by Vella Day
A quick shot of cum surfaced, and she pulled back, wanting their union to be the most dynamic ever.
Blair scooted away from him. “Let me ride you.”
Ronan grinned. “Climb aboard, baby.”
Blair giggled.
After all they’d been through together, Ronan had become not only her fated mate, but her confidant, lover, and supporter as well. Straddling him, she leaned over and kissed his forehead, his nose, and then lightly brushed her lips against his. Ever so slowly, she lifted up, but their lips remained sealed for a moment longer.
Unable to keep apart, she reached between her legs, lifted his big cock, and placed it at her entrance. Even though she trusted her bear to prepare her, Blair had to be sure that she was ready for the final act of unifying them. She ran her tongue along her teeth and was relieved to find that they had sharpened. It was almost time.
I will never leave you again, her bear said. I will always protect you.
That gave her the courage she needed. When her bear roared, she plunged downward, encompassing his cock. Lustful sparks shot upward, sending mounting desire into every cell of her body.
“Oh, Ronan.” Blair closed her eyes and rode him long and hard, until she was on the brink of a climax.
He grabbed her hips. “I want you to stay still as I make love to you.”
Frustration bit at her until she realized that this was his way of loving her fully. “I’ll try.”
He eased into her and then withdrew. It felt like he was fanning the fires within, wanting to bring her to an epic climax. Needing to taste him, touch him, and smell him, she leaned over and nibbled on his ear. “I want you,” she whispered.
His fingers gripped her hard, and his breaths increased. It was as if he was holding on by a thread too. She dragged her mouth down his neck, the slight salty tang elevating her unquenchable need further.
“Love me, Ronan.”
His hands slid up to her waist as he dipped his head to the side of her neck. As his cock plunged into her again and again, his grunts grew louder, and his eyes turned a molten golden color. His blue aura grew and grew until both of them were entombed in his bright light. Nothing could harm them once they were mated; she was sure of it.
On the next thrust, the gates of her passion couldn’t be stopped, and she pressed her mouth against his neck. She didn’t know who bit who first, but the moment they were united, her world stopped spinning, and white light sped through her veins. Her climax came so powerfully that she forgot to breathe for a moment.
His hot seed shot into her, shaking her entire body, forcing her to suck in air. Blair licked her lips, tasting the slight coppery taste of blood. They both licked each other’s wound to close the holes they’d made. Ronan wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, his blue glow warm and comforting.
Blair dropped her head on his shoulder and wanted to hold him forever. They must have fallen asleep because when Ronan jerked, it startled her. Lifting her head, she watched him sleep, content to never move again.
Ronan grunted a moment later then awoke. “Hi,” he said as if still in a dream.
“Hi back.” Blair smiled.
“I’ve been told once we mate we can communicate with our minds. Can you understand me?” he asked.
Blair had always hoped to find someone as wonderful as Ronan, but to be truly mated on such a basic level thrilled her. “Yes. I guess you’ll have to watch your thoughts from now on.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll be pleased with whatever I’m thinking, because it will always be about you.”
“And mine about you.”
Ronan sat up, and Blair snuggled against him. “I think it’s time we talk about your secret.”
Blair stilled. “My secret?” He couldn’t know about the baby unless Jackson had told him.
He glanced down at her stomach. “You do know that I can sense your moods, right? Your colors are very distinctive.”
Just then a swirl of yellow passed in front of her eyes. She blinked, not sure if what she’d seen had been real or her imagination. “What does yellow mean?”
His brows furrowed. “Yellow?”
“I just saw a wave of color come off of you.”
He grinned. “I can’t believe it. I knew we might be able to communicate telepathically, but I didn’t know if you’d inherit, so to speak, my ability to see scents as colors.”
She grinned. “I think I can.”
“I don’t pay much attention to my colors as I know what I’m thinking. It should be fun for you to figure me out.”
She’d liked that. “To make sure this miracle of mating wasn’t a figment of my imagination, can you turn around? I want to see the marking on your shoulder.” Blair wanted to keep the existence of the baby a secret a little while longer.
When she saw how her bear paw print was underneath his, her heart beat faster. She ran her fingers along the outline. “It’s beautiful.”
“Let me see yours.” He sounded excited, which thrilled her.
She turned around, and he pressed his lips to her skin. “It’s really true. We are one.”
It was time to tell him the good news. She faced him again. “You’re right. I do have a secret, but I didn’t say anything because I was afraid I might lose the baby.”
Ronan hugged her. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am. How far along are you? That’s something I couldn’t tell.”
“About eight weeks. The shifter doctor who treated you checked me out, but I’ll need to see a baby doctor soon.”
He rubbed her shoulder. “You are so strong. If our baby could withstand what Darinda did to you, she’ll be a marvel.”
“She?”
Ronan laughed. “Or he. I don’t care. I want lots of kids.”
“So do I.”
Blair had to be the luckiest woman in the world.
*
“Do you like the sofa beneath the living room window or facing the kitchen?” Blair asked.
