by Tl Reeve
Later, her sweet voice whispered through his head. He turned his back on the kids for a second to adjust himself. Caden grabbed another towel and placed it on his lap, taking Danielle’s place beside the tub. He didn’t need Aiden getting curious now. He had plans.
Once they were finished with their bath, they’d eat dinner, then the boys would have some downtime before bed. Five minutes after the kids were asleep he planned to be balls deep in either his mate’s ass or pussy. Didn’t matter which, he just needed to be inside of her to continue building their growing connection, both mentally and physically.
Focus, asshole. You got kids in the tub.
“Aiden was almost done. I was just rinsing him off. I usually let him play while I wash Nicolas,” Danielle hollered from their room.
Caden snatched the small washcloth floating in the water. He loaded it up with the baby soap then got to washing his youngest son. Nicolas cooed and smiled at him the whole time.
“So, kiddo, this afternoon it was a lizard, maybe next time you could catch a mouse or even a rabbit,” he said.
If you hand me a dead rodent or a cute baby bunny, I’m not going to be happy, Danielle muttered.
He’s a wolf shifter, pumpkin. What exactly did you expect?
Not for him to bring me dead animals like a…like a dog!
Caden chuckled. Nicolas stopped babbling. His eyes widened at the sound, and he gave a healthy yawn. The little guy was exhausted.
Has he growled yet besides when he’s eating?
Not that I’ve heard, she replied. Why is it such a big deal if he growls or not? And we weren’t done talking about deceased animals!
He couldn’t see her, but he imagined she had her hands on her hip, one cocked to the side in defiance.
Just like humans have age-related markers, so do wolves.
“Like growing into a moral, decent human being isn’t hard enough. We add in him being a wolf,” she said.
The distinct click of a camera shutter filled the bathroom. Caden peered over his shoulder. Danielle stood at the door, dressed in a dry tank top, her perky tits straining against the tight cotton material. “What are you doing?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? I’m recording memories,” she said. “Just ignore me.”
He snorted, turning his attention back to Nicolas and his bath. “Easier said than done, pumpkin.”
More clicks ensued.
Doing his best to disregard the camera, he scrunched up his face at Nicolas, who giggled. “Being a shifter is easier than a human. His wolf is always right there, guiding and helping him.”
“His wolf is an animal, who doesn’t always think like a human.”
“No doubt about it, but the wolf instincts will supersede the human’s every time, saving him a lot of issues if he learns to listen to them,” Caden stated.
She went quiet. He knew why too. If wolves were supposed to override the human side of their psyche, why had he abandoned them? “He went dormant.”
“Is he still—”
He shook his head. “When I accepted Nicolas and realized how much I fucked up with you, he gleefully returned. Cocky bastard he is.”
“Hand me Aiden, please, before he turns into a prune,” she requested.
His oldest son was a wiggle worm, escaping his hold, slipping around in the tub till Danielle had enough of the potentially dangerous situation and said in a strong, firm tone. “That’s quite enough, Aiden.”
Four little words said with the right inflection and their son stopped. Impressive. Caden picked Aiden up and passed him to his mother.
“I’m going to go get this pup dressed in his pajamas. Finish Nicolas’ bath. I placed a towel behind you.”
Then there were two. “Let’s get the soap off you.” He grabbed the small cup on the side of the tub and scooped up the water to rinse Nicolas off. After pulling the drain plug, he wrapped his young son in a towel.
With a fresh diaper on his butt and puppy pajamas covering him up, Nicolas could take on the world. Instead, he gave another yawn while rubbing his eyes. “Going to be an early night for you, little guy.” Caden nuzzled his son’s cheek. The fresh clean scent of baby filled his senses.
“How about we make dinner simple tonight? I’ll order a pizza, have it delivered, and we can hang out on the couch, watching senseless TV till it’s the kid’s bedtime?” he suggested when Danielle met him in the hallway.
“Add in some zucchini fries and you got a deal!” She beamed.
