26. Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Quinn

I followed the quiet murmurs down the hall to Lachlan's home office. As I neared the doorway, I recognized Wade's voice, along with my mate.

Lachlan was talking to the computer screen, while he held Patrick in his arms, feeding him a bottle. Our little boy looked extra tiny nestled in his papa's brawny arms. My stomach clenched tightly, and I felt my boxer briefs grow damp with my slick.

Because was there anything sexier than a big, gorgeous man holding a baby? I didn't think so. Not when it was your baby, and your mate.

Our sweet little angel girl, Rory, was snuggled in the portable crib set up next to Lachlan's desk. She was sleeping soundly, one arm was thrown over her head, fist closed tightly. It was a perfect imitation of how her papa slept when I wasn't wrapped around him like an octopus. I liked to sprawl, and if my mate happened to be under me when I did it, all the better. She made the cutest little snuffling sound, her perfectly shaped bow lips smacking together, in an imitation of sucking on her bottle.

I caught Lachlan's eye when he expertly transferred Patrick to his shoulder to burp him. Lachlan had taken to fatherhood like he'd been doing it his entire life. When both the twins were howling for a bottle or change, or both, at half-past midnight, I was glad I had an alpha who seemed to adore childcare. I don't know what I would have done without him, after being released from the hospital after having them, if he'd been one of those alphas who rolled over and shoved a pillow over his face when pups were crying. I probably would have smothered him with said pillow.

I'd barely been able to move that first week home and couldn't lift much of anything, including the babies. Lachlan would bring me a baby and a bottle after he'd changed them. He'd sit in the rocking chair he'd moved into our bedroom, and feed and rock whichever twin I didn't have, while I fed the other, propped up in bed. He'd never complained, or gotten short with me once.

I winced, wishing I could say the same for myself. I'd been hurting, exhausted, cranky and after a week of barely being able to get up and walk to the bathroom without twinging in pain, I'd lashed out at him, more than once.

Each time I'd snarked at him, or sassed him, he'd smile sweetly, speak calmly, kiss me and continue with whatever he'd been doing. Nine times out of ten, dealing with something one of the babies, or I, needed.

Dirty diapers didn't faze him, and these babies could make more poop than I'd ever thought possible.

Projectile vomiting? He was on it.

A cranky mate he couldn't even breathe right in the same room with? No problem. He'd found a way to get me out of my foul mood, either with sweet kisses, softly massaging hands, or making me take a nap when I insisted that wasn't what I needed. It usually was exactly what I'd needed, but I wasn't going to tell him that .

I'd fallen in love with him more each time he took care of us. He'd proved to me, in so many different ways with his actions, that he loved me, even when I wasn't being very lovable.

After Patrick let loose with a tremendous burp that any guy would be proud of, Lachlan held up a finger, halting Wade's recital of the latest foundation requests, and applications for services.

"Well?" Lachlan prompted, his whole body strumming with excitement.

I tossed him what I hoped was a smoldering, sultry look. "Tower control, you are cleared for landing."

His whoop of excitement startled Patrick, who jerked on his shoulder, tossing his dark head. Lachlan shushed him, nuzzling his silky cheek and scenting him, murmuring soothing words. As if sensing her brother's distress in her sleep, Rory squirmed, and made a whimpering sound, then settled when her twin did.

I'd just come from Finn's office for my four-week checkup. As shifters, we healed faster than humans. My recovery time had been half of what it would have been, and I was glad of it. It had been a long, dry pregnancy and I missed my mate, orgasms, and his gorgeous, magnificent cock.

Looking at the twins, it had all been worth it. Even if there had been days I'd been afraid to move one muscle for fear of losing them both. Nothing had gone as planned in our pregnancy, from the bedrest to my skyrocketing blood pressure, to labor and delivery.

Finn had stressed to me at my appointment today, that no two pregnancies were the same, and I shouldn't have any problems getting pregnant again, and most likely wouldn't face the same issues.

I wasn't sure another pregnancy was in our future, though. I adored the twins and hadn't ever dreamed my heart could be so full of joy and love for two tiny beings, but two was plenty for me .

Lachlan and I had talked about it, and we weren't exactly on the same page – when were we? – about having more kids. Lachlan would like one or two more. I wasn't ruling it out completely, but it didn't need to happen anytime soon.

I would be going back to work next week, and I couldn't wait to get back into my kitchen. Though it didn't hold near the excitement it had just a few months ago. I was starting to play with the idea of taking the twins with me now and then, setting up a portable crib in the corner of the kitchen. Because thinking of leaving them all day, even knowing they were in the more than capable hands of their papa, made my chest tighten with anxiety.

