Page 55 of Secret Shifters Next Door

Tate looked at me, his smile spreading to a grin. “That’s a given, Harley. You’re a great mom, and you’ve raised some really great young women. That’s not really what I was asking about. What do you want foryouin the future? What do you want for yourself?”

It should have been a simple question. I almost laughed, thinking the answer was easy, but stopped when I really thought about it. All I could ever remember was being a mom. My life before that was almost totally forgotten. So distant that it was almost like another universe, in some alternate reality that barely drifted around my memory. Thinking about it, I realized what I wanted was fairly simple.

“I want to be comfortable,” I said, slumping as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. “I want to wake up every day knowing that I’m safe and loved. I thought I had forever once. That my happily ever after had already happened. Things didn’t work out the way I wanted, but I do still believe in happy endings. If it’s in the cards, I want to grow old with someone meant for me.” I shrugged a shoulder. “And at least one more kid.”

Tate laughed. “One more after that little nugget?” he said, pointing to my belly. “You looking to start a basketball team?”

I raised an eyebrow and gave him a crooked grin. “I’ve always wanted a big family. Being an only child, the idea always seemed appealing.”

The server came and took our orders and removed the menus. Tate leaned back in the booth and looked down at the table. He seemed to be thinking about something. When he didn’t speak for a minute or two, I prodded him.

“What’s going on in there?” I asked, pointing at his head.

Snapping out of his reverie, he smiled. “Sorry. It’s just that, until all this, I’d never imagined having a family. Now? It’s like it’s all I can think about.” He looked me in the eyes, his gaze so intense I nearly shivered. “I want to do my best every day to be what you need.”

His words surprised me, not only by what they implied, but by how serious he was when he said it. “Where is this all coming from? No offense but, originally, you didn’t seem to want anything to do with me.”

“I’ve lived my whole life fighting things. Fighting my family, fighting myself, fighting the world. I think I was used to fighting against anything that felt different. I’m starting to see that some things aren’t meant to be fought. Sometimes they need to be embraced. I don’t want to fight what I feel is building between us. Not even a little bit.”

The same idea had been bouncing through my mind for a while. Hearing him say it out loud was reassuring. For the past week, I’d been trying to ignore the fact that I liked having Tate around. The girls liked it, too. They’d been missing that male presence. If I was honest with myself, so had I. I liked Tate even more than I’d been letting on.

Before I could respond, he reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a ring attached to a thin gold chain. The ring was beautiful. A black obsidian jewel was embedded in the ring. The ring itself looked like it was platinum or white gold. It looked old but well kept. Tate didn’t seem like the type of person to have such a beautiful piece of jewelry.

He held it out by the chain so I could see it better. “This is the last thing I have from my old life. It’s a reminder of where I came from and who I am now.” He reached under the table and pressed a hand against my stomach. “This ring is my legacy, and I want our boy to have it. Passing it down to our son would make me very happy. But for now…” he lifted the chain and put it around my neck as I fought back tears, “…I want you to have it. It represents power and strength. Two things I think you have, and I’m sure our son will have as well. This ring is important to me, and so are you. That means it’s meant for you to wear.”

Our food came out, and I had to turn my head so the server wouldn’t see me crying. The hormones roaring through my body wanted me to break down blubbering, but the little boy growing inside me demanded food. The tears dried up, and I went to work on my burger. Tate and I continued to steal glances at each other as we ate. We ate in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. It was a comfortable silence between two people who had finally opened up to each other. It was one of the best meals I’d ever had in my life.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. We’d gone home and did a few chores before the girls got home from school. Tate hadimpressed us by making a dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and roasted Brussel sprouts. The girls and I were pleasantly surprised by how tasty it was. Jordyn even made a comment that he was in charge of dinner from now on.

“I don’t know that I’m ready for such a big responsibility,” Tate had answered.

