Backstage at the Freak Show (Harem of Freaks #7) - Crystal Ash Page 0,37

to get into his dragon form. I just,” she took in a shaky breath, “got overwhelmed so quickly and felt like a failure.”

“You’re not.” I dragged her chair close to me with a growl, bringing a nip down on her shoulder. “The first few months—the first year, really—is the hardest. Even if I didn’t come home when I did, he would have exhausted himself and fallen asleep eventually. There’s no way you could have known, love.”

Her eyes were still downcast, fork picking through her food absently as I massaged my fingers into her nape. “Is there anything else bothering you?”

“I don’t want to be like my mom,” she admitted in a tiny voice. “I guess I…wanted to prove to myself that I could be better, but—”

“Hey.” I lifted her chin to make her face me. “That woman who spat you and your siblings out is no mother. She used you. She is nothing. You?” I pressed a kiss on her mouth, my tiger already roaring to protect his mate. Thankfully, Mel’s incubator was already serving time for drug trafficking and child endangerment, but I hated that the woman still affected my wife’s sense of self-worth.

“You are the most powerful shaman seen in generations,” I whispered against her lips. “You have driven peace between shifters and humans. You saved my life. You gave me my son. You have a man, a wolf, a tiger, and a dragon who worship the ground you walk on. My love,” I sipped another kiss from her, all but pulling her into my lap, “you are nothing short of extraordinary.”

Her dark eyes blinked away tears, lips pulling into a grateful smile as she held my face in her palms. “I love you so much,” she sighed. “Sometimes it still doesn’t feel real, that I have all of you. So many people search for one soul mate to complete them, and I have four.”

“You deserve a hundred soul mates if that would make you happy.”

“No way!” she laughed. “Now that would be a full house.”

“It would mean you’re never alone with the baby.” I pressed a kiss to her palm.

“Are you suggesting I add to my harem?” she teased. “Maybe a lion, or someone from Tak’s tribe—”

My tiger bubbled to the surface, releasing a possessive growl to her laughter.

“You don’t seem hungry, so maybe I’ll just convince you that we’re enough.” I turned her chair to me, grabbed the waistband of her leggings and proceeded to yank them down her hips.

“I don’t need more convincing after that lovely bath and dinner,” she giggled, squirming in my grip but not putting up much of a fight.

“Well I’m starving for you.” I kissed the exposed flesh on her hip, working the stretchy fabric down lower. “I haven’t touched or tasted my wife in too fucking long.”

Mel’s hand covered mine, stopping me. “What if Mase wakes up?”

“That’s what the baby monitor is for.” I looked up at her quizzically. “Love, do you not want me to?”

“It’s just…” she sighed with a small shake of her head. “It’s stupid.”

“Surely it’s not, whatever it is.”

“I’m still, you know.” She gestured with her hands, but not in any way that I could interpret.

“I’m afraid I don’t, love. That time of the month?”

“No, I’m still just…” she blew out a breath. “I’m all, you know, stretched-marked down there.”

A laugh burst out of me and I dropped a kiss to her belly. “Oh, you gorgeous woman. You had me worried.”

“It just…doesn’t look very nice. We can turn the lights out—”

“Melody.” I captured her lips with mine, positioning my body between her legs. “I’m a man and an animal. I love you, and lust for only you. I’m well aware that having a baby changes some things—”

“It’s just not like before.” She chewed her lip nervously. “I’m only nineteen now but my body doesn’t look like it…”

“You know what you look like?” I yanked her leggings forcefully down her thighs, exposing the parts of her she wanted to hide under the kitchen lights. “You look like my mate. A tigress with stripes to match mine.” I leaned down, covering her pussy with my mouth before she could argue, groaning with need as I savored her sensitive flesh.

“Arjun!” she gasped, but the hand in my hair held me in place rather than shoved me away.

Her knees found their place on my shoulders as I devoured her, sucking her lips into my mouth and taking long, decadent licks of her sweetness. My hands roamed her body, making sure