My son wraps his tail around my upper arm and happily starts to suckle. I smile down at him, a warm fuzzy feeling threatening to burst from my chest. I don’t know how to show the love I’m feeling for him, for all of them. It’s too much to express, even if I was good at that sort of thing. Emotions have always confused me, especially when they’re my emotions.
Benjamin arrives with a stack of letters held together with a thin cord just when Tailie is done with his dinner. He fell asleep as soon as I detached him from my breast and is now happily snoring away with the end of his tail in his mouth. I exchange him for Furrie, who’s wide awake and is trying to tell me something with baby babble. She’s going to be a big talker one day. Maybe she could become mayor like Lady Lara and rule the city with talk rather than weapons.
Benjamin runs from the room as soon as he’s handed me the papers, red as a tomato and refreshingly speechless. I have to admit, I did flash my boob at him on purpose.
While Furrie drinks her fill, I open the first letter. It’s addressed to Lord Delaney and is written in some sort of code. I could probably decipher that with some time, but right now I’ve got a greedy baby suckling on me and my brain isn’t top of its game. The second letter is thankfully not in code. It’s a thank you note to Delaney mentioning a donation. Money, I assume? It’s signed by D.M. which doesn’t tell me anything. I’ll cross-check the initials with Mr MacFay’s list later, maybe it’s a match.
The third piece of paper is a list of addresses. In an ideal world, this would be the homes of all the Fang members, but I don’t think I’m that lucky. There’s no heading or any explanation what the addresses are, so there’s no choice but to check them out one by one. Maybe I can put some cats on it. Ryker has taught some of his most trusted cats how to read a map, so he should be able to tell them where to go. It’s not like they can read street signs and house numbers.
A meow interrupts me and I look up, surprised to see Pumpkin walk into the room. I’ve not seen him in a while; Ryker said he’s busy ruling his own group of young cats. He’s turned into a mini-Ryker, protecting fellow felines who require a safe home.
“Hey, little one. Come to visit the babies?”
He meows again and jumps on my lap. He gives Furrie a little lick – my daughter doesn’t react, she’s too busy drinking – and get comfortable. Typical.
“I’ll have to get up in a moment to get the next baby,” I warn him.
He gives me a look, a cat equivalent of a shrug, and closes his eyes. Looks like he’s here to stay.
We still have no idea if he’ll ever be able to shift. I really hope he will, but in the end, only time will tell. Ryker finally managed to shift in a life-or-death situation, and as much as I want Pumpkin to shift, I don’t want him to get into one of those.
Pumpkin. Maybe I should name my children after vegetables, too. Carrot, Bean, Cabbage and Kale. That does have a nice ring to it.
I hear Gryphon and Lennox long before they enter the nursery.
My siren smiles at me with love almost sparking from his eyes, while Lennox bends down to press a kiss on my forehead.
“How are you?” he asks before kissing his daughter. She doesn’t even look at her father, too busy sucking me dry. It’s amazing how much these babies can drink.
“Tired,” I admit. “It’s been a long day.”
“It has. Benjamin said you still want to go through with the ceremony.”
I laugh. “Everyone else seems to want me to do it. I don’t really have a choice.”
Gryphon frowns. “Since when do you bow to the will of others?”
“You’re right. It’s not just because of that. I also want them to have proper names, even though it’ll take a while to get used to it.”
Lennox picks up Vamp from her cradle and gives her a tummy tickle. She squeals in delight and my heart fills with even more love. Can you die of an overflowing heart? I know it’s possible to die from a broken heart, but this is the opposite. There’s only so much a person should be able to feel.
“Has she grown from this morning?” my wolf asks.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s not like these babies do what they’re supposed to.”
“I’m sorry I’ve not been able to find more on their development. I thought I was close to something but it turned out to be about wolves and I don’t think it applies to our litter.”
Our. I take in the way he holds Vamp, the way he looks at her. Gryphon has Biter in his arms, rocking her gently. They don’t care that they’re not the biological fathers. We’re a family, no matter where the babies came from.
