Page 81 of Sinful Mates

Aaliyah’s gaze snapped up to me. She felt me reminiscing and smiled. Woman wanted to heal me. For me to find myself again. Make amends with Slade. Complete the circle of her mates. I wasn’t there yet, but I was slowly getting better, coming to life again after being dead for so long.

Alaric snorted on his beer at our mate’s response. “You worked in an ER! Raising a kid should be a piece of cake.”

Aaliyah’s gaze went to me again. Probing. Curious. Thoughtful.

“Just as stressful, only different.” She wiped her forehead, a light sheen of sweat coating her from the work.

Not wrong. Getting a kid dressed in the morning when you had to get to work. Nothing worse than going to pack his lunch for daycare and coming back five minutes later with Dylan running around in his underwear.

Thinking of him made my chest warmer than it had been in years. Usually, when I remembered him, it tossed me into a cage of darkness. Now it didn’t feel as lonely, murky, or deep with Mia around. I started to feel like I did before he died. Lighter. Freer. Less lost.

I glanced up at Aaliyah smiling, relishing the happiness leaking through our link.

I leaned over, cupping her cheek, my hand massive against her much smaller face. “You’re the avatar of Isis, the mother goddess. Tap into her knowledge and wisdom.”

Her lips pressed together, eyes going out of focus as she nodded. “I hadn’t thought of that.” Her palm chased away the chill on the back of my hand. “Thank you for guiding me. I would be lost without you. All of you.”

Along the way, she asked me all kinds of questions on how to handle certain situations, from Mia hitting a bully, getting her into routines, setting boundaries, being consistent when her mates spoiled her daughter rotten, to how best settle her into the new home, family, and school.

Alaric preened like a fucking hawk. “What are mates for?”

I took a moment to enjoy my mate, the curve of her back, softness of her arms, the planes of her gorgeous face. “You’re doing an incredible job, baby.”

Aaliyah’s palms brushed over my muscles. “I worry that I did the wrong thing, bringing Mia into a dangerous environment.”

She questioned herself all the time, succumbing to her guilt. I knew all about that shit and what it did to a person. In my case, it thrust me into the dark void. I didn’t want my mate lost in there with me.

“You did the right thing, baby.” I sought to alleviate her fears with rough strokes and my words. “She’s safer with you. Danny found her. Imagine what Colton might do to her.”

“Maybe you’re right.” She didn’t seem wholeheartedly convinced. Nothing would get her there until Colton was finished and the police off our backs.

“He’s right.” Alaric rubbed his assurance into her back, and she straightened.

She chewed on her lip for a few seconds. “I’m really thrilled how well you’ve all taken to fatherhood.”

The road captain prickled a little at that and I sensed he didn’t feel up to the challenge. He did an exemplary job with the kid. Protecting her, teaching her routines, to not make a mess and pick up after herself, and chasing away her demons whenever she got scared. Fuck, that night I frightened Mia with the death talk. Alaric was there to pick up the pieces and make her feel safe.

Castor sure as hell didn’t feel worthy. He confided in me about the breakdown of his marriage when we got drunk one evening. He thought he messed up by working too hard, something he avoided since Mia came to stay with us... the only time he broke that rule was when he completed his reckoning. Honestly, the VP had nothing to worry about. As long as he did his best, that was all we could ask of him.

As for me, I loved being a father again. I would love Mia like my own kid. Aaliyah didn’t have to worry about that. I kept my word.

Aaliyah thumped a palm on my chest. “You’re loving being a daddy again, aren’t you?”

Yeah, I fucking was. There wasn’t a better role in the world than taking care of a child, teaching them good values, watching them grow into their own, their confidence growing. I loved every bit of it, even the shitty tantrums, the attitude when you asked them to put down their toys and eat dinner, and the dreaded dirty diapers. Hugs, smiles, and loving murmurs made it all worthwhile. Fuck, I’d never forget the first time Dylan said the word daddy. Happiest day of my fucking life. I looked forward to that if I ever got another chance. Hell, I’d be happy if Mia called me her daddy.

More of the ice around my heart melted and cracked, giving way to the frozen organ beneath that began beating again. I didn’t realize how dead inside I was since losing Dylan. How Mia and my mate changed everything.

I swiped a thumb over her cheek. “I am, baby.”

She smiled, her inner nurse purring at my contentment. “That’s good.” Her voice cracked a little and she shed a happy tear I swiped away. “My lost man is finding himself again.”

The pounding of my heart rocked me. It never thudded like this, ever. With such love, satisfaction, and completion since Dylan arrived in the world. My existence felt whole for once instead of broken, and it was all because of this woman.

Her soft eyes probed mine. “Have you talked to Slade?”

Fuck. Sore topic. My grip on my beer tightened. “Not yet.”

“He really wants to clear things up with you.”

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