"Wade, it's time. You know what to do," Lachlan instructed his assistant, and I gave him a ‘what the fuck' look combined with ‘you're such a dork' look. He was, too. A giant, smoking hot nerdy dork, who liked dad jokes, and bad TV (in my opinion, ‘Friends' being the exception).

He was also incredibly smart and could work complex math problems in his head, and he had some kind of supernatural power of turning money into more money. He and my dad would have the most boring conversations, using words that made little sense, but they seemed to enjoy each other's company.

Lachlan had even gone over my books before I'd come into my trust – without my permission, and that had caused a huge fight – but he'd found tons of ways I could be saving money. I'd even let him invest a small portion of my profits into several different stocks, which had more than tripled in a small amount of time.

I did not doubt that my mate was the majority of the reason The Sinclair Foundation flourished, and was able to help so many businesses and people. Plus, what he'd been able to do with the family's money. None of them were ever going to be hurting to pay their bills unless they did something moronic.

"I'm on it, but I'm not calling your brother." Wade's voice came through the speaker on the monitor.

Lachlan rolled his eyes. "Then text him. Problem solved." Without waiting for my best friend's reply, Lachlan clicked a button with the mouse and silenced Wade mid-protest.

I pointed a finger at him, as he deposited Patrick next to his sister in the portable crib. "What are you up to?"

He slid his arms around my waist, and they naturally traveled down to the roundness of my ass, grabbing two handfuls, and giving them a squeeze. I'd gained some pounds back there and had yet to lose it all. If Lachlan's inability to keep his hands off my ass was any indication, he didn't seem to mind the extra cushion I'd gained in my back end.

He stared down into my eyes, that little, small smile of his that I loved, gracing his soft lips.

"I've arranged for us to have the night to ourselves. Well, afternoon and night, whatever. The kids are going on their first overnight, and we're going to get to enjoy some adult time." He waggled his dark brows at me in an exaggerated leer.

I pushed back from him, giving him a stern look, "Is that so? What if I hadn't gotten the go-ahead from Finn? And just where are you shipping my babies off to? I'm not sure I'm okay with this."

"I can smell your slick, so don't give me your bullshit. The babies will be fine, their godparents are each taking one of them for the night. We'll go pick them up as soon as the sun shines tomorrow if that's what you want." He kissed me then, long and hard, like a thirsty man in the desert .

I clung to him, and let myself just feel, something we'd both worked so hard not to do when I'd been pregnant, knowing we couldn't get up to anything.

Now, I was going to have my mate's cock in me, filling up the emptiness I'd been feeling for so long. We both needed this, even if my body was also freaking out at the thought of being away from the twins. I was going to have to get used to it, I knew, when I went back to work next week. But there was a difference between leaving them in the capable hands of their papa, and splitting them up between their godparents for the night.

We broke apart, both breathing fast, eyes dilated, dicks rock hard as we rubbed them against each other through our jeans. Oh, that was nice, maybe we could rub one out before the twins were picked up, while they were still quiet and napping.

Lachlan's phone dinged loudly with an incoming message, and he left me long enough to pick it up from where it rested on the corner of his desk.

"Finn is on his way." His phone buzzed again. "So is Wade. I need to check that their bags have everything. I probably packed too much for them, but better to overpack than get a frantic phone call from one of them, because something is missing. I don't want any interruptions tonight."

Lachlan and Finn had gotten so much closer. Finn had spent a lot of time at the house the last few months. He'd stop over at least a couple of times a week, on the pretense of checking in with me and then stay to hang out with Lachlan. I'd gotten to know him well, and I liked him. I still didn't understand what the issue was between him and Wade, but I didn't let it stop us from picking them both as the twins' godparents. They could work out their problems on their own time .

"How's this going to work?" I asked. "Is it first come, first pick of a twin? You know there's going to be sniping between them, no matter who gets who."

Lachlan picked up two small, folded pieces of white paper. "I'm way ahead of you, but I'm going to need you to deal with them. I have a few things I need to prepare. I'll double-check the bags on my way. They're by the front door."

"Prepare?" I snarked. "What do you need to prepare for? Your cock goes in my hole. It's pretty simple, no diagrams or directions needed. Has it been so long you've forgotten how to do it?"

He kissed the tip of my nose. "You don't worry about what I'm up to, Sass Ass. You just get your cute little butt up those stairs, as soon as these babies are picked up."

"Don't be doing anything cheesy, like lighting a bunch of candles, or anything. That's just a fire hazard," I called after his retreating back, and his laughter echoed back to me.

I stared down at the twins, blissful in their innocence, arms crossed over my chest. "Your papa is soooo lighting a bunch of candles, I just know it. It's still daylight, we won't even be able to see them."

