Chapter 112

Tyler POV

Wright House

Electric shocks of pleasure kept shooting through me as I led the way to the kitchen.

My boxer briefs kept rubbing against my cock -still sensitive from Rachel's surprising attention- making me hyperaware of every step I took. I felt every inch of my skin to the point even my tee rubbing against the small, flat disks of my nipples was an erotic feast for my senses.

Lucky for both of us, my hunger for actual food outweighed my hunger for Rachel's flesh though my wolf certainly wasn't pleased with my decision.

I had the feeling if Wynd had his way, Rayne, and by extension Rachel, wouldn't leave our bed until time to birth our child. His lust had always driven me more than my own.

I wondered if my appetite for Rachel would increase now we had started our life as a fully mated pair. I had always wanted her before---but had I ever told her? I'd told her I knew of her desire for me often enough.

'Tell her now,' Wynd urged, 'Talk to her. Make her smile. Give her some beautiful truths to thank her for the gift of herself.'

'Who knew you were such a poet? You're normally led around by your cock, you horny dog.' I countered in my mind, knowing my wolf was right even if I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of admitting it.

Rachel had passed me by -maybe she was being pushed to go faster by our daughter who would share her hunger- to explore the refrigerator. I allowed myself to admire her round ass as she bent over in nothing more than my shirt and her underwear; I spared a second to think I might be a horny dog myself now.

"I always want you, too."

I blurted the statement out, grateful my voice was low enough from nature to disguise the emotion driving the words.

Rachel turned to look at me, a jar of pickles in her hand and a look of shock on her face, "What? What did you say?"

Her shock reverberated across our bond to me and I realized how little affection I had shown her in our years together. Although how could she question whether or not I wanted her? I had never turned her away in bed.

"I always want you. You're the only woman in the world for me. I will always want you, Rachel. You were made for me."

Rachel crossed the short distance between us as if her feet had taken flight. My heart leaped in my chest as she threw her arms up around my neck, the cold pickle jar pressed against my neck, forgotten in her enthusiasm. She kissed me as if she'd never get another chance.

I broke away to laugh before I did something worse -like cry- and tried to downplay the moment.

"If I'd known I would get such an enthusiastic response, I might have told you sooner. Is it really such a surprise? I've said I want you before."

"Never like this. Never when we weren't being physical."

Reaching my hand up to cup her face, I traced my thumb over her lips and murmured, "I suppose I'll have to make it a standard practice to remind you how wanted you are---outside my bed and in it."

We shared a few more kisses until I couldn't help reaching to tug her arm away so I could extricate the pickles before they plunged to the floor. I didn't think the jar would survive the impact with the marble.

"Forget something? Or were you torn on which you wanted more: me or these?"

I waggled the jar in front of her face; Rachel blushed prettily. I could tell she was still having a hard time getting a grasp on the moment. Her body was interested in more kisses even if we both knew we needed to eat, take a breath from trying to crawl inside each other, and enjoy time together while clothed.

"Is it wrong of me to admit I want you both equally right now?"

Her hand went to the bulge of her belly, drawing my eyes down too.

"I forget sometimes we aren't alone. We never will be either. She's here with us for the rest of our lives. How much of a miracle is that?"

Rachel gave me one last peck on the lips before stealing the pickle jar back. I gave it up without protest. We both enjoyed olives so I went to the fridge to get several options of those as well as some cold cuts and cheese.

Wolves had higher metabolic rates than humans. We had to eat more protein, more carbohydrates, more everything. Our kitchen was stocked to accommodate our needs though neither of us had ever been the ones who needed to make the grocery runs when I had Magda for the chore.

I didn't pretend to know how to make a suitable arrangement. Instead of bothering with a platter, I took everything in its packages and carted the whole lot in my arms to drop onto the island before taking a seat on one of the stools there.

Spreading my hands wide to showcase the choices, I joked, "Behold! I have gone into the wild and brought back offerings for my mate. Feast and feed our young!"

Rachel stared at me in shock for a moment before bursting into laughter. Her giggles were infectious. We had a full five minutes of nothing more than mirth before we started to pick at the packages on the counter.

"You're ridiculous," Rachel said, popping a few olives into her mouth whole.

I followed her example only to realize how hungry I really was and then our focus was on the food. I tried to encourage Rachel to try the options I found most appealing by offering her bites from my selections; she began to do the same for me and I became fixed on how fun food could be with a mate to share alongside.

Our options were dwindling when, out of nowhere, a loud knock sounded behind us making me whirl around to see no one other than Art Windsor standing inside the entrance to the kitchen with an annoyed look on his face.

"Honeymoon's over, kids. Your brother is in big trouble, Rachel. Were you aware of his little extracurricular activity?"

Rachel was staring at Art with eyes wider than the saucers we served on. I could tell she had no idea what Windsor was talking about.

"What are you talking about, Windsor? And how dare you burst into my home?"

I stood up as I became aware I'd launched myself off my stool to land in a fighting crouch at the first sound of an enemy in our midst. My face heated slightly, but I pushed my anger to the forefront of my mind to take the focus off of it.

Windsor best to keep his thoughts to himself anyway. I had every right to protect my pregnant mate. I'd beat his ass if he thought otherwise---or I'd fight him forcefully enough to die trying if he wanted to make the situation worse with his mouth.

"It's not about daring. It's about right, Wright."

He flashed fangs at me when he smiled, his lips open to show too many white teeth for my wolf to feel comfortable around.

Wynd began to force himself to the front of my mind. I could feel my eyes shifting from my normal gaze to the hyperfocused vision of my wolf; my own teeth began to elongate into fangs in response to the threat the other Alpha posed to my home.

Windsor held a hand up, offering, "I come in peace. Calm down. I'm not here to fight with you, Wright."

There was enough caution in his tone and manner to soothe my beast, but Wynd didn't retreat fully. I tested the tip of a sharp canine with my tongue before making a sound of distaste at my "guest."

"One of these days, Windsor, you will push me too far. Don't think you can hold a hand up to hold me back on that day."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Windsor said, honesty coating the words, surprising me into relaxing my guard further.

"What's Ethan done? Has he insulted another Alpha at the club?"

Rachel looked more worried than her voice let on. She'd always been good at controlling her tone. I wondered how many times in the past I had failed to listen attentively enough to hear more than the words she spoke aloud.

Reaching for her hand with mine, I rubbed my thumb back and forth across her knuckles in an attempt to soothe her fears. She relaxed only slightly from my touch, but it was obvious I had given her some comfort with my action.

Wolves calmed for their mates. My mind flashed back to Nathan Lewis forcing his way out of a Lycan shift at the sound of Rachel's voice and I wondered if there was any precedent for a wolf to be soothed more by another than their fated mate. I would have to explore the topic to satisfy my own curiosity if nothing else.

"Your brother thinks himself a fighter. I went to find him and barely saved him from a Lycan he was trying to take on by himself. In closed combat."