His heart lurched when the smile reached her beautiful eyes, lighting her entire face up.
“Sausage or Pepperoni?” he asked.
She crinkled her nose up in disgust. “Neither. I’m a totally veggie kind of girl. I don’t really deal with red meat very well. I stick with some fish and chicken.”
Kind of surreal, if he thought about it. They had two kids together, and he didn’t know what toppings she liked on her pizza or the fact she wasn’t much of a meat eater.
“Sounds like a plan,” he replied.
* * * *
While Danielle put the kids to bed, he threw out the empty pizza box and straightened up the downstairs. He had figured out, rather quickly, his mate liked everything in order before she made her way up to bed each night. It was easy enough for him to straighten the downstairs up. He was just returning the sponge to the holder on the sink when he heard the familiar creaking of the steps.
“All good?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she sighed, rubbing her left, upper arm. “Nicolas was asleep the second his head touched the mattress. Aiden fell asleep, sitting on the toilet, brushing his teeth. I took a picture before I nudged him awake and took him to bed.”
He laughed.
“What do you say about making it an early night?”
He wiggled his brows at her. “I’m down if you are.”
“Annoying,” she muttered before going upstairs once more.
He followed, stopping at the bottom of the steps to enjoy the view of her sweet ass as she took one step at a time. His dick jerked in his pants with anticipation and when she reached the top, he barreled up the stairs, three at a time. Caden bent down to pick her up in his arms before walking with determined strides to their room and kicking the door closed behind him.
He eased her down from his hold, allowing her to feel the way she affected him. Her lithe form brushed his erection, and he groaned. Sparks of desire spread through his body at the point of contact. Danielle dropped to her knees in front of him. Her gaze locked with his as she undid his belt. Caden leaned against the door for support and let her take the lead. The scent of her arousal drove him to the brink; however, it had been the way she’d flicked the button to his pants open and lowered the zipper.
Danielle eased open his pants. His dick slipped from the confinement. Caden groaned, relieved the pressure building in his balls lifted slightly. The helmet of his cock gleamed with pre-cum. Danielle didn’t hesitate. She leaned forward, eager to lap up his essence, before swirling her tongue around the sensitive tip. Pleasure zinged up his spine, and his balls tightened.
This was new, something he figured they’d get to eventually. Sure, he had eaten her pussy. Often. It was a favorite form of foreplay for him, mainly because he craved her taste on his tongue. He just hadn’t pushed for a blowjob. He figured when she trusted and wanted to explore his body as he explored her, she would.
Caden wrapped his hand around the base and gave a couple stokes before he rubbed his tip across her lips. “You want it, baby?”
“Yes,” she whimpered.
“Take it, pumpkin. Suck my dick.” He grasped at the short ends of her hair, guiding her even closer. The wolf inside of him howled in pleasure.
Danielle licked her lips before swiping at his tip once more. She moaned, taking him into her mouth. The warm wetness had him fighting the urge to sink all the way to her throat. He had to give her time though. Allow her to grow accustomed to his size. He wanted her to gain as much pleasure from
this one act as he did.
He watched in rapt awe as she gobbled up as much of his long length as she could and stilled once more. The flutter of her muscles threatened to destroy his control. The aroma of her lust drove him insane. Caden groaned as he nudged the tip to the back of her throat. She swallowed around him, and he grimaced in pleasure. If she kept this up, he would come in mere seconds.
“Do it again, baby.” He canted his hips to try to go deeper down her throat. Her eyes widened in surprise and her fingers dug into the fleshy part of his thigh. The hint of pain mixed with pleasure was exquisite. “Can you do it again, pumpkin?”
