He set her on her feet. She turned and moved her hair out of the way. Without a word, he pulled down the zipper and the dress came off.
He gulped, trying his best to keep his eyes above chest level. Mes wasn't like the other girls. He had already lost her once, he wasn't ready to lose her again. "It's okay. You can look." She rolled her eyes. "If I do, I might be tempted to do more." His voice was gruff.
"Let's go." She took his hand and led him into the bathroom. She jumped up onto the counter and brought him between her legs. "Mercedes," he gulped. "What? I just want to give you a shave." She shuddered at the proximity.
He nodded as she wet a washcloth and wiped his face with it. She wrapped her legs around his waist, biting her lip. His scent was intoxicating and she was ready to melt into his arms.
She swallowed and reached for the shaving foam and the razor. "I don't want it all gone. Maybe we could leave a little stubble?" She inhaled deeply. God, he smelled so delicious. "However you want it." He smiled at her, his eyes twinkling in the light.
She pecked his lips and reached for some scissors to trim the hair. He made faces at her as she cut the hair. "You do realise that I'm holding scissors against your face, right?" She cocked her brow with a smile. He looked at the scissors then at her, "I'll risk it." She laughed.
When the hair was low enough, she put the scissors down and got the razor and began to trim it to the length she wanted.
He pulled her off the counter when she was done. "Shower?" She nodded and reached behind her to unclasp her bra. His eyes immediately glued themselves to her breasts.
"Fuck, Mercedes."
"It's okay." She took his hand and placed it on her chest. "After what we've just been through, I don't think it's wise." Cade stepped back. "Shower with me." She pleaded with her eyes, the green in them twinkling like emeralds.
He pulled down her panties then took off his clothes and walked her into the shower. He turned on the shower and they stood under the warm water, his arms around her from behind.
"I realised something while I was gone. I can't be away from you. It affects not just you and I but everyone else. I've never had this much responsibility. It's scary. I don't think I can do it."
Cade kissed her head when her voice broke. "You can. I'm here with you. It was scary for me too at first but I grew to get used to it. It's not as big as it seems. The parks mostly take care of themselves."
"I can't help not being scared." She whispered and he kissed her head. They got out of the shower and dressed for bed.
She curled into him, feeling her wolf sigh in satisfaction. With a smile, she let sleep take her.
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Cade couldn't keep the smile off his face. She really was back home with him. He looked over his coffee mug at her and caught her ogling him. He had not put on a shirt for a reason. She could hardly look away.
She blushed, clearing her throat and forcing her eyes away. "Um, so, any plans today?" It was a Sunday so they weren't going to work. "Well, I have a few documents to go over
But it won't take more than an hour and half. Wanna do something after?"
She squinted at him, smiling. "Date night." His face broke into a smile. She was finally giving their relationship a chance. "Wherever you want to go." He nodded, coming around the counter to hold her. "No. You come up with a place and maybe activity." She let him hold her, taking in his scent. She could get used to this.
"I should make breakfast," she mumbled into his chest. "I'll help." He pulled away and reached for the ingredients that were on the top shelves. They set to making some pancakes and some avocado toast and scrambled eggs. "Tea? Orange juice?" She reached for the pitcher of orange juice. "Oj." She poured him a glass and made some tea for herself.
Just as they finished their breakfast, they heard a car pull up in front of the castle. They shared a look and got up to check who it was. Mes took a whiff of the air and caught a familiar scent. She grimaced and pulled open the door.
"Mercedes Anderson! So are you telling me you forgot you had a mother?" The dark haired beauty at the door jutted a finger at her guilty daughter. "Sorry, mom. There's just been a lot going on-"
"Yes. You ran away. Why the hell would you do that?"
"Mom, can we-"
"I knew it was right of me to make your sister keep an eye on you," her mother grumbled and walked in through the door.
"Hello, Cade. How have you been? I trust you're taking acre of my daughter and keeping her out of trouble?" Cade nodded, a bit stunned. He had seen Mes' mother a few times from when they were in highschool and Mes got into trouble.
"Um, welcome Mrs Anderson." He held out his hand to shake hers. She looked at him like he was stupid then pulled him into a tight mom hug. "You can call me Arabella." She kissed his cheek and let go, beaming up at him.
"Now, you and I need to talk." She pointed an accusing finger at her daughter. Mes huffed. "Okay, so I'll be in my office." Cade gave Arabella a small hug, pecked Mes on the cheek and walked away.
She led her mother into the kitchen and began to do the dishes. "Why don't you call me? At least when you found your mate?" Arabella sounded hurt. "Mom, its not like that." Mes teared up.
"I wasn't calling much because I wanted to rid myself of certain memories, you know that." She sniffed. "And I didn't tell you about Cade because, I wasn't sure. I knew he was my mate but from things I had heard, I just didn't think I could remain with him. I was confused. I didn't know what to do."
"Why didn't you call me. I could have helped." Arabella came behind her daughter and hugged her. "I didn't want to pull anyone into it in case I couldn't figure anything out and made a mess." She shrugged and swallowed.
"Baby, you know it's never trouble to come to me with anything."
"I know. I was just confused."
"What made you run away?" Mes stiffened in her mother's arms. "Mercedes?" Arabella held her at arms length and studied her face. Mes' lip quivered and she shut her eyes to push back the memories.
"We got attacked by rogues. Cade fought them of. It reminded me of dad. He tore into the wolf the same way that rogue tore into dad," her voice broke and tears fell from her eyes. "I was scared. I guess, for a while my mind made it seem like he had killed dad. Even though I knew it wasn't true but I was freaked out mom, I was freaked out."
