Page 85 of Twisted Mates

Xander snorts and I just shake my head as the two of them leave the throne room. My mate turns to face me and takes both my hands in his. “So, you wanted to be alone with me, is that it?”

I keep one hand in his and lead him back up the steps of the dais, where our thrones sit empty. “Sit,” I say, gesturing to the seat he’s just vacated.

His brows knit together. “Uh, okay,” he says slowly, sinking down into the throne but not away from me. He pulls on his tie, loosening the black silk around his neck. “Are you going to sit too?”

I just smile and step right in front of him, between his slightly spread legs. “I need to tell you something, and I wanted it to be just the two of us when I do.”

“Okay, what is it, Alexia?” His eyes narrow and I can tell he’s worried, so I don’t draw this out.

I intertwine our fingers and say, “Have you noticed anything different about me lately?”

He cocks his head to the side and thinks for a moment, humming thoughtfully. “Well, come to think of it, you’ve been pretty sleepy lately. I’ve found you in starfish mode more than usual,” he jokes.

I hold back my laughter, trying to keep this moment at least a little serious. “Mmhmm. What else?”

“You’ve not wanted rocky road!” he exclaims as if it just came to him. “I meant to ask you what the hell was up with that the other night. I’ve never known you to turn it down.” He stops speaking and his eyes widen the slightest bit. “Alexia?”

I grin, placing his large, tattooed hand on my belly, the one with my initials on his ring finger. “And I know you won’t say it because you’re too sweet, but I don’t quite fit in my jean shorts anymore.”

His blue eyes light up like he’s on the verge of shifting. “Alexia, what are you saying?”

“I’m saying I’m going to have your baby, Xander. I’m pregnant.”

His thumb swipes back and forth over my stomach. He looks at it like he’s waiting for something amazing to happen right now. I suppose the growth of our childisamazing, but unfortunately, they’re too small for him to get any sort of reaction.

“Our pup. You’re carryingmypup,” he says, his voice thick with emotion.

Xander grips my waist and pulls me closer. His lips land in the center of my belly and he gives it one sweet kiss. My mate who would rip the world apart for me is a mess of tears and softly spoken words to our unborn child.

I rub my palm down the back of his head and thread my fingers through his hair. “Yes,” I say, my voice unexpectedly split by a sob. “I am.”

He looks up at me and there are tears shining in his eyes. “How far along are you?”

I smirk. “About two months.”

He chuckles and keeps both hands on my belly as he stands to tower over me, pressing his forehead to mine. “I really did put a baby in you that first night, huh?”

“It would appear so. It turns out when I got back home after that trip to your apartment, it wasn’t just one pill I was late for.” I purse my lips and my eyes dart around the room before landing back on him. “I guess I was a little distracted because I had missed the four days before that.”

One side of Xander’s mouth ticks up. “Was I the distraction?”

“You know you were a huge distraction along with everything else.”

“Or maybe this is exactly how it was meant to be for us. This is another blessing from the goddess, and I’m more than all right with that.”

I smile and wrap my arms around his neck. “Me too.”

Placing his hands on my hips, he lifts me off my feet, turns around, and gently lowers me to his throne.

“What are you doing, my king?” I ask as he steps between my legs, knocking my knees apart and lifting my dress. “We have a ball to get to.”

“Not yet. Not until I worship this body that has brought me so much happiness, that is bringing new life into our family.”

I open my mouth to protest, but the desire raging in his eyes stops me. Anyone could walk in on us, see him with his hands up my skirt. None of that matters—not when he falls to his knees, not when he slides his hands up the inside of my thighs, and not when he pushes my lace panties to the side.

His finger slides through my slit and he lifts it between us. “It makes you wet to see me on my knees for you, doesn’t it?”

I hum my agreement and lean forward, closing my lips around his finger and sucking every drop of my desire from his skin, never taking my eyes off his. “It does. But everything you do makes me wet, Xander. You’re so fucking sexy that I sometimes can’t even believe you’re mine.”

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