I made my way up the stairs, after locking the door behind Wade and Finn. They'd both arrived at the same time, and I'd heard them coming up the walk. Well, I'd heard Wade. He seemed to try to come up with the most obnoxious, annoying, and loud antics, whenever he and Finn were in the same space.

Even for Wade, he'd been extra. Finn's usual response was to stare stoically at Wade, not saying a word in response to any questions Wade tossed his way. No matter whatever outrageousness spilled from Wade's mouth, Finn's facial muscles never twitched. I had to give Finn credit, either he'd learned to not let Wade irritate him, or he was one hell of an actor .

This time he hadn't been quiet, though, sniping right back, and arguing about which twin they were going to take. While everyone adored quiet, sweet Patrick, it wasn't lost on me that right now, Rory was the fan-favorite. Finally having a female in the Sinclair succession made her the bright, shiny new toy. Lachlan and I were going to have to be vigilant so that she didn't wind up too spoiled, and that Patrick got equal billing with the family, and was not overshadowed by his big sister.

I'd solved their argument right quick, when I'd held out both my closed fists and told them to pick one. They'd both looked at me suspiciously, but they'd done it. When I'd instructed them to read the folded papers they'd picked, each with a name of a twin on it, I'd once again marveled at my mate's brilliance.

"That's who you get for the night," I'd told them. "No arguing, no trades, no take-backs. Easy peasy."

We'd probably end up solving the question of who got which twin this way often, going forward. At least until they were old enough to be taken together. That wouldn't be for years, because two at once was a handful, especially for one person.

When I'd pointedly asked them both how they'd managed to clear their schedules so quickly this afternoon, Finn had let it slip that Lachlan had been planning this night pretty much since we'd left the hospital with the twins.

Finn had blocked out this afternoon, once my checkup had been scheduled, and arranged for his partner to cover any deliveries that might arrive tonight. He was planning to spend the night at his mom's, on the off chance that one of his patients had an emergency he felt he might need to go in for, but he didn't anticipate that happening.

Knowing one of my babies was just down the road made me feel better. Not that I didn't trust Finn with Patrick, but this was the first time I'd be away from them. I wasn't sure I trusted anyone at this point, besides Lachlan.

I couldn't hear any sound from our bedroom, but the sight that met me stopped me dead in my tracks, a wave of pure lust racing through my body and nearly knocking me off my feet.

There weren't any cheesy candles, or flowers or candy.

There was a tall, gorgeously muscled, naked alpha stretched out on his stomach, a pillow under his hips. Propping his ass in the air, a thick butt plug peeking out from between those glorious mounds of his.

I may have forgotten my name for a second, my mind blanking at the sight, my mouth going dry and hanging open at the glorious sight he made.

"I…you…that…" I couldn't make words.

Lachlan gave me a look of heat over his shoulder. "I've been wearing this all day."

I made some kind of garbled noise, which wasn't a word. I was at a loss just looking at the sexiness that was my alpha.

"Do you know how hard it is to do anything, when every time I moved a certain way, this thing scraped over my prostate?"

"Nmhh."

His eyes were dark, the icy blue barely visible in the sunlit room, and filled with a heat that burned threw me like a wildfire.

"I could feel it stretching me, and then I'd think about you stretching me, what your cock would feel like inside me. Filling me up."

"Nmhh." Yep, speech was gone. I was tugging so fast on my shirt, I got it caught in my arms and I nearly ripped the damn thing in two, to get it off my burning skin.

"I thought about when you'd told me you were going to open me up with a dildo, then fuck me. I almost had to go jerk off in the bathroom. "

Arms finally free, I tossed my shirt who the fuck knew where, and started on my pants. I'd been undressing myself since I was five, but fuck if I remembered how to do it.

"I didn't though, I saved it for you. I want to cum with you buried balls deep inside my ass."

That got my brain back online, and I was naked, hard, and leaking from both ends, pre-cum and slick. Landing on the bed next to Lachlan, I grabbed a handful of his dark hair, pulling his head back and capturing his mouth with mine. There was no finesse to the kiss. It was all tongue and teeth and slurping saliva.

It was like coming home.

This man was my home. My sanctuary. My peace. My heart.

My everything .

"Claim me," I gasped into his mouth, breathing in his smell.

He'd never pushed the issue with me, just waited me out, until I was ready. We wouldn't have been able to regardless, before now, since claiming needed to be done during sex, and that had been a no-go. But he'd never brought the subject up, either.