Later on, after the girls had gone to bed, I decided to take a shower. Leaving Tate to read on his phone, I went to the bathroom and stepped under the spray. I would have preferred a really hot bath or shower, but doctor’s orders said that wasn’t a good idea when pregnant. Instead, I settled for a very warm shower. Once I got in, I lathered my body and thought back on the talk Tate and I’d had at the restaurant. I felt much closer to him after that, especially after he gave me the ring. The last week had been a little strange and awkward having him around. After today? I couldn’t think of anyone I wanted here more.

After the shower, I dried off and stood in front of the mirror, I looked at my body and saw how my belly bump had grown. My breasts were also getting bigger, like… a lot bigger. The ring hung between my swelling breasts. I leaned closer to the mirror to inspect it. The black stone caught the light and shimmered. Seeing it, I remembered his words from that afternoon. I was a little scared to believe everything he said, but he’d been so earnest. Everything he’d said had been truthful, and knowing he meant every word filled me with happiness. All I wanted was to be fully with him.

My mind drifted back to that night in New York. Tate’s hands on my breasts. I lifted my hands and gently stroked my nipples. I thought of the other night, when his face had been between my legs, sliding his tongue into me. My nipples hardened and ached as I stroked them. I imagined him sucking on them, and heat flashed across my chest and between my legs. I knew exactly what I wanted.

Turning from the mirror, I stepped out of the bathroom, and into the bedroom, wearing nothing but the ring necklace. Tate glanced up from his phone as I walked out. His eyes widened, and I smiled coyly. He looked at me, sliding his eyes from my face down my body before locking on my eyes again.

His voice was deep and husky when he spoke. “You know you’re playing with fire, right?”

More sexually confident than I’d ever been in my life, I replied, “I guess it’s a good thing I like the heat.”

Tate threw his phone aside and made a sound like a snarl as he stood and crossed the floor in two quick strides. He pulled me in close, pressing my naked body to his as our lips locked. I was almost dripping wet between my legs, and as we kissed, I ground my pelvis against his thigh, rubbing my clit across the muscles beneath his pants. I moaned into his mouth as his tongue moved between my lips. I imagined what his cock would feel like in my mouth and nearly came just thinking about it. I was as horny as a teenager, my hands already working at his belt and fly, desperate to get him undressed.

Before I could complete my work, he slid his hands under my ass and picked me up. I gasped at his strength. He lifted me like I was nothing, and his show of strength only heightened my arousal. Tate laid me down on the bed and stripped his shirt off. I gazed at the rippling muscles of his chest and stomach hungrily. He was fucking hot. I’d almost forgotten how good he looked naked. Through half-lidded eyes, I watched him yank his boots and pants off. Then his underwear. His cock was already throbbing and rock hard. I looked at it and bit my lower lip. I usually thought penises looked strange, but right now, nothing looked sexier. I spread my legs and laid my head back, never taking my eyes off him.

Tate knelt on the floor in front of the bed, kissing my legs. Working his lips up from my knees, closer and closer witheach kiss. I was breathing heavily when the warmth of his breath breezed across my pussy. I moaned and looked up at the ceiling. My clit was throbbing, engorged, and pulsing. I’d never experienced anything like this. I was so hot for him, and he was teasing me. I shivered, except I was the opposite of cold; it was like my skin was on fire, and only he could put out the flames.

Instead of stroking me with his tongue, he lifted his head and kissed up my stomach toward my breasts. I whimpered when he didn’t slide his tongue into me.

“I need you to fuck me,” I panted.

Glancing up at me, he murmured, “Oh, I will.”

Without another word, he took my breast into his mouth. I cried out, “Oh shit,” and nearly came from the warm, wet touch of his tongue on my nipple.

While his lips played with me, I reached between his legs and wrapped my fingers around his dick. I stroked it twice, and he pulled his mouth away, grunting in pleasure. The tip of his cock was already wet, cum already starting to seep out. I slipped my finger around the slippery head. Tate’s face was a mask of ecstasy as I touched him. I felt empowered, knowing what I wanted to do. I pushed him back and knelt between his legs. I locked eyes with him and slowly slid his dick into my mouth. He groaned as I took every inch of him.

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