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.

else,” he says, his eyes flicking between Sinclair and I now,

an end. I sigh, nodding, as Sinclair

says with finality, letting Sinclair know he’s free

as Hank leaves the room, my eyes on my baby.

admonishing. I look into his eyes,

to know, 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 with her about kids, then what’s the point?”

in surprise as he processes this information. “And what’s Cora’s page

I ask, still bristling that he didn’t let me get

a little, staring into space and considering it. “Actually, I don’t know…” He brings his eyes back to me, though. “Either way, that’s a conversation between Cora and Roger. Or Cora and Hank.

stupid enough to not talk to

the chair. “I guess

little head. “Don’t worry, baby,” I whisper to him. “I’ll teach you

his chair, but doesn’t bother to counter me. He knows

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 Rafe’s final set of tests came back clean and we

see the variety of gift baskets and flowers waiting for us. “Oh,” I say, fascinated, moving forward to look at them all. Then I look up at my mate. “Did you

to be presents from friends and well–wishers. See?” He points to one

rush of feelings, overwhelmed by all the love in the

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

up the stairs, a steady hand on my back. “Rafe’s first teddy – we have to

will be there in the morning,” Sinclair says, steady, yawning.

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

he murmurs, taking my chin between his fingers, exhausted but wanting to be there for me. “What is it

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

And so I rest my body against him – against the warm, steady bulk of him, grateful – again –

to me. And that every moment of