Page 45 of Alpha Exile

I feel my climax come with a tightening of my balls and a spasm in my muscles. Groaning, I sink my teeth into the meat of Delilah's neck and hold her still as I empty myself into the thin latex barrier separating us, all the while wishing for more, wanting to mark her fully and fill her.

She sighs against me, rocking forward and holding me inside her as she kisses first my hairline, then my jaw, then finally my lips. Our mouths slide together slowly. Reaching over her shoulders, I thread my fingers in her hair and carefully untangle it row by row, enjoying the silky way it slides beneath my fingers.

As she pulls back from me, her green gaze intimate and vulnerable, I can't help but confess, "I want children. With you."

Delilah blinks a little, as if startled this confession happened just now, a moment after it was possible. Then she smiles a little, a shy expression. "I want to have kids with you too, Kieran. Though—not at this moment."

"I know." Glancing back at the cavern's darkness, I shake off the impending doom gathering in my stomach.We'll get him back."I just mean—the condoms. I get why they're necessary, and I'll use them as long as you want. But as soon as you're ready... I want to come inside you. I want to watch your belly swell."

A flush pinks her cheeks, and she says, "I want that as well. Once the pack is strong and whole, and we have Roarke back."

"I wouldn't mind if we had to—share," I add, feeling myself stumble over my words. "Once Roarke is back. If you wanted to... well, some of the old packs did it that way."

"What way?"

I struggle for words, which is a good moment for my length to go completely soft from my drained orgasm. Delilah slides off my lap and adjusts herself as I quickly clean up the mess between us, then slides back onto me, her naked body against mine. Something stirs within me at her nearness, but I hold it back, sensing Lance's distant gaze on my back. He'll tear me off her if I try to have her again before he gets his chance—that much I'm sure of.

"I read about it in some of... some of the research we did when we were figuring out the mating situation." Some research I did on my own, to figure out what exactly sharing meant, and if I had any hope of it going more than one way. "When the old packs were weak and needed to strengthen their genetic lines, they'd share mates. Apparently sometimes it triggers a double estrous in werewolf females—two babies, each with a different father. Something about the pheromones."

"Oh." She bites her lower lip, blinking. "I didn't think about two."

"Werewolf pregnancies do tend to be easier and shorter than human ones," I add, feeling myself flush. "So maybe twins wouldn't bethatbad. And if Roarke and I—well, if we timed it at the same time... that's what they used to do, at least."

I can't believe what I just proposed.

Especially since Roarke isn't even here to know I'm doing it.

But Delilah just cocks her head to the side a little, a sly smile on her lips. "I wouldn't mind something like that. Maybe fewer pregnancies would be nice—especially if Aunt Kerry can help me give birth. It'll mean more late night feedings and changing, though."

"Isn't that why you have four mates?" I grin at her a little, relieved that my illicit desire hasn't turned into something she despises. "It was just an idea, anyway. It doesn't have to be Roarke. Knowing Finn, he'll probably find a way to shoot a load into you before we eventhinkabout it."

Delilah laughs at this, then sobers up. "You know, I didn't get pregnant during the Mating Ceremony. I wonder if that's a sign—they say it's less likely to happen when the mating bond isn't quite right. What if... what if the stones knew I wasn't going to get tokeepfive mates, so they kept me from estrous?"

"That can't be it," I reassure her, holding her delicate waist in my hands. "I'm sure the ancient magic just sensed that our pack wasn't in the right place for a pregnant alpha. As soon as things fall into place, it'll happen. You'll see."

"You're right."

She shakes the doubts off, though her eyes, like mine, are going to the distant cavern. I don't know what we're hoping for—to see Roarke and be reunited, or to see Delphine and stab her to death. Either way, I know it isn't going to happen, so I don't get my hopes up.

As if on afterthought, Delilah adds, "Werewolf males have a tendency to rip through condoms anyway. I'm shocked it hasn't happened yet. Knowing my luck, I'll be pregnant with a litter before the end of the year."

She will be if I have anything to do with it.

And my best friend will be right there with me, taking turns watching as we mate her to completion, continuing on the strength of our werewolf lines and ensuring the next generation is raised with love and care.

At least, I hope he will be.

As soon as we get him back, I'm going to let him know about the thoughts and feelings I've been wrestling with. I just hope he takes them well—and that it doesn't ruin things between us.

"Ahem." Right on cue, Lance strides out of the woods, and this time he's taken the trouble to remove his pants in advance—and make it very clear what he's expecting. "I've waited long enough, and the two of you look like you're considering doing more than just talking and snuggling. Round two is mine, Salt. Care to move?"

Throwing my hands up, I slide off Delilah, sweep my clothes off the tarp, and tell Lance, "I wouldn't dream of getting in the way, buddy."

As I get dressed and stalk off into the woods, my mind rushing with thoughts, I hear the sound of a playful laugh behind me—followed by a gasp, and a moan of desire. Hot, flaring pleasure rolls through the bond I share with Delilah, tinged by just enough pain to put her near the edge.

When I glance back curiously, I see that Lance is holding her up by the back of the neck as he bends her over and thrusts his fingers inside her. Looking over at me, he scowls—and I practically feel himpushme away, the mate bond I share with Delilah narrowing as he floods his own bond with pleasure and claims his mate.

Not that I can blame him. It's exactly where I was only minutes before, and I'll be in his spot again soon enough. I just wonder why it is that when I see him with her, I only feel distantly curious and slightly desirous, instead of melancholic and bursting with jealousy.

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