Page 291 of As The Shifter World Turns

It wasn’t enough time to worship his body the way I wanted to, but the need to provide and feed my omega was pushing me hard. It was a good compromise for both of us.

We quickly ordered enough Thai food to feed the entire building and ran to the bedroom, both of us stripping off our clothing along the way. It wasn’t a desperate need clawing at us, although that made for a good time, too. No this was all in fun—the two of us playfully “racing” to beat the delivery person. We laughed and rolled eyes as we fumbled with the remains of our clothing, me almost tripping on the leg of my jeans.

But when we settled on the bed, the playfulness left and in its place was the sweet loving that expressed how we felt about each other. There was no bending over the bed in raw passion. Instead we made love, kissing and caressing each other sweetly as our bodies were brought to climax, my knot filling him, spurting my soldiers inside him, ready to accomplish their mission.

We didn’t know if tonight would be “the night”. And really, that didn’t matter. Tonight was about clasping hands and deciding to go through this next chapter of our lives together—to intentionally take the steps needed to become more than just a couple—to become a family.

It was beautiful, so beautiful that neither of us cared that we lost “Beat the Delivery Person” so epically.

At least we had prepaid, so when we were wrung out and exhausted by our love making, we had a bag full of tepid Thai food waiting for us to devour.

133

NOT HAPPENING

Daire

Nothing. Nada. I wasn’t pregnant and we’d been trying for weeks.

“I’ve heard it can take six months or more, babe,” my mate reassured me.

“Mmmm.” Nate was willing to let nature take its course but I was too impatient. Once we decided to try for a baby, I wanted one in my belly.

“See you tonight.” Nate was filming early today and not for our motel project. We’d finished our latest one and were looking for another motel to buy.

“Okay.” He must have left because I heard the door close but my mind was on babies, or specifically one baby. Mine. Ours.

I wandered over to Micah’s to start work and passed Ivor taking Dyani to the park. “Can I ask you a personal question?” I squatted down and tickled Ivor’s daughter who giggled.

“Never stopped you before.”

Right. I deserved that. “How long did it take you to get pregnant with this little one?” I couldn’t recall. There was always drama in the lives of the Sunshine Manor family.

“Ummm we didn’t plan it. It was a happy accident,” Ivor replied.

That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I was hoping he’d say it took ages and they almost saw a specialist.

Ivor put his hand on my arm. “I’m sorry it’s not happening as quickly as you want. You should talk to Nate. Maybe he feels the same way.”

“He doesn’t.” And that reminded me of our commitment to be honest with one another. Sure he was aware I was impatient but I hadn’t told him of my fears that we would never have a baby. While I was Charlie’s guardian and I adored him, he was Neil and Martin’s son, and I was the fun uncle. At least I hoped I was fun.

Dyani squealed. She and I were both restless and Ivor continued toward the park.

“Morning,” Archer greeted me as I entered his and Micah’s house. He handed me a coffee, just the way I liked it.

I took his arm and steered him away from his home office into the kitchen. “When you got pregnant with Elune, how long was it after you and Micah got together?”

“Got together?” he grinned. “That’s such a cute old-fashioned way of saying had sex.”

“Because I’m such a gentleman.” I slurped the coffee, spilling drops on my shirt.

“We slept together but we didn’t know that unicorns could mate and have kids with anyone other than unicorns. so we weren’t being careful.”

Oh right. They pulled away from one another, each thinking they’d never make the other one happy.

“I sense you’re frustrated, Daire.”

“Not at all, Nate and I have plenty of sex. We have it all over the apartment. Even did it on the stairs one night.” We were so glad Neil and family were in bed or they might have caught us.

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