Holding Honor (Ashland Pride Nine)

by R. E. Butler

  “Wow,” Hope said as she got out of Eli’s car and looked at the house. “Does the whole pride live here in this one house?”

  “No,” Jax said. “A few families live on the farm with Rhett and his human mate Lisa. They have an adopted daughter, Treasure, who’s a dragon shifter.”

  Hope’s brows rose. “I didn’t know there were dragons.”

  “I imagine there are a lot of shifters we don’t know about because they’re not in the States,” Eli said.

  “In the Ashland pride, there’s a wolf, a hawk, bears, and albino panthers, plus some human mates.”

  Hope hummed. “It sure is different than King. We only really have lions, a wolf family, and humans.”

  The front door swung open, and James Fallon stood in the doorway. “Welcome back, everyone. The pride’s out in the backyard, waiting for your arrival.”

  “Sorry we missed dinner,” Honor apologized as she shook James’s hand.

  “No worries,” he said. “We’ve all made the trip before and know how it can take a lot longer than we plan for.”

  “James, this is our daughter, Hope,” Holden said. “You remember Eli.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hope. Nice to see you again, Eli.” He shook their hands and smiled. “My mate’s in the kitchen with John. Jilly and the panthers will be here tomorrow, but they’re staying in the field behind the boarding house in their RVs.”

  They walked into the kitchen after leaving their bags in the hall by the stairs. James introduced his mate, Rue, and her other mate, John, to Hope and Eli. Hope looked out the kitchen window and made a strange purring sound.

  Jax frowned. “You okay, honey?”

  She turned and faced them, rubbing the space over her heart. “Yeah. I feel weird.”

  “Weird how?” Honor asked.

  “Just weird. I want to go outside.”

  “Of course,” Holden said. “There are a ton of people for you to meet. Maybe your cat is just anxious?”

  Honor put her hand on Hope’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “If you feel overwhelmed by being around so many lions, just let one of us know and we’ll bring you inside for a breather.”

  John’s brows rose. “She okay?”

  “Yeah,” Jax said. “She was poisoned once when she was a toddler, but not any of the other times. She’s not fully affected by the females’ venom, but she does have trouble being around a lot of males. It’s probably why she feels strange.”

  “Do you guys need to stay somewhere other than the boarding house?” James asked. “You could stay at Rhett’s and Lisa’s. They have a spare room, and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

  “No,” Hope said, squaring her shoulders. “I want to stay here. It’s only for two nights anyway, and tomorrow we’ll be busy setting up for the wedding. I don’t want to miss anything.”

  “Okay, sweetie,” Honor said. “Let’s go say hi to the pride.”

  Jax smiled at the warm welcome the pride gave them, cheering and clapping when they walked out of the screened-in porch and onto the large patio. Picnic tables and folding chairs filled the yard. Honor hung back with Hope while James called for quiet and introduced them, asking that pride members not overwhelm Hope and come to introduce themselves in small groups.

  “The pride’s so big,” Hope said, when she’d finally met everyone.

  “King’s is bigger,” Eli said.

  “Yeah, but they don’t hang out together like this,” Honor said. “I think Ashland feels intimidating because there are so many of them in one place.”

  “Yep,” Hope said.

  “Sorry we’re late,” Rhett said as he walked out onto the patio with his wife, Lisa, and their adopted daughter Treasure. “We got stuck in traffic.”

  “In Ashland?” James asked.

  “No, coming from Indianapolis. My girls wanted to go to the outlet mall.”

  “Hey, I’m Treasure,” she said, stopping in front of Hope. “You’re pretty.”

  Hope’s eyes went wide. “Uh, thanks. You are too.”

  Treasure smiled. “I’m a fairy-dragon hybrid. I turn thirteen in September. Can you shift yet?”

  “I shifted once, but it’s too early for me to shift again until I’m sixteen, maybe.”

  Treasure hummed and looked at Honor. “You two look the same.”

  “She’s my daughter,” Honor said.

  Treasure giggled. “No, I mean your auras are similar.”

