by Faith Gibson
“I need you, Mate,” she husked against his mouth.
Remy’s cock lengthened, ready to reclaim his female. “And you’ll have me.”
Chapter Eight
Remy carried Isla to their bedroom, locking the door behind them. Rain was aware of his parents’ nighttime activities. Not sex specifically, but they had explained to him years ago that as a couple, they needed their own play time. The first time Remy had shouted his release, Rain came running, scared his Papa was hurt. That had been the last time they left the door unlocked. Remy had a feeling he would soon be just as loud. It had been too long. With his hands full of his mate’s ass and his mouth filled with her tongue, Remy needed to fill something else.
Releasing his claws, Remy carefully shredded the clothes Isla was wearing. He had wanted to get her out of the items all day because they had been given to her by Elias. Remy didn’t want anything touching his mate purchased by another male. Especially one who thought it was okay to buy another being and use them for their own gain. Isla made quick work of Remy’s clothes, and when they were both naked, she dropped to her knees, wrapping her smaller hand around his hard length.
“I’ve missed this.” Isla’s eyes flared with need before she sheathed his cock in her wet heat.
“Fuck!” Remy had missed that too. His mate loved giving head, but it had been years since they’d last been intimate, so when she tried taking all of him, she gagged. “Easy, Love.”
Isla pulled off, wiping her mouth. “I’m out of practice.”
Remy pulled her to her feet and carried her to the bed. “There’s plenty of time for that later. I need you, Isla. I need to be in you.”
As soon as her back hit the bed, Isla spread her legs and pulled Remy down on top of her. “I need you too. I want you to mark me again when you come. I need that connection.”
Remy would do anything his mate asked of him, and if she wanted the mate bite, who was he to deny her? His beast rumbled in his chest at the thought. Remy didn’t make her wait. He slid his cock into her already slick passage. She squeezed her inner muscles, making them tighter around his length. As he moved in and out, they stared into each other’s eyes, becoming reacquainted in body and soul. His thrusts weren’t hurried. Remy wanted their first time to last, but it had been years, and his body had other ideas. Remy tried to hold off on coming, but Isla urged him to move faster. Harder. Again, he couldn’t deny his mate. He pushed up on one hand so he could reach between them and rub her clit. Isla never had trouble getting off when they had sex, but he wanted to give her that extra push. As soon as he touched her nub, her fangs dropped, encouraging Remy’s to do the same.
With his orgasm close, Remy rubbed harder, stroked faster. “Remy.” Isla gasping his name was his cue. He pounded her core, sending her over the edge. When her inner walls clamped down, she curled her body up and sank her fangs into his neck. Remy shouted the house down as his own climax hit like a freight train, and he latched onto Isla’s neck. They retracted their teeth at the same time, licking the wounds closed. Isla flopped back, grinning. “Now that’s a proper welcome home.”
“Je t’aime, ma belle femme.”
“I love you more.” Isla brushed Remy’s hair off his forehead and threaded her fingers through his locks. “I wanted to die when I thought you and Rain were gone. When I was first with Craven, I had no desire to live. Then one day, I was sitting outside in the sunshine, and a wave of peacefulness washed over me. At first, I thought it was the gods letting me know it was okay to cross over, but as soon as I had that idea, a gust of wind swirled hard enough to lift my hair. All the while I was outside, the air had been still. When the blast came out of nowhere, I got to thinking. If you, my true mate, were no longer of this world, I would have known the second you crossed over. The bond would have snapped in two. I never felt anything like that. So, I held onto hope that one day, you and I would be reunited.”
