Daddy seemed to be lost in Amy as well, too, huh? I have a feeling he will come and spend time with her just as much as Jackie will likely do so.”

  “I’m very sure that he’ll be there a lot and likely offer to babysit often.” He grinned. “I think he’s still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he’s a grandfather. Kind of like when he had to get it in there he was a father. He seems to be working this the same. Which is odd, since he’s known since the beginning, but maybe it just didn’t really click.”

  “It could be. Poor guy.” Lina felt bad for her father. So very badly for him. “He didn’t know about me or my brother.” Hell, she didn’t know about her brother until very recently. “We will take it easy with him. We will make sure that he’s able to watch our babies anytime that he wants to.”

  Smiling at her, he nodded and kissed her hair again lightly. “See why I adore and love you so much?” he asked softly. “You are always thinking of others and what they need.”

  “Well I have to think of others and what they need, because they think of me and what I need as well.” She teased with a smile. “It’s a good balance that I have with my father, that is.” She yawned and sighed. “Can you ask the nurses to do what they need to do so that we can all have our nice, lovely sleep?”

  Looking up, he tipped his chin to the nurse and doctor who were waiting outside. When they came in, he lifted up Anthony. “She is ready for us all to get sleep, so let’s get our little ones through whatever needs doing.”

  The babies were lifted from her bed and it was the doctor who spoke. “We will get them weighed, measured, and taken care of. Relax. If you can, get her into the shower, and both of you get cleaned up before we bring the babies back. There are personal items in the bathroom for her, well, in the room that you will be moved to, that is,” she amended. “It’s the second door down.” She pointed with her head. “Left side. That way she has her own bathroom, and it’s a larger room as well.”

  “Thanks, Doc,” Aiden said and looked to his mate. “Feel up for a shower, darling?” he asked her quietly. She’d been tidied up, but she likely would kill him willingly for a shower right then. He just hoped she didn’t actually say that.

  “I would love a shower,” Lina said with a grin. “I mean like whoa I would love one. Feel like showering with me?” she tossed out there quickly. “And not for sex. But showering with me so that you can help me to remain on my feet?”

  Chuckling softly, he shook his head at her. “We won’t be having sex for a while, love. You need time to heal,” he said quietly. Shifting off the bed, he looked around. “Maybe we should wheel you over to the bathroom,” he suggested. “Unless you think you’re up for walking around already.”

  “I want to walk. It will be better all around if I move as much as possible now,” Lina admitted to him. “And no we won’t be having sex for a while. Sad but true,” she teased him. “And when we are able to have each other again, that will be the first night our babies spend with their aunt and uncles or with Daddy.”

  “Good plan,” he said with a grin, holding out his hands to her. “No need to traumatize them any sooner than we need to.” They’d have plenty of time to ensure their children had lots to discuss with a potential therapist.

  “Exactly,” she teased him with a wink. “All right, you said something about a shower?” she asked happily. “I think we should get to it, honey. I really, really want to get a shower taken and get into bed before our babies are brought to us.”

  Wiggling his fingers, he took her hands when she finally placed hers in his. “I’ll pull you up gently, but you say the word if anything hurts,” he told her. “Don’t use your muscles. They’ve already been strained enough for more than one woman.”

  “This is very true.” Taking her time, she stood and then closed her eyes when she was pressed up tightly against him. Taking in a breath, she sighed. “I love you, Aiden, so very much,” she whispered. “You are my everything.”

  Aiden wrapped an arm around her with a smile. “Just like you are mine,” he said softly to her. “Let’s go and get cleaned up, sweetness. Your exhaustion is beating at me.”

  “I think that sounds wonderful.” Lina was feeling more than a little exhausted, and she was so ready to sleep that she wasn’t sure if she would make it much longer. “The babies are being measured and checked out, right? They will be safe?”

  “Talon left a few guards here. They are watching over the babies,” he murmured. Shifting, he pointed to two shadows. “Rayne and Vincent are right there,” he told her and grinned when a hand lifted from the shadow to wiggle fingers at her.

  That had her breathing easier. Smiling, she nodded. “Good, they won’t let anything happen to our babies.” She looked to Aiden and sighed. “They will ensure that both our babies are very well cared for and that no one other than who should be around them is around them.” Her exhaustion weighed heavily on her and she added, “All right, take me to shower, love.”

  “Working on it, my baby momma,” he teased, walking with her very slowly into the hall to the room they would be staying in. Nodding to the Dragon in the corner, he kept her going straight to the shower and into the stall. “I’m going to strip, love, since I don’t have any other clothing here,” he said, helping her to sit down on the stool.

  “Sounds good. I have lots of clothes here.” Medical gowns. “Just make sure that they don’t get a full-on view of my fanny if you wouldn’t mind, love.” She had noticed the Dragon in the corner of her room as well. “Because I’m walking out with just the medical gown and we both know that they don’t believe in having backs on those silly things.”

  “There’s a robe, babe, that you will, at the very least, drape over your shoulder to cover your tush so Patryk doesn’t get a view I’d have to kill him for,” he said to her. Shutting the door, he moved to the shower and started the water before he began to strip down and pile his clothing on the vanity.

  “Well, it’s good that there is a robe.” She was feeling the adrenaline wearing off as well as the pain meds and she was more than ready for sleep. Moving slowly, she peeled out of her clothes, made him turn around while she did her personal business, and then stepped into the shower after washing her hands. Turning her face up to the spray, she let it pelt her and finally leaned back against Aiden when he stepped into the shower behind her.

  Aiden wrapped his arms loosely around her waist to balance her. “We’ll get you to bed in a few minutes,” he promised softly to her. Reaching out, he grabbed the soap and ha
nded it to her. “Wash what you can reach and I’ll do the rest.”

  Nodding, she began to wash her body, only barely touching her breasts that were just far too sensitive to touch. “I have a feeling tomorrow I will be able to feed our babies.” She looked forward to it, too. She couldn’t wait to nurse the babies.

  “You are looking a little swollen,” he commented and shrugged at her sharp look. “I’m your mate and I know your body better than I know anything else, darling. I know when your breasts are swollen, when you have a backache, and when you are in need of what only your mate can give you.”

  “Yes, honey, they are swollen. My milk is coming in and that’s just a part of being a mommy.” She smiled at that fact. “Goodness, I’m someone’s mommy.” And that both thrilled her and scared the hell out of her.

  “Two little someones’, point of fact.” He chuckled softly, taking the soap from her. “You good to stand while I wash your back and legs?” Aiden asked quietly.

  “Yep, I’m good love.” She smiled up at him and nodded. “Don’t worry. I’m exhausted, yes, but I will be fine.” She felt as if she had been hit by a truck, but she was so happy that it honestly didn’t matter at all. She had energy to spare when she filtered her happiness in there.

  “All right, I’m letting you go, so if you need to brace yourself, do so,” he warned, easing his hold on her. Only when was stable did he start washing her back, buttocks, down her legs, and then her feet one at a time. Standing, he turned her slightly to help her to rinse off the suds before ensuring he got rid of all on him and turned the water off.

  Leaning her forehead on the smooth enclosure of the shower stall, Lina’s eyes closed and didn’t reopen until the shower was off. “Crap, I think I fell asleep.” She hated to admit it, but there it was, pretty clear that was exactly what she had done. “All right, honey, time to get out of here and crawl into bed. I will leave you to track down our babies.”