Page 85 of Vengeful Mates
I smacked him away. “No, you don’t! It’s a surprise.”
His deep, rich laugh warmed me like whisky on a winter’s night.
I leaned into him, taking his lips with mine, sliding over them softly, his bond shooting sparks of happiness over us and through my chest.
I was glad he convinced me to do this. My earlier doubt dropped away at his support and love. Excitement crackled like a blazing fire to reveal the news to my men. They would be thrilled. Slade just as much as Zethan. I hoped I had the backing of Alaric and Castor too. Guess I would find out tonight.
As much as I wanted to continue this, even take it further, our phones didn’t stop beeping and vibrating with more text messages. If we didn’t go in soon, my men were going to bust in here and demand answers, potentially spoiling the surprise.
Zethan groaned and dragged the bags into the front seat, resting them on the console between us. “I’ll take the beer inside and get those assholes off your case for twenty minutes.”
“Twenty? Shit, I better get my ass in gear.” I smacked at Zethan’s hand again as he teased me, prying inside a bag. “Thank you, Hellhound Dick. I love you so much.”
“Love you too, baby. And I can’t wait to meet our baby.” With a final, searing kiss, he left me in the car, grabbing a case of beer and hauling it inside.
Nurse A always worked well under pressure, and I got to work and put together the first gift box, folding items into it, and tucking a card inside along with the relevant item for Castor.
Zethan returned, peering into the vehicle’s passenger window, taunting me as he returned to steal the last beer case and put it with the others. Perfect cover. Before he hauled it from the trunk, I caught him in the review, tapping his watch, reminding me of my countdown until I had to show my face again before my mates really got suspicious.
Repeated checks of my phone kept me on time, arranging the gifts and sneaking them inside our bedroom in just under fifteen minutes. I had them tucked inside one of my drawers when Alaric entered our room.
“Where have you been, angel?” He came up behind me, one arm securing around my waist, his palm coasting up my hip and lips skimming over my pulse point.
“I just had a quick nap.” I groaned as his hand collared my throat, tipping my neck to the left, letting him trace kisses along my sensitive spots.
“Don’t keep me waiting again,” he growled, sounding more like Slade or Castor. “I was worried.”
“I didn’t mean to worry you.” I spun in his grasp, clasping his face, drawing him in for a deeper kiss.
I was panting by the time he let me go. “Come out and join the rest of your mates. The party is about to get started.”
I groaned, just wanting to have a long, hot bath with a fizzing bomb. No such luck. He dragged me to the outdoor entertainment area, where a huge table hosted plates of barbequed meat, salads, and vegetables. I just hoped I got through this without throwing up and spoiling the big reveal.
The housewarming went on for a few hours, with hungry bikers eating their weight in meat and salads, all the activity of the day working up their appetites. Half the beer went down the hatch by the time the clock struck nine and things started to get rowdy, Slade encouraging them.
Castor played the gracious host, handing out more beer, moving about the men, listening to jokes, and telling stories. In between check-ins with me, Alaric drifted between the groups, frequently disappearing to perform perimeter checks and verifying the kids were behaving themselves in the loungeroom playing Nintendo Wii and board games.
Zethan didn’t leave my side the entire night like a guard hellhound protecting me. To be expected when he didn’t party or let his hair down. I was beyond fucking happy that we finally got the opportunity to sit together unhindered by the curse.
Weary, my eyes drooping, body achy from all the bustling, I sagged into his lap. His palms didn’t stop circling my belly, his bond lighting up like New Year’s Eve, his chest rumbling. His joy spilled into me and heated my body even more than his body.
Zethan shifted his forearm around my waist, preparing to lift me. “Come to bed, baby, you’re tired.”
Duty demanded I stick around until the last man left. Role of an old lady.
“I can’t.” I brushed his lightly-haired arm.
He lifted me off his lap and set me in the empty chair next to us.
Standing, he whistled, commanding the attention of everyone. “All right, fuckers. Time to go!”
“What the fuck?” Slade growled at him. “We’re just getting started, asshole.” Classic Slade Vincent.
Zethan waved his palms in front of his body. “I bet you’re all sore and tired from moving all our shit. Go home and rest. We promise we’ll host another, bigger party well into the night.”
Benny and Dusty whooped their agreement.
Elation pulsed down the bond that Zethan kicked everyone out early for me.