“You name them,” I decide spontaneously, taking on Lily’s suggestion from earlier. “One each. We all name one each. But we’ll never tell them who named who; I wouldn’t want them to feel like they’re more loved by one of us than the others.”
Gryphon’s entire expression turns soft, like he’s melting. Aww. “Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I wasn’t. We’ve talked about names and you all had suggestions. I don’t want to make this decision on my own.”
“But you didn’t like any of the names…”
“I don’t seem to like any name that isn’t related to Catnip,” I huff. “That’s my fault, not yours. I’ll name Tailie, you take one girl each.”
Furrie uses that moment to bite my nipple. I gasp and pull her off my boob, inspecting the damage. She’s broken through skin; a few small drops of blood are pooling to the surface. Furrie squeals in protest and struggles to get back to my nipple. I’m not sure if she wants more milk or the blood and I don’t intend to find out. She’s had enough, it’s her sisters’ turn.
Gryphon takes Furrie and hands me Biter. She’s half-asleep, but smiles up at me and reaches out with one chubby arm. How adorable. I think I know now who my children’s father is: The God of Cuteness. He must exist, right? My children are proof of it.
“Where is everyone?” Ryker shouts from downstairs. It’s an act, really, of course, he can sense where we are. He joins us and leans against the door frame, taking in the scene. One big happy family. If only things could stay like they are now. Calm, safe, full of love. I never thought I’d one day crave such a simple life, but now that I’ve somehow acquired a massive family, things have changed.
But we’re not safe yet. Not as long as Delaney and the Fangs are out there. Even if we get rid of Delaney, the Fangs and sirens present too much of a future risk. One day, they’re going to decide to eliminate shifters. Or the competition, M.E.O.W. I’m no longer going to wait and be attacked. This time, we’re going on the offensive.
“I was thinking,” Ryker begins, clearing his throat. “I would really like to name one of the babies. I never had the chance with Pumpkin, his mother chose that name before she died. Unless-“
“We just decided the same thing,” I tell him and his face lights up, his yellow eyes sparkling with joy. “You get to name one girl each while I find a name for Tailie. If we want to have the ceremony at sunset, you better hurry up. I’m going to take a shower once Biter and Vamp are done with their dinner.”
Biter must have heard her name and bites deep into my breast. I yelp, but I’m used to it by now and don’t let go of her. Yes, I almost did that the first time.
“Maybe we should keep calling you Biter,” I groan and inspect the damage. Then look away. I didn’t need to see that. Biter happily continues suckling, now mixing milk with blood. She’s definitely my daughter, even though I’ve not craved blood since their birth. Even when I smelled all those dead grunts at the Delaney manor, I wasn’t tempted to lick them.
“I’ll join you,” Gryphon says and points at my boobs. “As your physician, I have to make sure you don’t faint from blood loss.”
Ryker rolls his eyes. “It’s my turn. Kat and I agreed that back when we were killing mutants. She promised me a shower together.”
“Boys, the shower is big enough for three,” I sigh. “Someone hand me Vamp, this little monster has
had enough.”
I give Biter a playful glare. She giggles and looks up at me with her big green eyes. I wipe her mouth with my sleeve, getting rid of the bloody evidence. Lennox takes her and Gryphon hands me little Vamp. I grit my teeth when she shows me her tiny but sharp fangs. This is going to hurt.
I’m surrounded by naked men and I’m loving it. With all three of them crowding me, the shower is a little small after all. Not that I’m complaining. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Gryphon lowers himself to his knees, his hands wrap around my thighs and I let him push them apart, exposing my sex.
“Our pussy has a pretty pussy,” he murmurs before teasing me with his tongue. His tongue is the best. Truly. I’ve never come across another man who’s this skilled with just his tongue. I moan and lean back into Ryker’s waiting arms. His chest is hard and so is his erection pressing against my arse.
