Page 11

~Carter~

I barely made it to the bathroom before losing breakfast. A minute later, hands held my hair as I panted. Then I just sort of dropped onto the tiled floor and rested my head on the side of the bathtub. The chill felt insanely good after puking up every bite of food I’d had. Adrian helped me sit up and wiped my face gently with a cool, damp washcloth.

“Any better?”

“A little,” I muttered. “I’m assuming it’s morning sickness.”

“Most likely. Do you want Colt to come check you out?”

“If he doesn’t mind. I’m not worried, but it would help to know for sure.”

“Okay.” He kissed my head. “Come on. Let’s get you back to bed first.”

After I rinsed my mouth out with mouthwash, we went to the bedroom, and I collapsed onto the bed. Adrian tucked me in and kissed my forehead.

“I’ll be right back.”

I nodded and closed my eyes. My stomach was no longer in knots, thank God. A few minutes later, the door opened. I opened my eyes to see Adrian and Colt nearing the bed. Adrian got on the other side, and Colton sat on the edge. He put a hand on my forehead.

“No fever. Any other symptoms?”

“Just the nausea,” I said.

He was wearing a stethoscope and listened to my chest and belly. When he pressed my stomach, it felt weird but didn’t hurt. “Any pain?”

“Nope. It was achy earlier, but it stopped. Is it just morning sickness?”

Colton draped the scope around his neck and smiled. “Pretty sure. We need to get you set up with a midwife or doc. I mean, I could do it, but someone with more experience in birthing would be a much better option. I’ve got colleagues I can get the info for if that’s okay.”

“Sounds good. I guess we should start making plans for the birth.”

Colton patted my shoulder. “A very good idea. This is going to go fairly quickly. In the meantime, I’ll write you a script for prenatals. It’ll give you a start.”

“Thank you.”

He smiled and stood. “Anytime. I’m here if you need me.”

When he left, Adrian stretched out beside me and tugged me closer. I nestled against him, face buried in the bend of his neck. Every breath I took drew in chocolate and wine. Fuck, I loved the way he smelled.

“I’ll make some phone calls,” he said. “We’ll need to start buying baby stuff, too.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

I took a deep breath and rubbed my nose over his neck again. “Do… do you believe in love at first sight?”

Adrian was silent and still for a moment. Then his arms tightened around me, and he kissed my head. “Not until that night,” he murmured.

I smiled. Lifting my head, I met his gaze. “Same here.”

Adrian leaned in and kissed me, keeping it lazy and slow. There was heat behind it, but it was subdued. I moaned and pressed closer. I hadn’t been hard before, but the more he touched me, the more he kissed me, the more I needed. He got the hint and rolled us, putting me beneath him.

I tipped my head as he kissed a path along my jaw and down my neck. His teeth scraped the claiming mark, and sparks of pleasure skittered through my entire body. He slipped a hand between us and eased two fingers inside me. Slick seeped out in what felt like a steady stream, and, a moment later, his thick cock pushed inside.

“Adrian…”

I gasped as he rocked into me, over and over, kisses never stopping. Adrian growled low and shifted. My eyes rolled when the dick buried in my ass thickened. Panting, clutching his biceps, I barely had time to blink before I was coming. Adrian grunted and caught my hands, pinning them to the bed. Then he plunged in deep. Heat filled me, and the knot sent me into another orgasm.

“L-love you,” I gasped.

Adrian nodded and nipped the mark on my shoulder. “Love you, too, baby.”

* * *

Lunchtime, I learned, was a rather chaotic time in the Cross household. According to Adrian, it was rare that all the brothers had the same day off. We had decided to eat on the back porch, and the dogs were all running amok in the fenced yard. Casey was with them, though she would be moving into our rooms tonight.

“You sure you’re okay with helping us with these hooligans?” Estell asked, gesturing toward the dogs.

“Yep. I want to do something to help out here.”

She smiled. “It’s much appreciated, that’s for sure. Ian can show you the ropes then.”

Ian nodded. “Would love to. The dogs already adore you, so I think you’ll be perfect at it.”

Beside me, Adrian lounged in an Adirondack chair, his eyes closed. I got up and settled on his lap. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my head when I rested it on his chest. I caught Tony’s gaze before he glanced at Colton. They hadn’t done anything, but it was crystal clear it was just a matter of time.

“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I think maybe a trip to the club is in order,” Hayden announced. “When’s the last time we all went together?”

“It’s been quite a while,” Estell replied.

“What’s the club?” Tony asked.

“It’s called The Packhouse,” Estell said. “Not very original, I know. My husband’s father named it, and our family has owned it for decades. Hayden is the manager, and I handle the business side of things. I should probably look into hiring someone to help, though. It’s a pain in the ass to juggle it and the rescue.”

Tony looked pensive, then nodded. “What’s involved?”

Estell grinned at him. “Nothing I can’t teach…”

Colton chuckled. “I think you just found your protégée, Mom.”

Smiling, Tony leaned his head on Colton’s shoulder. “Count me in.”

“Then you’re hired,” Hayden said. He clapped Tony on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family, kiddo!”

I tipped my head to look up at Adrian and mouthed, “love you.”

Adrian kissed me softly. “Love you, too, mate. Very much.”

I settled back down and couldn’t help but smile. All around me, pups barked and played, while my new family—my pack —laughed and acted as if Tony and I had always been part of it all. Maybe we had, and we just didn’t know it.

Either way, it felt… perfect. Like home.