by Kasey Belle
As much as Storm had wanted to stay in bed with his mate, he needed to feed her. It was the least he could do after the vigorous night they’d had. Bow’s kitchen was well stocked and organized. He found what he needed in order to make pancakes with a side of bacon. Because who didn’t love bacon? It made everything better.
He’d anticipated a bubbly good morning and a steamy kiss when Bow finally woke and came looking for him. He certainly hadn’t expected the complete opposite to be his reality. Storm grinned and shook his head. He was still having a hard time reconciling the bubbly woman he knew and loved with the surly woman who growled at him before she’d had her coffee. Which by the way was some funny shit. Not that he planned to tell his mate. Finding himself in the dog house so soon after their mating was not on his list of fun things he wanted to do today.
“At the risk of angering you further, may I ask how many pieces of bacon you’d like?”
A frown moved across Bow’s face. “I’m not that bad.”
“Whatever you say, cupcake.” His placating tone made her scowl deepen.
“Why do you call me cupcake? Not that I mind. Why that particular endearment?” Bow blew on her coffee before taking a sip. She eyed him over her mug as she did so. The humming yummy noises she made went straight to his balls.
“Huh?”
“Our mate asked you a question. Pay attention, dude. She’s a beast in the morning.”
“Is the big, bad bear scared of our little cupcake?” Storm fought his laughter.
“Would you rather explain to her why you weren’t paying attention before the caffeine has had a chance to kick in?”
“Not particularly. Good point.”
“Duh. I’m the brains of this operation.”
Storm rolled his eyes. Smug ass grizzly.
“Hello? I asked why you call me cupcake.” Bow shook her head and blew out a breath. He added easily exasperated to Bow’s pre-coffee disposition list.
“Because you smell and, also in case you were wondering, taste like my second favorite tasty treat.” He wagged his eyebrows suggestively. Loving the blush that pinked her cheeks.
Bow didn’t acknowledge his innuendo and sniffed her shirt. “I do not.”
“Yes, you do. Scent is one way a shifter identifies his mate. It’s how I knew you were my mine. The second I scented you I wanted to throw you onto the rug in front of Koda’s fireplace and claim you. From what I understand, our human mates can smell our scents as well. What do I smell like to you?”
He was eager to know her answer. Bow took a long drink of coffee. The mischief dancing in her eyes told him she was holding him in suspense on purpose. “You have this fresh pine scent. I thought it was body wash or cologne. I love it.”
“Rugged and masculine. Good to know.” He sent her a wink before turning back to the task at hand. The last thing he wanted to do was burn breakfast.
They fell into a companionable silence. Storm cooked while Bow watched and drank coffee. It was damn domestic, and he loved the shit out of it.
Storm had just placed the last pancake on the plate when Stevie came shuffling in still looking half asleep and adorable with his hair stuck up in all directions. He hadn’t yet noticed Storm. He wondered if Stevie had the same attitude toward mornings as his mother did. The cub walked straight over to his mother and hugged her.
“Morning, Mommy.”
“Morning, baby boy.” Bow kissed his temple and held the boy in her arms. “Did you sleep well?”
Stevie nodded against her shoulder. “I had the weirdest dream. Storm was here, and he was a bear.”
Bow froze and glanced over at Storm. Her wide eyes asked him a silent question. Storm nodded. They might as well get the shifter and mate conversations out of the way. Storm was there to stay.
“That wasn’t a dream,” Bow responded with care.
Stevie’s head shot up almost clocking Bow in the chin. “It wasn’t?”
Bow nodded in Storm’s direction. “Turn around.”
Stevie did as he was told pinning Storm with wide eyes when he found him standing by the stove. “Storm! You’re here!” He pushed out of his mother’s arms and ran to Storm throwing his arms around Storm’s waist. “I thought I dreamed you.”
“Nope.” Storm laughed and made an even bigger mess of Stevie’s already messy hair. His cub was definitely a morning person if his excessive enthusiasm was any indication.
“And you’re really a bear?”
“Yep.”
“Wow. Mom told me about magical beings. I just thought they were fairy tales.”