She nodded, bobbing up and down on his dick before letting her throat muscles work around him, mimicking the sweet suction of her pussy when he fucked her. The demented part of him craved to face fuck her till he came down her throat. He couldn’t, though. Slow and steady had to be the course they stayed on. Later he could try to up the intensity. Danielle grew bolder. She palmed his balls, rolling them, gently, between her fingers as she released his dick with a loud pop. Caden took the precious seconds to breathe, trying to calm the wave of need coiling within him. She nipped at the underside of his tip, then used her tongue to ease the slight sting. Steadily, she worked her way down his throbbing length, nibbling the underside as she went, licking up the pre-cum trickling down his dick. He clenched his ass cheeks and thought of everything but what she did to him in hopes of gaining some control.
“Fuck, Danielle.” He snarled in warning as she continued to lap at the same spot. “Keep it up and I’m gonna come.”
“Isn’t that the point?” She licked the sensitive skin of the inside of his thigh before taking his dick back into her mouth.
“Change of plans, smartass.” He tossed her gently onto the bed. She bounced once, then twice before settling.
“Caden.”
“I’m craving a taste of your pussy. Get up on your knees,” he demanded, crawling up to her.
“Caden,” she hedged, her voice filled with uncertainty.
“I’ve got you,” he stated. “Trust me, pumpkin, I’m going to lay down and you’re simply going to sit on my face and I’m going to make you come.”
“Oh…my.” She blushed a pretty shade pink and it made his dick even harder.
Caden positioned himself on the bed on his back after he removed his clothes. He guided her into position. “Watch me, Danielle.” He groaned while nuzzling her clit with the tip of his nose. “Hang on to the headboard.”
He licked her from the well of her pussy to her sweet clit with long, slow laps of his tongue until she squirmed over him. Her tangy, sweet cream swept over as he sucked her clit, tempting it, teasing it with the pointy tip of his canine. He took her hand in his and placed it over his cock and began to stroke.
“Ohhh, Caden.” She gasped, throwing her head back as they pleasured each other.
He moaned her name. Gathering the juices from her soaked sex, he coated his forefinger before he made his way to her ass. He worked the long digit into her rear. She stiffened. A low wail escaped her lips as her body shook, and her pussy rippled through her release. Not willing to miss a drop, he continued lapping up her cream, while increasing the strokes and speed on his dick.
Pressure built in his sac and pleasure raced down his spine. He maneuvered her quickly over his tip and guided her hips over him. The minute he sank balls deep within her, he came hard. He grunted, grinding her against him. Her internal muscles clamped down on him, milking the rest of his orgasm from his body.
Danielle collapsed on top of him, snuggling into his chest. “Cade—”
“Shhh,” he grumbled, pulling her closer. “I just was able to check off one of my secret fantasies concerning you off my bucket list. Give me a second to digest it.”
She giggled. “You have a list?”
“A mental one and it’s extensive as hell.”
It was the silence that finally got him. Often times he hated it. His solution, have a radio or television going to provide background noise.
“Got something to tell you.” He didn’t want to ruin their moment, but he also promised to never keep shit from her again.
Danielle sat up slightly and stared down at him. “What is it?”
“I think I found my daughter today,” he answered.
“I know who Sage is. I figured it…okay, Keeley figured it out today and she was really obnoxious about it,” she admitted. “Did you ask Kal?
He sighed, focusing on the ceiling. He palmed her ass, still enjoying the feeling of being inside her. “No. We agreed to wait. He surprised me by telling me, but not telling me in a way only he can.”
She snorted. “So true.”
“If you agree, I’d like to hold off making any formal announcement and introduction right now. It’s just safer.”
“It is safer,” she agreed.
He nodded.
“Look at it this way, we just gained a thirty-year-old sheriff’s deputy, who can now babysit for her younger brothers,” she teased.
Caden smiled. “Bonus.”
Danielle eased off of him then stood. “Come, let’s go get a shower and discuss what else is on your list we can work on.”
“Pumpkin, I know this is moving fast and it’s a lot to take in. You okay?” He worried about his mate as he followed her into the bathroom.
“I’m better than okay. You’re letting me in now and you’re not shutting me out. As long as we’re on this path, together, we can conquer just about anything,” she assured him with a smile.
Chapter Twenty
Two weeks later...
