Emma pulled the covers over her head, blocking out the light that suddenly filled the room.
“Wake up my beautiful mate. You have to get dressed.”
Emma shook her head and burrowed deeper into the covers effectively blocking out some of the light.
“You need to get up and get dressed. Everyone will be here in less than an hour.” Wes gently tugged the covers off of her.
“Can’t we just lock the door and pretend we aren’t home?” She pulled a pillow over her head.
Wes chuckled. “I like that idea. We could spend the afternoon in bed practicing.”
“Practicing what?” Emma peeked out from under the pillow.
“Practice making a cub.” Wes grinned as he waggled his eyebrows at her. “You know what they say about practicing.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t you think this one needs to be born before we practice making another one?” She gently patted her stomach. She pulled the pillow back over her eyes.
The pillow suddenly disappeared. Emma blinked before she closed her eyes against the bright glare filling the bedroom. Two seconds later she found herself tucked against the very warm body of her mate. Her stomach did a couple of rolls. Emma swallowed several times but it seemed to make the queasy feeling worse. “Let me up.”
“What’s wrong?” The laughter was gone from Wes’s voice and replaced with concern and worry.
“Move,” muttered Emma. She covered her mouth with her hand as she quickly rolled off the bed and dashed to the bathroom. She made it just a second to spare. She hung her head over the toilet as dry heaves racked her body. “This sucks,” she said as the queasiness slowly eased.
She heard the water splash in the sink but she didn’t have the energy or time to turn and look.
“Here you are babe,” said Wes. He handed her a warm, wet washcloth.
“Thanks.” She wiped her mouth. Her stomach rolled and twisted, but the worse of it seemed to have passed…at least for now. She folded the washcloth and wiped her face.
Wes took the washcloth and rinsed it. “Do you want it back?”
She shook her head as she slowly stood up. “Throwing up is bad, but I think the dry heaves are the worse.” She snorted. “I don’t know why they call it morning sickness when it happens all hours of the day and night.”
Wes pulled her gently into his arms and kissed her forehead. “Sick or not, you are beautiful.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “You say that now but what about when my feet swell twice their normal size. I grow as huge as a house, and I’m waddling everywhere like a duck or I’m stuck in a chair because I not only look like a beached whale but I’m actually as big as one.”
“I’ll rub your feet and carry you everywhere you need to go. I know your body is going to go through a lot of changes, but you will still be beautiful to me. I can’t wait to see each change in your body as our cub grows inside you. I can’t wait to see our son or daughter nursing from your gorgeous breasts.” He touched her chin with his other hand.
Emma looked up into his warm chocolate brown eyes. “I love you, Wes Durant.”
“And I love you, Emma Starr…soon to be Emma Starr Durant.” He kissed her.
Raw desire surged through Emma’s body. She grew damp between her thighs.
Wes growled his approval. He pulled her flush against his body and rested his chin on top of her head. The sweet scent of her desire sent his blood rushing to his cock.
He thought about the day he had almost lost her. In some ways, it was hard to believe it had happened almost a month ago. Yet the memory was still fresh in his mind as if it was only a day ago. He thanked the goddess daily for sending the Other to eliminate the hunter and for leaving Emma in his life. The real irony of the whole thing was that Wes had the hunter to thank for taking Orson Goodwin out of the equation. The warlock would never hurt Emma or anyone else.
“Wes?”
He tightened his arms around her. “I’m fine,” he said.
Emma rubbed her cheek against his chest. “I’m safe. Neither the hunter nor Orson can hurt me ever again. Aunt Susan and April can’t hurt me anymore either.”
“I know.” He sighed. “There will be more hunters. Mason West said he heard the one he killed talking on the phone.” Wes closed his eyes. “I’m worried about you and our cub. What if…”
“You can’t go there. If you do, then the hunters, Orson and everyone else like them have won. I’m not letting them win.” She smiled. “Besides, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“That you are a very wealthy woman and I’m going to become your kept man.”
Emma laughed. “You are funny. I still can’t believe Aunt Susan managed to keep my inheritance hidden all these years. It was nice being able to hire a manager and a couple of clerks for the bookstore. But that’s not what I need to talk to you about.” Her stomach growled. “Really! I was just hanging over the toilet and now I’m hungry.”
“Our cub is hungry.” Wes grinned.
She rolled her eyes. “A snack would be nice. I have a feeling I’m going to be eating twice as much or more than I normally do. Your cubs are already demanding stuff,” said Emma.
“My…” Wes stepped back and stared at her. “My cubs?” He paled.
“Are you okay? I didn’t break you, did I?” Emma’s eyes widened. Wes looked like he was going to pass out.
“You’re carrying more than one cub?”
“Twins. We’re having twins,” she said.
Wes gently picked her up and carried Emma back to the bedroom. He put her in the middle of the bed and laid down next to her. “You’re really carrying twins?”
Emma nodded as she caressed her mate’s cheek. “I’ absolutely positive.”
Wes placed his hand on her stomach. “Twins. Our twins. I promise to protect you and your mother.”
Tears filled Emma’s eyes. “And I promise with all my heart to protect you and our cubs from here to eternity.” Her stomach growled again.
Wes grinned. “Our cubs are hungry. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He got up and rushed out of the bedroom.
Emma shook her head and laughed. She put her hands on her stomach. “You two already have your daddy wrapped around your tiny paws.” She smiled. Closing her eyes, she sent a pray to Miss Martha, thanking her for Wes and the cubs she was carrying. The future was looking bright and shiny.
THE END