It had been almost a month since Damian and Angel moved into their new house. They’d gotten settled in and had christened nearly every room. Two of the rooms they’d designated for future children had been spared.

Angel walked up behind Damian and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, then kissed his cheek. He was watching football, but not his favorite team, so she knew her interruption wouldn’t be frowned upon. “Damian, my love, I have a surprise for you.”

“I’m not crazy about surprises. Can you just tell me what’s going on?”

She took her arms from around him, then walked in front of his chair before climbing into his lap. “I’d rather show you,” she cooed. Her fingers stroked his stubbled chin, then down his neck, and stopped at his chest.

“Did you get more lingerie?” Damian smiled.

Angel could feel his cock thickening beneath her. “Better,” she said, then kissed his mouth.

Damian’s brows furrowed. “What? Better than lingerie? What could possibly be better than more sexy lingerie?” Damian asked.

She held his shirt in her grasp and pulled herself closer to him. She loved feeling the heat radiate off his thick muscled chest. She took his hand in hers and moved it up to clasp her breast.

“Are you going to come see the surprise, or are we going to sit here while you fondle me wildly?”

Damian rested his hand at her nape and pulled her into a long, heated kiss.

“I don’t think either is a losing option, beautiful. But if you insist, I’m all yours. Show me this surprise you have for me.”

They both stood and made their way upstairs. Angel held Damian’s hand and pulled him into their bedroom.

“As if I didn’t know this is where we were heading.” Damian laughed.

“No, silly. I mean, yeah, I definitely want you. And now that we’re up here we may as well stay a bit longer. But that’s not what I brought you up here to show you.”

“Everything looks the same. What’s the surprise?”

“Step over this way, my dearest Alpha.” Angel pulled Damian over closer to the baby furniture that had been sitting idle in the nook of their room. There was a picture frame sitting on top of the dresser.

“There it is,” Angel said.

Damian took a couple steps closer and picked up the frame. He read it, then looked at Angel. He looked at the frame again, reading the words one more time.

“Really?” he asked.

“Really.” Angel’s smile widened.

Damian walked over to her and placed his hand on her flat belly. She looked down and placed her hand over his, then rubbed it from her belly button down to her mound.

She glanced up through tear-filled eyes, and saw Damian’s beautiful blues were just as wet.

“This is a surprise. A fantastic surprise, beautiful.” He lowered his mouth to take hers. She moaned, and he swallowed her sound.

“I can’t wait to tell our parents,” Damian said.

“Let’s call them now. I’ve been dying to share the news, too.”

Damian pulled his phone from his pocket, then pulled Angel toward the bed with him. He sat down, then tugged her onto his lap. He didn’t know if he wanted to make love with his mate or tell the world that he was going to be a father. He fought his primal urge to copulate with his woman. Instead he held her tight and dialed the number for his mother. He knew she would want to hear first.

“Damian! How did I get so lucky to get a call? Is everything okay? How’s the new house? How’s my favorite girl, Angel?” She rattled off the questions so fast Damian couldn’t help but wonder if she were going to catch her breath.

“Mother, everything’s fine. Angel is doing great. Is Father close by?”

“He’s in his office, doing only Goddess knows what. That man never stops working, you know. I asked him to spend some time with me today and go for a nice walk, and he disappeared.”

“Men don’t like taking walks, Mother. You should know that by now. We actually hate it.” Damian laughed. “Can you go into his office and put me on speaker?”

“Damian, you’re worrying me. Are you sure everything’s okay? This isn’t like you to call me on a football Sunday and then ask to be put on speaker. What’s going on, son?”

“I guarantee everything’s perfectly fine. Please, Mother. Stop asking questions and do as I asked.”

“You’re quite the bossy one, aren’t you? I guess that Alpha thing suits you perfectly.”

“I didn’t mean to say it in a bossy tone. I’m sorry. Please, Mother, don’t think I meant any disrespect, because I didn’t.”

“Hold on. I’m going to knock on his door to make sure Jude hasn’t snuck over for some private meeting.”

Damian could hear the knocking on the door, then heard his father’s voice. He placed his phone on speaker, so Angel could hear his parents in the distance going back and forth, curious why he’d called.

“If they’d just get on the phone, they’d find out why we called,” Damian said, then laughed. Angel giggled.

“Damiano. To what do we owe the pleasure of this unexpected call?” Thor asked.

“Am I on speaker?” Damian asked.

He could hear the sound coming through the phone and knew his father had just pressed the button.

“You are now,” Thor said.

“What’s going on, Damian? Is Angel with you? Did you two have a fight?” Calista asked.

“Angel is right here with me. We haven’t fought a day in our time together. I love her more than anything, and could never fathom such a thing.” Damian said. He gave his mate a quick kiss.

“Give it enough time, Damiano. Trust me, it’ll happen. Even the best of relationships are met with disagreements.”

“A disagreement I can live with; a fight, never. I surely hope not, anyway. But that’s not why we called. Everything between us is great.”

“Then please, Damian, tell us why you called.” His mother demanded more harshly than she’d intended to sound.

“Who’s using the Alpha tone, now, Mother?” Damian laughed.

“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” Angel interrupted the banter between him and his parents. “We called to tell you both that we are expecting our first child. I’m pregnant.” A single tear streamed down Angel’s cheek. She looked at Damian and forced a smile through her tears. Damian moved his hand up to her face and used the pad of his thumb to remove the wetness from her face. His owns eyes had unshed tears welling up.

He held Angel’s face gently in his hands, then pulled her down until her mouth was on his.

They could hear his parents in the background, congratulating them and promising to visit, but Damian’s attention was on his mate. His heart was so full of love that he felt like he had been transported to another universe. Things didn’t feel real.

It seemed impossible that not very long ago he’d been desiring to find something different, hating the fact that his own promiscuity had left him feeling completely empty and unsatisfied. And now, he was the happiest shifter walking the planet, with his soul-mate by his side.

“We need to go. We love you both and will see you soon,” Damian said.

“’Bye, sweetheart. ‘Bye, Angel,” his mother said. His father said his goodbyes, too, before Damian disconnected the call and tossed the phone onto a pile of clothes nearby.

He lay back on the bed and pulled his mate down on top of him. He stared into her eyes.

“Are you happy, beautiful?” he asked.

“I couldn’t be happier.”

“Then why so many tears?”

“They’re tears of joy. I’ve wanted to give you a pup since the day we walked through the house and saw the nursery nook for the first time. I love you so much, Damian.” Angel lowered her head and nuzzled up beneath his chin. He took in her scent and stroked his hand down her golden silky hair.

“I love you, too, my Angel. So fucking much.”