Lennox takes a soapy cloth and gently runs it over my breasts, leaving foamy traces over my skin. I like that he’s at least pretending that we’re having a shower to get clean.
Gryphon flicks his tongue and I forget about everything else. His fingers are on my thighs, holding me in place, steadying me, but he does more with his tongue than other men could ever do with their fingers. I close my eyes and cling to Ryker while Gryphon makes me descend into a crazed state of arousal. Lennox rubs my nipples between his fingers and I can't help but moan. These men will be my undoing.
I hiss in protest when Lennox's tongue suddenly disappears, but being picked up by Ryker and carried over to the bed makes up for it. He smells so familiar, like family, but not in the icky kind of way. He's mine, I'm his, and that's the end of it.
As soon as I'm on the bed, the duvet a soft, cool touch against my back, he spreads my legs.
"I’m sure there’s a joke about the cat drinking the milk,” Gryphon mutters with a wicked chuckle, but Ryker ignores him.
And then his tongue is there, lapping up my wetness, making my mind descend into fireworks. His tongue is rougher than that of Lennox. He doesn't so much stimulate me as eat me out. He cleans me with his tongue, preparing me for what's to come. That thought alone brings me right back to the edge.
Gryphon and Lennox lie down either side of me. Their bodies are warm against mine even though all of us are still wet from the shower, their touch a welcome reminder that we belong together. All my men are different, but when we're together like this, there is no difference between them at all. They're all equally mine. My love for them isn't finite, it's not split between them. It's for all three of them at once. It's hard to put into words what I feel for them, but I think they know.
Lennox cusps my right breast and Gryphon massages the one on the left, as if they'd planned it. Ryker seems to have decided that I'm clean enough (let's not start mentioning milk again) and pushes a probing finger inside of me.
I'm so close to coming, but this time, I need to feel one of them in there.
"Fuck me," I demand.
"Stroke them," he shoots back, sounding more dominant than I'm used to.
I don't have to ask what he means. Lennox's and Gryphon's cocks are hard and erect.
I reach out and they both turn their hips a little towards me, making it easier for them to wrap my hands around their cocks.
Ryker seems satisfied and finally presses his cock against my entrance. I open my thighs a little further until he pushes in with one long, hard stroke. I can't help but moan at this feeling of completeness. Him inside me, touching the other two, their scents all over my body. This is how it's supposed to be. We're made for each other and we're going to prove that again and again.
Ryker sets the rhythm and I copy it, stroking the guys whenever he thrusts into me. He's starting slow, but once he's confident that I'm fully adjusted to his girth, he turns faster, wilder. Groans fill the air, interspersed with my moans as I teeter at the edge, so close to falling yet not able to take the final step.
"Touch me," I gasp to no one in particular and close my eyes. Fingers press against my nub, flicking it, and then I'm over the edge, the orgasm shaking me, making lightning flash before my eyes. Ryker pounds into me as my inner muscles squeeze him tight, while my hands are clenched around the guys' cocks, trying to keep up the rhythm while my body is quivering uncontrollably.
Ryker comes with a scream, ramming into me so hard that it hurts, but I don't care. The pain only adds to the ecstasy filling my brain.
Gryphon moves away from my touch, followed by the bed moving as he climbs down. As soon as Ryker pulls out of me, Gryphon takes his place, his cock continuing what Ryker started. The cat climbs into bed next to me and takes my hand, squeezing it tight as Gryphon fucks me hard.
Lennox breathes in sharply, then his fingers clamp around my wrist, pulling my hand away from his cock. "Give me a second," he pants, clearly trying to restrain himself.
Gryphon opens his mouth and a strange sound escapes him, one that makes me stop and then fall apart. I scream as an orgasm racks through me at the same time as Gryphon comes within me. We ride the waves together, holding each other until my breath slowly returns to normal. He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight, my breasts against his chest, my nipples hard on his skin.
"Oops," he whispers, but he doesn't sound sorry in the slightest.
