Having Hope (Ashland Pride Book Eleven) Read online

  Smiling at her reflection, she grabbed her purse and cell phone and opened the bedroom door. Ben was leaning against the wall, holding a pink rose.

  She took it from him and brought the pretty flower to her nose, inhaling the sweet scent. He pulled her close and kissed her. “You look amazing.”

  “Thank you, so do you.”

  They hustled down the stairs and out the front door, deftly avoiding getting pulled into a conversation with whoever was in the kitchen. He opened her car door for her, then sat behind the wheel. As he backed out of the parking spot, she asked where they were going.

  “You’ll see,” he said, giving her an exaggerated brow wiggle.

  She chuckled. “Do I need to put on a blindfold?”

  “It’s not that much of a surprise, so no. I just don’t want to spoil it.”

  While he drove, her mind spun, curious where they were going. Ben was her most creative mate. On their individual dates, he always surprised her with what he planned, going out of his way to do something unique. One date, he showed her a map of Indiana that he’d attached to a dartboard. He hung it on a tree outside and gave her darts. She wasn’t any good at throwing them, but after about five tries she actually hit the board. She’d nailed a town on the border of Ohio named Felicity, which was over an hour away. They’d driven to the city and found a restaurant where she’d had the most amazing chicken pot pie. Then they took a stroll down the quaint main street and he bought her candy from a five-and-dime.

  She blinked in surprise when she realized he’d turned into the driveway of their house. When he stopped behind the house, she turned her head to look at him.

  “What are we doing here?”

  “Just a sec.” He got out of the car and came around to her side, opening it and offering her his hand. She accepted it, smiling when he pulled her close and kissed her sweetly.

  He smiled down at her, his eyes flashing with heat, and then led her to the house. The exterior walls were up, but the doors and windows hadn’t been installed yet. They walked through the back door into the kitchen and stopped in front of some dark sheets that had been hung up to enclose the family room. With a devious smile, he lifted the corner of one sheet high enough for her to walk inside. She gasped as she entered the family room. Ben had hung white string lights across the ceiling beams, and they glittered over a picnic set up in the center of the room. A low table was covered with a red gingham blanket and set for two; a wicker basket sat next to a set of flickering electric candles.

  “Oh Ben,” she said, turning to him.

  “You like, sweetheart?”

  “Of course, it’s amazing!”

  Her eyes stung with happy tears at the romantic gesture, but she blinked them away. They settled across from each other on pillows. She sipped blackberry iced tea from a champagne flute while he took the lids off containers. Inside each one was something she loved to eat: Mason jars of pasta salad with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese; ham sandwiches on small Hawaiian rolls; fruit skewers with chocolate dipping sauce; and her favorite dessert – cheesecake.

  “This is so wonderful, thank you,” she said.

  He put a sandwich and Mason jar on her plate. “It’s my pleasure.”

  “You’re always so thoughtful and sweet.”

  He gave her a serious look. “You’re my wife, Hope. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make you happy, believe it.”

  “I do.” She squeezed his hand. “I’d do anything for you, too.”

  While they ate, they talked about the house and work, the goddess and the curse, and what the future would look like once their babies came into the world.

  “I’m a little worried about work,” she confessed.

  “What about it?”

  “What are we going to do about the babies? They’re due in April, so I wouldn’t be back to school before the end of the year, and then I’ll only have the summer with them. Will we put them in daycare? Is there even a daycare in Ashland?”

  “I’m sure there is one, but we won’t need it.”

  “We won’t?”

  “Heck no. Nathan, Owen, and I have discussed it, and I’ll most likely take a lighter schedule so I can be home with them while you teach. There are a ton of pride members at the boarding house and here on the farm who’d be willing to help out with them, too. We only have to put the request out there, and I’m certain we’ll have no trouble lining up help.”

  “I feel kind of selfish.”

  “Why? Because you want to keep working? It’s your first full-time job as a teacher, and you’ve wanted to be one your whole life.”

  “But what about your job? Will the company suffer without you?”

  “Nah.” He shook his head. “I mean, I’m invaluable, don’t get me wrong, but our family is more important than anything else, and Nathan and Owen will have no trouble hiring on extra workers if they need to. Callie’s boys have been asking about getting some part-time hours if we ever need help, so don’t worry about that, okay?”

  She smiled and let out a relieved breath. “I was a little stressed about it. It’s so weird, because I just found out I was pregnant, but already I’m thinking months in advance. It’s like I can’t stop worrying about the future.”

  “Our grandpa used to say not to suffer future worries, because we live in the present and should focus on that. I wonder if because you almost died, and instead of finding out about the pregnancy through traditional means, Hrixalda told you, that’s got something to do with your worries?”

  “Maybe.” She hummed. “Or it’s possible that I’ve just been thinking a lot this past week about how I grew up without my mom or my dad. I mean, I never even knew my biological father, and I didn’t meet my mom until I was in high school.”

  “I’ve wondered what our lives would have turned out like if the curse had never been cast on our people. I think the short answer is that we wouldn’t have come to Ashland, but who knows what the pride would’ve been like if the lions mated each other instead of living apart.”