“I’m glad you held onto that hope.” Remy rolled to his back and pulled his mate close. Isla rested her head on his chest just over his heart. “I’ll admit I didn’t handle things quite as well. I fell into a deep depression, locking myself away. Eventually, I left France and headed west. I needed to get away from everything that reminded me of you and Rainier. I ended up in California. The depression lessened, but my heart was still shredded. I was looking for an outlet for my frustrations, and when I found a gym run by local Gargoyles, I found more than I bargained for. I told them my story, and the manager hooked me up with Sinclair Stone. He offered me the job overseeing the new penitentiary, and I accepted. In doing so, I became part of the Clan. I was no longer alone. I had a purpose. Sin sent me here to learn everything about running a prison, but between finding Rain and going after both Craven and Nash, I haven’t been as invested as I should be. I’m not sure I’m the best candidate for the job. They need someone they can count on.”
Isla rose up to look at him, slapping his hard abs as she did. “Remy Durand, you are the most capable male I know. You are smart. You have a head for business. You’re the take-charge type. Rain and I are back where we belong. We’re safe. If this is something you want to do, then do it. I’ve never been to California, but I’m sure it’s a beautiful place. And you know me; I have no problem making friends. If the Gargoyles there have mates, Rain and I will be fine while you’re working. You already said you made the commitment.”
“If you’re sure.” Remy only wanted his mate’s happiness. She and Rain had been through so much, and he would do anything to ensure both had everything they wanted, even if that meant moving back to France.
“I am. All I want is to be with you and Rainier. I have lost time to make up for, and I’d like to do that by focusing on our child. I can do that from anywhere. He’s in a good routine here with his friends and tutor. I’d like to observe his interactions so I can mimic them in California. And I would like to meet with his psychiatrist.”
“Do you have nightmares?”
“Sometimes. I don’t think they’ll be as bad or as frequent now that I’m back with you though.”
“Whatever you need, My Love.”
“You. I need you.” Isla crawled on top of Remy and kissed him deeply. He gave her what she needed several times that night.
Isla was in love with the other mates. She met most of them during the Halloween party Frey and Abbi hosted. Over the course of the next two months, Isla had the opportunity to talk with them one-on-one. While Remy went to work, Isla accompanied Rain to the Hartleys’ home, and when Abbi didn’t have dance class to teach, she invited the other mates to visit. Isla had been reluctant to share her story, but the more she heard of what the others had gone through, the easier it became. She cried with them as they shed tears for her, and those bonds became stronger each day.
After meeting Connor, Remy shared the drawing the young boy had drawn. Isla couldn’t stop staring at the little girl in the picture. She had asked Abbi to get her a pregnancy test, and when it showed up as negative, Isla secretly rejoiced. All the poking and prodding, the invasive injections hadn’t worked. The Webers paid a small fortune to have Isla in their home, and she considered it a victory on her part the artificial insemination never took. Looking at the girl in the drawing, Isla felt in her heart the child was hers and Remy’s. Or would be some day. It had taken years for Rain to come into their lives, so Isla knew this child would happen when the fates deemed it so. Isla could wait. She had her precious Rainier to focus on now.
Since they were moving to California so Remy could honor his agreement to run the Pen there, Isla searched online for houses. Money was no issue, so she took her time in finding the perfect home for their little family. Knowing one day a daughter would be added, Isla chose houses with plenty of room. She had narrowed it down to two she really liked, and when Rain and Amelia broke for lunch, she sat her son on her knee and showed him the pictures.
“I like this one, Mum. It has a swimming pool.” Rain chewed his bottom lip and turned his eyes to her. “
Will you teach me how to swim?”
Before she could answer, Amelia twirled around the kitchen in a red and green tutu. She had them in every color, plus several for each holiday. Since Christmas was a few days away, red and green were the colors of the day. “I want to swim too! I can do water ballet!” Amelia’s dark hair had fallen from the bun it started out in, and when she stopped spinning, she grabbed onto Isla’s arm. “Will you fix my hair please?”
Isla grinned at the girl. Amelia was a breath of fresh air, and Isla was thankful Rain had such a good friend. Isla set Rain on his feet, then she fixed Amelia’s hair into a braid because the bun, while cute, just wasn’t practical for someone as active as Amelia. “Yes, Rain. I’ll teach you to swim. Maybe when we’re settled, Amelia can come visit.”
