Accidental Surrogate

Between a Brother and a Mate Sinclair

I know it’s a little perverse, but, as I look down at my furious little spitfire mate, glaring angrily between my brother and I who outweigh her by three or four times…

God damn it, but I get a little hard.

She’s just so passionate, and when she’s all worked up like this all I want to do is grab her, carry her upstairs and redirect that anger to-

“Ella,” Roger sighs, looking down at his feet. “I’m – I don’t know what to say.”

“Damn right you don’t,” she growls, spinning on him and starting to advance on him again.

“Enough,” I groan, reaching for her arm – the one without the baby – and wrapping my hand firmly around it. She turns and looks up at me, a little snarl on her plump lips, but when she sees the coolness on my face and in my eyes Ella hesitates, just a little. And then she huffs, relenting against her will, her expression reflecting the words she sends directly to my mind:

Fine. But you’re going to pay for this later.

I smirk at her, letting her feel a little of my arousal down the bond. Oh baby, I say back, I’d better.

I see her lips twitch with amusement, but not enough to quell her anger totally. She turns back to Roger then and I let go of her arm, trusting her to contain herself.

“I’m sorry, Roger,” she says stiffly, making him look up at her in surprise. “I meant what I said but…I understand it’s complicated. And this wasn’t the time or the place.” Ella gives a little shrug then, clearly communicating that she’s sorry that she’s really not very sorry, but still ending the fight.

“Okay,” Roger says awkwardly. “Um,” my brother looks up at me, shame and regret in his eyes. “I think I’m going to go…”

meaning it, taking a step towards him. “Stay

us. “It’s all right – I’m not far, and all I really want to do is be in

I say, putting my hands in my pockets and studying him. “Thank you,

dipping down to give Ella an awkward kiss on the cheek and to chuck baby

murmurs, clearly lost in his thoughts as he heads for the door.

rest of our guests quickly get the message and spend the next few minutes saying their goodbyes. I see the last few out the door as Ella takes the baby

is gone, sighing and delaying going upstairs as long as possible. Because I

my head, I start up

me when I

you not back me up on this, Dominic,” Ella says, standing next to

door frame and covering my eyes with my hand. “It’s not that I don’t back you

let her see my frustration. She’s entitled to her emotions on this point, and I don’t want to invalidate how she feels. “You told

stop, because we had other guests, and I didn’t want to make Roger and Cora’s business

asks, getting steamed again. She opens her mouth to

say, placing my hands evenly on her shoulders and looking into her face. “Please. I know you’re upset. But

and I see her check herself. I can’t help but smile at her, loving the ferocity with which she protects the people that she loves. I open this feeling to her down the bond, letting her see how I

a little bit, sighing and tripping forward to lean against me. I wrap my arms around my angry, hard–loving little mate, holding her close, curling my body around her protectively. As much

always got your back, Ella,” I murmur, tucking my

sighs. “I just got…mad. I’m