“But I meant every word of it.” He pulled her into his arms and she tipped her head up to meet his gaze.
“You want to be a father to my kids?”
“I started being a dad the moment I mated with you. But I do have something I want from you.” He finally let out the words that had been stirring in him for days.
“What’s that?” She arched her brow, curiosity filling her beautiful eyes. For so long he had kept his distance from Rayne but now she was all his. He wanted to make her the happiest wolf in the world.
“I want at least one more kiddo after you have this one.” He placed his hand over her stomach. Even with the little bump, she was the most beautiful woman on earth. Hints of anger filled her gaze again. Shit, she’s taking it the wrong way. A lesser wolf would have run for the fucking hills but he was stronger than the average wolf, like Jacob.
“Seriously? So, what, you can have one of your own?” She tried to pull away, but he kept her close. He couldn’t stand her being away. Her brown eyes locked with his sending heat through his soul.
“No, Rayne. I’ve always wanted three kids in my house.” He pushed some of her hair back and kissed her. He loved the feel of her soft lips and the way she grabbed his shirt keeping him in place. If only we were home. His wolf rumbled with excitement. When she pulled back sadness replaced the anger.
“You deserve better than me.” She sniffed, and he tipped up her chin, tears glossing up her eyes. This has to be the freaking hormones from the pregnancy Jennine warned me about.
“You’re my mate and I want you, flaws and all because I love you.”
“You…” She licked her lower lip. He took in her scent, he didn’t catch any hint of fear, which made his heart race. Is she going to run this time or are they good? He didn’t know what to expect next.
“Love you, yes. And being a dad to Annmarie is the best bonus in the world.” His heart raced in his chest. He had no clue if she would accept him or push him away again. But he kept trying to win her over no matter what.
“You always know the right words to say to me.” She smiled and the tension in his shoulders eased away. He kissed her again, he couldn’t get enough of her. Annmarie clapped her hands once then giggled.
“Mommy, Daddy is getting impatient and the alpha is too.” Annmarie bounced around in the room.
“We’re coming now.” She met his gaze. “You should be in there so you know what we agreed to.” He didn’t know what would happen next but deep down he was excited.
Chapter Seventeen
Rayne
Rayne packed up her last few boxes of stuff in her home with a little help from Jennine and Zac. Even Jacob and Bobby were packing up stuff, but he swore only to take his junk. She glanced around, and her stomach fluttered. Even though she moved in with Zac she worried about the other shoe dropping.
Fear still clutched at her heart but hearing I love you from his lips did help ease her into the change. She still worried she wasn’t good enough for him. She grabbed the box and carried it to the car with Annmarie close on her tail.
“Mommy, can I spend the night at Daddy’s? He wants to get ice cream and said he’ll take me to school.” Annmarie placed her hands together and puffed out her lower lip. Hints of nervous tension rolled off her little girl.
“Jacob!” she yelled through the house and he popped his head out from the backyard.
“What?” He looked like a freaking doe in headlights.
“Is this real or is your daughter making shit up?” She glanced down to Annmarie who bounced on her toes. Almost looking guilty. Rayne arched her brow.
“Well, after she puts her stuff away in your new house, yes I wanted to take her out for ice cream.” He scratched his head. Ah-ha.
“And the spending the night?” She raised both eyebrows and looked down at her daughter. A guilty grin covered those small lips and she stepped back. Sneaky little brat, just like her father.
“Umm…” Jacob mumbled something about possibly taking her but needed to talk to Bobby first. Rayne motioned for her daughter to take the box in her hand out to the truck.
“Go on. We need to get this done before dinner. Zac has a surprise for us.” She really had no clue what Zac had planned but she didn’t want to be late for it. Jacob returned to some task with the grill that Rayne didn’t care about.
“Fine.” She lowered her head and shuffled out of the house. She glanced around wondering what her new life would be like living with Zac and see him at work every day. Everything had changed in such a short period of time she worried it might all fall apart again. She pushed down the thought while her wolf slept, bored from the move.
