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Chapter Twenty-Three

Gram walked hand in hand with his wife, still unable to fully grasp the fact he was indeed someone’s husband. It hadn’t been on his mind when his day had started, and he’d not been kidding when he’d told Amelia this was the best kidnapping he’d ever had.

He didn’t exactly relish the idea of having to admit as much to his buddies, but since it meant he had Amelia, he’d consider sending out an interoffice memo, so no one missed the news.

His wife was perfect.

More than he deserved. And while they’d met under odd circumstances, they’d at least met.

He’d been in such a dark place mentally. And hadn’t seen any way out of it. She’d been his guiding light. His port in the storm.

The pain and heartache he’d endured to get to this moment, this point, all seemed worth it to him now. Though part of him feared that it would go as quickly as it had come. That something or someone would come along and rip away his bliss. He couldn’t help but think of Cal and the entire bizarreness that was the Flock.

Within four seconds of meeting Taggert, Gram had thought the man was a dick. No surprise there. Brian was much the same way for him. But Cal had been an altogether different beast. He’d sensed something about the man; he just wasn’t sure what that was. From what Amelia had told him, the man was a Grade-A whack job, but so far, Gram hadn’t seen anything to support the statement.

Not that he didn’t believe his mate.

He did.

He just had a hard time wrapping his mind around a hippie bent on world domination being any kind of a real threat. The man was named after a bird for crying out loud. How deadly could a bird be? How much damage could ruffling his feathers really cause?

Then again, hippies didn’t tend to surround themselves with men like Taggert and Brian. And then there was Susan, who he could sense didn’t like Amelia one bit. To the point that hate seemed to drip from her very core when Amelia was either brought up or near.

Gram had overheard Susan and Brian when they’d cornered his mate in the kitchen area of the spa. He’d felt Amelia’s fear, her unease, and it had prompted him to go in search of her, to hell with the fact he’d been in nothing more than a towel.

For her, he’d walk naked down the interstate.

The twins would do it too, just for fun.

Cringing, he got a visual of Bill wanting to join in.

Now that man would for sure walk down a busy road wearing nothing more than the permanent fur he seemed to be covered with. The twins were right: Gram had never seen a fuzzier human in his life, and he’d been around a hell of a long time.

“You’re quiet,” said Amelia as she tugged lightly on his hand.

“Sorry, lass,” he returned, bringing her hand to his lips, kissing it as he continued to steal glances at her. The gown Susan had brought for Amelia was also white, which seemed to be all anyone in the Flock wore, and it fit snugly over her breasts. His cock hardened at the thought of what was and wasn’t under her dress. She wasn’t wearing any undergarments. Under it all, she was naked.

The sweet taste of her cunt had spurred him onward and he wanted to sample her again. Lick her for hours. Hell, years.

His mate would be well and thoroughly pleasured every chance he could get. And if Fate was on their side, they might even be blessed with little ones of their own one day, not that he didn’t already feel a strangely deep connection to Andie.

He wanted to take the little one away from everything and make sure she was raised right, knowing love, knowing what it was like to have a father who cared. He smiled as he thought about Andie and Bethany playing together. He suspected they’d end up being good friends since they were so close in age.

His mind raced with all the things he needed to see to the second they got back home. His home was already well-equipped for a little girl, but he’d change everything to suit Andie’s likes, whatever they may be.

He’d buy her six hundred red balls if that was her toy of choice.

He needed to reach out to the preschool at PSI to see about getting her enrolled. There was so much to do. Everything had to be perfect for the little one since he’d be uprooting all she knew and asking her to take a chance on him.

To possibly find it in her heart to love him as he already knew he’d love her.

When Gram realized he was spiraling down a panic-induced path, worrying over things that didn’t need to be addressed right this second, he cleared his throat and his mind. As he did, his gaze slid over his mate’s form once again.

Dammit if his cock didn’t instantly rise to the occasion.

His dick was Pavlovian in its response to her. Evidently, old wolves could learn new tricks.

His mouth watered at the thought of taking one of Amelia’s pert nipples into his mouth. The next he knew, he began to shake as raw need rippled through him.

She took another step and her breasts bounced slightly.

He nearly moaned at the sight and suggested they jog so they’d bounce more.

“You keep looking at me funny,” she said. “Is something wrong? Do you regret what happened between us? It was really sudden and unexpected. I’ll understand if you changed your mind.”

“If by regret you mean I want to lift you, drive into you, and never leave yer body again, then aye. Huge regret,” he said with a smile. “Fucking ginormous regret. I’m running over with it. Can I touch your boobs?”

The grin she gave him only made him harder.

“What?”

He bit his lower lip. “Lass, you have to know what you look like in that dress. Hell, every dress I’ve seen you in today. And what you look like out of them. Woman, you’ve a body to die for.”

