He sighed. “All right. But if you go, I’m coming with you.”
“What about your schedule?”
He grinned wickedly. “I’ll let my personal assistant handle the details. She can work magic with any schedule.”
Alice tried to keep her expression resolute, but it was terribly difficult when he smiled at her like that. And when he was petting her back with long strokes? It was nearly impossible.
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
“Now feed me, woman. You can’t expect me to pleasure you all night without sustenance.”
Carly choked. “Didn’t need to hear that.”
“Then I suggest you make use of those noise canceling headphones, because I’m going to—”
Carly covered her ears with her hands. “Enough! I get it.” She grabbed her plate and a soda and headed to her room. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You embarrassed her,” Alice said, shaking her head.
Rex was unapologetic as he palmed her ass, pulling her over to straddle his lap. “She’s going to have to get used to it. I’ll be fucking you every chance I get.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, settling comfortably over his rock-hard shaft. “Is that so?”
“Absolutely. You got a problem with that?”
“Nope.” She grinned. “Because I was thinking the same thing.”
Epilogue: Alice
“You look beautiful, Carly,” Alice said, watching as the stylist gave Carly a final spritz of hairspray.
The young girl cast a skeptical glance at Alice. “Not compared to you. Dad’s going to lose his mind when he sees you in that.”
Alice smoothed her hand over the diamonds and pearls sewn into her bodice. “What? In this old thing?”
They laughed.
As maid of honor, Carly’s gown was pretty spectacular, too. Both were custom pieces created by one of Europe’s most sought-after designers. Alice thought it was way too much, especially since weddings were primarily a human tradition, but Rex had insisted, saying he didn’t do anything in a small way.
He wasn’t wrong. The actual ceremony was taking place in a cathedral, and the super-exclusive guest list was a veritable who’s who of the music industry, numbering over a thousand people. Rex had also booked an entire five-star hotel for the weekend-long reception. The media had been camped outside the church for days, hoping to catch a few candids of “Rock’s New Royal Couple.”
“You look like a princess, Alice.”
“I feel more like Cinderella playing the part of a princess. I keep looking at the clock, waiting for it to strike midnight and for all of this to disappear.” Too good to be true was the phrase that kept going through her mind, and it was no wonder. The months since their mating had been incredible.
Rex was as driven as ever, claiming he had never felt as inspired. The music came to him at all hours of the day and night. Sometimes he would simply freeze in the middle of whatever he was doing then start scribbling notes and lyrics on whatever was available. After waking up once to find Rex writing all over her in indelible ink, she made sure she had plenty of music composition paper available wherever they were.
He was slowly reconnecting with the band, too, especially Styxx. Now that Rex had made her and Carly his top priorities, the others were assuming more active roles, and Rex was willingly sharing creative control. Those changes were making them a more cohesive unit, and their music, especially during their live performances, definitely reflected that.
Any worries that Rex’s “taken” status would hurt his appeal were quickly laid to rest. In fact, fans seemed to think a devoted Rex was even more desirable than playboy Rex. As one of the PR agents had commented, “Everyone’s a sucker for a great love story.”
Carly was blossoming, too. Things were still a little awkward between her and Rex sometimes. They were so alike in temperament, both stubborn and passionate, that finding common ground could be a challenge. Rex was still adjusting to his new active role as the parent of a teenager, and Carly’s adolescent hormones made her naturally rebellious. Alice found herself playing mediator and interpreter fairly often, but they were roles she gladly assumed.
As if that wasn’t enough, Rex and Johnny had actually become friends. Well, not friends, exactly, but at least they didn’t bare their teeth or try to eviscerate each other every time they were in the same room. She had told Rex that Johnny was and always would be an important part of her life, and that he was just going to have to deal with it.
Johnny was a little easier to manage. He said he just wanted her to be happy, quietly adding that if Rex ever hurt her, he would die a slow and painful death involving disembowelment and castration.
Life was great, better than she had ever dreamed it could be. In just a few minutes, Johnny was going to walk her down the aisle to wed the male of her dreams, and Carly would be right there, sharing the moment with them. Everything had been planned down to the tiniest detail and, so far, was going off without a hitch.
She looked over at Carly, frowning when she saw how pale the girl was.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah.” Carly summoned a weak smile and put her hand over her stomach. “Just nerves, I think. I get hives thinking about everyone staring at me when I walk down the ... Oh!” Carly doubled over, as if in terrible pain.
“Carly? What is it? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” the young girl panted out, dropping to her knees. “I don’t ... It hurts, Alice.”
Alice went down to her knees, too, and cupped the girl’s face in her hands. Her eyes were wild, her breath coming in short pants.
“Oh, hell. Everybody out!” Alice shouted, the reality of the situation dawning.
The few attendants still milling around stared at her.
“OUT! Now!”
Alice rushed them all out the door then locked it behind them. She did the same with the other door so that it was just her and Carly alone in the room. Then she immediately began unfastening as many hooks and buttons on Carly’s gown as quickly as her fingers could move before the seams gave way.
