Autumn Feast - Charlie Richards Page 0,35
for organizing this day. I love you.” Andrei dipped his head and kissed an obviously surprised Kirill.
Kirill clutched at his arms and melted against him while the crowd cheered and laughed. Andrei tasted Kirill’s soft lips for a moment longer. However, when the cheers died down, a long, pained wail filled the silence.
Andrei whirled around and searched the crowd, immediately fixing his gaze on Colin, who had his arms around a red-faced Mary. People had backed away from her, and Andrei noticed the puddle under her. “Shit. Mary’s water just broke.”
Kirill gasped beside him. “No. It’s two weeks too soon.”
“Uh...” Andrei cleared his throat and spoke into the mic. “That said, have a great festival. Eat pie and be merry.” Clinging to Kirill’s hand, he dragged his mate off the stage. “Mary!”
She panted when they stopped beside her, holding onto Colin’s arms with a white-knuckled grip. “I’m fine, but we should go. I had one public birth when it was Bridgit’s time. Not again.”
Andrei looked around helplessly, breathing a sigh of relief when Desmond and Louis pushed through the crowd. “Louis, great. Can you go and fetch the midwife? I last saw Erin at the pumpkin patch, watching the little ones. Take her to our house.”
Louis nodded and hurried off with Desmond in tow.
Colin swung a protesting Mary into his arms. “Alpha, your car?”
“Right. This way.” Andrei slung his arm around an awfully pale Kirill.
“Two weeks,” Kirill muttered under his breath, his eyes glassy.
Andrei laughed. “Honey, don’t freak out on me. The baby’s coming. I need you with me.”
* * * *
Kirill stared down into the tiny pink face of his daughter in disbelief. She was perfect, with her rosebud mouth and surprisingly long lashes. After a rushed birth and lots of screaming, she was sleeping peacefully in Kirill’s arms.
Andrei sat beside him on the bed and carefully touched her tiny toes where her foot stuck out of the green blanket Erin had wrapped her in. The midwife and Mary had done an awesome job. Mary snored lightly beside them.
“She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Kirill whispered. He was a father. The whole magnitude of his new responsibilities would probably hit him later, but for now he was just happy to hold her.
Andrei sniffled and placed his big hand around the baby’s head. “Yeah. I love her so much. I love you both.” He kissed Kirill’s cheek. “Do you have a name for her?”
Kirill hummed. They had discussed names many times, but never found one they both liked. “What about Victoria?”
Andrei chuckled. “I love it. And your dad will walk around with a puffed-out chest for months.” He bent and kissed Victoria’s forehead. “Yeah, the name fits perfectly.”
“I never thought I’d ever be this happy.” Kirill blinked rapidly. “I found the love of my life, a new home, and now I have a family. Do you want more kids? I think we should have more.” Although Juri and Stefan annoyed the fuck out of him sometimes, he’d also loved having brothers growing up. He wanted the same for Victoria. “She needs someone who’ll steal her toys and cling to her when all she wants is to spend time with her cool friends.”
Andrei arched one eyebrow. “I’m glad you have such a good relationship with your brothers. I don’t know if Mary would be willing to go through another pregnancy. It was her fifth, after all.” He nuzzled Kirill’s temple. “Wait until Victoria wakes us up three times a night because she’s hungry, wet, or generally displeased with something, and you’ll forget about having a second one for a while.”
“Maybe.” Kirill wouldn’t give up. He’d always wanted a big family, and he was a smidge jealous of Stefan who already was a father of three. “Until you agree, I’m happy spending my days spoiling you and our little harvest blessing.”
About the Liza Kay
Liza grew up in a tiny village in Germany, the kind where you know everybody and everybody knows you. She migrated to a bigger town to attend college, although her parents often wonder if she really moved out. Now, with a degree in her pocket, she’s perfectly capable of working as a librarian. Never one to do what’s expected of her, Liza currently browses different branches of employment.
She started writing in college when she found herself unable to ignore the guys living in her head any longer, and to distract herself from the stifling, non-fiction stuff taught in class. Liza is really fond of the dudes whispering