Page 15 of Brock
She fingered the hem. “It’s so pretty, but…”
He scooped her into his arms, cradled her once again, and headed out of the room. “You’ve never worn anything this sexy or revealing before, have you?”
“No, Daddy.” She squirmed in his embrace because her bottom was exposed and resting against his forearm.
“Stay still, Little one.” He held her with one arm as he entered the kitchen, using his free hand to open the fridge, where she spotted a row of bottles filled with white liquid.
Suzette held her breath as he grabbed one.
Daddy carried the bottle over to the microwave, removed the nipple, and heated it up.
As he replaced the nipple, she found her voice. “You’re really going to feed me a bottle?”
“Yes, Little one. Often.” He turned and headed back through the master bedroom and into the nursery. “It’s bonding. I want to hold you and rock you while you feed.”
She drew in a deep breath as he settled in the rocking chair. “I don’t know about this…”
He leaned her back and cradled her, making her feel cocooned and cherished. “I know our customs aren’t what you’re used to, but you’ll find this new way of life appealing in no time. I promise.”
Uncertainty filled her. On top of that, she suddenly realized she hadn’t once thought of the most pressing question she would have asked her mate if the day had gone as planned.
Chapter Six
Suzette sat upright in his lap. “Do you know my friend Jezebel?”
He chuckled. “Yes, I do, Little one. I wondered when you would ask about her.”
“Does she live nearby?”
“Well, none of our cabins are extremely close to each other. But, yes, not far. She is my best friend’s mate.” His smile reached his eyes as usual.
“When can I see her?”
“Soon. Don’t you worry. We’ve gotten things out of order today since we technically haven’t even formally bonded. We’ll need to arrange for the claiming ceremony as soon as possible. After that, it’s customary for newly mated couples to spend about a month together undisturbed, getting to know each other and solidifying the bond.”
She pushed her lower lip out. “I can’t see Jez for another month? I haven’t seen her for two months already.”
He rubbed her back. “We’ll see, Little one. My main concern right now is ensuring you are physically and emotionally healthy after what you went through this morning. After that, I’d like you to focus on us for now. It’s important for you to learn and accept our customs. You’ll also need to go through your first shift.”
She shivered. She’d known all her life she would not shift until after she was claimed. Mostly she’d tucked that detail to the back of her mind. The idea was daunting and kind of scary. She wasn’t really in a hurry to shift even though she knew it was part of life. “When will I do that, Daddy?”
“After I fully claim you, Suzette. Our mating will trigger your first shift.”
Her breath hitched. “Oh.”
He slid his hand up to thread his fingers in her hair. “Don’t fret about it tonight.”
“I thought maybe I could put it off,” she murmured as she leaned back in his arms.
He stroked her cheek. “Not indefinitely. You can’t stop it once we’ve had sex, Suzette. Are you worried about shifting?”
“Sort of.” She shrugged.
“I’ll be with you the entire time, Little one. You won’t go through it alone. And it’s only scary the first time. Once you’ve done it, you’ll be a pro. I promise you’ll enjoy the freedom of being able to run free in your wolf form. I’m looking forward to showing you around the mountain.”
She snuggled into his chest. “Okay.” She was overwhelmed and feeling both hungry and tired.
“Let’s get this bottle in you. You’ll feel much better in the morning.” He stroked her lips with the nipple until she parted and let it in.