Gina stood under the spray while Mark washed her body. She leaned into his strong chest, letting his hands caress over her skin, lathering up the soap. “I love you, Mark,” she murmured.
“Love you too,” he answered, continuing to wash her. He offered her a bath, but she insisted on the shower. She leaned more heavily into Mark, pressing her ass against his growing erection.
“I need you,” she murmured, practically purring.
“What about everyone waiting for us?”
“They’ll understand.” Gina reached back, between them, and wrapped her hand around his cock to stroke slowly.
He sucked her earlobe into her his mouth before answering. “Love you so much, Gina.” He ran his hands over her flat belly. “She put you back to how you were. I was getting used to the bump,” he teased.
“She promised I’d have that bump again soon,” she answered. Maybe that’s why she needed him so badly.
He kissed her neck as he explored her skin with sudsy hands. “If they weren’t down there, I’d take my time, showing you how much I want that. How much I want you.” He sighed, pressing his lips to her shoulder. “But we have so much to do, and I have a feeling she wants to talk to us now that she can, without just going through you.”
“Yeah.” Gina turned to look into his eyes. “I need you. I’m not leaving this room until I’ve had you inside me.”
He licked his lips. “You just had a baby.”
“She healed my body completely. Put me back to how I was before, just better. Right now, we need this.” She wrapped her leg over his hip and drew him closer, while guiding him inside.
“I want to take my time,” he murmured.
Shaking her head, she caught his bottom lip between hers and sucked.
He thrust into her and she moaned low in her throat. Mark felt amazing inside her.
“Need you,” she begged. “Hard, please, hard.”
Gripping her ass, he hauled her up and she locked her legs around him as he took her, sending her soaring into the clouds with his powerful rhythm.
“Can’t resist you. Never could,” he answered.
She took his mouth, mimicking what he did between her legs. They synced, their bodies moving in harmony, and they both came, flying into the heavens in bliss.
He held her there, his forehead pressed to hers. “Mine. Now and always.”
“Yours,” she answered.
* * * *
Thankfully it didn’t take Badb long to get used to her body again. Even at the rate it was growing. Gina’s healing abilities as a werewolf sped the process along far faster than she could have imagined.
Morrigan needed to stop watching her like she was going to fall over and hurt herself. She felt far sturdier than she ever imagined possible after being reborn.
Gina and Mark came into the kitchen and she could sense their tension, it was so thick. And Gina was back to her normal weight, not that her body had time to put on extra for Badb.
Badb shifted in the chair, her head at least above the counter. “I hope you don’t mind Morrigan fixing us all something to eat. I imagine you must be close to famished after all of that.”
Gina nodded, her cheeks growing pink. “At least labor wasn’t as bad as some women swear.”
“I did what I could to ease that part of the delivery, but honestly, you had an easier time than a lot of women.”
“Probably partly being a werewolf,” she answered.
Morrigan turned toward them. “I don’t know. When Badb gave birth both times, she had easy labors. I, on the other hand, did not. Though the father of my child seemed intent on ruining the experience.”
“Why?” Gina asked.
“He was a controlling monster. That’s all you need to know.”
Badb lit up. “That’s right. I have a nephew. One that’s hard to keep up with.”
Morrigan sighed. “He’s a busy man, and he uses glamour like no one else.”
Mark scrubbed a hand over his face. He was still getting used to the idea that Preston was the son of a Fae. One who was powerful, and something of an enigma. Toryn seemed to know about everything going on.
“How long before you’re ready to track them down?” Morrigan asked Badb.
She gulped down the orange juice in front of her and licked her lips. Then she climbed down from the stool and looked up at Morrigan with a frown.
Still half her sister’s height. “A few hours? I suggest we all get some rest. We can work on a plan after I finish growing.”
“Tiring?” Mark asked. “I have a friend who may be able to help with that, if his brew won’t help with what you’re going through.”
“I don’t know much about shaman brews, but I’m sure your friend knows his craft,” Badb answered.
“I’ll give him a call. Hopefully, once you’re awake, we’ll have what you need.” Mark looked at Gina. “Either way, I’ll ask if the same brew will help you, just in case.”
“You’re sweet, but I feel fine,” she answered.
“We’re still taking a rest.” He frowned. “At least we have a couple guest rooms. We can worry about the mess later.”
Morrigan smiled. “Actually, give me a moment. It’s much simpler for me to take care of that.” She hurried up the stairs.
“I could have done that,” Badb muttered.
“But you’re out of practice,” called Morrigan.
“Mind if I use the room across from yours?” Badb asked.
“Of course not,” answered Gina.
“We’ll go up now,” Badb replied.
* * * *
After getting off the phone, Mark turned to Gina. “You’re completely sure everything is okay?”
“Very, so relax. I’m a little tired, but not nearly as much as I expected to be. Maybe because I already slept.”
“Not for long,” Mark answered.
Gina pulled the T-shirt and sweats off, watching Mark. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her body.
“Everything happened so fast. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
“I told you, it’s fine. I couldn’t have called if I had wanted to. I woke up, and she was already crowning. Next time, you’ll be here, with me. Okay?”
“Has to be.” He closed the distance and settled his hands on her hips. “Are you ready for me?”
She laughed. “Mmhmm. I probably shouldn’t be, but this wasn’t the normal process. Besides, werewolves heal fast.”
Laughing, he nodded. He certainly knew that to be the truth. “Tell me you need me half as much as I need you.”
Grinning, she pulled him closer and climbed onto the bed. He stripped down in record time to follow her.
She pulled him on top of her and took his mouth in a kiss as she caressed down his body.
He groaned low in his throat. She always knew just how to touch him. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, Gina.” He rolled his hips, sliding his dick against her wet sex.
“Make love to me. That’s all I need right now. You, me, together as one.”
He shifted his weight and pulled her leg around his hip before sliding home. She felt so damned good he thought he might come before he got her off.
She threaded her fingers into his hair as he pumped in and out of her. Their connection grew stronger in that moment. She could feel his magic rolling through him, into her, seeking hers.
And neither of them seemed to have a leash on the power that seemed to expand on its own. And her instinct understood what was happening. Instead of an awakening with a Fae, their magic bond served as an awakening for both. He was part Fae, part witch, but definitely a werewolf, and like Badb said, the separate parts of him were now fusing together, just like hers.
Mark sucked the spot below her ear and pleasure erupted, wiping out all thought as they both fell into bliss.
She clung to him as he rolled to her side. She kissed his neck.
“I don’t understand,” he murmured, touching her stomach. “I felt it.”
“The baby?” she asked, a smile on her lips. “She told us soon. I felt a lot more than that, though. I felt your magic lock onto mine and become something more.”
Shaking his head, he rolled back and stared at the ceiling. “I’m not ready to think about that. I’ve lived without magic for so long I don’t even know what I would do with it now.”
She propped her head up with one hand and traced circles over his heart with the other. “Mark, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want, but that magic may help us stop the doppelgangers, and I think you can see that I’m perfectly fine now.”
“I do, I feel it. And it wasn’t that I thought you were incapable, but I can imagine how much energy it takes to grow a person that fast and give birth.”
“Mmm, which is why I want to sleep now, but I want you to wake me if anyone contacts us.”
“I will, but I think we have time. Robert and Preston are organizing a way to get the witches to leave Brightwater Bay for the time being. And after that, they have to try to figure out a way to find the doppelgangers. They went through a wormhole or something through the abyss.”
“Hmm, we can worry about that later.” She yawned.
He pulled her closer.