Arabella inhales and releases her breath slowly. “I’m relieved that you’re finally accepting Mitch as your fate.”
“Well, I’m relieved that he isn’t disgusting. He’s even better looking in person. And taller than I expected. And more muscular.” Sounds like Shaw was noticing every detail about Mitch. “Thank you for bringing us here.”
“It was just fate for you two to meet today.”
“I think so too.”
I spent the day showing Arabella and Shaw around Edinburgh, particularly some of the best places to eat and shop. We even went into a bridal shop and looked at dresses. My mum would be furious if she knew I did that with Arabella instead of her.
I enjoyed our time together. Arabella is so much more pleasant than my mother, and Shaw showed me a new side of her I’d not seen. One I like very much. I think we could be fast friends.
Everything about my new life is good. I didn’t know that I could be this happy and with people who were strangers to me not so long ago.
I’ve heard people say that it’s possible to meet someone new and feel like you’ve known each other for years. That’s how I feel about Kieran. Like we’ve known each other in another life and this isn’t our first time meeting.
I feel myself beginning to care for him. It’s not love yet, but I feel like that’s something that could come easily… especially if we continue to grow closer through physical intimacy.
Every time he touches my body, another part of me becomes his. At the rate we’re going, he’ll own every part of me by the time we marry.
Only a month until I’m Mrs. Kieran Hendry. I wonder if I’ll already be pregnant when I walk down the aisle. Part of me hopes not, but then another part hopes I am so I can please Kieran; I know a baby would make him happy.
A son. An heir. That’s what Kieran wants first, and then sweet little girls to adore and spoil. I wonder if there’s a way to increase the odds of conceiving a boy. I think that’s something I should investigate.
My head is tilted back, the water rinsing the conditioner from my hair. My eyes are closed, but I hear the bathroom door open and then close again. “Kieran?”
“It’s me. I’m coming in.” Amazing how quickly I’m becoming accustomed to living with Kieran and doing everyday domestic things together. Like showering at the same time. God, I love the way his hands feel on me when my skin is wet. It’s so much more sensitive and responsive.
“You missed dinner.”
“I’m sorry. I had Order business. I should have called.” He isn’t in his I just shot and killed some people funk, so I’m guessing he was taking care of another kind of business.
“It’s okay, but I would have appreciated a call to let me know you’d be late.” I hope that didn’t sound like a nag.
He stands behind me and places his hands on my hips, giving me a sweet kiss on the side of my neck. “You’re acting like my wife or something.”
“I can’t imagine why.”
He releases me and begins washing his hair. “Not much longer until you walk down the aisle wearing a pretty white dress.”
“I looked at wedding dresses today.”
“Only looked?”
“My mum and sister will want to be there when I buy my dress. And probably Bleu and Ellison and Lorna as well. Ellison and Shaw will need dresses too. Maybe we can make a girls’ day out of it.” I know the girls will love Shaw. And she’s going to be Mitch’s wife. She’s becoming part of our girls’ group even if she doesn’t know it yet.
“I’m not sure that Shaw will need a dress; Mitch is going to call off the whole thing if she keeps acting like a brat.”
I can’t wait to tell him about today. “Trust me… Shaw will need a dress. Soon.”
“Has something happened?”
“I took your mum and Shaw to The Fellowship pub for lunch today. Mitch came in while we were there. He took Shaw outside for a private conversation and told her that she had until Sunday to come to him. If she doesn’t, he’s coming for her.” I’ve never been prouder of Mitch.
“I would say good for him except that’s the worst fucking thing in the world he could have said to her. She hates ultimatums.”
“She didn’t hate this one. She thinks it’s romantic for him to come and take her. And I think he should do it before Sunday. Maybe we take her to Ellison’s inception ceremony with us, and he snatches her from there.”
“Why would he do that when he doesn’t have to?”
“Because she thinks it’s romantic to be stolen. I think she’d find it extra romantic if he tells her he couldn’t wait until Sunday. She also won’t be expecting it, which would be a nice touch.” I think Shaw is like me. Deep down she likes a bossy alpha even if she doesn’t know it yet. “Shaw is going to be Fellowship. She wouldn’t question a request for her presence at the ceremony. It’s a perfect opportunity.” I’m sure she’d be eager to go so that she can see Mitch again.
“I like your idea a lot. I’ll talk to Mum and Dad, and if they approve, I think we should make it happen.”
I love that Kieran listens to my ideas and allows me to have a voice. “I’ll talk with Mitch as soon as you have your parents’ approval.”
“This ceremony is coming at a good time. I can use this opportunity to meet your people while they’re gathered in one place.”
“I should probably schedule a time for you to officially meet my mum and sister before the ceremony.”
“Aye, it would be nice to be introduced to your mum while I’m wearing clothes… and not being ridden like a bull.”
Oh God. I still can’t believe my mum walked in on Kieran and me like that. We weren’t doing it… yet, but I was on top of him about to sink down on his dick. So humiliating. But I don’t think she cared at all. She was too high about learning that I was going to marry a leader.
“So many people to meet. So much to learn about each other.”
We swap places so Kieran can stand under the water. “What would my wife-to-be like to know about me?”
“Everything, but start with what kind of work you do when you’re not…” I hate to say killing. “When you’re not solving problems for the brotherhood?”
His chuckle relieves me. “I’m a numbers guy. I do most of the accounting and bookkeeping. Projections, statistics, etcetera.”
He’s an accountant? “You’re about to be my husband. Why did I not know that about you?”
“I wasn’t formally trained. I didn’t go to college. I just happen to be good with numbers.”
I hear something there in his voice. Regret? Chagrin?
Breckenridge men have higher educations, but I don’t want Kieran to believe I see him as less because he didn’t pursue that. “College degrees are mostly unnecessary in our world. Being a lawyer or doctor… those kinds of things are the exception. I have a college degree, but a lot of good it’s done me.”
“I would have liked to have attended college, but I was too busy mastering my skill.”
Kill skill. Well, if he’s the one doing the killing, then he’s not the one being killed. That’s the only positive way to look at what he does.
“I’m surprised that Abram allowed you to attend college since a woman typically only continues her education to learn a trade for contribution.”
“My education was in childhood practices.” It’s embarrassing to admit how I talked my father into it. “I was supposed to be learning how to properly mother Sin’s children, the future of The Fellowship. That’s why my father conceded and allowed me to attend.”
Kieran chuckles. “Your education wasn’t for nothing. You were learning how to mother my children.”
“I guess it’s a good thing, because I damn sure didn’t learn how to parent a child by example.” I wonder if Kieran has considered that… that my parenting could mimic the worst parents on earth.
“I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful mother.”
I want to be a good mother, but I’m not sure I have it in me. “I h
ope Arabella doesn’t mind if I count on her for parenting advice. I sure can’t count on mine.”
“I’m sure she would love to advise you. My mum was a wonderful mother. She loves babies so much.” She must. She had five. “She’s excited to have a grandchild. My father is too.”
The only reason my mother would be excited for a grandchild is so she can brag about it being the next leader. That’s sad. It’s also sad to say that the kindest thing she ever did for her children was handing us over to a nanny. She was a horrible mother. But she’s still my mother.
“Talking about our baby makes me want to work on it.” He wraps his arms around me from behind, filling his hands with my breasts and squeezing. His mouth presses to the side of my neck. “I thought about you, and this, all day. I could hardly add one and one.”
I lean into him, feeling his erection against my bum. “I did some research today. I have something for us to try.”
He thrusts his pelvis so his hard cock pokes into one of my cheeks. “I like the sound of that.”