These Wondrous Moments (Fates)

12. Ellis

Ellis

I wake late in the evening the next day. Based off of the scents and the bodies pressed against mine, only Cade and Kai are in bed with me. Sterling no doubt woke up earlier, despite going to bed late. He never seems to need as much sleep as the rest of us, and he usually goes for runs while we’re sleeping.

I smile to myself as I think about last night and telling Sterling I’m pregnant. Seeing the joy in his eyes made emotions swell through me. I would find myself looking at him, at the happiness radiating off of him, and I would have to blink back tears. I guess the hormones are already kicking in.

Speaking of, my stomach gurgles alarmingly, and I swallow the sudden build up of saliva in my mouth. Not now. Please just let me lay with my guys for a few more minutes. At first, I think whoever listens to our prayers—gods, goddesses, fates, whatever—granted me my wish. I close my eyes as my stomach settles, and I focus on the arm wrapped around my belly protectively. Kai’s by the coolness of his skin. Cade’s leg is thrown over mine, his face buried in my neck. Waking up with them will never get old.

Just as I settle in, wrapping an arm around Kai’s, my stomach lurches and I slap a hand over my mouth as I quickly jump from the bed, waking the guys. I barely make it to the bathroom before my stomach heaves, and I fall over the toilet, gripping the cool porcelain in my fingertips.

A warm hand rubs my back and gathers my hair away from my face. “Are you okay, Ellis?” Cade’s voice is raspy with sleep, but the concern is obvious.

I nod my head, even as another wave of nausea doubles me over. Bile burns up my throat, and I cough and choke until I spit it in the toilet bowl. Sweat clings to my skin, and I rest my forehead on the cool tile floor as I catch my breath. It seems to have passed.

When I sit up, drawing my knees to my chest, Cade’s eyes search mine. “Ellis?”

“I must have a bug or something,” I say hoarsely.

Cade helps me to my feet and hovers while I brush my teeth. When I’m done, he wraps an arm around my waist. “Come on. Let’s get you settled back in bed.”

Kai has left, probably figuring I’ll want privacy with Cade while I divulge my secret. I let Cade mother hen me, pulling back the covers and plumping the pillows. Once I’m settled and comfortable, he sits next to me.

“Can I double check?” He holds out his hands, violet light sparkling at his fingertips. “Just to make sure it’s nothing serious?”

Biting back a smile, I nod. I watch his face closely, wanting to see every reaction that passes across his features as he realizes what the cause of my sickness is. His hands grip my face gently, the warmth of his magic spreading through me. I have to battle to keep my eyes open against the comforting sensation. But when his magic travels to my stomach, it halts.

Cade’s purple eyes go impossibly big, and they dart to my belly as his mouth falls open. The warmth increases as he sends more magic to the little bundle growing inside of me. When he looks at me, his eyes shimmer with unshed tears.

“Ellis,” he breathes. “Ellis, you’re …”

I smile and nod, taking his hands in mine, but leaving them on my stomach. “Yes.” Just one word. That’s all it takes for him to suck his magic back into himself and drop his head to my belly.

His breath is harsh as he exhales, the warmth skittering over my naked skin. “Oh my gods,” he breathes, sitting up and looking at my stomach like he can see inside. “I’m going to be a dad?”

“You are.” I sit up and cup his cheeks, drawing his attention to my face. “You, Kai, and Sterling are going to be daddies.” And amazing dads they will be. I already know this for a fact.

Cade’s brow furrows, and for a second, doubt creeps in. Then he says, “If he or she is Kai’s, I’m going to be pissed he beat me to it. He’ll never let me and Sterling live it down.” But there is a glimmer in his eyes that eases the anxiety.

I laugh, because he’s right. If this baby is biologically Kai’s, no one will hear the end of how powerful his sperm is that it was the first to impregnate me. Cade cuts the laugh off with a kiss.

“This is … I’m …” he shakes his head, smiling ruefully. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. Just kiss me.”

Cade does exactly that. He climbs over me, making sure to keep his weight from squashing me, and he claims my mouth. Immediately, my hormones flare to life, and I’m more than ready for him. Ever since I found out I was pregnant, I’ve been incredibly horny. Hornier than usual.

My nipples are extra sensitive, and when Cade rubs his thumb over one, I arch my back and moan. He chuckles darkly, and I watch his violet eyes turn navy as his pupils expand. When he trails kisses down my neck and over my chest, I thread my fingers in his hair and push him lower.