  “You can see auras?” Hope asked.

  “Yep. Have you met my mates?”

  “You have mates? You’re so young,” Hope said, her head tilting.

  “When you know you know,” Treasure said. She turned around and waved at the crowd. Kevin and Brian jogged up, both giving her cheek kisses. She eyed Hope for a quiet moment and then said, “It’s too bad you won’t have a chance to meet Owen, Nathan, and Ben.”

  Hope gave her a puzzled look. “Who are they?”

  Jax said, “They’re Aaron’s boys. He’d scheduled an end-of-school camping trip a few months ago and had a non-refundable deposit. They won’t be back until the middle of the week.”

  “That’s too bad,” Treasure said.

  “It is?” Hope asked.

  “Yeah. Fate’s a funny thing, though. It’ll all work out.” She smiled brightly, her eyes flashing bright blue for a moment. “In the meantime, you and I are going to be best friends. Do you have a bestie? I only have my boys. I don’t have any girl besties, and Mom says that’s important.”

  Lisa smiled. “It sure is.”

  Treasure hooked her arm through Hope’s and pulled her away from the patio, Kevin and Brian trailing behind.

  “She’s a sweetie,” Honor said.

  “I’m honestly so glad you’re here,” Lisa said. “And not just because I love planning weddings for the pride. I told Treasure she needed not to be focusing all her attention on the boys, that having a best friend is something special and part of growing up. I was really hopeful that she and Hope would hit it off.”

  “How are things in King for her now?” Rhett asked.

  “Better,” Holden said. “Although what happened with Victoria and the females was awful, it showcased very clearly how different Honor and Hope are. The pride has really embraced them both.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Rhett said.

  “Would you like to see the centerpieces that the pride ladies and I worked on for your wedding?” Lisa asked.

  “I’d love to see them,” Honor said, blowing a kiss to him and Holden before following Lisa into the house.

  James handed him and Holden glasses of iced tea.

  “Lisa said that Honor and Hope could stay at our place,” Rhett said.

  “That works,” Jax said. “We’ll stay in our rooms.”

  Little Bradley toddled over to them and climbed into Jax’s lap. He smiled at the boy, who reminded him of their brother, Bradley, who the little lion was named after.

  “We’ve got some news,” Melody said as she and her mates joined them around the bonfire.

  “Good news, we hope,” Holden said.

  “The best,” she said with a smile. “I’m pregnant.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Jax stood with Bradley in his arms and hugged his niece. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks,” she said after accepting a hug from Holden. “I’m due January fifteenth.”

  “Due for what?” Honor asked as she joined them. Bradley immediately climbed down from Jax’s lap to climb onto Honor’s.

  “We’re having another baby,” Melody said.

  “Oh, wonderful! You’re going to be a great big brother, aren’t ya kiddo?” she asked, tickling Bradley until he laughed.

  “He’s excited to be the ring bearer,” Tristan said, smiling at his son.

  “And Callie’s little girl Sophie is going to look so sweet as the flower girl.”

  Eli joined them. “I’m sad to say that this old cat needs to get some sleep after the long drive. Where am I bu
nking?”

  “You can have my room,” Jax said as he stood. “I’ll show you to it.”

  Eli said goodnight, and Jax took him up to the third floor. By the time he returned to the patio, those who didn’t live at the boarding house were saying goodbye. Soon enough only a few of the adults were still outside, watching the fire crackle and the sky wink with stars.

  “We miss you guys,” Rue said. “But we’re happy you’re all together now.”

  “Do you think you might move back here after Hope graduates?” John asked.

  “I don’t know,” Honor said. “She likes King, but she might like it here, too. And she wants to go to college. The future’s wide open right now.”

  “It’s good that she has choices,” James said. “I’m very thankful that the King pride got their heads out of their asses and are treating you both respectfully now.”

  “Me too,” Honor said. She looked at Jax and smiled. “I’m ready for bed.”

  “I second that,” Holden said.

