He pressed off the wall and made a single step toward her.
Rori sprang across the room, her eyes burning. She leaped onto a solid form—he’s real!—wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck, and clung to him like her life depended on him staying right where he was. Sobs wracked her body, tears streaming down her face, her hands spreading everywhere they could reach, soaking him in, absorbing the warmth of his skin through the shirt, the hard lines of muscle, the silky strands of hair that hitched in her fingers.
“Moghráálainn, how I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured against the crux of her neck, inhaling deeply. His arms pinned her close, but not close enough.
He wouldneverbe close enough. Not after believing he was dead for two months.
She leaned back, his embrace supporting her as she traced over his face with trembling fingers. She sniffled, trying to rein in her sobs, to enjoy this moment. She tucked a lock of his hair that had been left from the braids behind the point of his ear, dragging her fingers over the firm shell and down to the lobe before coming back to cup his cheek.
At last, she lifted her gaze to his again and whispered, “It’s really you.”
“Aye, beloved. ’Tis really me.”
His hand combed up into her hair and pulled her in for a slow, deep kiss. He drank from her thoroughly, stealing the air from her lungs as she gladly fed him as much as he wanted. As much as he needed. She wanted it all, for as long as she could have it, in return. A kiss for a lifetime. An eternity.
He caught her lower lip between his and tugged before he leaned back, his fingers tightening in her hair to keep her from following. He spun her around and placed her on the end of a table, drawing his hand around her waist to rest over her belly.
“You heard right,” Rori confirmed, pressing her lips together as a new wave of tears rose. A moment later, his eyes widened. A smile as warm as the sun spread over his mouth. “You’re going to be a dad.”
“Dear Goddess,moghrá.”
His hands molded to the sides of her face and drew her up, drowning her once more in a kiss that stole to the depths of her soul, wove within the fabric of her being, and lit her body on fire. She moaned against his mouth, meeting each languid sweep of his tongue, a slow burn lighting low in her belly.
“Hey,hermosa, Cassy and Cael?—”
Rori began to pull back, but Thaddeus held her tight, growling into his next kiss.
“Oh,fuck! Cael!”
Thaddeus ended his kiss once more and scowled. “I’ve wanted for naught more than to get to you, be by your side, hold you, kiss you, promise you the universe and have you all to myself like the selfish bastard I am.” He waved his hand toward the door. “Only to be interrupted?—”
She tugged him back, shutting him up with a hungry kiss, leaving no room for words. He braced his hand beside her hip, leaning hard into her, fueling the need she’d been without for two months.
“Thad!”
The force of Cael slamming into them ripped them from their kiss. Thaddeus was flung back into the table, steadying Cael with an arm while keeping Rori from being knocked offthe table. She laughed as Thaddeus groused, trying to pry Cael off. Cael clung to him like glue, nuzzling his head into his chest.
“I hear your heart!”
“I do hope so.” Thaddeus released an exasperated groan, rolling his eyes to Rori. “Help?”
Rori tapped Cael’s shoulder. Cael stilled, opening his eyes a slit.
“I get first dibs on my soul mate.”
Cael snarled, “He’s my blood brother.”
“I’m carrying his child.”
All in good nature. Cael stepped back, smoothing down Thaddeus’s shirt. He cleared his throat, making a vague motion toward his hips.
“I love you, brother. But not in that way. Think that’s for Rori.”
Thaddeus lunged at Cael, teeth bared like a feral beast. Cael leaped back, his eyes twinkling as he spun around and herded Cassy and Brandon from the room.
“That animalistic side of you is something I’ve missed,” Rori said, bringing Thaddeus back to her. Thaddeus laughed, curling one of her waves around his fingers. She drank in the perfection of his face, all sharp and severe angles that softened when she was near. The Artic blues of his eyes melted into pools of warmth as he gazed upon her, wonder and affection and more love than she could ever weigh brimming shamelessly. “How are you here?”
“Magic.”
