More than that, all his determination, bravery, and even his hidden softer side were starting to convince her he’d be a wonderful father. He would also probably keep his word about allowing her to still work and help take care of their baby.
Their baby.
Rationally, she’d known the child in her belly was little pieces of her and Rafe. But for the first time, she could envision a little boy or girl finding the best way to escape a room and hide. Maybe even keeping her and Rafe guessing for an hour. She couldn’t even imagine what sort of trouble their child would get up to when his or her dragon started talking to them.
Unlike what had happened with Nikki’s mother, she couldn’t picture Rafe running away at the first test or sign of trouble. The only question was whether they could move beyond the sex and attraction and actually fall in love. Not just any love—but a lifelong one.
More than anything, that was what Nikki wanted. If she gave away her heart to a male and had his children, she wanted the security of knowing he’d stick around.
A life with Rafe was beginning to look possible, provided the law changed. Given what Stonefire had done over the last two years, Nikki was fairly confident Melanie and Evie could find a way to keep Rafe around.
Her dragon piped up. And why is that?
Because she wanted him to be her male.
Placing a hand on her lower belly, Nikki looked down. Would she really be able to give up a little piece of Rafe when it came to it?
Her beast roared, but before Nikki could answer her, Rafe placed his hand over hers. At his warm touch, she forced herself to meet his gaze. His deep voice washed over her. “So, have I passed your tests? Can I call you my dragonwoman?”
Her heart thumping fast inside her chest, Nikki smiled slowly. “Only if I can call you my male.”
With a growl, he maneuvered Nikki to her back. The heavy weight of his body on hers made it difficult to concentrate on his words. “I think that can be arranged.” He gave her a quick, rough kiss before whispering against her lips, “I think it’s time to claim my dragonwoman.”
His fingers brushed between her legs and she sucked in a breath. “Dragons claim their humans. I’m the one who should be claiming you.”
Since she was already wet and swollen, Rafe easily pushed a finger inside her. She bit a lip to keep from moaning as he said, “Fuck that. You can do the claiming later.” He added a second finger, and she clutched his arms. “You’re mine, Nikola Gray.”
Removing his fingers, she barely had time to open her mouth before he plunged his cock inside her. “Rafe.”
Pulling back, he thrust forward. “And after tonight, you’ll agree with me.”
As Rafe moved, Nikki debated challenging her human. But for once, she said screw it.
Besides, after another thirty seconds, Rafe kissed her as he continued to pound in and out of her and Nikki forgot about everything else but the warm, muscled male above her.
And not just any male—her male.
Chapter Fourteen
The next day, Nikki stood to the side and watched over her charges inside the great hall—a group of children aged twelve-to-seventeen months.
Considering Nikki usually had a much more active role when it came to
clan celebrations, she wondered why Aaron had assigned her this task. Nikki could handle children if she had to, but she wasn’t quite a natural.
However, she wasn’t alone. Rafe was her partner for the duty and stood a few feet away watching the enclosed pen keeping the toddlers out of trouble. After he met her eyes and smiled, she returned the expression. Putting the mindless duty of watching babies aside, Nikki was far more content than she had been in a long time. Waking up in Rafe’s arms had been nice. That niceness had only been intensified when she’d surprised him by devouring his cock while he tried to cook her breakfast.
He wasn’t the only one who could make someone yell their name by using only hands and a mouth.
Noises from the enclosure caught her attention and Nikki looked back to focus on her task. Memories of Rafe tugging her hair as he came would have to wait for later. If one of the little devils escaped and found trouble, Nikki would never hear the end of it.
All four toddlers were accounted for. Jack and Annabel MacLeod, the children of Melanie and Tristan, were fraternal twins and the celebrated guests. Both were gripping the sides of the pen keeping them from running wild and slowly toddled their way around the perimeter. Behind them sat little Murray, Bram and Evie’s adopted son, who was about five months older. Murray played toy dragons with Ella’s son, Devon, who was about three months younger than him.
For the most part, the toys and the challenge of walking around the edge of the pen without falling over were keeping the toddlers entertained. All the adults were drinking, eating, and chatting at the other side of the great hall. The celebration seemed more for their benefit than Jack and Annabel’s.
Speaking of the devil, Jack pushed his sister. She gripped the fence tighter and shoved back. Jack fell on his bum, but rather than cry, he pulled himself back up. Judging from the glint in his eye, he was up to something.
Jack was most definitely Tristan and Melanie’s son. The stubbornness between that pair could move mountains.