  Hope had been invited to spend the night at Rhett and Lisa’s. Treasure and Hope had taken to each other quickly, the two as thick as thieves right away.

  They said goodnight to those who were still outside, and headed up to the third floor. He opened the door to the room they were sharing, and said, “I’m glad we’re back here for the wedding, but it’s not home anymore.”

  “I agree,” Holden said. “I guess home is where your family is.”

  “Melody’s here, though,” Honor pointed out.

  “Yeah, but we’re happy in King,” Jax said. “I’m looking forward to our vacation, but I’ll be glad to be back home.”

  “Home’s where you guys are,” Honor said. “The life we’ve made in King is better than I could have ever imagined, and it’s all because of you.”

  Jax pulled her into his arms as Holden shut and locked the door. “You’re the center of our world, sweetheart. I don’t care where life takes us, as long as we’re together.”

  Chapter 17

  The wedding was a blur to Holden. The only thing he cared about was that at the end of the ceremony, Honor was wearing their wedding bands and giving him the sweetest kiss ever. She was a vision in a pale pink dress, her hair swept up at the sides to reveal the mating marks on her neck. She looked like a goddess, deserving of worship, and he was a damn lucky male to be her mate.

  Hope was the maid of honor, and Eli had walked Honor down the aisle. Bradley was adorable in his little tux, and Sophie looked like a mini princess in her dress. The ceremony had taken place outdoors, in the backyard of the boarding house. Now that they were officially married, and the photos had all been taken, the chairs and tables were set while Lisa and the other females put out a spread that rivaled the largest buffet he’d ever seen.

  Honor leaned on his shoulder and sighed happily.

  “Did I tell you I love you today, Mrs. Whitman?”

  She tilted her face to smile at him. “You did, but I never get tired of hearing it.”

  “Love you, beautiful.”

  He kissed her, and his cat purred, the sound joined by the rumble of her lioness.

  “I love you, too.”

  Jax cleared his throat noisily from where he sat on her other side. She grinned and broke the kiss, turning to kiss him, too.

  Hope smiled and waved at him from where she sat with Treasure and the other pride kids. The two girls had become fast friends. He was glad to see both females find a new friend in each other.

  Bradley toddled up, his white shirt untucked and his bowtie in one hand. He waved it around like a flag, giggling as Holden lifted him onto his lap.

  “Hey kiddo,” he said, giving the little boy a hug.

  “The wedding was so beautiful,” Melody said as she came up to the head table. “I wish Dad could’ve been here.”

  “He’s here in spirit,” Holden said. “And namesake. I can’t tell you how much your son reminds me of him.”

  “I have some of dad’s old baby pictures. I think Bradley is the spitting image of him.”

  “Definitely,” Jax said. “You just better hope your son didn’t inherit his lack of singing ability. He could make paint curl.”

  “Aw,” Melody said with a laugh. “I hope that’s not hereditary, too.”

  “While we’re still here, we’d love to watch Bradley so you and your mates can go out on a date,” Honor said.

  “Oh, that would be wonderful, thank you.”

  “Plus, we’ll get some time with this kiddo. He’s growing up so fast,” Holden said.

  He put Bradley on the ground and watched as Melody took his hand and walked him back to the table where his fathers were waiting.

  When the meal was finished, Holden and Jax danced with Honor and then Hope, while Honor danced with Eli. The pride joined in, and the music switched from romantic ballads to dance music. Eventually most of the adults sat down and watched the younger kids making fools of themselves and having a ball.

  The evening passed quickly. Before long they were saying goodbye to Hope and Eli, and the pride members who didn’t live at the boarding house. After they waved goodbye, Holden took Honor’s hand and kissed it.

  “Ready to go upstairs, Mrs. Whitman?”

  She smiled sweetly, her eyes flashing with heat. “Absolutely.”

  They climbed the stairs to the second floor, where Jax stopped in front of his bedroom door. He opened it, and Honor gasped as she stepped inside. When they’d woken up that morning, they’d decorated Jax’s room for their wedding night. Every flat surface held electric candles, and they’d topped the comforter with rose petals. A vase of white lilies stood on the dresser, lending a light fragrance to the room.