“Alice ... what’s happening?”
“Relax, sweetie. It’s going to be okay. The first shift is always a bit of a shocker.”
Carly’s eyes grew huge. “What? No! Not now!”
“It’s okay. I’m right here with you. You want me to get your dad?”
“No! Just you. Please.”
Loud knocks sounded on the door, accompanied by Johnny’s concerned voice. “Alice! What’s going on?”
The hasty exodus of the attendants must have tipped him off. “Not now, Johnny!”
Alice finished with Carly’s gown then began to work on her own. She was almost done when Carly let out an agonizing moan, her bones popping and rearranging themselves into her animal form. Alice grabbed the edge of her gown and pulled, wincing at the sound of tearing fabric and jewels falling to the floor.
She shifted into her lioness form and lay down beside her, nuzzling and purring to soothe and comfort the scared, shaking adolescent cub.
Johnny burst through the door. “What the hell ...?”
Alice had forgotten what a skilled lock picker he had been back in the day. Apparently, he hadn’t lost his touch.
He stopped short when he took in the scene before him.
Alice moved protectively in front of Carly and bared her teeth, snarling at him, willing him to get the message.
He did.
“Oh, hell. Right then. I’ll just make sure you ladies have some privacy ...”
When Johnny shut the door behind him, Alice returned her attention to Carly. It took several minutes, but the girl was able to get to her paws and take a few unsteady steps. Going from two legs to four took a bit of adjustment.
She looked at Alice, let out a soulful yowl, and sat back down.
Alice shifted back into her human form to be able to communicate more clearly. “You want to know how to shift
back?”
The young cub jerked her head in a nod.
“Close your eyes and pretend you’re looking into a mirror. Imagine your human form as you gently push your lioness back. She’s going to resist you, but be firm. You are the one in control, Carly. Always.”
After several fledgling attempts, Carly was a girl again.
Alice grabbed one of the robes they had been wearing for hair and makeup, putting it around her. Then she got one for herself before gathering Carly into her arms and holding her tightly.
“Well, that sucked,” Carly finally said. “Why did that have to happen now?”
“Probably all the stress and excitement of the wedding. That can trigger it.”
“Thanks for being here, Alice. I don’t know what I would have done ...”
“That’s something you’ll never have to worry about,” Alice assured her. “I will always be here for you. How do you feel now?”
“Okay. A little shaky, but pretty good considering I just turned into a lioness.”
Alice smiled. “That’s natural. It takes a bit of getting used to, but you did beautifully. Much better than I did my first time. I was terrified. I didn’t even know I was a shifter before then.”
“You didn’t?”
Alice shook her head.
“Who helped you through it?”
“Johnny. He already had his first shift, so he knew what was happening before I did. We were about five or six, I think. I was so embarrassed, but he was great. We’ve been best friends ever since.”
“Get the fuck out of my way!” Rex’s booming voice sounded through the doorway.
Johnny answered, but at a much lower tone, his words unintelligible.
“She’s what?”
More mumbles.
“Right now?”
Alice squeezed Carly’s shoulders. “Let me talk to your dad before he goes all king of the jungle, okay? We can postpone—”
“No! I mean, I’m fine now.”
She looked into the girl’s eyes and saw the determination she knew so well.
“You’re sure? We don’t have to do this right now, Carly. You’re far more important, and your dad will understand.”
Tears welled up in Carly’s eyes. “Thanks, Alice. But I’m sure. Let’s do this.”
“All right, if you’re sure.” Alice went over to the door and opened it just a crack, revealing Rex and Johnny looking as if they were about to come to blows. “Hey!”
Both males turned toward her.
“Stand down, guys. It’s all good, though we are running a few minutes behind. We’ll be out shortly.”
Rex moved up close, his face only inches from hers. “But the panther just said—”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Alice told him firmly. “Everything is fine. Trust me. We’ll meet you up front in about ten minutes.”
Rex looked like he wanted to say more, but Alice shut the door before he could and turned around to face Carly. “All right, I just bought us ten minutes.”
Carly looked toward the beautiful gowns now lying in crumpled heaps on the floor. “Oh, no ...” Tears filled her eyes. “Alice, I’m so sorry.”
Alice picked up each of the gowns and eyed them critically, assessing the damage. “It’s not that bad. We just have to get a little creative, that’s all. Check that desk over there for a pair of scissors ...”
Epilogue: Rex
Rex returned to the small room at the front of the church and began pacing, his head whirring with a whole lot of WTF.
“Take it easy, dude. You’re getting married, not up for a Grammy.”
Rex glared at his best man. “Take it easy? My mate is in the back of the church, with my cub, who just had her first shift. Don’t tell me to fucking take it easy.”
“Carly’s first shift?” Styxx grinned. “That’s awesome, man. Congrats. Bet that’s a load off her mind.”
Rex had no idea if it was or wasn’t, because he wasn’t there. But something about the way Styxx had delivered his seemingly offhand comment pierced through his inner angst and raised his hackles.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, now she doesn’t have to worry as much about disappointing you.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Nothing, man.” Styxx shook his head.
