S.A. Price (35 page)

Aiden had moved into Myra’s suite by the time they had come back, and gotten close with both Remy and Reece, who were glad Myra had found a possible mate. She approved of the match, though she wasn’t so sure Merrick did. It wasn’t anything they could do about it though, both Aiden and Myra were adults, and with the possibility of a threat still on the horizon, Aiden was Myra’s bodyguard so it was only right that they take a liking to each other.

Merrick had told her that Ryan, or Homer, as he preferred to be called, and Evelyn were doing well with each other, and he had taken his role as her protector seriously. She had taken a leave from the modeling world and they were holed up at her place in Vegas, getting to know each other better.

Elise thought she heard wedding bells in the distance but she wasn’t sure whom they would be for.

Beryl was back at her post in academia, and had made a new friend in Olivia’s nephew, the elusive Wick. They were both researching the serpentine cults and their gods, in order to better understand the issues and make sure they didn’t have a repeat of the unpleasantness that they had all recently endured. Each nest was now in constant contact, and was getting weekly updates from the researchers.

Still no word on the murderous Jax, and because of this all the bodyguards were on constant alert.

The seven girls were all looked after, and that was enough for Elise for now.

She sighed as the breeze caressed her body with the faint scent of sage and basil as it warmed under the sun. Things were good now, but for how long remained to be seen. She chuckled as she felt arms wrap around her waist, caressing her stomach. Merrick’s hands were always a welcome addition to her body, and his lips, which had found her mating mark and were nibbling seductively, were something she felt the loss of every time he wasn’t with her. She moaned quietly at his attentions, leaning back into him.

“Merrick you’re insatiable you know that? Right here? In the open like this, so not like you.” She smiled as he nodded and grunted his agreement, his tongue slowly trailing along the ridges of her mating mark on her right side shoulder. She reached up caressed his neck, just over where his was as

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a tease, then slipped her hand down his shoulder and over the left side of his chest which was still bare and slightly moist from their lovemaking not an hour before.

“What are the plans for today my love? Surely you don’t plan to stay half naked the full day?” She giggled and turned in his arms to face him. “I thought you had to meet with Marcus in the city this afternoon, or so you told me when you followed me into the shower this morning.” Not that she minded. Merrick was a prefect specimen of what a man in the middle of his life could be. Defined, sexy, rock hard, he rivaled the rest of the men in the nest for most perfect physical appearance and he was the oldest one there. That fact always made her feel smug.

"Indeed I do but it doesn’t stop me from being half naked right up until I have to leave." His voice was a low purr in her ear.

"True. So what’s this meeting about anyway?"

"No clue. He's doing his best to keep it quiet though so no doubt it’s something dastardly. I knew sooner or later I'd have to pay for his support... of course I was hoping it'd be a little later."

She grinned. "Can’t be too dastardly, Bettina promised I would have you back tonight."

"Indeed you will... I plan on informing him that I don’t do dastardly any more, I'm enjoying my retirement too much. Whether or not I can put him into contact with someone who does is another matter altogether."

"I’m sure it won’t be too much of a problem for you love." She turned and left his arms going back into the suite and moving towards the full length mirror he insisted they install when they installed the mirrors over the bed. She looked at herself, her shoulders bare in her tube top, her mating mark still glistening with the moisture of Merrick’s kiss. She ran her fingers over her stomach and watched him lean on the doorframe.

"And what are your plans for today? Anything fun?"

She smirked. He was going to be surprised. "Ummm... I think so... I was planning on going shopping today at Belts and Baubles Boutique... but that’s after I see Rona." Rona was the nest’s new midwife and resident doctor, sent up from her cousin’s nest down south.

He blinked, "Rona?"

She turned, no longer looking at his reflection in the mirror and nodded.

"Truly?" His grin turned excited and hopeful.

She smiled. "I think so. I mean you have been working diligently at it..." she giggled behind her hand blushing.

"True but it’s not something that happens easily... we're hardly spring chickens... it could have taken years."

"And you have been stockpiling for how long?" she said with a smirk.

He chuckled moving to her and pulling her into his arms. "Very true."

She moaned softly and snuggled closer into him, rubbing against his naked skin, scenting him.

"Just proves we really were meant to be love. Even after everything we have been through. I think we have been blessed for a reason." And fate was finally giving Elise her just rewards… the family she always wanted with the man she couldn’t live without.

"A good reason I hope." He kissed her, the smile never leaving his face.

"I think we got a prize for our suffering." She took his hand and placed it on her stomach. "It will be hard, but I won’t be showing for another few months."

He nodded his face full of wonder as he pressed his hand to her. "We'll have to tell the others...

once it's a definite. This is a cause for celebration. Parents, Elise..." He grinned excitedly. "We're going to be parents."

She grinned and kissed him sweetly. "Parents. So you better come back tonight..." she nipped his bottom lip.

He shook his head. "Marcus can wait; I want to go with you to see Rona."

"You don’t have to Merrick, I know this is important."

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"Nothing's more important than our family. Marcus can afford a hotel for the night and if he puts up a fuss I'll send the kid, there’s nobody I know that Aiden can't put him in touch with."

She smiled. Merrick was choosing her and their possible clutch over everything else, and she knew things had changed. He had said it on the island, that he was done, but until this moment she didn’t actually believe it. His smile, the light in his eyes told her everything she needed to know about their future. She was hopeful now, more then ever, that all their suffering and strife would pay off, and that she would finally get the life, and the love she always wished for herself. "I love you John, always and forever."

"I love you too, always have always will." He smiled adoringly at her his eyes full of love.

"So you’ll go with me then?" she grinned.

"Of course, I want nothing else. This is our family and I'm going to be there every step of the way Lise. I've missed too much already."

"Then let’s not miss anything else together."

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