My body is still shaking as bliss fills my cells. Siren-induced orgasms really are the best.
I let him hold me, stroke my hair, whisper soft words into my ear.
But we’re not done yet. It’s Lennox’s turn and he lets me know by sliding off the bed, waiting for Gryphon to relinquish his place between my legs. The siren gently circles a finger around my folds, as if to say goodbye, then lets Lennox have his go.
He enters me in a hard stroke and I sense that he’s barely holding on to the wild beast inside.
“Let go,” I mutter, and he does.
He comes with a howl, pumping into me even as he roars his release. I cling to Ryker's hand while Gryphon snuggles against me, holding me tight.
We end up draped across the bed, all of them somehow managing to wrap themselves around me. Lennox cradles my head on his chest, his fingers playing with my hair. He's cleaned me up, making sure that I'm comfortable, before joining us on the bed. None of the human men I've been with ever did that. I am blessed to have found these guys, who not only care for me, but also for each other.
Ryker gently runs his hand up and down my belly, his touch light as the kiss of wind. His chest vibrates softly as if he's trying to purr. I smile, loving how he preserves his cat side even though he's human now.
Gryphon is on my other side, spooning my legs with his. His eyes are fixed on me, watching my every move.
"What?"
"I'm trying to figure out how I got here," he whispers. "One moment, I was a runaway hiding from my family, the next, I'm with a beautiful woman who's made me part of her own family. I'm not quite sure how it all happened. Or if I deserve it."
"Tell me about it. I was a cat all my life and now my human hands are touching this feline goddess.”
“Stop it,” I mutter. “You know I’m bad with compliments. Let’s just enjoy a moment of silence before we have to return to the chaos.”
And that’s we do, snuggled together, our bodies connected, our hearts beating as one.
Chapter Ten
With all of us squeezed into the living room, the house feels a lot smaller than it is. I had hoped to do the ceremony outside, but it started raining and while I don’t mind getting wet, I know the babies feel very different. They hate their baths, especially Biter, who puts up a fight every time we even get close to the bathroom.
We’ve put them into freshly washed clothes, but Furry has already managed to get some drool on her collar.
“Everyone ready?” Sophie asks, physically jumping up and down with excitement. Caitlin is almost as eager, although she’s trying to hide it.
The guys and I are holding one baby each. As always, Tailie has his tail wrapped around my arm,
hugging me back. It’s the best feeling in the world. Closely behind is what the guys made me feel in the shower, though. We need to do that more often. Ryker wanted to talk more after, but I managed to stop him with ceremony preparations.
I never had a naming ceremony, or if I had, I can’t remember it. Same with Lennox and obviously Ryker didn’t have one either, having grown up as a cat. Gryphon is the only one of us who both underwent an official naming as a baby and then witnessed it done for other children later on. He’s been guiding us in what needs to be done.
Tailie increases his grip on me and I smile down at him. Like his sisters, he has no idea what’s going on. He doesn’t know what kind of life awaits him. He doesn’t know the things his mother has done to survive. I look into his big golden eyes and hope with all my heart that he’ll never have to go through any of the pain I experienced. He’s going to have a wonderful childhood, I’ll make sure of it. All four of my babies are going to grow up safe and happy, knowing that they’re loved and cherished. I’ll ensure they never know that they weren’t planned, weren’t wanted at first.
Gryphon clears his throat, looking extremely serious. “Please, everyone not holding a baby, sit down.”
As soon as they’re all seated, the room feels immediately less crowded. I breathe in deep, then focus on Gryphon as he looks at the babies one at a time.
“We welcome you to the world. Know you were loved from the moment we heard your tiny hearts beat for the very first time and that you will be loved until the day they beat no more. Our life together has only just begun, but from now on we will be part of your lives every second of the day. You are loved, you are cherished, you are treasured. May you know happiness, friendship and health. May you know right from wrong, your own true worth and peace throughout your lives. May you sing and laugh and play with only joy and never fear. Children, we welcome you to the world.”
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