Chapter 12

EMILIA

After a busy but exhausting day of shopping with Tilly, Gianna, and Bethany, we return to Glacier Pass with an SUV full of bags.

As we step into the house, I'm greeted by the delicious aroma of marinated meats and herbs wafting through the air.

The kitchen is immaculate, everything neatly in its place, except for five piles of neatly folded clothes sitting rather conspicuously on the planning desk.

"The boys have been busy," Tilly observes, a smile playing on her lips. "And it smells wonderful."

"But where are they?" I wonder aloud, glancing around as if Dillon and the others might suddenly emerge from the shadows.

"They couldn't have gone too far," Bethany says, nodding toward the neatly folded clothes. "Especially not naked."

"I'm betting they're out torturing small forest creatures," Gianna chimes in with a laugh. "Since I know Dillon will have a stroke if Emilia is greeted with five naked men, I'd better take their clothes out back and see if I can find them."

Her words leave me half-laughing, half-embarrassed at the thought of such a peculiar welcoming committee. Gianna gathers up the clothes with a knowing grin, disappearing through the back door to search for the guys.

"Good idea," Tilly calls to her daughter before turning to the rest of us and gesturing toward the kitchen. "While she does that, we'll take over finishing up dinner before Bethany passes out from hunger."

"Suddenly, I'm hungry enough to eat everything in that refrigerator," Bethany declares, patting her baby bump affectionately. "Those chips and granola bar I had in Arctic Landing didn't hold my little cub for very long. Let's get this show on the road."

We move about the kitchen, picking up where the guys left off, assembling salads, arranging side dishes, and finishing up the last-minute details of tonight's barbecue.

"Today was fun," Tilly begins, slicing cucumbers with precision. "We loved having you with us."

I beam at her compliment, feeling the warmth in her words. "Thank you. I had a wonderful time. I really feel like I'm part of the family."

"Emilia definitely passed the family shopping initiation test," Bethany adds with a wink, mixing a fresh vinaigrette for the salad. "You certainly held your own today against our various ventures."

"I'll admit it was a bit of a workout, but you three make it so much fun." I chuckle while mentally calculating how much today's purchases will dip into my monthly budget.

Just then, Gianna returns, a victorious smirk on her face as she announces, "Clothes delivered, and I'm pretty sure they'll be dressed in about five seconds."

The timing couldn't be more perfect. As we set the finished dishes on the dining table, the back door opens to reveal Dillon and the others, looking amused and clothed. Thank goodness. Relief mingles with humor on Dillon's face as he strides over to me, wrapping me in a bear hug that lifts me off my feet.

"I fucking missed you," he growls and kisses me until my knees turn to jelly.

"I missed you, too. A little tiny bit," I tease, grinning up at him as he sets me down. It feels so natural, surrounded by the warmth of family and the promise of a great evening.

"I can see that girl is going to keep you on your toes, son." Mr. Bearly walks over and smiles at me. "It's nice to finally meet you, Emilia. I've heard so much about you, but Dillon wouldn't let any of us come over until he convinced you to mate with him." He glances over my head and rolls his eyes at his son.

"I was scared one of you would scare her off," Dillon defends himself as the other men jump in to give him a hard time.

"That won't happen." I snuggle up against his warm body. "I've grown pretty attached to you."

"I'm glad to hear it, little goddess."

As we shut the door behind his parents, Dillon turns to me with a look that sends a shiver up my spine. The unspoken heat shining from his eyes causes my heart to race.

"Ready to head upstairs?" he asks softly.

I nod, unable to find my voice as he reaches for my hand, and I feel the electric connection that always sparks to life at his touch.

In one fluid motion, he scoops me up into his arms and cradles me effortlessly against his chest. My arms wrap around his neck as he navigates the familiar path through the house and up the stairs. His woodsy masculine scent envelops me, and with every step, the world narrows down to just us.

He kicks the bedroom door open and carries me inside with a tenderness that makes my heart pound with love.

Dillon sets me down, my feet touching the ground as he draws me to him, one hand tilting my chin up so our eyes lock. "I love you, Emilia," he murmurs.

"I love you too, Dillon," I whisper back and lean up to kiss him. As his mouth opens and his tongue tangles with mine, he pulls me even closer to his hard body.

His kiss ignites every nerve in my body and the world melts away, leaving just the sensation of his mouth on mine, the gentle weight of his hand at my back, and the insistent hardness of his cock pressing against my stomach.

With a gentle tug, he pulls at the fabric of my dress, and I respond in kind, fingers working to unbutton his shirt. The dress falls to the floor as his shirt joins it, closely followed by the rest of our clothes.

His hands travel my body, touching every inch and leaving me breathless. "Please." I'm not sure what I'm begging for. My fingers trace the strong lines of his shoulders and the curve of his jaw, needing to feel every inch of his strong body.

We move together toward the bed, our lips never breaking apart. When we finally lie down, he moves over me, supporting himself on his forearms, and stares into my eyes. "Please, what? Do you want me to plant my cub deep in your womb?"

That sounds pretty good to me. "Yes."

"Fuck."

"Yes, fuck me now and give me your baby," I whimper as he slowly explores my overheated body.

The world narrows and fades with each touch and shared breath.

He sucks one of my nipples into his mouth, and my eyes roll back in my head as he kisses his way across my chest and nips and sucks the other nipple. His beard rubs against my sensitive skin, sending shivers shooting down my spine. I dig my fingers through his thick hair and drag him closer.

"I need you," I whimper as he kisses his way down my body.

"You have me." He swipes his tongue straight up my center, and I nearly self-combust. When he wraps his lips around my clit, I arch my back and dig my heels into the soft sheets under me.

He sucks on my clit while pressing his thick finger deep into my pussy and a climax blasts through me.

As tremors run through me, he kisses his way up my body and covers my lips with his.

Reaching between us, I wrap my hand around his hardness.

He devours my mouth while I stroke his cock. Running my finger across the tip, I spread the wetness around. A shiver runs through his large body before he pulls out of my hold and spreads my legs. I hold my breath when he places his hard cock at my entrance and slowly presses deep. "I'm knocking you up." He drives his erection deeper, and I can feel every ridge as it rubs against my sensitive walls.

"It's about time." I close my teeth on the skin at the base of his throat, giving him a mark of my own while clenching my inner muscles tight around his shaft.

He circles his hips on each downward thrust, pressing his cock against a sensitive spot that drives me out of my mind.

I lose track of time as he increases the speed of his hips.

An orgasm blasts through me a few seconds before he shudders above me. I feel warm wetness fill me up and run out onto the sheet below me as tremors run through my body.

He drops down on the bed beside me and pulls me against his chest. He runs his hand down my body and slowly rubs my stomach. His heartbeat pounds against my face as he whispers, "I can't wait to see you grow round with my child."

"Thank you for making all my dreams come true," I whisper as my eyes drift closed.