“Yes! It’ll be an adventure. I’ve never been to California.” Amelia’s butt wiggled, making it hard for Isla to get the braid finished, but she managed. If Connor’s vision was right, Isla needed the practice.
Remy had reached out to Sinclair and gotten names of Clan members in California who had younger offspring. Not that they were opposed to Rain befriending human children, but it was nice to have friends they could be themselves around. The new prison had been completed, and they would be moving within the next month. Isla was going to miss the mates in New Atlanta, but she was looking forward to the next part of their lives. She was ready to have a home she could decorate with all their things Remy had in storage. Isla had been relieved her mate hadn’t gotten rid of everything when he thought she’d died.
Marigold fixed lunch for everyone, and after the kids had eaten, they went back to studying. While sitting there scrolling through the photos of the house Rain liked, Isla’s shifter nudged her. It had been so long since the Gargoyle had interacted with Isla. When she was held captive, that part of her retreated as though it were pissed off. She had tried coaxing it out of hiding, but it wouldn’t budge. So to feel it stirring brought tears to her eyes.
I’ve missed you.
I was always here.
It didn’t feel like it.
I was making things worse by fighting with you.
No. We were just in an impossible situation.
I’ll never abandon you again. Especially now.
Why now?
Because I have to look out for our girl.
What girl? Wait! Are you saying…?
Yes. Rain is going to be a brother.
How far along? Can you tell?
Far enough there’s a heartbeat.
Isla bowed her head and thanked the gods for giving her such a blessing. She also thanked them for keeping her from getting pregnant while being held at the Webers’. Then she jumped up from her chair, whooping and twirling much like Amelia did. Remy. She needed to call Remy. They were going to have a baby! She trusted her shifter to tell her the truth. It had alerted her when she was only days’ pregnant with Rain, so Isla didn’t bother with a pregnancy test. Instead of calling, Isla decided to meet him at work. She had visited the Pen a couple of times taking her mate lunch, and his only rule was she call first so he could meet her at the car. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the other males around her, but he explained the prison was no place for a female to wander around unescorted.
Isla texted her mate. I’m coming to see you.
Remy’s response came less than a minute later. I’ll be waiting.
Isla slipped into the room where Marigold was going over a math lesson and told them she was headed out to see Remy. After kissing both kids on the temple, Isla practically skipped down the hallway and out the door. They had bought a second vehicle so Isla wouldn’t be stuck at home with no transportation. It was a smaller SUV with the highest safety rating available, and Isla loved it. The drive to the Pen took roughly half an hour, and during that time, Isla didn’t stop smiling. They hadn’t been expecting a baby, but the hope was always there just below the surface. Isla would have a houseful if it were up to her.
True to his word, Remy was waiting outside when she pulled into the employee parking lot. She bounded out of the car and ran to her mate. If Remy weren’t a Gargoyle, he might not have caught her as she lunged herself at him. He laughed at her exuberance.
“Not that I’m unhappy you’re here, but what has you so excited?”
Isla wiggled out of Remy’s embrace and pushed on his shoulder. Normally when she did that, she was asking for something completely different.
“Uh, as much as I would love to get frisky with you, I’m not sure here is the right place,” Remy teased.
“At least bend over,” she urged.
“Isla. What’s going on? Bend over for what?”
Isla tapped her flat stomach. “Listen,” she said, grinning.
“No.”
“Yes!”
Remy squatted and placed his ear to her sweater. With his shifter hearing, he didn’t need to get that close, but it was the intimacy she craved. Now that her shifter had informed Isla she was pregnant, Isla was able to detect the second, faster beat coming from her body.
Remy nuzzled Isla’s belly. “Hi there. I’m your papa, and I can’t wait to meet you.” Remy looked up at Isla with so much love in his eyes it nearly brought her to her knees. She cupped his face and bent over to kiss him.
“We’re having a baby,” she whispered against his mouth.
