Cayden watched amusedly as Selena ravished two bowls of pasta and an entire loaf of garlic bread. He couldn't help but admire her voracious appetite, finding it charming. As Selena finished her last bite, she let out a contented sigh and leant back in her chair, patting her satisfied stomach. Cayden chuckled again.
"What?" Selena asked him, raising an eyebrow in confusion. Cayden shook his head, still smiling, and replied, "nothing; should I order more?"
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly eat another bite," she said, her voice filled with genuine satisfaction.
"How about some dessert?" Cayden asked, smiling. Selena's eyes lit up at the mention of dessert. Funny, she had never been fond of dessert before.
"Sure, can I have a cheesecake?"
"Of course! I'll get you a slice of our famous homemade cheesecake," Cayden replied, pleased to see Selena's newfound love for dessert. Selena eagerly nodded, her anticipation growing as she waited for the delicious treat to arrive.
"Why am I eating so much? Is it because of the baby?"
Cayden chuckled. "Maybe she has a sweet tooth too!" Selena laughed along, attributing her sudden craving for desserts to her pregnancy.
As she turned to face him and gave him a slight smile, Selena asked, "She?" She rubbed her stomach with her hands. Selena was amazed.
He had a big smile on his face, and his eyes were shining with happiness. "Selena, can't you smell her?" He whispered, pulling her onto his lap so she could rest against his chest, and he could put his hand on her stomach over hers. "She has a rose scent. Just like you."
Selena took a big breath and tried to smell the roses he was talking about, but she couldn't. "I can't believe you can smell anything," she said. "I just found out I'm going to have a baby. I'm still getting used to it." Selena looked up at him with a mix of joy and nervousness in her eyes. "But it's great that you already feel close to our baby."
"The reason I can smell her is that I have been paying extra attention to your scent lately," he replied with a smile. "I want to make sure I don't miss any changes as our baby grows. It's my way of connecting with her even before she arrives." Selena's heart swelled with love as she realised how much effort he was putting into being a supportive partner and father. She reached out and gently squeezed his hand, grateful for his unwavering presence during this exciting yet uncertain time.
Selena brushed her lips against his. His lips caught hers. Their kiss was filled with tenderness and a deep sense of connection, reminding Selena of the love they shared and the journey they were embarking on together. She pressed her body against his, her eyes darkening with the strength of her emotions, and her wolf rose to the surface, growling with possessiveness.
*******************************
The Spirit Walker pack's kitchen resembled a runaway potion factory. Cauldrons bubbled over, utensils clanged like an overly exuberant symphony, and chefs darted around in a chaotic choreography. When the warriors and soldiers came back, it turned the kitchen into a culinary battlefield. With their aprons as shields, the cooks were fighting a war of food to tame their pack mates' ravenous appetites.
Omega Lisa was a relatively new employee in the kitchen. She wore an apron and had the drive that could move mountains, or at least mountains of mashed potatoes. She had an important job. She had to bring a delicious cheesecake to the Alpha's rooms.
With the prized cheesecake cradled like a newborn in her arms, Lisa set forth on her mission. She approached the alpha's door with a mix of trepidation and resolution. A firm knock echoed, but there was no response. She knocked again, a tad bit more insistently. Still, nothing. A quizzical frown played across Lisa's lips. Should she knock again? Should she wait?
As indecision gnawed at her, Lisa found herself at a crossroads. With a shrug and a "why not?" mentality, she gingerly turned the doorknob and nudged the Alpha's door open. What greeted her was a sight that could've knocked her socks off if she hadn't been so busy grappling with the cheesecake.
The Alpha and his mate seemed to be fused together on the dining table. Their bodies were intertwined in a passionate embrace, and their lips locked in a heated kiss. Lisa's eyes widened in shock and embarrassment.
"Keep the cake and leave!" Cayden growled at the girl, then got back to caressing Selena.
Lisa's face flushed crimson as she quickly averted her gaze, feeling like an intruder in their intimate moment. She stumbled backwards, nearly dropping the cheesecake in her haste to keep it on the table. She turned and ran out of the room.
Selena started giggling, and Cayden was forced to break the kiss again.
"It looks like we've startled her." Selena said, still giggling, and playfully swatted Cayden's arm before he pulled back in for another passionate kiss.
"You must eat your cake," he rumbled after he'd kissed her breathlessly.
