Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Cora

I narrow my eyes at Roger when he comes upstairs about forty-five minutes later. “Are you going to behave better now?” I ask, my voice tense.

“Yup,” he says, leaning in the doorway with a lazy smile.

I start to laugh as I look over his too – loose stature. “Is it because you’re all drunk?” My eyes shift to Sinclair as he appears in the doorway behind his brother. “Seriously, did you get him all drunk?”

Sinclair, Rafe sitting up in his arms, just gives a little shrug, his mouth pulled up at the corner in a secret smile.

“I am only,” Roger says, smiling as he steps into the room and holding up a hand with his thumb and pointer finger pressed very close together, “a very tiny bit drunk. Just something to steady the nerves.”

Ella laughs next to me before she scoots off the bed.

“All right, then,” she says, gesturing to me as she moves around the bed and reaches to take Rafe from Sinclair. ” Take your spot, Roger. And stop freaking her out, okay?”

“I promise,” Roger mumbles, giving Ella a sloppy little salute before climbing onto the bed and taking her place.

“We’ll be downstairs,” Ella says when I turn my eyes to her. “You just call, and we’ll be right up. Okay?”

I nod to her, smiling a little, grateful that she’s here. Beyond having the power to heal me instantly should anything go wrong, it’s just…really nice to have my sister close by.

Roger sighs as he pulls himself into the spot close on my right and tucks his legs in under the blankets. Then he turns to me, his face serious. “I’m sorry, Cora,” he says quietly.

“Thank you,” I say, my anger fading as I see that he means it. I lift a hand to his cheek, wanting to touch him, wanting him close.

“I just love you so much

“I get it,” I say, nodding.

He nods too, capturing my hand and pressing a kiss to it. “But I didn’t listen to you. And Sinclair made me sit down and listen – which he shouldn’t have to do, so I’m sorry about that. But he explained that you need to be the one freaking out today. So, I have to just… be steady. Is that right?”

quietly, studying him. “I mean, Roger, it’s not that you

Cora – you’re right, we had a plan, we should just trust it. Everything’s

coming to my lips now as he slips an arm around my

the contractions?” he asks, looking down at my belly

my voice quiet. “Or, maybe a

calmness that I know

start

Roger asks, turning to grin at

taking his cheeks in my hands and leaning forward to press a kiss to his mouth. “Trying to do everything

don’t I,” he murmurs against my lips, kissing me back.

cutie,” I say, leaning back and smiling down at my belly. And I bite my lip, feeling significantly calmer now, starting to get…well, maybe a little excited, alongside being terrified. “Do

little thoughtlessly as he tucks his head close to mine and takes a deep breath of my scent, “like an old

color do you think

making me click my tongue and

that even

“These are goddess grandchildren,” he says, grinning at me. “Anything is possible. The baby could

rolling my eyes, “would have shown

says, holding up a finger, “would

for a second, before the next contraction

next to me but does his best to stay quiet, his eyes on me throughout the whole

quietly when

to his now. And then I smile a little, returning my hand to his cheek. “I hope the

at me. “Big brown

we’ll just have to wait and see,” I reply, dropping my hand from his cheek

the baby to hurry up,” Roger murmurs, turning

the bond as well. “Nah, don’t rush him,” I

comfort and reassurance to the baby, as well as to me. “He’s all uncomfortable, cooped

big crib for him out here,” I say, laughing

murmurs. ” Any time you

for the first time? I agree. I’m finally ready – completely ready to bring our baby into the world with a nice, calm, maybe slightly

passes and dusk darkens our windows before my contractions really start to heat up. By then, the house is busy with all the people we’ve asked to