Page 82 of Mating Mia
“I never thought I’d say this,” my father continues, his voice rough with emotion, “but I’m actually enjoying having neighbors. People to nod at when I get the mail. Kids riding bikes past our house. It’s normal.”
“Normal is underrated,” my mother says, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “I’d forgotten what it felt like to not be afraid all the time.”
I understand that feeling all too well. Before Kane, Finn, and Jace found me, my life had been all about fear. Fear of Justin’s fists, of his words, of never being good enough. Now, I wake up each morning surrounded by love so fierce it sometimes scares me.
A soft babble from the playpen in the corner draws my attention. Ash pulls himself up on wobbly legs, his chubby hands gripping the mesh as he gives me a toothy grin that melts my heart every time.
“Someone’s awake from his nap,” I say, setting down my glass and crossing to him.
As soon as I’m close enough, Ash reaches for me, his little fingers opening and closing in that universal baby demand. I lift him into my arms, breathing in his milk and baby shampoo scent.
“My little Ash,” I coo, settling back on the couch with him in my lap. He immediately begins patting my face, his exploration gentle but insistent. “Did you have good dreams?”
Ash babbles something incomprehensible, then leans forward to press his open mouth against my cheek in what passes for a kiss at his age. My heart swells with love for my baby.
My heat had come on suddenly, triggered by the stress of the confrontation with Orion, and my parents had taken Ash to their new house across the street while my alphas took care of me. It was the first time I’d been separated from my son for more than a few days, and even in the throes of heat-madness, I missed my baby.
“He missed you, too,” my father says, reaching over to tickle Ash’s foot. “Kept looking for you, especially at night.”
The words send a pang of guilt through me, but I push it aside. Ash is fine, healthy, happy, and loved by so many people. And maybe, he’ll soon have a brother or sister to grow up with.
My hand drifts to my lower belly, still flat beneath my sundress. It’s probably too early to tell, but I can’t help wondering if one of the alphas’ knots took.
“You look flushed,” my mother says, her keen eyes missing nothing. “Are you feeling alright?”
I nod, a little too quickly. “Just warm. The air conditioner isn’t reaching this corner very well.”
She gives me a knowing look but doesn’t press. One of the things I love about my mother is her ability to know when topush and when to let things lie. She seems to have a second sense for things.
The front door opens with a blast of summer heat, and Kane strides in, his tall frame filling the doorway. His eyes find me immediately, that intense gaze sweeping over me and Ash with possessive satisfaction. Something in my chest loosens at the sight of him, as if a part of me has been holding its breath until he returned.
“Hey, everyone. Nice to see you both,” he says, crossing to kiss my forehead before nodding respectfully to my parents.
I lean into his touch, breathing in his scent—pine and cedar and alpha male. Even after days of being thoroughly claimed by him, my body still responds with a quickening pulse, a subtle clenching between my legs. Kane notices, his nostrils flaring slightly as he detects the change in my scent.
“It’s nice to see you too,” my father says, standing. “Sarah and I should be heading back anyway. Got that fence to finish before dark.”
My mother rises as well, smoothing down her dress.
“Thank you for the lemonade, sweetheart. And for letting us watch your little one,” she says, leaning in to kiss Ash’s head, then mine.
As they gather their things, I shift Ash to my hip and follow them to the door with Kane’s hand warm at the small of my back. We exchange goodbyes, promises to have dinner tomorrow, and then they’re gone, crossing the street to their new home—a small, neat bungalow with a garden my mother has already filled with herbs and flowers.
“They seem happy,” Kane says, closing the door behind them. “Your father was telling me about the workshop he’s building in the garage.”
I nod, bouncing Ash gently as he begins to fuss. “I think they are. It’s still new, being able to live openly, but they’re adjusting.”
Kane takes Ash from me, lifting him high above his head in a game that never fails to produce giggles. “And how about you, pup? Did you have fun with Grandma and Grandpa?”
Ash squeals, little legs kicking in delight, and I feel my heart swell all over again.
But something’s missing. Someone’s missing.
The thought hits me out of nowhere. It’s a sharp pang of longing that catches me off guard.
I suddenly want another baby. I want to feel life growing inside me again, give Ash siblings, and see my alphas’ eyes light up with excitement of another pregnancy.
“Can you watch him for a bit?” I ask, already backing toward the stairs. “I need to... freshen up.”
