Page 75 of Happily Ever After… Again and Again

“Lucky for you,” Nix giggles quietly before using both arms to hold him close.

Gideon likes to think it’s more—bigger—than luck. It’s divine.

No sooner than he thinks the word, the rain stops as suddenly as it had begun. It hasn’t lowered the humidity at all, and soon, Gideon’s T-shirt is sticking to his chest and back. The courtyard is almost steaming under the bright sunshine. It’s not as bright as his kitten’s smile, though.

He will never be the first one to break their embrace, so he lets Nix take as much time and affection as he needs.

“How is it that you are still so hot when you look like a wet cat?” Nix finally steps back, pushing the hair off his facewith a small grimace.

Gideon gets a flash of tiny blue-green boy-shorts and a belly-button that’s popped all the way out as Nix lifts his shirt hem to wipe the rain from his cheeks. “You should talk, Kitten.”

It’s true. Nix is glowing. But isn’t he always? And it’s not because he’s pregnant, either.

It’s just him.

“Hot enough to break the rules?” he waggles his eyebrows and gives an exaggerated wink.

Growling at his persistent temptation, he tries to grab him in hopes he can swat that juicy ass. But, alas, his prey shrieks and dodges, slipping through his fingers like a ray of sunshine. He’s on the porch and through the open door in a blink, his laughter trailing behind him.

Picking the basket up off the stone courtyard, he props it against his hip—it’s already been washed clean by the rain.

Tilting his face to the sun, Gideon presses all the moments of this rainy day dance into his memory. There are more and more beautiful things happening in his life every day—it’s a good thing Gideon has infinite space to remember them.

There’s a shriek from inside, and he hears Luca calling for him.

Then, Tsuki starts barking.

It’s followed by a crash that Gideon is sure he’ll have to clean up once he gets inside. Probably some chaos his troublemakers are causing. He opens his eyes, his thoughts already on what’s next—and who he might convince to shower with him.

He stops suddenly, stunned.

He shouldn’t be surprised, given all the magic Nix continually brings into his life. But there, above the house, is a stunning rainbow—bright as any he’s seen before. A sure sign from the Goddess that he’s where he needs to be, loving the people he’s been gifted.

Bowing his head, he whispers—not for the first or last time—“Thank you.”

X

Oh, Baby, Baby

Well, here we are. Nix isn’t ready. The pack sure as hell isn’t ready, but the Goddess has plans and like every other thing they’ve been through together, they get through it because they do so together.

Welcome to the pack, little beans.

You are loved.

Content Warnings

Non-graphic Childbirth

Vomit

Primal Play

Mentions of Bondage

Secrets: Gideon

The front door beeps, and two sets of feet drop shoes in the foyer. There’s an intense whispering argument, and then, despite the previous noise, the pitter-patter of feet quiets to a subversive, imperceptible tiptoe.