"I am not hungry for the cake." Selena whispered. "I am hungry for you."
He kissed her slowly and gently as he ran his hands through her curls. His smile grew wider. "I have no plans to turn you down, honey," he said with a soft laugh once his heart had slowed down a bit. His need and desire to taste her were taking over him. "I need this just as much as you do."
He didn't want to say it, but he had to. He needed her so much that it hurt his body. She was his, just as much as he was hers.
She slowly smiled up at him and pressed her body against his hardness again. She could feel his need pressing into her soft skin, and she could hear his breath hiss out in a long, painful way. "Then what are you waiting for?" she asked in a husky voice, laughing when he caught her behind, stood up, and carried her to bed.
His kiss was fierce and full of need and lust at first, but as time went on, it became soft and loving. She couldn't decide whether she liked his wild side or the soft side that came out when she least expected it. All she knew was that he always made her gasp. She moaned and flicked her tongue against his. As soon as he touched her, fire shot through her veins.
He growled and ran his lips down her fragile throat, picking her soft skin until she cried out and gripped his shoulders. He broke the kiss just long enough for him to take off his shirt, and Selena did the same.
His tongue slithered out to taste her skin and rasped roughly as it moved down to the valley of her breasts, which he wanted to taste. He kissed and nibbled her body, looking for the firm peaks of her breasts to feast on. His body was filled with a strong desire to touch and taste her. As he went down, he took her track pants off.
He teased her with light touches and ignored his own strong desire as he slowly licked her wet skin, making it even more wet, and drank the honey she gave him. He could really feed on her forever, bringing her to one breaking point after another so he could enjoy the results of his actions. But she was getting impatient, her body bucking wildly as her hands dug painfully hard into his hair.
She asked with a deep laugh, "You want to play at teasing?" She ran her hand firmly up and down his hard length. This made him let out a deep growl and narrow his eyes sharp.
Cayden put his hand around her wrist and squeezed just hard enough to get her to let go. He didn't let her go, though. Instead, he grabbed her other hand and pinned her arms above her head. "Patience," he said in a soft drawl as he moved between her legs. "One day, I'll teach you to be patient, woman."
He slowly pushed into her body, impaling her on his cock so that she was totally stuck under him. She yelled and stood up to meet him; her beautiful face lit up with happiness. As he joined his mate, his breath caught when he saw her face and heard her sweet sounds again and again.
As she wrapped her legs around his and tried to pull him deeper into her, he felt like he was coming home. He loved how close they were to each other and how well their bodies moved together. Every action and touch set him on fire, and only she could put it out.
He kissed her so hard that he couldn't breathe, even though his own freedom was coming quickly. He could control his need by sucking as hard as he could on her tight nipples. She could hardly breathe because of how intensely she was cumming, and her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that she knew she would soon be flying.
"Cayden," she gasped, holding him tightly as she pulled his mouth to her neck. "I really need you now!"
Cayden's last bit of self-control broke when she said those words. He licked her skin and pushed hard and fast into her, taking her completely. Her sweet cries drove him over the edge. As they fell into each other's arms, their bodies were still shaking from the pleasure they had just felt. They were out of breath and exhausted, but their love made them feel great.
A while later. When he observed, Selena looked thoughtful.
"What are you thinking about?" Cayden asked, his voice filled with concern. Selena hesitated for a moment before responding.
"We need to think of a name," Selena sighed softly. "We don't have a lot of time to do so." She giggled slightly at the thought. There was so much they had to do.
"Can I name her Kristin?" Cayden asked softly.
His heart swelled with love for the tiny little being he hadn't even met yet. The strength of that love overwhelmed him completely and made his voice husky with emotion.
"You want to name her after your mother?" Selena asked, her voice filled with surprise and warmth. She couldn't help but feel touched by Cayden's suggestion. It was a beautiful way to honour his mother's memory and create a special bond with their daughter.
Cayden nodded.
"It's perfect," she whispered, her own heart full of love for her mate. The way he was totally embracing their child told her so much about him. He had such hidden depths of love within him. He was probably only just discovering that fact himself.
Cayden swallowed hard, feeling a lump in his throat and tears gathering in his eyes. He thought of the only other woman he had ever loved. It had been so long since he had thought of her—so long since he had even spoken of her.
"Kristin," he whispered shakily. "Kristin Graymark."