“Merry Christmas to us,” he responded. While they didn’t believe in the human God, they did celebrate the holiday. They had taken Rain to pick out a tree and let him and Amelia decorate it however they wanted. Lights adorned the exterior of the house. Cheap baubles as well as expensive keepsakes lined the mantel and just about every other surface inside. They had gone overboard hoping to make up for the last two years their son had missed the holiday.
Remy surged to his feet, lifting Isla off the ground, and twirling her around. “We’re having a baby!”
Aldredge ran out the back door, clapping and hooting with Remy. “Congratulations, Brother.”
“Thank you. This is…” Remy shook his head.
“This is everything,” Isla finished for her mate.
“Take the rest of the day off. Go celebrate,” Aldredge offered.
“Thank you. I think I will.” Remy, still holding Isla, carried her to her car and put her in the passenger seat. Once he was seated next to her, he leaned over the console, and she met him halfway. “I guess we already know it’s a girl,” he said after showing her with his mouth how happy he was.
“We do. My beast confirmed it. Let’s go tell Rain he’s going to be a big brother.” Isla threaded her fingers with Remy’s once he got the car started and on the road. Isla leaned her head against the seat and turned her face so she could stare at her mate. For over two years, she lived through hell. Not because of how she was treated, but because she’d been separated from her mate. Isla loved Rain with her whole being, but Remy was the other half of her soul. Now she was once again complete, and she didn’t think she could be happier.
“I have a better idea.” Remy lifted their joined hands and kissed Isla’s knuckles. “He has a few more hours with Marigold. Let’s go home and celebrate, just the two of us.”
“You have the best ideas.” Their sex life wasn’t lacking by any means, but having a child meant they had to keep their lovemaking in the bedroom. Isla missed the days of spontaneous sex whenever and wherever.
By the time they arrived at Frey’s to pick up their son, Remy had reminded Isla how creative he could be. She was more than sated, and she couldn’t stop smiling. Abbi asked them to stay for supper, but they politely turned her down. Isla took her friend aside and confided what was going on. They wanted to tell Rain about the baby and celebrate with just the three of them. Abbi hugged Isla tightly, her own baby kicking against Isla’s stomach. Abbi was due in just a few weeks, and baby Jonathan was making his presence known.
Abbi pushed on her son’s foot. “I swear, he’s going to be a fighter like his father.”
“Or,” Frey
interjected from the kitchen doorway, “he could be a dancer like his sister.” His eyes were focused on Abbi’s belly. Isla knew that look. It was the same one Remy used to get when Isla’s tummy had been swollen with Rain.
Isla squeezed Abbi’s arm, then went in search of Remy and Rain. Amelia was chattering about water ballet. Remy raised his eyebrows, and Isla grinned, shaking her head. When the little girl came up for air, Isla jumped in. “Amelia, we’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay. Bye, Rain!” Amelia went in for a hug, and Rain embraced her back. Isla thought they were cute together. She could imagine the two of them becoming mates when they were older, and Isla would be quite okay with that. She loved Abbi, and Frey was an honorable male. Having them as family would definitely be a plus.
Since they were celebrating, Remy asked Rain what he wanted for supper. The boy chose pizza, and Isla was happy with his choice. She had been cooking almost every night since she returned, only going out on the weekends. Remy suggested calling the order in, then eating at home since they had something private to talk about. Isla called the local mom-and-pop place that had the best pizza she’d ever tasted. She agreed that eating at home was the right idea. Isla was nervous about telling Rain she was pregnant. If this had been before he had been taken, she wouldn’t think twice about his reaction. Considering he had just gotten his mum back, Isla didn’t want him to think—
“Stop,” Remy said. He grabbed her hand and kissed her fingertips. “I can hear you thinking. It’s going to be fine,” he promised. She gave her mate a smile, trusting he was right.
“Your mum tells me you picked out our new house.” Remy handed Rain a plate with his favorite pizza.
“It has a pool. Mum is going to teach me how to swim.”