SOME TIME LATER
Laughter fills the air as I push open the door to my home. It’s been a long day of training, but there’s something sweeter about it nowadays. Knowing I have someone at home waiting for me makes it all the more special.
“Da!” A little voice cries out.
I throw my weapons and gear to the side and kick the door shut with my foot. Such carelessness would have my father rolling in his grave, but he’s not here right now, is he? How can I not forget everything when my young son calls out to me so sweetly?
I go to him and his mother, kissing her on the forehead before taking the infant into my arms. He’s so small, so soft…and I still can’t believe it…he’s mine.
Lara’s pregnancy went off without a hitch, and she delivered a darling baby boy on the night of the full moon. The doctor said it was a good omen — that he would grow up to be big and strong like his father.
When I look into his little face, I see Lara’s eyes looking back at me. He’s a perfect combination of the two of us. Pale golden skin, Lara’s eyes, and soft, chubby limbs that greedily reach out for everything. He’s everything I could have asked for. He’s perfect.
“How was training?” Lara asks, eyeing the bandage on my knee. “Are you hurt?”
“No, no. I’m fine.” It’s just a scratch, really, but she always acts like it’s the end of the world. It’s because she cares about me. Kind of cute, really. And when she treats my wounds so gently and so lovingly…I can’t really complain.
Lara crosses her arms. She’s not buying it. “Uh huh.”
“I mean it!” I insist, a smile on my face.
“All right, all right.” She laughs. “Don’t get too attached — I was about to take him back to bed, poor thing’s exhausted. You know how cranky he gets when he doesn’t sleep.”
“Do I ever.” I agree. Having a newborn was the biggest blessing I could have asked for, but taking care of a child was a full time job. More than a full time job. “You’re lucky you’re so cute,” I coo at him before handing him back to his mother.
“I’ll meet you in the bathroom,” Lara says as she walks away. “I want to take a look at that wound before you get too comfortable.”
I playfully roll my eyes. “Yes, dear.”
But I don’t go to the bathroom. I wait for her right outside the bedroom door, and when she comes out, I surprise her by pushing her up against the wall, letting her feel the hardness between my thighs. “Could I do this if I was injured?” I tease, dipping my head to draw in a breath at her neck. She always smells incredible, but there’s a sharp tinge to it today that means only one thing: her heat is coming.
Lara gasps, her mouth open in a perfect ‘o’ as she looks up at me. I love pinning her like this. Love seeing her squirm beneath my touch. And, of course, she loves it too. Her scent is a dead giveaway before she even opens her mouth. “Soren…”
“Yes?” I say, a mocking grin crawling up my face. “Something the matter?”
“You…” She sputters and trips over the words. “Now?”
“Why not?” I tilt my head until my hot breath is right next to her ear. She shivers. “Why don’t I prove to you just how healthy I am. Put another baby in you, just for good measure. Your heat’s coming soon, isn’t it?”
“Soren!” Her voice raises an octave this time. I’ll never get tired of hearing it.
“That’s my name, love.”
“Don’t you know what day it is?” Lara squirms against me, pinned between my body and the wall. I have her right where I want her.
Her question gives me pause, though. What day was it? Was I missing something?
“You’ll have to tell me,” I admit finally before pulling away. “I got caught up with training earlier, forgive me.”
“It’s all right.” Her eyes shine with that kind of special happiness I’ve only heard about in stories. I still can’t believe I’ve gotten so lucky. I have a heart-mate to call my very own, and we have a beautiful baby boy to love and cherish for the rest of our lives. “It’s our son’s naming ceremony today.”
Of course. How could I have forgotten?
I take her into my arms and thank the stars all over again for bringing her to me. She pulls me into a deep kiss, and when we part I swear I can see the stars reflected in her eyes.
“Lara…” I start. There’s so much emotion. I don’t even know where to begin.
“Yes?”
Words will never be enough to show her how I feel. So I rest my forehead against hers, twine our fingers together, and kiss her one more time. “Thank you. For being mine.”