Rayne resumed her packing and an hour later her, Zac and Annmarie were at his house unloading some of it. Jacob and his mate had left for their new home leaving Rayne with her mate and child. Hints of exhaustion crept into her bones, she wanted to call it a day and sleep or even veg on the couch.
“Before you get another box, I need to talk to you and Annmarie.” Zac blocked their path out and motioned toward the living room. Annmarie bounced over to the couch and Rayne followed her. The clutter of boxes gave Rayne hints of claustrophobia but not enough to make her panic. Tomorrow she planned on taking the day off to unpack and clear some of the mess away.
“What’s going on?” Rayne was ready for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. He may have said he was willing to take them in and accept Annmarie, but her luck hadn’t been up lately. Zac pulled out two boxes from his back pocket and gave one to each of them. Her heart lept up into her throat.
“Oh, a present.” Annmarie bounced on her tiptoes and snapped the box open. A little ring with a purple gem rested in the middle and Rayne’s heart squeezed. She opened her own box and found a beautiful purple gem bigger than her daughter’s.
Zac kneeled and grabbed Rayne’s hand. “I know this is all out of whack, but I don’t care. I want you as my mate in every way possible. And if you accept then I’m going to do everything in my power to raise Annmarie to be a smart, kind woman like her mother.”
“What about my dad?” Annmarie tipped her head and wiggled the hat on her head. Rayne tried to think of the right words, but none came to mind. Zac took the box and grabbed the ring.
“I would be your second dad.” He smiled, and love flooded Rayne’s heart. Hearing the words from his mouth had broken through all her fear. Her daughter took the ring and slid it on her middle finger then nodded again.
“Yes,” Rayne whispered. “Of course, I’ll marry you.” Her heart halted for a moment.
He jumped to his feet and pulled her in for a long kiss. “I won’t ever let you down.”
The doorbell rang making Rayne jump while Annmarie ran for the door. Zac took the box from Rayne and slid it on the left ring finger. Her tummy fluttered like a thousand fireflies.
“Dad! What are you doing here?” she asked and he scooped her up for a hug then set her down.
“We’re going to get dinner and ice cream.” Jacob smiled, and Annmarie turned to Rayne. Caving to dinner and ice cream seemed like the right thing to do.
“I want her back by eight and no later.” Rayne glanced at the clock, it gave her two and a half hours alone with her mate.
“Deal.” Jacob tried to usher his daughter out, but she wiggled away and ran to Rayne who picked her up and gave her a big hug. Deep down she knew Jacob would die before letting harm come to her on his watch.
“Love you, Mom and Zac.” She kissed Zac’s cheek and then Rayne. This could be our normal. At least until the next baby comes.
“I love you so much.” Rayne kissed her little cheeks again. “Now go have fun with your dad. And you better keep her safe.” She pointed to Jacob.
“I won’t let anything happen to our baby girl.” Jacob shook his head while Annmarie fixed her brown hat and ran out. When the door closed Zac wrapped his hands around her waist. Her wolf perked up at the closeness, all thoughts of being tired faded away replaced with lust.
/> “See I expected you to only give them an hour, not two and a half.” He kissed her neck and heat zipped down her spine. She turned to face him, the love in his blue gaze made her heart melt.
“I wanted to get as much time with my fiancé as possible.” Her wolf enjoyed being pressed up against him.
“Mm, I like the sound of that.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her upstairs while she kissed his neck. He had made a grand gesture by proposing and offering to be a great dad to Annmarie. She didn’t know how it all would work out with Jacob still alive but right now she didn’t want to think. No, she wanted to feel loved and wanted.
He set her on the bed then pulled off her shirt. She didn’t wait for him as she shoved down her pants and panties followed behind, all her clothes landing on the floor. Need pooled in her core and desire raced through her soul.
“You’re beautiful.” His eyes roamed over her body. Heat zipped down to her spine.
“Tell me so when I’m not pregnant.” She wiggled up the bed and he grabbed her feet stopping her movements. The intensity of his gaze burned away her insecurities.
