Page 96 of Dragon Daddy Protector

“Then, it is my greatest honor and privilege to now pronounce you mated for life,” the elder declared, and the gathering erupted into cheers.

Sofia clapped right along with them with a loud “Mama! Dada! Kiss!”

I grinned up at Evan as he wiggled his eyebrows and pulled me close, his lips hovering just over mine.

Mate.

Then he claimed me with a kiss in front of all of our loved ones, and the crowd cheered louder. He’d promised me a beautiful life, and that’s what I had.

“Mama,” a small voice interrupted, tugging at the hem of my dress.

I looked down to see Sofia, her auburn curls bouncing as she reached up toward us. She was dressed in a white flower girl dress, looking like an angelic cherub. These days, she was running all over the place.

“Hey, sweet girl,” I murmured, bending down to lift her into my arms. “Do you want Daddy to hold you?”

Sofia nodded vigorously, her hazel eyes glowing with happiness as she stretched her arms out toward Evan. He chuckled softly and took her from me with ease.

“There's something else I wanted to ask you, Mariah. Something important.” Evan’s tone turned serious as he held Sofia close. Reaching into his tuxedo jacket pocket, he produced a folded stack of papers and handed them to me.

“What is this?”

“Open it and see.”

Curious, I unfolded the papers, scanning them quickly when I realized they were legal documents. When I realized just what they said, my face crumpled.

“Is this what I think it is?”

Evan nodded and smiled. “Adoption papers for Sofia. She’s already yours in every way that matters, but I want it recognized by all that she belongs to both of us, legally and irrevocably.”

I couldn’t speak as I threw my arms around them both, my voice choked with emotion. Evan’s gaze never left mine.

“Will you adopt her, Mariah? I want us to be a family in every sense of the word.”

“Of course I will. It’s my honor.” My vision blurred with tears as I looked from Evan to Sofia and back again. “And I promise to always love and care for her as if she were my own flesh and blood.”

“You already do,” Evan said, his voice rough with emotion.

My heart swelled to the point of bursting, and I struggled to find the words that would convey the depth of my feelings. I couldn’t seem to stop crying, my emotions coursing through in a heady mixture of joy, gratitude, and love.

“Mariah,” he said, a grin on his face. “If you don’t calm down, you might go into labor right here and now.”

I chuckled, but then my hand flew to my stomach, eyes growing wide. “It might be a little too late for that.”

“What?” Evan went from being calm, cool, and collected, to looking utterly terrified in the span of a heartbeat. I nearly laughed at the look on his face, and I would have if the first stirrings of contractions hadn’t rippled through my body.

As if on cue, my water broke, and I gasped at the sudden rush of fluid.

“It’s time,” I whispered, clutching Evan's arm.

Abi rushed over, plucking Sofia from Evan. “Deep breaths, Mariah. Remember what we’ve practiced.”

I nodded, but all rational thought fled my brain as I stared up at Evan. It was really happening.

The flurry of activity that followed was a blur. Evan hurried us back to the house, racing around like a madman as he searched for the bags we'd already packed for the hospital. I sank down on the couch while he fretted, trying to breathe through the building pressure of each contraction.

“Keys. Where are the keys?” Evan muttered as he frantically searched the counter.

“They're already in your pocket.” I'd just watched him put them there.

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