Page 62 of Kidnapped By the Beast (Beasts of the Kindred #11)

brANDT

Three Months Later

Brandt sat back against the pillows in their quarters on the Mother Ship, one big hand splayed possessively over Alexandra’s round belly.

His little Lexi was heavy with his child now—her body swollen and lush—ripened by his seed.

Every time he looked at her, every time he felt that curve under his palm, a rush of tender, protective pride filled him.

“Look at you, baby,” he rumbled, stroking her gently. “So perfect. My good girl, carrying my child. Every time you walk into a room, they all know you’re mine.”

Alexandra flushed, her cheeks pink, her green eyes shining. Around her neck she wore the glowing green pendant he’d bought her at the marketplace. He’d given it to her as a Joining gift and she hadn’t taken it off since.

“I can’t believe how fast I started showing,” she murmured, one hand covering his on her belly. “I’m only at the end of my first quadmester!”

“That’s because you were meant for this,” Brandt growled softly.

He bent to kiss her soft neck, inhaling the sweet scent of her.

“Meant to be knotted, bred, and filled until you swelled with my baby. And you did it so well. You took my cock, my knot, my cream—and now you’re giving me a son.

Or a daughter. Doesn’t matter which. As long as the whole universe knows you’re mine. ”

Alexandra flushed, her cheeks glowing pink. She was so beautiful when she blushed. Seven Hells—she was beautiful all the time, Brandt thought. But especially now that she was carrying his baby. He loved how gorgeous and ripe her curvy body was getting.

She was doing well in her studies too. She was taking things slowly but was working towards her PhD. Brandt’s own research was also continuing apace—he was determined that both of them were going to reach their goals.

“Oh, Brandt—that means so much to me!” he heard her murmur in his head and knew she’d caught his last thought.

He looked at her, his eyes burning.

“Do you know how much I love you, Alexandra? How much it undoes me to see you like this?” He stroked her belly again. “You’re carrying my legacy under your heart. Every time I touch you, I feel my seed alive inside you. And I’ll never let anything happen to you. Never.”

He swore it fiercely—a promise both to her and to himself. He might have lost one wife but he wouldn’t lose another. The Goddess herself had sent him Alexandra—he was going to do everything in his power to protect her and keep her and their baby safe.

She reached to stroke his cheek.

“I know,” she sent through their mental link. “I feel how much you want to protect me every time you look at me…every time you touch me. I’ve never felt so safe…or so loved.”

Brandt pressed his forehead to hers, his throat tight.

“I’ll keep you safe, little Lexi,” he promised hoarsely. You…our baby…this family we’ve made. I’ll protect all of us. And you’re going to be my good girl forever.”

Her hand slid into his hair, her voice trembling with love.

“And you’re my forever too.”

Brandt bent to hiss her belly, vowing silently as much as aloud. Nothing and no one would ever take them from him. Alexandra was bred, Bonded, and his.

And he was never letting her go.