“You’re not supposed to be in here,” I scolded as I pulled back the covers on Wyatt’s side of the bed. “You’re not supposed to see me a full twenty-four hours before the wedding.” His mom had done her best to convince me to spend the night in their hotel, and when that had failed, had threatened Wyatt within an inch of his life, going so far as to move his pajamas, not that he wore them to bed often, and a change of clothes into my old room that we had converted to Alex’s room.

He climbed in and I settled into the crux of his shoulder. “You want to sleep alone?”

I wrapped my arm around his middle, holding him in place. The pretense of kicking him out long gone. I needed him here, with me. Stupid traditions could stay where they belonged… at someone else’s wedding.

“Like that happens anymore.”

His chest vibrated as he chuckled. Alex was an awesome baby. He was happy, ate well, and slept well. At least until two am. That was his witching hour. He thought it was time to get up and play, and nine times out of ten he ended up in our bed with me singing every lullaby I ever heard until exhaustion took over and sleep time began again.

“Alex slept a full six hours last night before ending up in our bed.” He kissed the top of my head before inhaling deeply. We both knew what he was doing. After tomorrow, our scents would blend. This was the last time he could scent me like this. It was a good thing. An amazing thing. But it was a change and I could sense his nostalgia taking over.

“True.” The six hours had still ended at two am, but baby steps. “Much better than the hour and a half we got when he was first born.”

Those first weeks had been tough on both of us sleep-wise, but were sheer and utter perfection in all other ways. Wyatt had pulled back from work with the exception of things his techs simply couldn’t handle. He spent two hours a day at the office on average and the rest with us. He was the epitome of a doting father and husband and tomorrow he would become my husband for real. Real being legally.

“He’s asleep now.” There was no hiding his intent, not with his cock tenting the blanket.

“You want to risk bad luck on our wedding day for snuggle time.” I snuggled in closer, throwing my leg over him, needing to have more of our skin touching.

“It would be more than worth it.” He shrugged, my head nestling in further at the motion.

“It so would.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Wyatt’s body tensed slightly at the question. Was he really afraid I would change my mind? It had been him and only him since before our first kiss. Nothing would change that. Nothing. “We can wait. There’s no pressure.”

“You think I have cold feet?” I dared not utter what my real fears were, that he was afraid I would run. It was a mistake I’d never make again, but the scar was still there. He must’ve sensed my brain traveling down a not so happy lane and stopped me dead in my tracks with his freaking arctic feet. “Crap, you’re the one with cold feet.”

“All of me is cold.” He trailed a finger down my side, sending shivers up my spine. “I think you should warm me up.”

“I can do that.” I pulled him to his side, his length now pressed against mine and leaned in for a kiss, a kiss that landed on his cheek after he turned his head.

“After you tell me you are sure.” Cock blocker. Sweet, adorable, sexy as sin, insecure cock blocker.

“You are such a silly alpha. We have been living together for over a year, have been engaged for most of a year, have two children, and two dogs. I think it’s safe to say I’m already in.”

“I just want to be sure.”

“I love you more and more each day. There is no place I would rather be than by your side,” His insecurity was breaking me, but he settled at my word. I kissed his nose before settling back into snuggle mode. “You just wanted an excuse to come to bed.”

“That too.” I reached down to stroke his length at his admission. “But no nookie for you.”

“Tease.”

“Maybe. But no worries, I plan to snuggle the crap outta you, but no nookie until tomorrow.”

“I can’t wait.” Mr. and Mr. Wyatt Gates. Just saying the names in my mind made me giddy. I was going to be Oliver Gates. Wyatt’s husband. His mate.

“For nookie?”

“No, well yes, but I can’t wait until you mate me.” I stopped speaking long enough to organize my thoughts. I wanted him to see how very much I was ready. “The wedding will be grand and all. Sharing our love and commitment with everyone is always special. But the mating, that is the magic. That is when not only our minds but also our bodies say I do. Forever.”

“You’ll smell like me,” he mused.

“And you like me.” I was practically bursting with excitement just at the thought of it. Lavender, honey, cedar, coffee all blended together for all to scent, to know that he was mine and I was his.

“You sure know how to bring on the sexy.” My cock responded eagerly to my thoughts and was poking him in the side. “Still not going to work, though.”

As promised, he snuggled the hell out of me, both of us basking in what tomorrow would bring. What the rest of our lives would bring.