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…”

towards him. “Stay overnight, at least – we’ve got plenty

I really want to do is be in my own bed.” He gives a fake yawn, stretching his

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

coming forward to give me a hug and then dipping down to give Ella an awkward kiss on the cheek and to

his thoughts as he

now, the rest of our guests quickly get the message and spend the next few minutes saying their goodbyes. I

after everyone is gone, sighing and delaying going upstairs as long as possible. Because I know that the minute we get up there? We’re going

head, I

me when I come into

on this, Dominic,” Ella says, standing next to the baby’s bassinet with her arms

eyes with my

didn’t!” she insists, and I can hear in her voice that she’s still furious. I sigh, tired, but I try not to let her see my frustration. She’s

softly, evenly. “I didn’t take his side – I just asked you to stop, because we had other guests, and I didn’t want to make Roger and

you’re saying I was doing?” Ella asks, getting steamed again. She opens her mouth to say more,

shoulders and looking into her face. “Please. I know you’re upset. But please, you know that’s not what I meant. Right?”

which she protects the people that she loves. I open this feeling to her down

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 as she loves and fights for those she loves, I’m there, right with her, protecting her just as fiercely.

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

“I just got…mad. I’m sorry I took