The Playboy Bear's Baby: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (11 page)

Unbidden tears filled her eyes. “I love you, too.”

He swooped down and kissed her softly. After a
moment, he eased back and slipped an arm under her lower back. Before she could
ask what he was up to, he tightened his grip on her and flipped them over so
she was lying on top of him. Although she was unused to be manhandled, she had
to admit, she kind of liked it. She panted with exhaustion as she rested her
head on his chest and listened to the pounding of his heart. His murmured words
of love were the last thing she heard as she drifted off to sleep.

Epilogue

“One more push and the baby will be
here, Mara.” Gray leaned over and kissed his mate’s sweaty temple. “You’re
doing great, sweetheart. Just a little more and we can meet our girl.”

Mara took a deep breath, pressed her
chin against her chest, and bore down as hard as she could. Her face turned red
under the strain of her exertion.

Gray stood by her side, holding her
hand and cheering her on. After fifteen hours of labor and nearly an hour of
pushing, Mara was struggling to keep going, but she hadn’t given up yet. His mate
was one hell of a tough woman. Watching her struggle to bring their first child
into the world made him love her even more than he thought possible. He didn’t
know how he’d gotten so damn lucky.

Mara shuddered and the obstetrician
sitting at the foot of her hospital bed leaned forward. The nurse beside him
handed him a suction bulb. “The head’s out, Mara. One more big push and it’ll
all be over.”

If looks could kill, Mara’s death stare
would have killed everyone in a fifty-foot radius. She grumbled something that
sounded suspiciously like
“you’ve been saying that for the last fifteen
minutes”
under her breath. The she sucked in another momentous breath and
pushed again
.

Gray sent a silent prayer to whichever saint looked
out for mothers and infants and held his breath right along with his mate.

Mara gave a violent shudder and feel back against
the bed.

The bedding rustled and the doctor lifted up a
long, chunky baby with skin the shade of a fire truck and a thick gob of damp,
spiky brown hair on her head. “Good job, Mama. You’ve got a healthy baby girl.”

The cub wiggled, kicking her little arms and legs
in protest at being torn away from the safety of the only home she’d ever
known, and let out a loud cry. Gray’s breath shot out of him in a whoosh of relief
and immeasurable joy. “Oh fuck. I mean fudge. I mean… She’s so damn beautiful,
Mara.”

Tears rolled down Mara’s face. “She is, isn’t she?”

The doctor handed the baby off to the nurse, who
carried her across the room to be cleaned up, measured, and weighed.

Gray wrapped his arms around his exhausted mate and
kissed her hair, temple, and cheek. Love and affection bubbled up inside him,
too big to be contained. “You did it, baby. Our cub is here because of you.” He
pressed his lips against her softly, knowing she didn’t have the energy for
much more. “I’m so damn proud you. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” She gave him a tired smile and
caressed his cheek.

The nurse carried the baby back to them, now
bundled in a pink and blue striped blanket with a little matching cap on her
head, and carefully handed her over. Mara cradled their daughter against her
chest and carefully ran the pad of one finger down her downy cheek. “Hello Thea
Rose. I’m your mommy.”

Gray leaned in close and stared down into his daughter’s
dark blue eyes. “Happy birthday, Thea. Your mommy and I have been waiting a
long time to meet you and we’re so glad you’re finally here. I hope you’re
ready to be loved like crazy and spoiled rotten.”

Mara shot him a fond smile. “You’re going to be a
great daddy.”

“I’m going to try my best,” he promised, gazing
down at their little girl.

“Do you want to hold her?”

Although part of
him was terrified at the thought of holding such a tiny infant, he shoved down his
fear of hurting her and nodded. “Yes, please. In fact, I’ll trade you.”

“Trade me?”

“Mm hmm.” He
reached into his pocket and pulled out the strand of antique pearls he’d
searched high and low for over the last couple of months. He held them out so
she could see them.

“Is that… Are
those Grandma’s pearls?”

He nodded.

“How on earth did
you find them?”

“I have my ways.”
Including scouring every pawn shop within a hundred mile radius. Seeing Mara’s
pleased expression was worth all the aggravation.

Fresh moisture
built in her eyes. “Thank you. I figured they were lost forever.”

“I’m glad I was
able to track them down. I know how much they mean to you.” He kissed her
softly, watchful not to squish the baby between them.

When he pulled back, Mara carefully handed over the
baby.
“Don’t forget to support her
head.”

“I won’t.” He cradled their girl against his chest
and stared down at her in awe. She was so small, fragile, and unbelievably
beautiful. His heart overflowed with love, making his chest ache from the depth
of emotions swelling inside him. He tore his gaze away from Thea long enough to
glance over at the love of his life. Words weren’t enough to express how
grateful he was for her and the precious bundle in his arms, but he had to try.
“Thank you for Thea and for accepting me, warts and all.”

Mara’s eyes widened. “Warts? That wasn’t part of
the deal. I’m outta here.”

Gray grinned. “I love you, bad sense of humor and
all.”

Mara rested her head on his shoulder. “I love you,
more.”

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This Shifter Romance…

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About Marlie
Monroe

Marlie Monroe lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and two
pampered pooches. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found daydreaming
about the characters in her next book.