Page 16 of A Kitten for Alpha Kenny

“That’s my read on it. She wouldn’t have brought it up if she didn’t, or at least not in such a happy, friendly way.”

“So, she likes me?”

“Yes, she does. She has added you to her little group of adult friends, but also, if you want to be, her papa.”

“Family.” My cheeks ached with my smile. “I guess we’d better get her in to bed, then.”

Mulder eased her out of the car seat and handed me the house keys. “If you’ll unlock the door?”

“I was staring, wasn’t I?”

“Yes.” He freed one hand and reached for mine, giving it a squeeze before releasing it to help support Madeline. “But since I just spent the afternoon ogling your”—his gaze flicked down to the child in his arms—“face. I was ogling your handsome face.”

“Good trick while walking behind me so much of the time.” We reached the door and I opened it and stepped back to allow Mulder to pass. “I’m glad you like to look at my…face.”

Mulder continued on down the hall, and I waited while he got Madeline into her jammies and tucked in bed. When he came back, he had a rueful grin on his lips. “I didn’t even brush her teeth for fear of waking her. I’m probably a terrible dad.”

“You’re a wonderful dad, and I would say missing a tooth brushing once in a great while is okay.” I did not bring up the fact she’d had a cookie.

“I’ve brushed them every night since they grew in and her dentist says shifters almost never get cavities. Do you suppose all parent mates think of ways not to keep their children up late just so they can rip each other’s clothes off and do naughty things to each other all night long.”

I swallowed hard, his words making me rock-hard and aching for him. “I don’t know. I guess every family has to come up with their own plan, but as the partner with zero experience in the raising of children, I’m going to have to follow your lead in these matters at least for a while.”

He crossed the room to where I had taken a seat on the sofa and plopped down on my lap. “An alpha, a pack alpha no less, putting me in charge of something so important.” He leaned back, resting against my chest, face tipped up toward mine. “Then my first command is that you kiss me right here and now.”

“But, Madeline? She might wake up and come out here and see.” I didn’t want to traumatize the child. “I walked in on my dads one time when I was young and about scared myself to death.”

He cupped my cheek and planted a quick, hard peck on my lips. “Which is why I only asked you to kiss me. I don’t mind Madeline seeing mates express affection. In fact, I think that’s healthy.”

“Anything more than that, we go to the bedroom.” Not a question. A statement. Even if he was going to have to guide me in all things fatherhood, I knew that much.

“Yes, but I hereby declare kissing PG.” He leaned closer again, and I captured his lips in a more profound kiss, deeper and with tongue. When we paused for breath, foreheads pressed together, my mate sighed. “Okay, some kisses are PG. That was definitely R.”

“Agreed.”

“Let’s try a PG again so we have it for reference.”

We tried and failed.

“I think it might be easier when we’ve burned off some of this sexual tension,” he said.

“Omega mine, when do you think that will be? Because I cannot imagine not wanting to strip you naked and fill your body with my cock every time I see you.”

He cleared his throat. “Okay, new rule. Closed-mouth is PG, anything else behind closed doors. Deal?”

“You’re the expert.” I stood up, bringing him with me. “Now, if you’d like to show me to your bedroom where we can close the door?”

It wasn’t far, but cradling my omega against my chest, it seemed to take forever to get into his room. He pointed out Madeline’s was across the hall and down a bit, so as long as we were quiet, we should be all right. This papa stuff was a challenge but I knew it would be totally worth it.

Alone together in the quiet of his bedroom, we undressed one another slowly, only a small nightlight allowing my shifter vision to take in what my hands caressed. I’d seen him when we shifted, of course, but that was quick and not a time for staring. Especially with a child there, we had to use our very best shifter manners.

Now, it was just us, and we didn’t have to rush. It was early in the evening, and this was our first time together. As the last of our clothing landed on the floor, I guided him down onto the bed for some more of that R-rated kissing.

The kissing led to touching led to other things. My mate’s scent surrounded me, and my desire to go slow and make this lovemaking leading up to marking last as long as possible was seeping away. Mulder’s body temperature was a little warmer than most people’s. Maybe because he was a cat?

What would it be like to bury myself inside him with that extra heat?

The thought almost had me coming before I found out. Instead, I dropped to the floor and tugged him to the edge of the bed so I could try some X-rated kissing. He was long, with a slight curve and a broad head that went between my lips with a smack. I reached between his legs and cupped his ball sac, teasing gently while taking more of his rod into my mouth. When I had him as far into my throat as I could, I sucked hard and glided my fingers back to find his slick.

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