“Nope.” He tapped Stevie on the nose. “I’m a bear shifter.”
“I want to see your bear again,” Stevie stated, excitement lit his expression.
“How about after breakfast we head out to The Sanctuary? Koda’s land butts up against his family’s land. They don’t mind if we use it to let our animals run.”
“Cool. Wait? Mr. Koda’s family? Are they bears too? Is Mr. Koda?”
“No, they’re wolves.”
“Really? Wow. Do you think I could see their wolves? Can I run with your bear?”
“I’m sure you’ll meet their wolves, eventually. My bear would love to run with you.” He handed Stevie the pancakes. “Set this on the table for me, will you?”
“Sure.” Stevie balanced the plate and took slow careful steps. Storm grinned when he breathed a sigh of relief and placed the plate in the center of the table.
Storm carried over a set of plates and forks while Rainbow grabbed the bacon, butter, and syrup. He went back for his coffee and poured Stevie a glass of milk. He placed them on the table before going back for a bowl of his favorite cereal.
He took his seat. Storm loved the fact that the table sitting in Bow’s little breakfast nook was round. He was able sit between both Stevie and Bow.
Bow eyed his bowl and frowned. “Where the hell did that come from?”
He glanced down at the glass mixing bowl he found in the cupboard. “Your kitchen.” Storm shrugged.
She sighed. “It’s too early for you to pretend to be obtuse. I meant the cereal and you know it.”
Stevie giggled but stayed quiet.
Storm grinned at him, winking as he fought his own laughter. Even surly she lightened his soul. “My trunk. I brought it with me. You know―” He sent her a pointed look. “―just in case.”
“Okay, um.” Bow cleared her throat as the blush he loved so much stole across her features. “Why are you eating Rice Krispies when there are pancakes and bacon? I can’t believe you’re going to eat all of that. You realize that’s a mixing bowl not a standard bowl, right?”
“That is a lot of cereal,” Stevie said as he stared with wide-eyed wonder at the bowl in front of Storm.
Storm growled playfully. “Don’t get any ideas, kid.”
The cub giggled again, not the least bit intimidated.
Storm turned his attention back to his mate. Using his fingers, he ticked off the answers to her questions. “One. It’s my favorite cereal. It’s delicious. I always eat a bowl for breakfast, sometimes also lunch and dinner. Two. I’m a shifter. We have extremely high metabolisms. I’m also a bear. Three. Those tiny bowls just piss me off because I have to keep refilling them.”
“Alright. Good to know.” Bow hid a grin behind her coffee mug. “I guess we’ll need to add Rice Krispies to the grocery list so there will always be some in the pantry. In fact, you can stash your box in there.”
“The pantry?” Storm winced. He didn’t want to keep them in there. He’d already found a place for his stash. “No need. I’ve already found somewhere to keep it.”
“Other than the pantry?” Bow cocked her head when Storm nodded. “And you don’t want to move it to where I keep all the other non-perishables?” Storm shook his head no. “Why not?”
“Because if I left that beautiful blue box of ricey goodness in the pantry everyone will eat it. People would just be pouring bowls all willy-nilly.”
“I thought so.”
“Everyone? People? You realize there’s only us three, right?” She waved her hand around between them.
“Well… yeah.”
“And you know they make tons of that stuff every day? We can buy it practically twenty-four-seven at these places called grocery stores. I think even convenience stores carry Rice Krispies.”
“What if I go to make a bowl―which I mentioned I do every morning―and there isn’t any? Because someone ate it all and didn’t say anything. What then, Ms. Smarty Pants?” He countered.
“Then it would probably be your fault, because as you said, you eat them every day. You’d know if we were running low,” Bow answered with a sassy smirk.
“They’re my favorite,” he muttered with a pout. “You just don’t get it.”
Bow studied him for a moment then her eyes widened lit with amusement. “Oh. My. Goddess.” she barked a laugh. “Are you seriously saying you want to hide your cereal?”
Storm shook his head. “Not want. Did.”
Bow and Stevie shared a look then burst into laughter. Storm ignored them in favor of eating his cereal before it got soggy and no longer snapped, crackled, and popped.