She turned several shades of red and tugged at her dress, only serving to show off her nipples more.

He wished he’d have just remained naked instead of bothering to get dressed when they left.

Fuck who saw him.

Walking around in jeans with a hard-on was easier said than done. With his free hand, he tried adjusting himself with limited success. Short of getting naked again, he wasn’t going to find a comfortable spot for his cock.

Well, in his mate would be pretty fucking comfortable.

He growled as he thought of her wet sheath wrapped around his cock. “Lass, the likelihood of you wanting to be barefoot and pregnant the rest of our immortal lives is…?”

“Gram?” she asked with a laugh. “What kind of question is that?”

“The kind a man asks when he knows he’s going to want to spend every waking second in his mate. Seemed wise to get yer input on it. So, think about it and get back to me.” He waited a moment and then locked gazes with her. “What did you decide?”

“Honestly, my only thoughts have been getting Andie far from here. Beyond that, I’ve never really given my future much consideration.”

“Tell me what you had planned. All of it,” he said, wanting to know what, exactly, she’d had planned for her exit from the Flock. Somehow, he doubted she’d planned to use the front door.

He did.

He’d walk his mate and Andie right out of the front gate and if anyone tried to stop him, he’d tear their fucking heads off and put them on a pike in front of the resort as a warning to other would-be cults.

Mess with his mate or his family, and he’d unleash a fury the likes of which they’d never seen before.

Her gaze moved around as she took in their surroundings. “Not here. I need to check on Andie and then I can take you somewhere private to talk.”

“Lass, the wee one is fine. Car and Mac would use our mental link to alert me if she was nae okay.”

“Mental link?” she asked.

He nodded. “We can communicate with our minds. It’s something the men I work with all practice. It’s harder to do with different species. But we’ve done it so much over the centuries that sometimes it’s as easy as exhaling.”

The worried look on her face pained him.

He focused on Mac and reached out with his mind. Are you with Andie?

Och, aye. And I do nae want to discuss it more.

Gram tensed. If she’s hurt in any way…

The wee one is nae hurt. She’s…erm…well, she’s putting bows in my hair. It’s making her happy and keeping her occupied. In a little bit, we’re going to take her out to play. She mentioned something about pretending to be airplanes since she’s never been on one. We’ll figure something out , said Mac, sounding less than pleased to be having his hair done by a four-year-old.

If anything changes … pushed Gram.

Aye, you’ll be the first to know. And, Campbell, you owe me big for this shit. I was going to spend the night in my own cabin, surrounded by hot chicks in white dresses, getting a full-service treatment. Now I’m getting a makeover from a three-year-old.

Gram snorted. She’s four.

Big difference.

Mac.

There was silence a second. Sorry, the wee one is now drinking a grilled cheese smoothie with Bill and Gus. Correction, they’re pulling out spoons. Apparently, it’s too thick for the straws. I’m going to vomit but she seems to like it.

Gram smiled, pleased to know his friends were coming through and helping with Andie. Mac, I did it.

Did what?

Claimed Amelia.

A long pause greeted him. You couldnae have waited and let us throw you a bachelor’s party first? For fuck’s sake, Campbell, we’ve been here like five hours and you’ve already found yer mate, claimed her, and have us babysitting. What’s next? World domination?

Gram smiled wide. Possibly a cult overthrow, but we’ll talk about that later tonight.

Aye. I’m always up for a good takeover. Mac’s laugh reached him, and Gram closed the connection to find his mate’s eyes wide as she gripped his hand.

He hissed and pried his hand loose from hers. Amelia had one hell of a grip. “Lass?”

“You went all quiet and got a weird look on your face. She’s hurt, isn’t she? Oh gods, she’s dead.”

He drew her to him. “Shh, no. She’s fine. Though I do nae think you’ll be pleased to hear what the twins are letting her eat, but she’s in guid hands. It would seem she’s been verra busy putting bows in Mac’s hair.”

Amelia laughed loudly. “I’m almost sorry I missed that.”

“Do nae worry. I know Car well. There will be photos, video footage, and maybe a social media channel devoted to it by the time we get there. For sure Mac will be up for an Asshole of the Week award.”

She tipped her head. “A what?”

“Never mind. But, as I said, the wee one is fine and in guid hands.”

She exhaled and some of the tension seemed to melt away from her. He hated that she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was so young and had already been through so much. He’d fix it all for her. He’d take her and her sister far from Cal and the Flock and they’d be a family.

“Take me to this private place where you wanted to talk to me,” he said, kissing her forehead lightly. “You can tell me everything I need to know now while Andie is tended to.”

Nodding, she pointed at a fork in the path. “My greenhouse is that way.”