“You, my sweet mate, are gorgeous no matter what. Carrying a child, no makeup or all dressed up, I’m going to love you no matter what.” His voice deepened with need sending heat down her body. A blush burned up her chest into her cheeks as she met his gaze. Her heart leapt in her chest and she spread her legs open. Those beautiful blue eyes glanced down and he licked his lower lip.
“You may not be the alpha but you’re my alpha. Now get over here and make me scream your name.” She pressed her fingers against her entrance and slid them up to her clit. His eyes zoned in on the motion and a low growl vibrated through his chest. He peeled his clothes from his body while staring at her fingers as they wiggled over her clit.
Rayne gasped as she hit the right spot. “Cum for me, right now.” Zac’s lower voice spurred her on. She had meant it to be a tease but tension pooled in her thighs. Her mate’s gaze studied her every movement. She picked up the pace, moving her fingers over her clit in a circular motion. Her head tipped back as she inched closer to an orgasm.
She moved her fingers a little faster and fell into an orgasm, waves of pleasure rolled up her skin making her body tighten. Pressure hit her opening and he slid into her core sending her spiraling higher. A gasp left her lip.
“Zac!” she cried out as she tried to catch her breath.
“You’re all mine.” He pulled out then slammed back in. Heat licked at her nerves making her want him more than ever. Zac picked a punishing quick pace. “Next time I’ll be gentle.” He groaned while his grip tightened on her hips. From now till death she would be his and she wanted to enjoy every second of it. A light tingling sensation rolled around with the pleasure he gave her.
Love surrounded her heart once more as he met her gaze. She had fallen in love with him and her wolf was finally quiet in her mind. He picked up his speed ever so slightly sending her close to her rapidly building orgasm. She wanted it to last longer but his pace made it damn near impossible. Her breaths came out as short pants.
As a last effort to bring herself to earth, she grabbed the sheet then latched onto his arms. His muscles bulged under her palms sending even more heat down her body. All of this is mine! One of his thumbs flicked over her clit. Her moans came out closer together blending in with his groans. Each time she heard the groan, it gave her more pleasure. The pressure was too much to hold back any longer. She tipped her head back as the orgasm tore through her body. His cock swelled inside her body while he leaned forward. Sharp teeth sunk into her shoulder sending her through waves of aftershock.
Rayne didn’t second guess it as she marked his shoulder as well. The skin might heal but she didn’t care as he groaned against her skin. He slowed down and released her shoulder at the same time as her. Her heart raced and part of her couldn’t believe she was allowed to be happy.
“We should eat so I can get another round out of you before someone comes home.” Zac nipped at her neck sending heat to her core.
“Sounds like a wonderful plan.” Rayne pulled him in for a kiss. When he leaned back and met her gaze, she felt like a princess in his eyes. At first, she didn’t want to accept it but the emotion pouring from her mate overwhelmed her. “I love you.”
Epilogue
Rayne
2 ½ years later
So, freaking swollen I can’t reach my shoes. Rayne huffed and fell back into the sofa. The idea of having a third child had never come to her mind before Zac and here she sat with two littles running around her house and another growing in her belly. She shoved her hands through her hair and tried to figure out how to tie her shoes.
“Teo, can you please help with Mommy’s shoes?” Rayne hollered through the house then looked down at her stupid straps instead of laces. Her feet had swelled so bad, Zac had purchased ones with straps instead of laces to help her out. Yet she still couldn’t reach the damn things with her belly so swollen. Little feet pattered through the house toward her, but they were too heavy to be her youngest.
“I can help you, Mom.” Annmarie adjusted her new pink hat. She kneeled down and pulled at the strings to tie them for Rayne.
“Thank you, baby girl.” Rayne smiled and relaxed on the couch. Her little one kicked her ribs hard and she pushed down a wince.
“You know you can do this work from home.” Zac leaned over the couch and kissed Rayne’s neck. He kept insisting on keeping her home which only drove her a bit crazier. Rayne shook her head.