  “I hated the curse, but I’m also grateful because it brought me to you.”

  “Me too.”

  When they finished eating, Ben put everything in the picnic basket and set it aside. He helped her to her feet and pulled out his phone, opening a music app and selecting a playlist she noticed was entitled “Songs for My Sweetheart.” As romantic music flowed softly from wireless speakers, Ben danced her around the room, stealing kisses and whispering sexy things in her ear.

  She stopped moving and cupped his face.

  “I’m so crazy about you,” she said.

  “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” He lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was sweet at first, but then he tilted his head and deepened it, stroking his tongue against hers in a slow dance that heated her core and made goosebumps rise on her skin. He bent slightly, wrapping his arms around her waist and straightening, lifting her into the air. She anchored herself to him, hooking her ankles behind his back and breathing his name against his lips.

  He lowered to his knees on the blanket, setting her on the fabric-covered table. Parting her legs, she pulled him close, her knees pressing against his sides as she tangled her fingers in his hair and kissed him.

  His hands slid up to hike her skirt around her waist, allowing her to open her legs farther. He walked his fingers across her thighs and nibbled on her bottom lip as he pulled from the kiss.

  She hooked her finger in the top button of his dress shirt. He gave her a sly look, his eyes darkening as she unbuttoned his shirt slowly, revealing the smooth expanse of his chest and abdomen. Tugging the shirttails from his pants, he finished undoing the last few buttons and pulled it off, dropping it next to him. Then he leaned forward to kiss her again as he pushed her jacket from her shoulders and tossed it aside, tugging the tank over her head after it.

  Stretching out on her back, she smiled as he arched over her and pulled down the cups of her bra, baring
her breasts. Her nipples hardened immediately, even before he began pressing kisses to them and stroking his tongue in tortuously slow circles. He caught one nipple gently between his teeth, applying enough pressure to send little licks of pleasure through her body, then he slowly kissed down her stomach. He nuzzled her belly with a purr before scooting down between her thighs.

  He slid his hands up inside the skirt and let out a curious purr. “No panties, sweetheart?”

  She sat up on one elbow and gave him a sexy smile. “I had some expectations for how this night would turn out.”

  “Sexy ones, I trust.”

  “You know it.”

  His purr grew louder and his eyes darkened, a glimmer of amber from his cat peeking out through the blue she loved so much. He brushed his fingers over her pussy, stroking her from bottom to top and back down again, adding more pressure with each pass until he was circling her entrance and drawing her wetness over her clit in slow movements. Each time his finger grazed against her clit, her breath caught in her throat and her body heated, until she had to clench her teeth to keep herself from telling him to get on with the pleasure already. Ben liked to play with her, and she normally loved the sweet torture, but tonight she felt needy.

  “Ben,” she said with a throaty moan.

  He leaned down and kissed the inside of her thigh. She felt his breath skirt over her skin, and closed her eyes as he slipped one hand under her bottom and lifted her to his mouth. Pressing his thumb to her clit, he rubbed it back and forth, delving his tongue into her and lapping at her heat. In minutes her body was primed for climax, his thumb working her mercilessly and happy purrs rumbling in his chest. All at once her world narrowed and she let out a sharp cry as she came, her toes curling and her heart pounding.

  As the pleasure rolled through her, Ben scooped her up in his arms and brought her forward, her thighs parting as he settled on his heels and she straddled him. She’d been so lost to the heat coiling in her belly that she hadn’t heard him undo his pants, only realizing he had when she felt his cock probe her depths as she sank down on him. She tossed her head back with a gusty groan, then curled over him and kissed him, sucking on his tongue as he lifted and lowered her on his length. Pressing her feet to the floor to anchor herself, they moved as one, their bodies coming together just right to keep pleasure twisting and writhing through her, building up again to another, higher plateau.

  She dragged her lips along his collarbone to his throat, gently nipping her way up to his ear. He loved to hear her talk when they made love. Something about the breathless quality of her voice, along with whatever fun, dirty things she could think to say. If she could think at all. Her sweet mate was an expert at bringing her to height after height of pleasure, holding out his own for as long as she needed or wanted.

  With a tug on his earlobe, she exhaled in a soft moan. “I love that we’re the first ones to make love in the house. I’ll always know exactly where we were and what we were doing.”

  His fingers bit into her flesh, and he groaned. “I love it, too.”

  He started moving her faster, and she dropped a hand to her pussy and rubbed her clit, curving over him and breathing hard against his neck as pleasure thundered down on him. “Fuck, Ben,” she moaned, her nails biting into his neck as her fingers froze on her sensitive skin and heat washed through her.

  He let out a shuddering growl and stroked into her several more times before he pressed against her tightly, his cock swelling and twitching within her. She could feel the heat of his orgasm filling her, and she reveled in the claiming.

  With her limbs still tingling from pleasure, she sighed happily as he settled on his back and made himself as comfortable as he could on the bare floor. Her body stretched out over his, and she rested her head over his heart, listening to the swift beat as they both came down from the heavens.

  His hands stroked lazily up and down her back, lulling her into a totally sated, drowsy state.

  “I’m going to fall asleep if you keep that up,” she murmured.

