Page 36 of Knot Quite Ready

Content and happy for my mate to take me home.

ChapterNineteen

Casimir

Istrip Aneira and play a game of "juggle the mate" while I get us both into a warm bath. I pour some oils into the water and settle us into the large tub. The entire time, she stays asleep, and I take that time to drink in her perfection, hungrily. Unable to resist, I place soft kisses on each eyelid, admiring how her long eyelashes rest on her cheeks, highlighting her delicate features, while her lips take my breath away every time I look at them. By the moon, she is gorgeous, I think to myself as I trail my hands down her arms and back lightly, tracing her sensual curves, that scream of sin, and golden skin.

I lie there for what feels like hours, lost in the blissful silence just barely punctuated by her deep breathing; the steam from the hot bath wrapped around us like a cocoon. As much as I want to close my eyes, I resist for fear of missing another moment. We stay in the warm water until Aneira starts lightly stirring from her sleep. I softly stroke my fingertips over her face, tracing a few of its contours before lightly kissing her forehead as she blinks open beautiful gray eyes.

"Hey you," I whisper as she looks up at me from beneath heavy eyelids and smiles sleepily in response.

"Mmm, what time is it?" she murmurs back, stretching against me as if trying to burrow deeper into the safety of my arms.

"Time for us to get out," I chuckle lightly. "But it's okay," I whisper in her ear, wrapping my arms around her and drawing her closer, "you can sleep a little longer."

She snuggles into me with a content sigh, before drifting off to sleep again. I wait a few moments, before standing and shifting her just enough to drape her in a fluffy towel. I don't care if I'm wet, as long as she doesn't catch a chill.

The fact that she sleeps so deeply while being maneuvered around like a, loved, sack of flour is a testament to how safe her wolf feels with her mate; otherwise, she would be ripping out my throat. Pregnant wolves can be very volatile.

I dry her off and tuck her into the bed, and my heart swells at the sight of my pregnant mate in bed, the moonlight streaming through the window caressing the skin covered in my scent. I lay my hand on her tummy and feel my eyes flash golden as a wild fervor courses through me; a wave of pride, possessiveness, protectiveness, and the urge to keep her and my child safe.

She doesn't know, yet, the hold she has on me, the firm hold she has over my once-dark heart. The power she wields that with one gentle, sassy look from her would bring me to my knees in the sweetest of ways.

I quickly dry off and get into the bed, pull her into my arms, and watch as the waves of her hair fan over the pillow.

Sleep, I will stay alert. You cannot protect if you are dead on your feet,Monti's gruff voice echoes in my head, and I heave a sigh of relief as I let my body drag me into sleep. But instead of sweet dreams, my sleep is filled with darkness, claws, teeth, and a broken Aneira lying in my arms; her dead eyes looking up at me as life slips away from her body.

* * *

I awakewith a growl in my throat, to a loud pounding at the door and the sun streaming through the window, chasing away the darkness from my nightmares. The pain in my chest threatens to consume me, and in a panic, I reach for Aneira and breathe a sigh of relief when I see her sleeping peacefully beside me.

"Wake up, sleepyheads! The sunshine shines down on another day of shifter depravity and howling good times. So let's greet the day with a growl," Storm taps a beat on the door before laughing and walking away.

Aneira groans, "Ugh, it is way too morning to morning. Wake me up in a few years." She grabs a pillow and covers her head.

I laugh half-heartedly, the nightmares still tugging at my consciousness, trying to drag me back.

Aneira pulls her head out and looks at me with a frown. "I happen to know that I am hilarious, and your laugh did not reflect that. Also, I feel your heartbeat racing through the bond of fanged destiny. Are you okay?"

I sigh, pull her into my arms, and breathe in her scent. "I am now. Just a bad dream."

"Okay then. Just a word of warn—"

Her words trail off as another bang sounds on the door. "I said wake up. I will not tolerate this disregard for my morning demands!" Storm yells.

"ing... she won't stop," she finishes with a growl.

"I'm going to claw out your fucking heart and eat that shit with a fucking pickle dipped in vanilla ice cream and your liver enzymes!" Aneira yells back, pulling herself out of my arms.

I rub my head; it's way too early for sun salutations and murder threats.

"Rude. I have steak!" Storm replies.

Aneira shoots out of bed and starts tugging on clothes while racing to the bathroom. I hear the tap start and the sounds of her brushing her teeth.

In less than two minutes, she's rushing out of the door and barrels into Storm's smiling face; Calian hovering behind her, rubbing his temples. I give him a sympathetic look.

"Food." Aneira commands before shifting her head slightly and sniffing. "Never mind..." She rushes off, and Storm cackles, following behind.

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