I knew he'd wanted to. Several times, before the scares in our pregnancy, his sharp, canine teeth had scraped over my swollen mating gland. He could have broken the skin easily, taken what he'd wanted, and made me his. But he'd always pulled back, waiting for my consent, and when it hadn't been forthcoming, he'd not pushed the issue.

He'd given me the time I'd needed until I was ready.

His eyes searched mine now. "Are you sure?"

"I'm ready. I want it. I want you. Forever."

His mouth devoured mine, and I knew neither one of us was going to last long. It had been too long, and we were too amped up, and I didn't care. I wanted him now .

"I'm yours," he moaned into my mouth. "Claim me, omega mine."

As much as I wanted to yank the plug out of his ass, and slide into him, I needed to make sure he was ready. From our numerous, late-night talks while I was on bed rest, I knew that as much as Lachlan wanted this, he'd never actually done it before. Never had so much as a finger inside him, besides his own, until mine.

I needed to make sure this was good for him.

I paused over the plug, testing it by wiggling it a little and finding more resistance than I liked. Lachlan dropped his head onto his bent arms, moaning, and spreading his legs wider. Dripping more lube around his rim from the bottle Lachlan had placed on the bed beside him, I wiggled the plug again, this time feeling it give more freely.

When I had it loosened enough that I could move it inside him easily, I did just that. Fucking him slowly with it, until his hips were bucking into the pillow underneath him, and he was a mewling mess.

Gently, I removed the plug, his tight, virgin rings wanting to suck it back in. I couldn't wait to feel those muscles wrapped around my cock, squeezing me in a tight vise grip. I'd be lucky if I didn't blow my load as soon as I got my cock seated in him.

His hole winked at me, stretched from the plug, but not enough. I wasn't as large as Lachlan, but I was still bigger than the plug he'd used. A lot bigger. Taking a tissue, I wiped at the extra lube around his hole, then buried my nose in his crease. I breathed in his scent, his spicy musk, the citrus smell that I knew was him.

My tongue lapped at his hole, and Lachlan jerked beneath me, before relaxing. I licked at him, until he was a moaning, writhing mess beneath me. He was babbling words, garbled nonsense that I paid no attention to. His hips bucked, as he fucked the pillow beneath him, while I fucked him with my tongue .

"Quinn, fuck!" He panted into his arms. "Need you. Now. I'm so empty."

I wanted to take more time with him, wanted to spend hours opening him up, but it had been too long, and I couldn't wait another second to be inside him.

"Roll over," I instructed, and he hurried to comply. His hands and knees would be easier on him, but if we were going to claim each other, this was the best position. I shoved the pillow back under his butt, tilting his hips up. He planted his feet flat on the bed, knees open wide, hole wide open and on display.

He was panting harshly, as was I, and he looked blissed out and gorgeous. I positioned the head of my cock at his entrance and pushed in. Lachlan's eyes rolled back, his back arching, as his tight ring of muscles clamped down and sucked me in.

Holy fuck, he felt like heaven.

I stilled my movements, brushing the sweaty hair off his forehead. I looked down into his beautiful blue eyes, and I knew I was right where I was supposed to be.

Where I was always meant to be.

I kissed his lips, in a gentle twisting of our tongues, then flexed my hips and sank into him. One slow inch at a time, until I was fully seated inside him, my balls pushed against his ass.

"I love you, Lachlan." I whispered the words he'd been so patiently waiting for me to say, for all these months. "I love you, and I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you."

I wasn't positive, but I might have said the words in the hospital, when they'd wheeled me back into my room from recovery. I'd been barely coherent, though, drugged up, and suffering from blood loss and shock. Worried about my babies. I had a vague memory of mumbling the words and then passing out. Lachlan had never brought it up, and neither had I, so it may have been a drugged dream.

He grabbed me by the back of my neck, pulling me down, crushing his lips to mine in a brutal, grinding kiss that was everything.

"I know," he whispered. He'd probably known before I'd even realized it, this alpha of mine. This amazing, wonderful, alpha of mine.

"Now move your hips, and fuck me," he growled, bucking under me.

"Whatever my alpha wants."

I fucked him hard, angling my hips to peg his prostate on every pass, until he was howling and shooting his cum across my chest, covering both our stomachs. It lasted longer than I'd thought it would, but I was already feeling the tingle in my spine. When I felt my cum start to pour into my alpha, I let my canines elongate and sank them into his mating gland. The rush of blood and scent, and alpha filled my mouth. I was barely aware when Lachlan's teeth sank into my neck, into my gland and made me his. Truly his.

I was awash in brilliant sensations of belonging, home, calm, and the warmest feeling of love. I could sense his thoughts, and I let them invade all the cells of my body.

Mine. His unspoken word filled my mind. Forever.

Yours. My mind answered him. Forever.