Finally, a little peace and quiet. Since Caden’s run-in with Marjorie at Mrs. Martin’s shop, no one had seen hide nor hair of Raymond or Marjorie. Yes, there were federal warrants out for both of their arrests, and at least twice a day, the local news reported on the fugitives from the law. Allen, who’d become a state’s witness against the duo, had been placed in protective custody. No one knew what Raymond would do to the rat, and they were better off safe than sorry.
Caden strode through the orphanage making sure all of the furniture had been placed in the right rooms, while Danielle and Keeley made the beds. Nico had been sent out to gather up all of the orphans and bring them back to the house. For the first time in their life, they’d have a place to call home. He grinned. He was so fucking proud of his mate. Sure, they still had things to work through, but the majority of their problems were settled, and they were on the right track this time.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, Caden allowed himself to be happy. To breathe without regret or hesitation. To live his life fully. He and Sage were feeling their way around as well. He couldn’t lie. It was a little weird also having her back in his life. Sure, he knew her as a deputy, but as his daughter, he spent most of his time hearing about her childhood in the commune and what it was like being raised by a bunch of hippies.
Outside the main house, Rapier’s brothers Wy and Saber still worked on the addition Caden requested, which would now become a small one-building school for the orphanage. The minute he told Danielle about it, not only had the sex been incredible, but she’d cried happy tears, and she told him it was perfect. The “surprise” addition had been expanded to include several rooms, which meant all of the children would have a special place they could learn, especially if as orphans they didn’t feel comfortable in public schools. Danielle offered the job of teacher to Charisma as soon as she was finished with college and, until then, Danielle was on the search for someone who knew how to help psychic children and shifters.
“Caden!” Eloise greeted him from her office. “There you are, sugar. I’ve been looking for you.”
“What can I do for you this fine afternoon?” He stepped into her office. All of the formal decor had been exchanged for cotton and sheer material. Gold bangles were draped over wooden curtain rods and gauze curtains. In the corner of the room, brightly colored pillows sat on an orange sherbet-hued silk blanket.
Above it sat a small sign: Chill? Everything about the space spoke to the need for relaxation and zero negativity.
“Nothing in particular,” she said.
He snorted. “Why do I have a hard time believing you?” In the past two weeks, Eloise had changed. No pot smoking being the biggest, something Kalkin wouldn’t ever put up with. Her seriousness and intensity also surprised him. She was a taskmaster. The way she flipped the switch from fun-loving free spirit to disciplinarian shocked the hell out of Caden. However, it showed how and why Sage had such a levelheadedness to her.
“Well, I do have a little bit of a request,” she said.
“Anything,” he answered.
“Have dinner with Sage and I tomorrow night?”
“Just us or as a family?” She caught him off guard.
“Us,” she answered. “If it’s not a problem. I think you and Sage could use the time together.”
He nodded. “Fine. What time?”
“Seven?”
“Perfect,” he replied. “Anything else?”
Eloise shook her head. “I have everything covered here.”
Caden said his goodbyes with the promise to see her at seven and stepped out of the office. On his way to the bedroom where Danielle and Keeley had been working, his phone started beeping. He pulled it from his pocket and narrowed his eyes. The sensors at Danielle’s house were going off. Something or someone had tripped them.
His hackles rose.
He tapped the button to notify law enforcement then shot Kalkin a quick text to pick him up at the orphanage. “Danielle.” He stepped into the bedroom. She sat on the bottom bunk, placing a pillow into the simple pink pillowcase.
“Hey, stranger.” Her smile faltered. “What’s wrong?”
“I need you to stay here. Keep close to Sage. I have to go.” He kissed her forehead. “I love you.”
She stared up at him. “Caden, what’s happened?”
He turned his phone so she could see the screen. Raymond and Marjorie were inside their home, going through everything. The living room was a mess of couch cushion fuzz and broken glass. Their television had been smashed, and the boys’ toys were ruined. “I have to go.”