Rough It Up (9 page)

“Alistair,” she finally said, her voice a little shaky.

Her mate lowered his head and murmured, “I think he wanted you to call him Father. Or Dad.”

He did? He had? She blinked. “Really?”

This time, all the men present on the podium laughed. She felt her cheeks start to redden and wished she was anywhere but here. Before she could run away, Alistair—or whatever he wanted her to call him—drew her forward. His arms closed behind her back. She found herself relaxing almost instantly, knowing on a deeper level that she was safe with him. He was her Alpha, sure, but he was also part of her. His scent mingled with hers, reminding her of his son. Her mate. Her family.

When he let her go, she drew back and looked up. This time, she held his gaze and smiled. “Thanks.” A pause, then, “Father.”

Their fearless leader grinned. “Welcome to the Pride, Alexa. May you and Jay be happy for as long as your lion souls live within you.” His voice gaining volume with each word, he finally turned toward the crowd and pushed her to stand in front of him. “Behold Alexa, our new daughter…and your future Alpha’s mate!”

Applause and shouts rang out. She stumbled a little, her eyes wide as she took in the people cheering for her. Blinking back tears, she turned to the man who’d come to a stand beside her.

Jay’s smile lit up his face. He tugged her to him and softly brushed his lips over hers. When he drew back, his face serious, it was to run the pads of his fingers down her cheek. “I love you.”

The words took Alexa by surprise. She hadn’t expected him to declare himself for the first time at such a time. In public, no less! “Jay—”

He cut her off, “You don’t have to reply right now.”

She was frowning by the time he finished his sentence. “Are you kidding? Of course I will!”

“Dominant,” Nate mumbled behind them, reminding her where they were.

She had no idea what her new brother had meant, but right now she had other things to worry about. Leaning up so her forehead touched her mate’s, she closed her eyes and whispered, “I love you, too. Even though I still can’t believe you’re mine.”

Jay drew back. “Why?”

“I…” She waved her hands, indicating everything that was happening around them. “I was a mixie. I didn’t belong to this Pride. Not really. I was nothing. And now, here I am. It’s… It’s a lot to take in.”

He pulled her back to him. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known.”

“I wasn’t when we first met.”

His lips quirked. “You attracted me from the start. I wasn’t even supposed to be sitting in that part of the terminal. I missed my flight that day, you know. I saw you and couldn’t stop myself from going to you.”

“It was the mating frenzy.”

He shook his head and grabbed the back of her head, forcing her face into a certain angle. “No, it wasn’t. It was you.” And with that, he kissed her, the rest of the world forgotten as they lost themselves in each other’s embrace.

About the Author

Emma Hillman never plans her stories. She just lets the characters have fun and hopes the ending will make sense. It usually does.

 
Besides being a multi-published author of erotic romances, she works full-time and lives in Paris with a (nice) husband, a (cute) little girl, and two sweet but (very) loud pets. She also reads far too much as the postman (and her banker) could attest, but shhhh.

For more information on her current and future releases, you can visit her blog at
http://emmahillmanbooks.blogspot.com/
or chat with her on Twitter (@droptheglasses). She’d love to hear from you!

Also Available from
Resplendence Publishing

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