She still couldn’t believe they were now moved into their new home. While her furniture was only enough for a one-bedroom apartment, Ronan assured her they’d fill up the rest as fast as possible.
“You’re the one with the good eye,” he said. “Tell me, is this the right height for this picture?”
A friend of hers from school had painted a forest scene because Blair loved the woods. “It’s perfect.”
For the next few hours, they arranged and rearranged the furniture. Finally, Blair had to call it quits. “How about we have some chicken wraps delivered?” she asked. “I’m too beat to cook. Besides, I’m not sure I know where everything is yet.” They needed to shop soon too.
“Sounds like a great idea. You rest while I call.”
“I’d like to take a shower. Moving furniture is a sweaty ordeal.”
“You go head. I’ll ask for a fast delivery so it will be here when you finish.”
Ronan was the best, but she needed some alone time. The baby was acting up, though she couldn’t blame him. When Blair decided she was having a boy, she didn’t know. Her morning sickness had ended a few days ago, but it was probably because she hadn’t eaten much. Her appetite had yet to return to normal.
Now that they were finally settled in their new place, she promised to take better care of herself.
Blair had just finished her shower when the doorbell rang. The deliveryman had come. Throwing on her very comfortable shorty pajamas, she padded out to the living room. “I smell food.”
“Yup.”
Ronan unwrapped the meal and placed it on the table, but for some reason the wraps didn’t look all that appetizing. “How about we watch a movie and snuggle?” she asked.
“Sure. What kind of movie are you in the mood for?” Ronan asked.
With an iced tea in hand, Blair moved over to the sofa and sat. “I don’t care.”
Ronan sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Are you feeling okay?”
She smiled. “I’m fine.
”
“I can sense something is wrong. Your colors are duller, and I can feel some pain.”
Blair didn’t need an inquisition tonight. “All I need is a good night’s rest, and I’ll be fine.” She forced a smile. “I promise.”
“Okay.” He leaned over and kissed her. “You better be. I need you.”
Ronan was the best man ever. He even picked a romantic comedy, probably because he knew she was a big fan of love stories. Too bad she fell asleep halfway through it.
When she awoke, she was in bed and light was streaming in through the window. Thankfully, Blair was still on leave because of all that had happened. She’d told work that as soon as she moved into the house that she’d return to work. Tomorrow would be soon enough.
Pushing up on her elbows, she listened for evidence of Ronan moving about, but the house was silent. As she sat up, severe cramps attacked her. Her heart pumped hard, and she rubbed her stomach to ease the pain. “Please be okay, little one.”
Once the ache subsided somewhat, she eased out of bed and made it to the living room where she’d left her purse. Ainsley would know what to do. It didn’t matter that Blair had been through this before; she refused to admit that she was losing this baby too. She’d already picked out the color for the baby’s room.
Another cramp tightened its hold on her, and Blair let out a small cry. This wasn’t good. Not good at all. She could feel her bear trying hard to make her whole.
Chapter Twenty-Three
‡
“The doctor will see you now,” the nurse said.
Blair clasped Ainsley’s hand. “Wish me luck.”
“I hope the baby is okay.”
Blair knew the baby was gone, but she wanted confirmation. The cramping, the spotting, the agony of it all had convinced her. She’d tried to keep a cheerful outlook to prevent Ronan from finding out too soon. Before he rushed to her side, she wanted the doctor to give her the official word.
Inside the exam room, the nurse told her to undress, climb on top of the table, and wait for the doctor. When the doctor finally arrived, waves of despair came crashing down on her as Blair waited for the verdict. After a few questions about her state of mind, the doctor examined her and then took some blood.
“I’ll run the blood work, but I see no signs of life. I’m so sorry.”
“Blair?” Ronan’s voice interrupted her thoughts. It took a second for her to remember they could communicate telepathically.
“Yes?”
“I’m sensing a lot of distress. Are you okay?”
As much as she wanted to cry and tell him everything, she wasn’t ready. “Yes. I just stubbed my toe.”
The moment those words were transmitted, a new wave of depression washed over her. She hadn’t wanted to lie to Ronan, but she needed more time to come to grips with what happened.
“I’m afraid we’ll need to do a little procedure to clean you out,” the doctor said.
“Okay, I guess.”
An hour later, Blair woke from the anesthesia. She was woozy and bloated, but otherwise felt okay. Once she shifted, her bear would help her more fully recover.
“I would like you to return for a checkup in a few weeks so we can do some tests to see if there is a physical reason why you miscarried,” the doctor said.
“Sure.” She’d say anything. All Blair wanted was to get out of there.
Once she dressed, she barely remembered paying or riding back home in Ainsley’s car.
Her friend parked in front of the new home. “I’ve already called into work and told them to cancel my appointments,” Ainsley said. “You should not be by yourself right now.”
Blair was working hard to keep it together. “You don’t need to do that. I’d prefer to be alone.”
Ainsley walked her up to the door and waited for Blair to unlock it. “Sorry, honey. No can do.”
“I’ll be fine.” Those words had become her mantra. She said them now without even thinking.
