Page 36 of Twilight Echoes
He chuckled, but she was right. His humor was off-color and inappropriate, even if it was funny. “It’s not pathetic. I certainly didn’t care. I mean, I did. I do.” He ran his fingers through his hair. He was tripping over his words and if he wasn’t careful, she was going to kick him right out of this bed. “A big part of me is super glad you’ve never been with another man before. I wasn’t kidding when I said I can be a jealous wolf. The only thing that would have changed by you telling me you’d never had sex before is I wouldn’t have been so harsh right out of the gate. That hurt you and I could have been a little softer about it. But it wouldn’t have changed me doing it. I love you. I want to be with you. You’re the only woman for me.”
“Oh my God. It can’t be.”
“Too soon?”
She yanked the sheet around her body and jumped from the bed.
Well, that didn’t go over well.
He sighed as he found his boxers and hiked them up to his hips. He followed her to the sliding glass doors. His jaw dropped open. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He stared at the double moon hanging low in the sky. While it was a beautiful sight with both moons glowing bright, electrifying the dark sky, the last thing he needed to worry about was the fact his mate was carrying his child.
And everything that meant.
Or the fact he might not live long enough to meet his child—children—if the legend held true and twins were really what was predicted for the second pairing.
“I hope my parents are sound asleep in bed and don’t see that.” She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I really don’t feel like dealing with their smirks or snide remarks in the morning.”
“Neither do I,” Darrell mumbled.
“I’m not going to make it through the entire season as principal now, am I?”
“No. You’re not,” he said. “I want you to know my intention was not to get you pregnant. I just wanted to give you an orgasm or two.”
“Well, you achieved all those things.” She patted his chest. “I might have lost my mind, but I might want a few more of those in the morning.” She raised up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I’m not saying this because of the moons. Or what that means. I’m saying it because I feel it in my soul. I know we’re connected. We always have been. I love you. I have for a long time. I get the whole imprinting thing. I believe it’s true. As is the fated mates. But I would have loved you without it.”
“You’re going to make this werewolf cry.” He kissed her temple. “I don’t know if that’s your phone or mine. But one of them, or both, is buzzing like crazy.”
“I don’t know about you, but I will ignore it.” She turned and headed toward the bed.
“Sounds like a solid plan.” Part of Darrell was elated with all that had transpired.
He had his mate.
She was his. They were going to be a family.
As long as he didn’t end up six feet under.
8
Avery blinked open her eyes. Her arm was draped over Darrell’s strong middle. She brushed her hair from her face, noticing he was already awake, propped up on the pillows, with his cell in his hand.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
“What time is it?” Running her fingers across his bare chest, she inched closer, shameless, aware they were both naked. She’d spent the entire night in a man’s arms. In Darrell’s arms. She’d dreamed of this day for so long. Even after she’d tried to rid him from her thoughts when he’d moved to the West Coast, he managed to worm his way to the front of her mind.
It had always been Darrell.
It was one of the many reasons she’d never been able to bring herself to be with another man. She’d had opportunities. It wasn’t like she hadn’t done things. But when it came to the act of sex, she couldn’t do it. She told herself her career had to be front and center. She’d seen more than one ballerina have to make the tough choice between leaving the stage to have a child or having an abortion.
While she wholeheartedly believed in the woman’s right to choose, abortion wasn’t something she thought she could ever do, which is why she never put herself in that position.
The vision of the two moons danced in her head. She knew exactly what that meant. It had happened to Amanda, and now it was happening to her. It was fate. Destiny. She couldn’t have stopped it if she tried.
Truth be told, now that it was a reality, a warmth had settled through her body. A greater sense of purpose and love filled her soul.
“A little after five,” Darrell said.
“What are you looking at?” She scooted closer, resting her head on his shoulder.
