Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Home with Baby Ella

I hear Sinclair sigh heavily next to me, murmuring “Ella…”

But I ignore him, my eyes fasted on Hank, who blushes a deep red at the door and looks down at his shoes. I don’t say a word, though, or make this any easier on him. Instead, I wait patiently for an answer.

“Cora is,” he murmurs, awkward, “very special to me…

“I would imagine so,” I reply, my voice harder than I think I expected it to be. “She’s a very special person.”

Hank sighs and raises his eyes seriously to mine. I hold his gaze steadily.

“I’m very serious about Cora,” he says evenly. “I want to build a life with her. But we are moving…slowly. We both want to make sure that this is right.”

My heart warms when I hear him say that he wants to build a life with her, but still – what does that mean? I hold my baby closer to me and shift in my seat.

“And do you want to have childre-”

“Ella!” Sinclair bursts in, his voice angry, a hand on my arm.

“What!” I cry, turning to him with a frown. “It’s a legitimate question!”

“It’s none of your business!” He hisses back to me, his eyes wide and appalled.

–

my sister’s business is

My frown deepens as I open my mouth to object to my mate business, after all – but Hank clears his throat, bringing my attention back to him.

there’s nothing else,” he says, his eyes flicking between Sinclair and I now,

my questioning is at an end. I sigh, nodding,

says with finality, letting Sinclair know he’s free from my interrogation. “We’ll look forward to seeing you soon.” (1

scowl as Hank leaves the room, my eyes on

Sinclair says slowly, admonishing. I look into

Sinclair. She’s not with Roger because she thinks he wants children they can’t have. If Hank also isn’t on the same page

in surprise as he processes this information. “And what’s Cora’s page about kids?”

bristling that he didn’t let me get

“Actually, I don’t know…” He brings his eyes back to me, though. “Either way, that’s a conversation

me,” I murmur, settling back onto the pillows. “If they’re all too stupid enough to not talk to each other about

does,” Sinclair sighs, leaning back on the chair. “I guess I shouldn’t have expected

smiling down at my baby. Then, I kiss him on his little head. “Don’t worry, baby,” I whisper

huffs a little laugh in his chair, but doesn’t bother to counter me. He knows it would

home, all three of us exhausted by the activities of the day. But Cora finally gave us the go–ahead when

waiting for us. “Oh,” I say, fascinated, moving forward to look at

some tags on a few of them. “ They look to be presents from friends and well–wishers. See?” He points to one filled with hand–drawn cards set neatly around a fluffy teddy bear. “This one’s from James and Isabel…”

my eyes suddenly filled with sharp tears. “Oh, I miss them…” I bite my lip against the sudden rush of feelings, overwhelmed by all the love

and moving the baby and I towards the stairs. “We’re way too tired for this – if

bear!” I cry, looking over my shoulder at it as Sinclair guides me up the stairs, a steady hand on my back. “Rafe’s first teddy

be there in the morning,” Sinclair says, steady,

reach the door to our bedroom, though, my eyes fill with

fingers, exhausted but wanting to be there for me. “What

the first time, Dominic. Putting him to sleep in his own little bed. It’s just…” I shrug, not really knowing how to put all of my emotions

against mine, speaking to my soul as much as mind as he confirms this. I know, he says, simply. And so I rest my body against him – against the warm, steady bulk

is all a dream to me. And that every moment of it – even