Page 134 of His Atonement
My mate laughs. "It totally is. All those babies under the age of five? Shit, no one is going to be sane by the time we even get them to sit down for presents."
She is not wrong.
Daisy Mae is now four, Lily and Opal two, my sister’s young, Khaos and Dizzkord are about a year and a half—and total hell on wheels, I might add—and since the recent births of Grace and Henrich's first cub, Vivian—named for her mother—and Kai and Posey's hatchling son Bozi—for our king’s late father—the house will be in a complete disaster before we get through breakfast.
And that is not including the many additions my mate and I bring to the table.
My stomach flips at the thought.
"You're more than a little nervous." My eyes find my mate's woodland ones as she tosses my clothes on the end of the bed. "Are you sure you're still good with this?"
I sit up and crawl toward her, swing my legs over the footboard and pull her between my knees. "My darling girl, I am beyondgood with this."
"You're sure?" Frankie bites her lip and rests her hands over my thundering heart. "I want this, want it so bad, but if you aren't sure, if you're having doubts or something…"
"I am not.” I smile and wrap my arms around her. "I know in my heart that this is what I want, what we want and are meant to do. I am nervous, yes, but not because I have doubts or wish to go back on what we discussed. I'm simply worried I shall not be everything you deserve me to be in my new role."
Frankie leans forward and presses the sweetest kiss to my lips. "You, Ueltorrhzan, are everything I deserve and more, everything I could ever want in every possible way and this is no exception."
"You are delusional, but I will allow it.” I slap her ass as she pulls away and moves to the closed door. "If you were not then you would have no desire to remain with me."
She laughs, the sound husky and beautiful, then throws open our door. "I would want toremainwith you no matter what, baby." Then she flashes a wicked grin over her shoulder just before stepping into the hall. "You're fucking stellar in bed!"
I bark out a laugh that turns into a rather unflattering shriek as I'm knocked back into the mattress and attacked by ourmini clan.
Thor leads the charge, his snorts and squeals ringing out loudest over the many other noises our four legged—mostly—babies make as they come flying into the room directly at me.
Over the past year and a half, my darling mate has gone a little aggressive in the adoption game, the result I'm sure caused by her new lease on life.
In addition to our silly little porker, Frankie and I now have Loki, the flightless northern pintail duck who is a mischievous little shit starter. Freyja, the three legged French bulldog who is most likely going to get knocked up by Samson because she is very, shall I say,loose,and Odin, the blind and partially deaf goat that somehow manages to keep the rest of them in line.
Basically, my mate and I have a zoo, a zoo of adorably annoying little misfits that I have to cart between our cabin and the main house in a fucking wagon or sidecar attached to my motorcycle because I am a total sap.
Every last one of them has me wrapped so tightly around their metaphorical little fingers it's ridiculous, and our upcoming gift will be no different.
"Are you out of bed?" Frankie calls from the bathroom.
"No! I'm being attacked!" I shout then laugh as Loki ruffles his feathers against my neck, attempting to give me his version of slightly unpleasant kisses. "I require assistance!"
I can hear my mate giggle, the sound something I shall endure hours of barnyard torture for if need be, then use my wide frame to gather all four animals in my arms and return to sitting.
"Now, I thought we have discussed this.” I carefully pull the throw over my naked crotch then set Thor and Freyja down on my lap and place Odin and Loki on the bed. "No attacking daddy or mummy until we have clothes on. It just isn't polite."
As if they are completely aware of my half-hearted scolding, the pig and pup give me sad eyes, the goat leans into my shoulder and the duck, the little turd, manages to use his brothers and sister to climb up onto my shoulder where he perches with an irritated quack.
“Fine." With a sigh I begin to give our fur babies all the scratches. "You win, again. I shall put no restraints on your snuggles, I will simply try to cover my junk before you ambush me next time."
"Such a good daddy."
My eyes flick to the doorway where my mate leans, her woodland eyes shining as she looks at the most ridiculous scene before her.
"I find I like it more and more when you call me that."
She grins and shakes her head. "In or out of bed?"
“Both." I smile wide. "Either way my dick takes notice, so it is quickly becoming my favorite pet name."
"It's not just a pet name, you know.” Frankie comes toward me, dressed in sinfully tight jeans and an absolutely, intentionally, hideous Christmas sweater. "It's more than that."