“Um, Storm,” Stevie said once the laughter at his expense died down. He cocked his head looking Storm directly in the eyes. “I was wondering. Did you spend the night or come over early?”
Storm choked and sputtered on a mouthful of cereal. “Uh…” His eyes jerked to Rainbow’s. She bit her lips together and her body shook with silent laughter. He narrowed his eyes, but the look had no effect on his little cupcake. “Yes, mate. Very funny. Are you going to help me out here?”
Bow finally took pity on him and explained how she and Storm were mates. When she finished, Stevie thought over what she said. Storm swore he could see smoke coming out his cub’s ear.
Stevie glance at him then looked at Bow. “Storm is going to live with us?”
“I… I mean… um.” Bow stuttered. She looked at Storm. “We haven’t discussed that.” A little blush tinted her cheeks no doubt thinking about why their conversations had been limited last night.
He shot her a wink before turning his attention to Stevie. “Yes, I am. We’ll either live here or my cabin. Wherever your mother wants to live is fine with me.”
Stevie did a little dance in his seat making Storm laugh. “Does this mean you’re my dad now?”
“It does.” Storm’s voice cracked. “Is that okay?”
“Heck, yes!” Stevie jumped from his chair and flung his arms around Storm’s neck. “I love you, Storm. Can I call you Dad?”
“I would love that, almost as much as I love you.” His words barely made it passed the lump in his throat.
Storm never thought he’d have a mate let alone a son. He wasn’t sure why everything in his life was working in his favor, but he was damn happy about it. Storm wouldn’t survive if they were taken from him. He forced himself to hope.
Chapter 10
Koda, Ella, and baby Stephanie along with Nikki, Jim and Casey decided to join them for a run. They all brought food and blankets, so they could make a day of it.
Casey hopped out of Jim’s truck and made a beeline for Stevie. She twisted her fingers together as she looked at Stevie with an anxious, guilty expression. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Mr. Storm or my mom or Mr. Koda. I wasn’t allowed to.”
“I was sad at first, especially when I thought you were a shifter too. Then Storm explained it was a secret. You shouldn’t tell other people’s secrets without permission, especially if it will endanger them.” Stevie threw his arms around Casey.
Casey hugged him back. “We’re still besties?”
“Duh. Always.” He playfully shoved Casey’s shoulder. “I love your shirt. I’s borrowing it one day. Come on. Let’s go give baby Stephie cuddles.”
Casey rolled her eyes. “Stephie? You know Ms. Ella hates it when we shorten Stephanie’s name.”
Stevie planted a hand on his cocked hip. “But, I shortened it to something awesome. She can’t be mad Stephie sounds like Stevie.” Stevie wagged his eyebrows. He took Casey’s hand and tugged on it to get her moving.
“Those two are really quite the pair,” Storm mused as he watched the two best friends chat and giggle.
“They really are.” Bow let out a wistful sigh. “I’m so happy he has Casey and Marie. They accept and love him for who he is.”
“What’s not to love. Our little boy is adorable and sweet.”
Bow eyes filled with tears. Shit. What did he say? He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. “Please don’t cry. What did I say? I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t say or do anything wrong.” She fanned her eyes in an attempt to dry them. “You called Stevie ours.”
He tilted his head to the left utterly confused by Bow’s reaction. “Well, yeah. He is. I thought we settled that this morning. You’re my mate. Your cubs are my cubs. Stevie’s DNA doesn’t change that.”
His beautiful mate stared up at him like he hung the moon and stars. Bow reached up and cupped his cheek in her palms. “I love you.”
Each time she said those three little words another part of his soul healed. He tucked a braided clump of blue hair behind her ear before pressing his forehead to hers. “I love you, cupcake.”
****
Nikki and Ella helped Bow spread out the blankets. Jim hung one on the rope Koda and Storm tied between two trees to protect everyone’s modesty when they shifted. Afterward, the men brought the coolers over before Koda and Storm shifted into their animals. Jim brought out his lasso and helped the children try and capture the beasts. They weren’t successful, but their constant laughter told Bow they didn’t care.
