Chapter 22 Dylan

Chapter 22 Dylan

I pulled Cherry back from the door to her apartment, bringing her body flush against mine, stealing another kiss from her sumptuous lips.

“Dylan,” she complained, “I’m going to be late for work.” But I heard the breathiness in her voice, betraying how little she minded the kisses and caresses I showered her with.

My beast rumbled with a territorial desire to keep her with me. It had been a struggle to let her out of my bed this morning after tasting her and making love again. If it had only been work, I’d have persuaded her to take a sick day. But when Cherry had said that she should try to see Fern this morning before school, I’d allowed her to get up. She’d smiled so tenderly when I’d asked if I could join her this morning to meet Fern properly.

Just as Cherry made another attempt at reaching for the door, it cracked open, framing Fern’s face. As she saw me, a smile spread over her face. “I knew you and Mom would make up.”

Cherry said brightly, “You were right, Sweetie.”

I cast a questioning gaze at Cherry, and she explained, “I told Fern we’d fallen out, but she was sure we’d make up again like she always does with her friends.”

My lips twitched as my gaze raked across Cherry with humor. Was that what we’d just done, made up? Twice.

As Cherry flushed, I remembered we had an audience and said, “We are a hundred percent made up. In fact, we’re best friends forever, Fern.”

Fern squealed happily, which in turn, brought Lara to the door. Cherry reintroduced me to Fern’s nanny. Then, Cherry invited me in, and Fern entertained me in the living room by showing me each of the toys I’d bought for her and telling me about them. Meanwhile, Cherry chatted to Lara and thanked her for spending the night, reassuring her that her “work” emergency had been resolved. So that’s what she’d told Lara and Fern. I was pleased that no one else knew how distressed Cherry had been. I knew how much she prided herself on being able to handle everything herself. And I knew how capable she was of doing so. After all, she’d done everything by herself for seven years, but I was touched that she’d lowered her guard enough last night to show me her vulnerabilities and let me in.

I was determined to prove to her how much she could rely on me and that I’d always be here for her from now on. No matter what.

Cherry saw Lara out, who was popping home briefly before coming back to take Fern to school. My mate soon returned and sat down beside me on the couch. I instinctually wrapped an arm around her, bringing her close to me.

I frowned as Cherry stiffened.

Fern was busily showing me her Lego princess, complete with an explanation, “Elsa’s an ice princess who can freeze…” Then I realized why my mate had tensed beneath my touch. Fern’s wide eyes had fallen on my arm around her mom. Questioningly.

Cherry’s eyes met mine trustingly. “Do you want to explain what us being best friends forever means, Dylan?”

My heart lurched, and I felt ridiculously nervous as I turned my eyes back to the little girl watching us. Cherry’s hand slid up my chest, resting over my heart, and her palm reassured me and reminded me of her heartfelt words this morning. “You’ve made me believe that we can have what I wanted us to have seven years ago: a home and a family.”

With a stabling breath, I told Fern gently. “The fact that your mom and I are best friends forever means that I love your mom. And, if it’s okay with you, I’d love to be your dad.”

Fern’s dark eyes bugged out, and then she threw her arms around me. I realized I’d been holding my breath, bracing myself for a lukewarm reaction, but as my daughter hugged me, heat prickled behind my eyes, and I laughed. I didn’t even mind as Fern squealed in my ear, practically deafening me with her shrieks of excitement.

Extracting myself from the couch, I lifted Fern into my arms, and she let out another shriek before I set her down on her feet, looking at her with mock seriousness. “Now, even banshees need to eat before school. What would you like for breakfast?”

Fern tilted her head, an adorable squint between her eyebrows. “What’s a banshee?” she asked curiously.

I made a mental note to myself that I needed to talk to my mate about when we were going to tell Fern about her preternatural heritage, and I wasn’t talking about the possibility of distant banshee heritage, given the awe-inspiring shriek she had. I wondered why I couldn’t smell any of the ordinary grassy woodiness of Fern’s shifter scent.

But for now, I knew I needed to prioritize showing Cherry that I could be the partner that she’d always wanted. Turning to my mate, I said, “Go get showered and dressed. The banshee will show me where pancake stuff is.”

Fern put her lungs to good use again as she bolted off to the kitchen. I drank in my mate’s stunning smile and lingered for one more heavenly kiss from her lips.

In the kitchen, Fern guided me to the flour and eggs.

Once we had all the ingredients out, I turned to her and said, “If you go get dressed for school, I’ll mix up the batter.”

She stamped her foot and pouted. “I wanna mix with you.”

I tried not to smile at her pout, reminding myself I needed to be firm with our daughter too. “I won’t be teaching you how to flip the pancakes until your dressed.”

She considered this and had soon sprinted off to get dressed.

Fern returned in her school uniform, and I proceeded to dazzle her with my awesome pancake-flipping skills, helping her hold the frying pan as she managed to flip one too.

