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.

says, his eyes flicking between Sinclair and I now,

questioning is at an end. I sigh, nodding, as Sinclair speaks.

finality, letting Sinclair know he’s free from my interrogation. “We’ll

scowl as Hank leaves the room, my eyes on

Sinclair says slowly, admonishing. I look into his eyes, still

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

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

still bristling that he didn’t let me get information that

it. “Actually, I don’t know…” He brings his eyes back to

stupid enough to not talk to each other about it, then I am going to

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

his little head. “Don’t worry, baby,” I whisper to him. “I’ll teach you my troublesome ways. And then we’ll torture

his chair, but doesn’t bother to

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

the threshold into our home, I gasp a little when I see the variety of gift baskets and flowers waiting for us. “Oh,” I say, fascinated, moving

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

feelings, overwhelmed by all the love in the room when I’ve been so distracted – I haven’t even kept

Sinclair says quickly, taking me by the shoulders and moving the baby and I towards the stairs. “We’re way too

over my shoulder at it as Sinclair guides me up the

there in the morning,” Sinclair says, steady,

shepherded upstairs. When we reach the door to our bedroom, though, my eyes fill with tears again as I look up at

to be there for me. “What is it

trembling a little, looking between him and the baby. “Just…we’re bringing him home for the first time, Dominic. Putting him to sleep in his own little bed. It’s just…” I shrug, not really knowing

my body against him – against the warm, steady bulk of him, grateful – again – to have a mate who understands me so completely. Who

that this is all a dream to me. And that every moment of it – even one as simple as this is