  Holden loosened his tie and pulled Honor close as Jax opened the champagne and poured three glasses.

  Honor took hers and asked, “What should we toast?”

  “Our new life together,” Jax said.

  “You finally making honest males of us,” Holden teased.

  Honor giggled. “How about we toast to how lucky we all are?”

  Jax lifted his glass. “To luck.”

  They clinked glasses, and each took a drink. The cool, bubbly liquid did little to soothe the heat that rose within him. Jax took their glasses, while Holden led Honor to the bed.

  She pushed Holden’s jacket off his shoulders and tipped her face to his. The jacket dropped to the floor, and he cupped her face with one hand, tilting her head and kissing her. Her skin was warm and soft. Holden stroked his fingers down her throat and around her bare shoulders to the zipper of the dress. It slid down slowly, the sound loud in the quiet room. She shivered as she pulled away from the kiss and shrugged out of the dress.

  Beneath the soft lace dress, she wore only white panties.

  Holden glanced at his brother. “She wasn’t wearing a bra. I think we missed a few opportunities to feel up our mate during the reception.”

  Jax let out a snarl and circled her, his fingers trailing around her stomach. “Naughty little kitten.”

  “Just for you two,” she murmured.

  Jax crawled onto the bed behind his mate and pulled Honor with him until she lay on her back between his parted legs, facing Holden. Holden undid his shirt, his fingers flying down the buttons as he dropped to his knees on the floor in front of their mate. He took off her sandals and set them aside, then grasped her panties and pulled them down her legs. Jax pulled her back farther, and she parted her thighs, letting her legs fall over his knees on opposite sides of her, until she was spread wide before Holden’s hungry gaze.

  They’d been together for a while. They’d made love many times, as couples and as a threesome, but there was something very new and exciting about their time together right now.

  “Fucking love you, sweetheart,” Holden said, looking up at her.

  She bit her lower lip and slid her hands through his hair. “I love you, too.”

  Holden leaned forward, bracing one hand on her thigh and pushing it open a lit
tle further. Then he inhaled the sweet scent of her arousal. He pushed a finger inside her slowly, feeling the wet heat suck him in. Twisting the digit as he pulled out and pushed it in again, his touch slid along her hot walls, working to find the spot to send her into orbit. As Holden played with her, adding a second finger and curling them inside, he sucked lightly on her clit, flicking his tongue along one side. She let out a sharp gasp and her hips bucked, her hand fisting in his hair. He rubbed his curled fingers faster inside her, his tongue rapidly flicking her clit, until she cried out and he felt the sweet heat of her climax on his fingers.

  Jax slid out from under her and moved up the bed to give them this time together. Honor stretched out on the bed, her arms over her head and her eyes bright with passion. Holden rose to his feet and undid his pants. He dropped them, crawled onto the bed and grasped her knees, sinking into her to the hilt. He groaned at how good she felt, how perfectly she gripped him, and pulled out.

  Holden plunged in again, setting a fast rhythm to drive them both to completion. Her pussy began to clutch him rhythmically. Honor groaned, sliding a finger to her clit and rubbing it until she came, her back arching and Holden’s name on her lips. He followed her into bliss, barely stifling the roar of happiness from his cat. Releasing his tight hold on her knees, he leaned over and kissed her deeply and sweetly. She shivered under him, a purr stuttering in her chest, and he smiled, giving her bottom lip a playful bite.

  “I’m so yours, Holden,” she said, cupping his face.

  “And I’m yours, Honor.”

  “Love you,” she whispered, her eyes bright. “Love you so much.”

  “I love you, too.”

  He eased away, climbing onto the bed as Jax joined Honor and she reached the heights of pleasure again with her second mate. The night was young, and they had a lot of love to make.

  * * *

  By the time they made their way back to King after spending time in Ashland and stopping for their honeymoon, they were happy to be home. They returned to King with wonderful news – Honor’s pregnancy. Hope was excited to have a little brother or sister.