A Mate for Lu - Amy Bellows Page 0,45

to try it?

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a silver chain. I’d recognize a chain like that anywhere. It’s a bonding necklace. He also pulls out two metal bands.

What does that mean? He told me I couldn’t have a bonding necklace. Will he expect me to keep it under my pillow like his pebble? And those bands… is he going to try to get me to agree to something temporary?

“From now on, I want to be open about our relationship to everyone—the kids, our family, our friends. I also want to live with you. If you don’t want to move to my house, we can find a place that’s big enough for our family. And I want you to choose which bonding jewelry you’d like to wear. I’d prefer you accept the necklace, of course. But I understand if that isn’t what you want.”

I can’t believe it. I almost break into happy tears before I remember that he doesn’t know about the baby.

Will that change things? What if he doesn’t want another child? Or what if he’s angry I didn’t tell him sooner?

I take in a shaky breath. “I need to tell you something. I’m pregnant.

His mouth opens in shock.

“It was an accident. I didn’t realize I would go into heat when we started. I didn’t mean for it to happen, I swear. I wasn’t trying to trick you or—”

“I’m not mad. Sorry, I’m just a little surprised. I… wow. You’re pregnant. That’s… that’s wonderful, Lu.”

Does he mean it? He hesitated.

He takes my hands in his, the metal of the bands and chain warm between our fingers. “If you agree to be mine, I swear that I will do everything differently this time. I will be there for you. I will raise Mary as my own and love her just as fiercely as my other children. I will do whatever it takes to get your friends to accept me. No more secrets. I swear.”

It seems too good to be true. I never dreamed he’d react to the pregnancy this well. All of the problems we haven’t discussed flash before me. “Pregnancy makes me very sick. I won’t even be able to cook or clean, let alone take care of Mary—”

Sam kisses me. Gently. The way he made love to me. “I’ll take care of you. I promise. Will you please accept a bonding necklace from me?”

So much joy builds up in my chest, I can’t speak. The “yes” is barely a whisper, but he hears it.

He kisses me again. And this time, he isn’t gentle. He claims my mouth with a fierceness that makes me weak. His lips travel to my cheek, my neck. “Thank you, Lu. Thank you so much.”

I close my eyes, savoring the softness of his lips on my neck. I thought I would lose Sam tonight, and here I am, accepting a bonding necklace from him.

Axe isn’t the only one who gets to be loved.

30

Sam

Lu still looks a little pale, so I hook my arms under his knees and neck to carry him. We stare into one another’s eyes as I walk through the kitchen. It’s like one of those human romantic comedies where the alpha carries the omega over the threshold. I feel strong and solid with Lu in my arms—like I could accomplish anything.

I open the door to his bedroom and set him gently on the bed. He glances meaningfully back at the door because, like me, he’s a father. I close it and lie down next to him.

“I know you aren’t feeling well. We don’t need to make love if you aren’t up for it. We can just lie next to each other.”

Lu drags his gaze down my body, the hunger in his eyes obvious. “I want to. But what if I get sick in the middle?”

“We can take a cuddle break. We penguin shifters love to cuddle.”

Lu burrows his head into the crook of my neck. “What if a bowl to vomit in is required for that cuddle break?”

“Penguin shifters are known to go to great lengths for a good cuddle. Even virtual cuddles, as you may recall.”

He laughs.

“You know what I think we should do?” I scoot down on the bed and reach for the button on his jeans. “You mentioned that you liked oral.”

“I thought you weren’t into oral sex.”

“It’s not that. I was told that it was disrespectful for an alpha to ask for that, so I never did.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Not ever? Not even once?”

“No.