“I need to get out of the house or I’ll go freaking mad.” She rubbed her belly and her little one kicked her hand. Early on they decided to be surprised on the sex of their little one.
“You know what, we need to go on a run.” Zac smiled. She blinked a few times waiting for him to say, just kidding but it never came. She arched her brow after a moment.
“I just finished putting on my shoes.” She motioned toward her clothes and shoes. Getting ready was a big task at nine months into a pregnancy. Even with her wolf stamina, she wanted to sleep half the day. She wondered how humans managed to get out of bed in the first place. But she was thankful for her daughter being older now because she helped her out. Annmarie made a great big sister and Rayne couldn’t be prouder of her.
“I will help you get dressed this time. It’s been too long since our last run as a family. What was it two weeks ago?” Zac scratched the back of his head.
“Actually 55 days to be exact. Almost two months since we went on a run and the alpha yelled at us because Teo ran onto airport property.” Annmarie shook her head. The memory of the alpha at the house raging pissed because he had almost a dozen security officers at his home about the incident.
“Yes, that was my bad.” Rayne winced. She had swayed too far right and Teo was exploring. It was harmless since we were miles away from the actual airport and the runways.
“I vote we go north. No bad memories there.” Annmarie grinned.
“As your boss, I’m telling you, this run is needed. I can see the stress in your eyes.” Zac folded his arms in front of his chest making his muscles bulge. Heat zipped down to her core but she pushed down the urge to take him to the bedroom and lock the door.
“Fine, Mr. I concede to a run but you not only have to get me dressed but you will have to get Teo dressed after too.” Rayne wiggled in her seat trying to make her hips a bit more comfortable. Being pregnant meant more stress on her hips. Teo ran into the living room, his normal happy smile brightened the room. Her son had his father’s brown hair but she wouldn’t hold it against him. He bonded well with Zac and she thanked the goddess above for their connection.
“Run?” Teo bounced on his toes and Annmarie shook her head. His brown eyes brightened.
“Yes. We’re going on a run.” As an older sister, she was both kind, loving, and easily annoyed. Sometimes it made Rayne want to giggle.
“Great. I actually have a small surprise for you.”
“Is it a present?” Rayne asked and tried to get up but failed.
“Nope. Someone wants to meet you.” Zac rubbed his hand together before picking up Teo.
“Who?” Rayne had no idea who he was talking about.
“My younger brother. He just finished the cop’s version of boot camp. The fucker went for the marines but he managed to get an early discharge. Now he’s done training to be a cop for the Denver P.D.” Zac pulled out his phone and tapped with one hand while still carrying Teo.
“Wow! That’s cool.”
“Yep. He’s going to meet us at the hotel and we’ll go on a run together.”
“I need help up, dear.” Rayne blinked a few times then lifted her hands. Zac grabbed her hand and pulled her up, right into him. Even with her swollen like a watermelon, he still looked at her like a beautiful model. After a few minutes of packing in the kids to the truck, they were off to the hotel to pick up Zac’s brother.
Small contractions rocked through her belly and she took some breaths to get through the pain. Her wolf perked up like the last two labors and a sudden urge to pee smacked into her.
“Zac, I need you to gun it to the hotel.” Rayne gripped the edge of her seat as another contraction wrapped around her stomach.
“What’s wrong?” He sped up but kept it close to the speed limit. The slightly heavy traffic made it harder for him to weave through the cars. They needed to get to the hotel faster, she really didn’t want to start pushing without someone ready to catch her pup.
“I think-” She gasped and liquid trickled down her legs. “Yep, my water just broke.” The car jerked to the right and left as he weaved through the airport traffic.
“Mommy, you look pale and it smells.”
“Eww! Stinky.” Teo chimed in and Rayne laughed at her son’s scrunched up face.
“One more mile.” Zac cursed as someone cut him off. Pain gripped her back and the need to start pushing wrapped around her chest.
Rayne's Perfect Mate Page 9