“You don’t sound fine. If I ever miscarried, I’d be a total basket case. I’m calling your mother.”
Blair wasn’t sure she could deal with her pity right now. “I’m good. Really.”
“Stop saying that. This time, it isn’t true. I know how much you wanted this baby, but my goddess, Blair you’ve been through one trauma after another. To be honest, I’m surprised the baby survived for this long.”
Before she could stop her best friend, Ainsley breezed in and dialed Blair’s mom. In a way, Blair was happy that Ainsley would be the one to deliver the terrible news.
Once Ainsley disconnected, she faced Blair. “She’ll be right over.”
Blair dropped down onto the sofa, not looking forward to this conversation. She wasn’t in the mood to tell her mother this was the second baby she’d lost, but Ronan had said that if she came clean, it would clear the air between her and her family. Personally, she thought the air was clear enough.
Because their new house was in the shifter compound, her mom arrived in minutes, and Ainsley let her in. Mom rushed over and hugged her. “Oh, Blair. I am so sorry.”
“So am I.”
Ainsley placed a hand on Blair’s shoulder. “I’ll let the two of you talk, but if you need anything, and I mean anything, call me.” She hugged Blair goodbye.
“Thank you for being here.”
“Of course.”
Once Ainsley left, Blair faced her mom. “I’m sorry.”
Her mother clasped her hands. “For what? You’ve been through a trauma. None of this was your fault.”
“Maybe, but I let my emotions get the best of me. I wasn’t able to handle the stress.” Her mother would have been able to handle it all. The image of Jared telling her he was already married was too much for her to bear back then. The severed head still threw her for a loop. Tears flowed.
Her mother wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. You and Ronan have plenty of time to try again.”
Blair understood that her mom was trying to be helpful, but somehow it wasn’t what she wanted to hear right now. She lifted her head, tears blurring her vision. “How do you know? This is the second baby I’ve lost. Maybe it’s just me.”
Blair hadn’t meant to blurt that out, but all the hurt and anguish poured out of her.
“Two babies?”
Now her mother would find out what a terrible daughter she’d been, keeping something like this a secret. “It’s a long story.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Blair swiped the tears from her cheeks. “Fine. I’ve wanted to tell you for so long, but just couldn’t.”
“Oh, Blair—you can always tell me anything.”
She sniffled. “It was the beginning of my senior year in college when I met a man that I wanted to believe was my mate.”
“Your mate, but how could that be?”
For the next half hour, Blair told her mother about the affair and why she’d kept it a secret. “By the time I found out Jared was really married and just stringing me along, I was two months pregnant. The doctors said there was no reason why I lost the baby—that it happens sometimes—but the high amount of stress and anxiety I had been dealing with probably factored in as well.”
Her mom grasped her hand. “I’m not sure I can understand how you thought he was your mate, but I’ll let you in on a little secret.”
By now, Blair was shaking. The retelling of the story made what happened today all the more real. “What’s that?”
“Before I had Kalan, I miscarried a baby girl.”
Why that helped soothe her ache she didn’t know. “I never knew.”
“You didn’t need to. As hard as it was, I got through it. Then, after Kalan was born, I miscarried again. Trust me—it was just as horrifying as the loss of the first baby. After that, thankfully it was smooth sailing.”
“How did Dad react?” Guilt swamped her for not calling Ronan right away. He’d lost his baby too.
“He was even
more upset, but together we survived.”
Blair leaned back against the sofa. “Ronan will be devastated, too. He might appear to be this hard-boiled wolf, but deep inside, he’s a softie. His family life, as you can imagine, had a lot of ups and downs, and he dreams of the white picket fence and the two point five kids worse than anyone.”
Her mom rubbed her arm. “You’ll get there. You just need to keep the faith.”
The front door bell rang, and her mom rose. “That must be Izzy and Missy. I called them.”
“Mo-om.”
“You don’t need to be alone right now; in fact, the more the merrier.”
What was she thinking? “This isn’t a party!”
Both of her friends rushed in, sympathy filling their eyes. Missy had a bag slung over her shoulder, probably to help with the healing process. They both talked at once. Her bear must have decided that she needed to take over, because one minute Blair was hugging Missy, and the next, she’d shifted.
What the hell?
“Blair?” her mother said.
She tried to shift back, but her bear prevented her. As if she had no control of anything, her bear headed for the front door, knocking over a lamp and then a vase that was a gift from her parents.
Stop this at once, she commanded her rogue bear.
“Blair, what are you doing?” her mother asked.
If she could, she’d have told her. When Blair tried to turn the knob, her big bear paws couldn’t hold tight.
“Do you want to get out?” Izzy asked.
Blair’s bear kicked the door.
“Open it for her,” her mother said, worry filling her voice.
Izzy edged toward the door and yanked it open. As soon as she pulled it wide, Blair dashed out.
“Blair, what’s wrong?” Ronan said in her head.
It was time to tell him. She tried to answer, but her thoughts came out jumbled. What was happening to her? Was this another curse put there by Darinda? Wasn’t the goddess dead?
I need to protect you, her bear said. I won’t fail you again.