He complies without any banter, and wraps his mouth around one nipple, tongue flicking, while his fingers toy with my other nipple. Within seconds I’m writhing under him, trying to rub my body against his. But he keeps himself just out of reach. A whimper climbs up my throat, and I fist the sheets to prevent myself from smacking him.

“Please, Cade. I need to feel you inside me.” My voice barely sounds like mine. It’s so husky and full of want. “Please, please, please.” The word tumbles from my lips, over and over like a mantra, and I squirm and thrash my head as he continues to lavish my nipples until they are so sensitive I might cry.

With agonizing slowness he releases my nipple then grins at me. “Be patient, love.” He slides down between my thighs, but pauses to press a soft kiss to my belly and the baby growing inside me. He whispers something, but it’s too quiet to hear, then kisses my stomach again.

When he looks up and meets my gaze, his eyes burn and it makes me shiver. Fingers dig into my thighs and spread my legs roughly. Cade’s look turns feral, and a low growl rumbles in his chest. By the time he lowers his head to my core, I’m practically panting with anticipation and need.

The first swipe of his tongue draws a long, low moan from me, and the sound seems to spur Cade on. He doubles his efforts, licking and nipping, completely devouring me. My hips lift, searching for more of him, and I grind myself against his face. Cade’s fingers dig into my hips, pulling me closer, and I love the bite of pain that tempers the pleasure.

“Don’t stop,” I beg. “Please don’t stop. I’m so …” My words trail off into a moan as fire lights inside of me and spreads through my entire body. I clamp Cade’s head between my thighs and arch my back as my orgasm rolls through me in wave after wave of pleasure.

Cade doesn’t stop until I lay limply on the bed, sucking in breath and trying to calm my racing heart. When he looks at me, with his lips and chin glistening, my core clenches. He’s so fucking sexy with that glazed look in his eyes and his hair mussed from my fingers. I love this side of him. The side that steers away from the sweet and caring mage that he is everyday to become the seductive man I need in the bedroom.

Cade’s body radiates heat as he hovers over me, lowering his mouth to mine so I can taste myself on his lips. Despite the orgasm I just had, I’m ready for more. He doesn’t make me wait for it. Cade lines up with my entrance and holds my gaze as he slowly pushes inside.

His rhythm is slow and sensual at first, his strokes long and lazy. It’s as if he’s reminding me of his love, of the first time we had sex in the shower. I’d fallen then. And he’d caught me. He’d caught every single time since. But Cade quickly realizes I need more than that. I know he loves me, and I know he’ll always catch me when I fall. Right now, I need him to destroy me.

And he does.

Cade’s thrusts become wild and hard. I grasp the sheets in my hands, twisting them as he pounds into me and shoves me further up the bed until my head hits the headboard. He doesn’t stop. A wicked sort of possession has overcome him, making his eyes glow with violet light. It’s like he’s making sure I know I belong to him, no matter whose baby I’m growing in my belly.

The fire lights in my gut, spreading outward until I’m burning all over. “Oh gods, Cade!”

“Not yet,” he growls. “Don’t even think about it.”

I want to laugh, but it comes out as a strangled sob. I’m on the precipice looking over at the fall beneath me, and I’m hanging on by one finger. “Cade,” I whine.

He grins at me, and his magic slithers over his chest and down his body until it wraps around my clit and squeezes. There is no holding back after that. I scream his name as my vision goes white and my body seizes. Each wave crashes through me, unending and euphoric. And when I finally slump to the bed, Cade kisses me gently before slamming home once more, shuddering and breathing my name onto my neck.

I’m covered in sweat. My limbs shaky and weak. But my heart is soaring in my chest. Cade rolls me over to sprawl on top of him, and I listen to his heartbeat begin to slow. This man is going to be a father. He’s going to help raise the child I’m carrying. A goofy grin spreads across my face, and I’m glad he can’t see it.

Kai pokes his head in the room, one pierced brow raised high. “Are you finished? Can I come back to bed now?”

Cade huffs. “Yes, you can.”

Kai jumps into the bed, making me squeal, and he tackles both me and Cade. “Mmm,” he hums, snuggling into us. “This is perfect.”

“It’s only missing one thing,” Sterling says, stepping in the room with a grin. He quickly strips to his boxers and climbs into bed with us. Kai moves to lay next to Cade while Sterling plasters himself against my back. He nuzzles my neck, inhaling my scent, and his wolf rumbles in contentment. “Now it’s perfect.”

It is. It is absolutely perfect. With my three Shields surrounding me, our child growing inside of me, this is the life I’ve dreamed of for myself. And these guys have made sure it’s come true.

And it’s only the start. I can’t wait to see where else this dream goes. As long as my family is with me, it’ll be perfect.