gripping me and I whimpered, my eyes closing tighter. I needed to leave. It would be better if I left Ember and ran. Without me, they might take good care of her. If they never knew of my past, they couldn’t hold it against her. He’d only told one or two people, hadn’t he? No, maybe more. But still, there was a chance the entire club didn’t know yet. None of this was Ember’s fault. She was innocent.
Someone picked me up. Kraken’s scent surrounded me. I clung to him, even when I knew I should push him away. Tears soaked his shirt before I even realized I was crying. He eased me down onto the bed and crawled in next to me. Kraken pulled me against his chest, his arms banding around me.
“She okay?” Bones asked softly.
“Don’t know. What the fuck did you say to her?” Kraken asked.
“She wanted to know when the results would come back on her lab work. Told her a few days.”
“And?” Kraken asked. “I know there was more to it.”
Bones sighed. “I told her if the two of you had been intimate, the damage was done already. I only meant it as a warning. More like, if you hadn’t been together in an intimate way yet, it would be better to wait. I don’t think she heard it the way I intended.”
“You’re a fucking idiot, Bones. Go check on Ember, then get the hell out of my house,” Kraken said.
He smoothed his hand down my hair and murmured words of comfort. Slowly, I began to relax again. He hadn’t thrown me out.
“Baby girl, talk to me. I can’t make it better if I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
“Your club will hate me,” I said.
“For what?”
“If I have something and gave it to you, they’d hate me. Condoms aren’t foolproof. And what if… what if I’m pregnant? They didn’t use protection, Blake. I got pregnant with Ember right away.”
“And you think it matters to me? It does in the sense I hate they hurt you, but do you think I’d be angry over a second baby? Care for them less than Ember? Are you worried I’ll toss the lot of you out of here?”
“Something like that,” I said. “I’m scared, Blake.”
“I’ve got you, baby. No one is going to throw you out, or harm you.” He kissed the top of my head. “I will kill to keep you safe, both of you. I’ll keep telling you until it sinks in. Until you believe me. My brothers accept you, Phoebe. They’re my family, which makes them your family now too.”
“I’m sorry I’m such a mess,” I said. “I don’t know what happened. I was fine, mostly, but all of a sudden, this weight just pressed down on me and I got scared all this would disappear.”
“All what?” Kraken asked.
“You. This house. Being… wanted. I know we’re strangers, Blake, but I’m already getting attached to you.”
“Not going anywhere, baby. And neither are you. We’re a family, Phoebe. You, me, and Ember. My wife.” He caressed me, his hands making me shiver. “My lover. The mother of my children.”
“Children?” I asked.
He nuzzled me. “Once we get the all-clear, I’m doing my damnedest to put a baby in you. And yeah, I said we. I had Bones take some blood and urine to run tests on me too. Didn’t seem fair to ask you to do it without me doing the same. I always wear a condom, but can’t be too careful.”
“Maybe we should wait. We already tempted fate before,” I said.
“I’m not going to force myself on you, baby girl. You don’t want to do more than this right here, I won’t try to push for more. But, baby, the second those results come back, you’re mine. No more holding back. Unless you really and truly don’t want me.”
I cuddled closer. “Of course, I want you, Blake. That’s the problem. I want you too much.”
“No such thing. Let’s get some rest, then we’ll go shopping in the morning. Ember needs a bed. You both need more clothes and other essentials.”
“I found the playpen when I checked out the house,” I said. “It’s brand new.”
“My brothers sent someone to pick it up. Figured Ember would need a place to sleep for a night or two until we could get a nursery set up.”
“It was nice of them,” I said. “Your President made sure we had the stuff we’d need immediately. I’m not used to all this, Blake. My only interactions