That only irritated Rex more. Styxx might be a genius, but he could be a condescending, cryptic motherfucker, too.
“Don’t give me that ‘nothing’ shit. What are you, a chick? It’s clearly something.”
Styxx rolled his eyes. “Are you really that clueless?”
Rex glared back at him, lifting his upper lip in a warning snarl.
“You need me to spell it out for you? Fine. It can’t be easy for Carly, being your kid. You’re a badass shifter who has made no secret of the fact that you believe the pursuit of higher education is a waste of time and that humans are inferior in every way. She is an introverted scientific genius who, until this morning, had never been anything other than human. You don’t think she feels like she’s a disappointment in your eyes? That you wouldn’t prefer a daughter more like you?”
“What?” Rex felt like he had just stage-dived off a twenty-story building and hit the ground face first. He sank down into the nearest chair. “She can’t possibly think ...”
But of course she could. Styxx was right. He and Carly were very different. He had never understood her thirst for knowledge; couldn’t comprehend why she would want to stay cooped up in her room instead of being out somewhere, having fun. Until recently, they had never even been able to hold a decent conversation.
“Fuck. I’m a shit father.”
Styxx dropped his hand onto Rex’s shoulder. “Maybe not total shit. You did take her in when you found out about her and made sure she wanted for nothing.”
Except possibly a dad who didn’t make her feel like she wasn’t good enough, Rex thought miserably to himself.
He stood up. “I have to talk to her.”
Styxx moved slowly in front of him. “Slow your roll there, dude.”
“Get the fuck out of my way.”
“Just listen for a minute, will you? Alice is with Carly, right?”
Rex jerked his head in an affirmative nod.
“Then let her handle it. Females are way better at this sort of thing, especially with other females.”
“And you know this how?”
“I’ve got six sisters,” Styxx revealed with a smirk. “Trust me on this one, Rex. If you go back there now, you’re just going to embarrass her.”
Rex wasn’t happy about it, but he supposed it made sense.
“Don’t pout. You’ll get your turn when Alice gives you a son.”
Something squeezed deep in Rex’s chest at the thought. Of watching Alice grow round with his cubs. Of all the fun they would have making those cubs.
“The good news is,” Styxx continued, “by the time it comes to that, you’ll have this father thing down.”
Rex exhaled. Styxx was right. Again. He and Carly were making progress, and much of that was because of Alice. She was going to make a great mother. He wondered if maybe she would want to get started on that later tonight ... after the ceremony.
The pipe organ suddenly grew louder.
“That’s our cue.” Styxx clapped him on the back. “You ready?”
“So ready.”
“Then let’s do this.”
They walked out and took their places by the altar. The church was packed. Rex was pleased to see the other guys from the band in the front row.
“How did you get them to wear tuxes?” Rex asked quietly.
Styxx laughed. “Dude, they’re doing it for the pussy. Everyone knows chicks dig guys in tuxes.”
Rex laughed, too. Then Alice appeared at the back of the church and his mind went blank.
She looked gorgeous. Beyond gorgeous. He had expected the quarter-million-dollar gown to look like something in one of those
bridal magazines she had been perusing, but this was so much better. The bottom was short in front, long in back, flowing behind her in a cascade of white silk and diamonds. A tight, sleeveless bodice hugged her lush curves, with well-placed slashes revealing a hint of creamy, golden skin with each step. It was hot as fuck.
Maybe he wouldn’t wait until later tonight. Maybe he would just throw her over his shoulder and carry her into the back to get started on those cubs right away ...
A swift, well-placed elbow to the ribs invaded his fantasy. “You’re growling, man. Unless you want everyone here to know what you are, I’d cage the lion. Feel me?”
Rex managed to get himself under control with considerable effort. While some trusted humans knew about shifters, most didn’t. He, for one, preferred to keep it that way.
He focused on his daughter instead. She, too, looked lovely, her gown a more modest version of Alice’s and perfectly suited to a young female.
Carly reached him first. “You okay, princess?” he asked quietly.
She smiled back at him, a brilliant smile that he felt deep in his chest. “Yeah, it’s all good.”
Carly stepped to the side, and then Johnny Prowler was there, placing Alice’s hand in his.
Rex withheld the snarl that tried to escape. Alice was incredibly fond of the guy, and had reminded Rex on multiple occasions that it was Johnny who had encouraged her to return and give him another chance. Maybe the fucking panther wasn’t so bad after all.
The ceremony went off smoothly, short and to the point, just as they had wanted. Rex kissed his new bride for the first time to thunderous applause with his family and friends right there beside him, and he knew, without a doubt, that it was his finest performance.
About BAD
Bestselling and Award Winning Paranormal Romance authors are bringing you the baddest of the bad ALPHA dads. Keyword bad. So sexy, you’ll want to teach them to be good. These shifter dads need all the help they can get, and we want to give it to them.
Check out our website www.BadAlphaDads.com for the release schedule and more about our fabulous authors.
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