“Aren’t you going to shift with the men?” Bow asked Nikki with a cocked eyebrow.
“Um, sorry?” Nikki’s expression turned sheepish. “I wanted to tell you, if that makes it better.”
“Whatever you say, foxy lady.”
Ella snorted a laugh.
Nikki slammed her hands on her hips looking positively indignant. “No, absolutely not. I finally got Jim to stop calling me that. You are not going to start.” She muttered something about cheesy 70s porno, lack of manscaping, and giant lady bush.
“Fine. Ruin my fun.” Bow poked out her lower lip. “For the record, I understand why you didn’t tell me.”
Nikki blew out a breath. “Good. I was hoping. So… fun night?” She nodded at Bow’s bite mark. “Congratulations!” Her tiny friend gave her a big hug. “Welcome to the club.”
“Club?”
“The mate club, of course,” Ella responded.
Bow couldn’t help the blush that crept up her cheeks. The mere thought of making love with Storm lit her lady parts on fire. She’d had no idea sex could be so spectacular. The way Storm grabbed a handful of her hair and tugged so he could take her mouth. The action was rough and primal, and she loved it. Bow had never experienced any sort of erotic manhandling in her lovemaking. Not that there was much sex in her past. There was just Kip, Stevie’s father. Sex with him had been, for a lack of a better term, selfish. On his part, not hers. A little touching, poke this, wiggle that, missionary position, shove tab A into slot B, searing pain, thrust-thrust-thrust, done. Congrats, it’s a boy.
There was nothing one-sided in the way Storm touched her or the way he moved. He made it his mission to make sure she was satisfied. Satisfied? What an understatement. He’d given her more pleasure than she could stand. Probably why she passed out after each mind-blowing session.
The delicious fullness, the wicked stretch, the sinful stroke as Storm moved inside her. So yummy. He was huge and thick. Each thrust of his hard as steel erection made her ache for more. It was the sex of her daydreams, the sex women raved about, the sex she’d read about in novels. Poets probably wrote sonnets about it. And oh goddess, when he told her to come, Bow’s climax surged through h
er like a tide of molten lava. The shock of it forced the breath from her lungs, her muscles clenched greedily around him as if trying to hold him inside her. Her heart filled with joy when she heard him whisper her name. Then he bit her, and a second impossibly stronger orgasm overtook her. His body shuddered as he found his pleasure. His groans mingled with her cries as he let himself go deep inside her body.
“I think we lost her,” Ella stated in a loud whisper. “I know that look.”
“Right? Bow-chica-wow-wow,” Nikki hooted.
“I’d ask for details, but I don’t think I could look at Storm the same way.” Ella’s full body shudder was comical. “I mean don’t get me wrong he’s a fine specimen. I just don’t need those images in my head. The mere thought makes me nauseous which is weird because I never used to mind hearing my girlfriends regale me with stories of their sexy times.” Ella bit her lip looking utter confused.
Nikki barked a laugh. “The problem isn’t Storm, it’s you.” Ella glared at their friend. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way. Storm’s not your bondmate. The only man your mind will allow you to imagine in the throes of passion is Koda.”
“Huh. Well good. I thought maybe I was becoming prudish in my old age.” She winked.
“I like that, though.” Bow smiled at her friends. “I like that we won’t be gossiping about something so special and private. It seems tacky and disrespectful.” Nikki and Ella agreed.
The children squealed, and they turned to see Casey and Stevie riding on Storm’s back. Jim helped Stephanie do the same with Koda.
“Storm called Stevie his.”
“Stevie is his,” Nikki said with absolute certainty. “Like Casey is mine and Jim’s, and Stephanie is Koda and Ella’s. Sharing DNA or not doesn’t make them our children. Love does.
“Storm’s so good with Stevie. Gentle. Sometimes watching him with Stevie makes me want to cry. It’s so beautiful.”
“The gentle giant thing. That’s a bear trait. People look at bears, shifters or natural, and think ferocious beasts.” Nikki shook her head. “So not true. They’ve got big squishy centers, well until you piss them off. Then, watch out. Mama or papa bear mode engaged is a dangerous thing.”