  He let out a soft chuckle. “I think this is the first time we’ve ever made love in the kitchen. Not just this one, but any kitchen.”

  She lifted her head and smiled at him. “We’ll have to make sure we make love in every room.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He leaned up and kissed her, then dropped his head back to the floor and yawned. “I love having you laying on me, but the floor is not going to make a good bed.”

  “You, on the other hand, are a great bed.” She rose up onto her arms and levered herself off him, rolling onto her bottom and sitting up.

  “Thanks, sweetheart.”

  They dressed and cleaned up, and before she knew it their date was over and they were heading back to the boarding house, their home in the rearview mirror.

  As if he could read her thoughts, he said, “Soon enough the house will be finished and we’ll be able to make love anywhere, anytime.”

  “You know what I’m most looking forward to?”

  “What?”

  “Not having to get dressed to go to the kitchen. Sometimes a girl just wants to have a cup of coffee in her tank-top and undies.”

  He laughed. “I’m looking forward to us all having our own space now. Just our family.”

  “Me, too.”

  Their date ended when they reached the boarding house, and while she was always sad when a private date ended, she was grateful to have three such amazing mates who didn’t mind sharing her.

  * * *

  Time moved quickly in that way it often did, the early weeks of September blurring into the coolness of October. When she reached the eight-week mark of her pregnancy, the ultrasound revealed she was having fraternal twins. Her mates were overjoyed, already lobbing names around, curious if there would be two boys or two girls, or one of each.

  Hope didn’t care, as long as they were healthy. Seeing them on the screen had made everything feel very real to her, and she couldn’t wait to meet them.

  They moved into their home in November. As she’d expected, her mates didn’t let her do much of anything, so she took on a supervisory role, telling them where to put the furniture and how to organize things. The one thing she’d wanted to do since they decided to build a home of their own was cook a Thanksgiving meal for them. Lisa was on hand to answer any questions, and Hope and Treasure put on a fabulous meal for their mates, which included her latest craving – nachos – right alongside the turkey and stuffing.

  She was doted on by the most attentive males on the planet, loved to the moon and back, and lucky beyond measure.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Hope braced herself for the cold as she opened her door and stepped out of the warm SUV. They’d just arrived in King, where winter had decided to come in full force for Christmas. She sucked in a sharp breath and hugged herself.

  “Holy hells bells, it’s freezing out here,” she said, her teeth starting to chatter.

  Ben walked over and put his arms around her. “It wasn’t this cold in Ashland. I always forget how frigid it gets here.”

  The front door of her parents’ home swung open, and Holden grinned. “Get out of the cold, goofballs. You’re going to freeze my grandcubs before I even get to meet them.”

  Hope smiled and walked carefully up the freshly shoveled and salted sidewalk. Ben stayed beside her, keeping a hand on her elbow in case she slipped. She was almost four months pregnant and couldn’t really see past her belly to make sure she didn’t step on anything slippery.

  Behind her, Nathan and Owen unloaded the vehicle and followed behind, carrying bags of presents and a large suitcase. She hugged Holden and kissed his cheek.

  “Hi, Dad.”

  “Hey sweetie, how was the drive?”

  “Long.”

  He chuckled, hugging her mates and then shutting the front door. Honor and Jax joined them in the foyer, and she exchanged hugs and kisses with her mom and other dad.

  “Where’s Faith?” Hope asked. She
handed her coat to Jax and toed off her boots.

  “In her room wrapping gifts,” Honor said. “She’s so glad you’re here. And we are, too.”

  “It’s nice to be back in King for the holidays,” she said.

  Holden gestured to the kitchen. “Let’s get some hot chocolate in you guys to warm you up.”

  “We’ll be right there,” Owen said. He and Nathan disappeared to put their things in the spare bedroom.

  “It smells amazing in here,” Hope said as she hooked her arm through Honor’s and they walked side-by-side into the spacious kitchen. Cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla scented the air, along with the smoky smell of burning wood from the fireplace.

  “I’ve been baking all morning. Have a seat.” Honor gestured to the island and the four stools that were set in front of it. Hope and Ben sat down and were joined moments later by Nathan and Owen.

  Honor called for Faith, then grumbled when she couldn’t hear her response. Picking up her cell phone, Hope’s mother texted her sister, which she found really hilarious.

  “You’d think with your extra-good shifter hearing that you’d be able to hear her when she says something,” Hope said.

  Honor’s phone buzzed and she read the reply. “She’s on her way. And tell me about it. She’s really soft-spoken.”

  “Except when she’s with her friends, and then she’s super loud,” Jax said as he walked into the kitchen.

  “Am not,” Faith said.

  Hope spun on the stool and hugged her younger sister. “You get prettier every time I see you.”

  “Wow, your belly!” Faith said, taking a step back from the hug, her gaze dropping to Hope’s abdomen. “Can I touch it?”

  She smiled. “Sure. They’re pretty quiet right now. They get wiggly when I eat. Or try to sleep.”

  Faith put her hand gently on Hope’s belly, tilting her head as if she was trying to listen to them. Hope hid a chuckle and placed her hand over top of her sister’s. “You’re going to be an awesome aunt.”