“Mine,” I said, kissing the spot. “Mine,” I growled again licking a droplet of blood. “Mine,” I growled as she cried out and began to wither in my arms. “Mine,” I said again as I picked up speed seeking my own release. “Mine.” I roared as I collapsed onto her panting heavily.
She turned my face to hers and claimed my lips, pulling back with a momentary smile. “Mine.”
*****
I had to be up early the next morning for a five-mile run with the team. I showed up already sweaty from the wakeup call my mate had started our day with.
I knew I would continue to struggle and have my doubts but claiming Olivia had momentarily put me and my bear at ease. She encouraged me to find that balance in life. With the assurance they were staying, I felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. I could do this.
I was the first one onsite for the day, something that never happened. When the others walked in Tarron looked at me and grinned.
“Pay up boys.” He held out his hand while the others groaned. “I told you he was at his breaking point yesterday.”
I laughed. “Shut up, you idiot. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Seen it enough times now to recognize the signs.”
“You could have at least kept your shirt on and let him sweat it out a bit,” Grant grumbled.
I shrugged. “Better than any tattoo I’ve ever gotten.”
“I’m happy for you, man. Macie was great with the kids last night. Happy to take her when you need some alone time with your new mate. It’s crazy enough when it’s just the two of us. We had kids thrown our way early in our mating, so I get it. Not quite the same, but still.”
I shook his hand. “Thanks man.”
“What are you pansies sitting around gossiping about? Get a move on it,” Silas barked.
I smirked. “Don’t be jealous big man. Your true mate is out there somewhere.”
A dark look passed over him, but I ignored it. No one was going to harsh my buzz today.
*****
On my drive home I swung into Cole’s shop again.
“Dude, are you serious? Go home. I really thought you would have had the sense to sort things out properly last night.”
“How’d you know about that?”
“It was Elizabeth’s idea. She talked to Shelby who convinced Olivia.”
“Oh.”
Elizabeth walked out of Cole’s room still adjusting her skirt.
“Jesus, again? Are you two wolf shifters or rabbits?”
“You’re welcome,” she told me before turning to Cole. She rose up on her toes and kissed her mate. “You’re welcome, too. See you at home.”
I laughed at her audacity.
“Asshole,” she mumbled as she passed me.
“Love you, too, Elizabeth. Thanks for your meddling.”
Cole snorted. “You really are an asshole.”
I shrugged. “She loves me.”
“What are you doing here?”
“You free?”
“Yeah, sure, but did you tell Olivia you’re going out this time?”
“No, and this shouldn’t take long. It’s a quick job.”
“Oh, I thought you wanted to go for beers.”
“No time for that tonight. I hear there’s a ladies’ night coming up though, so we could plan something then.”
“Look at you, being all domesticated.”
“Shut up.”
I followed him back to the chair but stopped when I looked at it.
“Clean that shit first.”
He laughed abashedly. “I’m getting there. What are we adding today?”
I pulled out the piece of paper from my pocket to show him.
“You sure about this?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, let’s do it.”
It took him longer than I expected. A little over an hour later my triceps was wrapped in gauze as I walked into the house. Olivia scowled at me.
“Sorry I’m late. I had an errand to run on the way home.”
“Macie already ate. She’s putting her pj’s on now.”
I looked at the time. “It’s still early.”
“Yeah, but apparently the triplets wore her out last night. Mary Alice still doesn’t sleep through the night. Let’s just say any thoughts of a baby sister or brother are temporarily suspended.” She laughed.
I stopped and looked down at her stomach. The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind. I had missed the days of seeing her swollen and round carrying my child.
“Baine? Are you okay?”
“Would you want more kids?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. We got it pretty perfect on the first try, I think.” She grinned, and then shook her head. “This was the first time you even considered this, isn’t it?”
“We haven’t been cautious. Could you be?”
She shrugged. “I guess it’s possible.”
She nearly brought me to my knees with her nonchalant acknowledgment.
“Relax Baine. It’s not very likely. I’ve been on human birth control since Macie was born. I would need to go off that if we decided we wanted more kids.”
“Why are you on birth control?”
The thought of her with another man was like a knife stabbing me through the heart.
She laughed. “I was seventeen when I got pregnant with her. Even though I was never with anyone else, I didn’t want to ever risk being caught off guard like that again.”
“I’m sorry, O.”
“Don’t you dare say that. She’s the best thing I ever did.”
I hugged her and kissed the top of her head. She brushed against my arm and I winced. My new tattoo was still a little tender.
Olivia stepped back with scrutiny then carefully lifted my sleeve to reveal the bandage.
“This was your necessary errand?”
I nodded happily.
Macie walked in while my sleeve was still up.
“You got a new tattoo?”
“I did.”
“Don’t you think you have enough already.”
“Hush your mouth, short stuff. There’s no such thing. I am extremely picky about what I adorn my body with though.”
“Can we see it?”
I pulled my shirt off and Macie’s eyes widened as she looked between her mother and me. “You sealed the bond?”
“Yeah we did, last night.”
She squealed and hugged us both.
“Watch the arm,” I warned her.
She pulled back with her hands on her hips. “Well, let’s see it. Is it another stripe?”
“Nope.”
I carefully pulled back the top of the bandage.
Olivia gasped. “Is that my signature.”
“Yup. I don’t want there to be any doubt of who’s mine.”
Macie grinned and nodded. “That’s pretty cool, papa bear.”
I pulled it off the rest of the way and for once my motormouth daughter was stunned silent.
“That’s my name,” she whispered.
“I tried to get him to write it around my little finger, but Cole thought it would look better here.”
Macie hugged me. “You claimed me, too.”