in the pods, thinking that I’d die there. I have to be honest with you, though…”
He tensed under her, waiting for Vera to tell him she wished to wait to complete bonding, the way Abby did.
“Will you be okay if I don’t work for a while if we have a baby? My mom raised me alone and always had to work while I was growing up. She said she missed out on all the important firsts of my life. A babysitter got to hear me say my first words, and witnessed the first time I crawled and walked. It made her sad. I’d like to at least raise our baby full time for a couple of years. That’s why I hadn’t planned on having kids for a long time. I was going to wait until I’d earned enough money to retire before starting a family.”
Relief had him grinning. “Yes. You and our cubs will want for nothing, Vera. I will care for you and them.”
“Are you sure that’s not a deal breaker? I’ve never met or heard of a man willing to do that. Both people always have jobs to pay the bills.”
“I’m not human. Our females stay close to cubs until they are old enough to fend for themselves. It’s our way. I will help you care for any cubs we have, too. It is not strictly on the female alone.”
“I believe that. You’re going to make a wonderful father. I already knew that by how amazing and caring you always are with me. What else do we need to talk about? I’m good with moving to your home planet. I know your grouping stays together, too. Abby told me it’s like a big forever family. I’m actually looking forward to that.” She paused. “I’ve been alone since I lost my mom. We only had each other.”
That saddened him, hearing she’d had no one to look out for her. “Wasn’t there any other family? Where are your mother’s parents?”
Vera got more comfortable, sprawling on him, resting her chin on her hand on his chest. “My grandma died when my mom was a teenager. My grandfather got remarried to a much younger woman and they had two more kids. The new wife didn’t want my mom around after she turned eighteen. She was a reminder that my grandfather had another life before they’d met. It hurt my mom, but it wasn’t like she had much say in the matter. Her dad and his new family just cut her out of their lives completely.
“You already know I’m not close to my biological father, and I have no idea if he even has a family. None of them ever tried to contact me or my mom.”
“You will have family now.”
She smiled. “And a mate. So what do we need to do to make that happen? I’m up for anything.”
Roth wasn’t so certain. “We will discuss it tomorrow,” he stalled. It would hurt him deeply if Vera changed her mind.
“I know you need to shift. Abby told me about that, too. I’m not afraid of you, Roth. I know you won’t hurt me.”
“I would never,” he promised. “We should sleep for a few more hours. After we eat first meal—humans call that breakfast—we’ll go over the details.”
“Okay. I’m all in. Just know that.”
He smiled. “I am as well. You are mine, Vera.”
She opened her mouth to respond but a yawn broke from her instead. Then the pale skin of her cheeks turned pink. She softly laughed. “Okay. Maybe I do need a nap. You turn my brain to mush with all your sexiness and amazing bedroom skills.”
“Lights, off.”
The room turned dark, and Roth closed his eyes as Vera put her cheek against his chest. She didn’t attempt to move off him. He liked her there. Roth gently wrapped his arms around her to make certain she didn’t roll off.
Chapter Thirteen
Vera loved Roth’s grouping. They all sat at the table eating breakfast together. Everyone had been extremely welcoming. Her gaze kept going to the cubs playing on the living room floor, nearby. They had stuffed animal toys, and were currently chewing on them, sprawled together near the couch.
The little girl and boy Veslor cubs were adorable. The two also gave her a good idea of what a Veslor would look like shifted. They kind of resembled panther cubs from Earth, though with very different dark, leathery skin. Both had their father’s unique eyes. They were a bright blue in color, with some vivid green