Soon, Cherry, Fern, and I sat around the breakfast table. Fern was delightedly drizzling syrup on her small stack, while I just as happily watched my Cherry finally eating a breakfast prepared by my hand.

My wolf rumbled within me, deliriously happy that our mating bond was being nurtured. In so many ways, this breakfast felt as if it was the first proper sustenance I’d had in seven years, and I thought I’d forever have a soft spot for pancakes now.

Something I could definitely work with, judging by how quickly Fern and Cherry’s plates were spotless. Cherry insisted on cleaning up after breakfast as I’d cooked. As I started to help, my phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw that it was Bert calling.

“Is there somewhere I can take this?” I asked Cherry, realizing I couldn’t discuss pack business in front of Fern yet.

Cherry nodded. “Use my bedroom. Door to the right of the living room.”

I nodded, answering my phone. “Hey, Bert.”

“Bert!” Fern squealed excitedly behind me as I left the kitchen.

Cherry shushed her. “It’s a work call, Sweetie.”

“Was that Fern?” My Beta asked with glee. I strode into Cherry’s room. “It was indeed,” I affirmed happily.

I clicked the door shut and took a seat on Cherry’s bed.

“So things are going well in Berlin?” Bert asked.

“Very well,” I confirmed. “Cherry and I…” I paused, struggling to put into words how perfect things were between us and how excited about the future I was. Feeling overwhelmed, I settled for, “She’s giving me a chance, Bert.”

“You lucky bastard,” my Beta said, and I knew from his tone he was grinning happily for me. “And Fern? Did Cherry tell you whether–”

“She’s mine,” I said.

“I knew it,” Bert said. “Now, you really are the luckiest bastard under the moon.”

“I know,” I said, a smile spreading over my face. I was blessed by Nuu-Chah. And I wasn’t about to take these gifts given to me for granted. Never again. “Listen,” I said, “I’m going to stay in Berlin for a while.”

“Stay as long as you need, Dylan,” my Beta said. “You’ve got this, my Alpha. I’ll hold things down at the fort.”

“Thank you, my Beta,” I said, honoring him with his title too. “We’ll talk soon.” I hung up, letting my decision solidify.

I felt the certainty of Nuu-Chah’s will in me strongly. I was Alpha of Starsmoon and submitted to nothing and no one, except my love. Pleasure rippled through me as I remembered how exquisite it had been to give my mate exactly what she wanted. Cherry’s commanding tone last night played through my mind, “Kiss me…I want your cock inside me, mate.” Last night with Cherry had been divine.

And this morning with my mate and my daughter had been everything I could have wished for. I knew I was right where I needed to be. I would stay in Berlin for however long I needed to win my mate and family completely.

Shortly after I came out of the bedroom, Lara arrived to take Fern off to school. With a hug from both Cherry and me, our daughter went off with the nanny cheerfully. Cherry was dressed in a beautiful pale blue dress, showing off her slender arms and shapely calves. I watched her slipping her dainty feet into a pair of gray heels, and the now-empty apartment seemed to consort with me. I imagined stripping my mate and claiming her again and reveling in how her moans and whimpers would echo throughout the space.

But tamping down my desire, I knew I had to show restraint. “I guess you’d better get off to the store,” I said matter-of-factly.

Cherry looked as reluctant to move away from me too. I noticed that she’d inched closer to me. She slid her hands up my chest, a look of awe on her face as she touched me, as if she felt all the wonder of our growing mating bond too.

“I could come with you if you like?” I offered, causing her silver gaze to look at me with surprise. “Maybe I could help in the store? What do you say to putting an Alpha to work?”

The suggestive smile that painted her face again, had me wondering if she had last night on her mind and how she’d really like to put me to work again. But she swallowed and said, “I’d love your help in the store. Nina and Kendra, my sales assistants, will be on today. They could show you the ropes.”

After a short ten-minute walk and a pit stop for coffee at what I was now calling our coffee shop, Cherry and I arrived at her store. She introduced me to her two sales assistants, who, although surprised to hear that I was there to help for the day, were soon eagerly showing me the stock and walking me through the sale they had on at the moment. Cherry also introduced me to her assistant designer, Maisy. I was slightly disappointed when I found out that Cherry and Maisy spent most of their time upstairs, where they worked on designing and making the patterns. It was gratifying to see that my mate was as anxious to be in my orbit, too, though, because throughout the morning, she seemed to find a hundred and one reasons to come downstairs. The client fitting she had with one of her customers had her loitering for a while outside the changing room. I eagerly drank in the elegant column of her neck, the arch of her back, and the swell of her breasts and hips. I tracked her long legs as she walked up and down, waiting for her client.

Cherry finally took a break at lunchtime and came to get me. “What do you fancy for lunch?”

There was only one thing I hungered for: Cherry. I couldn’t resist her tantalizing natural perfume any longer. Regardless of the sales assistants, I pulled my mate into my arms and kissed her passionately.