Arabella gathered her into a hug and let her cry. When she finally pulled away, she felt lighter. The weird weight had been lifted. Thank you," she smiled at her mom and wiped away the tears.
"Okay. Now that that's done, when will I be seeing my grandchildren?"
"You can go see them now. In Hannah's house."
Arabella rolled her eyes at her daughter's tone. "I'm talking about your children." She gave her a look.
"We haven't talked about it yet." Mes looked around nervously. "You haven't had sex with him, have you?"
"Mom!" Her face flamed, admitting her mother's word. "What are you waiting for?" Arabella looked in the direction of Cade's office. "He's hot!" She exasperated.
"Mom!" Mes reprimanded her. "We just...I haven't... We aren't ready."
"Bullshit!"
"Mom!"
Arabella studied her daughter carefully. "You've never fucked before, have you?" Mes' face got redder as she stuttered over her words. "So Hannah was lying about that Jared boy?"
"Well, you didn't believe me back then when I told you!" She rolled her eyes. "And you grounded me for a month!"
"Hannah has a lot of explaining to do. But I'll deal with her later. We're on you now. How come you're still a virgin?"
"I...mom! Shouldn't you at least be telling me I was a good girl for not sleeping around or something?"
"Well I figured you've had boyfriends even though you never introduced any to me." Arabella shrugged. "I have dated a few times. But we never...got to that level before we broke up." She couldn't tell her mom that some of her relationships had ended because she didn't want to have sex.
"Okay. So now that you've found your mate and he's a hot piece of ass, what are you waiting for?"
"I don't know!" Mes shrugged. She really didn't. She had thought about it but something always seemed to hold her back. Except last night. If he had tried anything last night, she wouldn't have stopped him. Maybe it was because she had been away from him for a while and she'd missed him.
"Well, I won't be around for long. I'll like to meet your children before I'm called to the great beyond." Mes rolled her eyes. Now, she knew where Hannah got the 'acting skills' from. So dramatic.
"You're not going to die."
"How sure are you?" Her mother challenged.
She squinted at her mother who only rolled her eyes and broke into a smile. They hugged and sat at the counter. Mes had missed her mother.
"I should go and shower." Mes excused herself and went upstairs.
Arabella took that opportunity and walked into Cade's office. "Arabella," he stood and ushered her into a chair.
"Look here Cade, I know you're the Alpha King and all but you freak out my daughter again and I'll hurt you. Really bad."
Before Cade could say anything, she cut in, "also, get to work on the grand babies. I'm not getting any younger."
"I don't think Mercedes is ready for that." He hid a smile. This lady was something else. "What do you mean?" She sat up. "Well, the few times I've tried anything, she stops me before..." He trailed off.
"She wants to fuck you, Cade."
Cade choked in air and had a mini coughing fit. "What?" He sat back in his chair. "Mercedes wants to fuck you. You know, have sex." She looked at him like he was a few brain cells short.
"She told you?" His eyes widened. "Not exactly." He glared at her and she continued, "it was in her body language." He continued to stare at her. "Trust me Alpha, I know my daughter and I know she wouldn't stop you now if you initiated anything." She gave him a smug look that said, 'I know everything'.
He nodded and she smiled. She engaged him in conversation with different topics till Mercedes came down.
Arabella's phone began to ring. "Hannah," she answered and was deafened by a baby crying. "What's going on? Why's Nate screaming his lungs out?"
"I don't know!" Hannah burst into tears in the phone. "He won't stop crying. I tried feeding him, he hasn't messed his diaper. I took his clothes off because I thought maybe he was hot, but he still wouldn't stop crying!"
"Hannah, calm down."
"Mom, I'm going crazy here." She snorted over the phone. Mes took the phone from her mother. "Hannah!" She barked into the phone, halting Hannah's babbling. "He's sleepy."
"Then he should just sleep. I put him in his crib and he still wouldn't stop crying."
Mes rolled her eyes. "Pick him up, Hannah. You're supposed to lull him to sleep. Calm down first. Even your heartbeat."
"Okay." She blew her nose into a tissue and stopped crying. "Now pick him up, his head on your chest, just above your heart. It calms them. And rock him in your arms or walk around the room."
Just as Hannah began to pace, the shrill cries died down. "Hannah, how are you a mother of two? How did you do with Daisy?" Mes asked.
"Mom helped a lot with Daisy," Hannah divulged. Mes pinched the bridge of her nose and handed the phone back to her mother who was staring at her with pride. "You'll be a wonderful mother. She shook her head and turned to Cade who was staring at her oddly.
"Well, I'll be going to check on Hannah." Arabella gave them each a hug and told Mes to call her often then she left.
"That was amazing." Cade pulled her to him, his hands settling on her hips. "What?" Her brows furrowed. "You and all that baby knowledge." He pecked her lips. "I used to babysit." She mumbled against his lips.
"Mercedes,"
"Yeah?"
"How about we start our own baby farm?"
She froze. "Cade, I-"
"You're not ready?"
She shrugged. "I don't know." She kept her eyes on his chest, avoiding eye contact. "Why?" He hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her face to his. "What if I'm not good at it?"
"Good at what? Sex or motherhood?" She blushed st his words. He knew she had never done it before. "Both." He smiled at her and kissed her, "that's why I'm here. We're doing this together." She nodded and hugged him.
"Lunch?" She asked after a while even though they had had breakfast less than two hours ago. "Sure. What do want?" He held her tighter when she tried to walk away. "Chinese?" She suggested. "Okay." He reached for the phone off his desk and called and ordered the food.
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Finally updated. Thank you all for being patient. Will try to publish the next chapter soon.
Xoxo,
You know you love me,
Lyza.