The Runaway Breeder

Chapter 42

"Hey, beautiful, are you hungry?" Tate asks, one hand rubbing my back, the other in my hair. I groan as harsh light reaches my eyes. My reaction to bury my face in the warm, solid body next to me is met by chuckling. Sometimes I feel more like a vampire with how much I hate the bright sun when sleeping.

"Yes," I mumble, snuggling closer to him and sighing happily, getting another chuckle.

"Well, we should get up to get food." He says, smoothing my hair away from my face and kissing the top of my head.

"Do we have to?" I ask quietly, blinking my blurry sleep-filled eyes at him before I yawn, my body ready to go back to sleep at a moments notice.

"You're adorable when you’re tired, you know that?" He muses, sending another kiss to my forehead and pulling me closer into his arms.

"So I've been told." I mumble and smile at another deep chuckle rumbling from my mate. It feels good seeing Tate relaxed and rested and the dark circles under his eyes less noticeable now.

"C'mon, baby girl. Let’s get dressed and make something to eat." He says encouragingly, moving out from under me and causing my body to lie in an uncomfortable position.

"Fine." I groan out reluctantly, stretching out my sore body as I stand and head to the closet where I grab a long fall dress and a warm cardigan and make my way to my vanity where I brush my long hair and tie it in a simple braid. Turning around and coming face-first into Tate's chest, I notice he has dressed as well as he pulls me in for a hug.

"I forgot to give you this." He says, steadying me with one arm around my waist while holding out my phone.

"Thank you, I must have dropped it at some point." I reply, happily taking the device and tucking it into the pocket of my cardigan.

"It was on the ground by the edge of the road." He whispers, his grip tightening on me. I instantly know what he is talking about. My heart aches looking into his pain-filled eyes, and I press closer into his body hoping to ease his anxiety.

"Baby, I'm home safe and sound and in your arms.” I whisper, rubbing my hands up and down his arms.

“Everything is fine now, and we have nothing to worry about. I'm here, and I am not leaving." I continue sayinng, hoping to sooth my mate as I move my left hand and press it against his cheek. Standing on my toes, I press my lips against Tate, pouring all my love into this single action and feeling him tighten his hold on me. His lips move against mine, Tate deepening the kiss and taking my breath away until I am left panting and blushing, wanting nothing more than to return to bed and show him that I am never leaving his side again.

"Besides, we have a wedding to plan.” I add when my breath returnes to normal, getting his breath-taking smile and a deep chuckle as his free hand lands on the one I have cupping his face.

"I know, baby. Now, let’s get you some food." He whispers as my stomach growl to punctuate his words, making me giggle. We make our way down to the kitchen, and I flip the T.V. on, going through the guide to see what we can watch until I find Burlesque about to play and put it on. Tate has ingredients for a late brunch: bacon, eggs, hash browns, and a fruit salad needing to be prepped.

With the movie as background noise, the two of us find ourselves at the kitchen counter and start cooking together. As the movie progresses, I find my mood lifting and end up singing and dancing along, enjoying my return to normalacy and trying to get Tate to dance with me.

"You seem to know the movie pretty well." Tate comments after the third song, Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend ends.

"I know the dances as well." I retort with a wink, flipping a few pieces of bacon.

"This I have to see." He chuckles, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Depends on how sore my muscles are." I retort with coyly, smiling when he moves to wrap his arms around me from behind.

"Well, then they are going to be sore for a while." He whispers, nipping my mark and causing me to moan as his lips leave soft kisses trailing along my neck and shoulder.

"Food first, then we figure out what to do afterwards." I groan out, my breath coming out in pants.

"Okay, baby." He laughs, pulling away from me to place the cooked food onto plates as I plop the last piece of bacon on a paper towel-lined tray. We sit and relax, munching on our brunch-side by-side in the breakfast nook, snuggling and taking our time to enjoy the movie as it gets to the best parts.

"So, what’s the story behind this movie?" Tate finally asks, and I giggle.

"It’s a musical, basically. Small town girl trying to make it in L.A. in a classy strip club called a Burlesque club. I grew up watching it with Chris because it’s a really good movie. I got into dancing because of this, and Chris was more than happy at the time to see me go to the local dance hall in town by the pack." I state, Tate whistling and impressed by my confession.

"So you are an interior designer, an artist, a dancer, and have a killer voice! What can't you do, beautiful? " I blush with Tate’s impression of me, taking a sip of the orange juice and thinking of the embarrassing things I cannot do. Deciding on the one thing I know I am horrible at, I look to Tate with a dead-serious look.

"Write. My stories are so horrible, and I give up after a few hours of trying to create anything." I deadpan, blushing slightly from my confession. Tate looks at me shocked before he starts laughing, clutching his stomach and amused by my confession. I want to pout, to say its not funny, but seeing him so happy and carefree cases my protests to die down as I watch bemused by my mate.

"That’s okay. You're perfect the way you are." He assures me as he tries to catch his breath, kissing my forehead.

"And so are you." I say quietly, kissing his chin. The stubble tickles my face, making me giggle. He smirks, and I feel his hands on my sides before I start wiggling around, laughing out loud from the tickle attack while I try to squirm out of his grasp.

"B-baby s-stop." I yelp, panting as I manage to slip away from him and rushing to the other side of the table.

"Oh no you don't, missy!" Tate exclaims, getting up and making me squeal in surprise as I jump out of his reach, bolting for the door. I slip on some black flats and race outside while laughing. I could hear my mate laughing behind me as he chases after my fleeing frame, causing me to laugh even louder. I run through the makeshift cemetery and out towards the leaf pile, squeaking when I feel his strong arms wrap around me and lift me over his shoulder then spinning me around.

"I caught you." Tate chuckles spanking my ass, making me jump in surprise while also laughing.

"No fair, I haven't been able to train." I fake whine and pout as I turn to look at his bemused face.

"I know, but don't worry, baby; I don't mind being the protector." He retorts with confidence before biting my ass playfully, making me giggle. Slowly I feel myself being lowered to the ground, my arms wrapping around Tate's neck and his around my waist as we stand there, our foreheads pressed together.

"I love you." He says tenderly, and my heart melts.

"I love you too." I whisper, giggling when he bites my nose playfully. We play in the leaves for a while, acting like children and letting the tension that has built up over the last few days fully melt away. It feels good being carefree with my mate, not having to worry about our pup or the dangers of Pine Paw lurking in the back of our minds. After a well-needed leaf fight, Tate and I lay snuggled together on the leaf-covered ground watching the clouds float by.

"So for the wedding, when do you want to have it?" He asks, playing with my hair.

"Some time in the spring under all the cherry blossom trees we have in the backyard." I answer quietly, loving the feel of his hands in my hair.

"Sounds good. Do you want to wait a few years before we tie the knot?" He asks, smiling down at me. I nod in response, resting my head on his shoulder and closing my eyes to take in the fall scent mixed with my mate’s. We are already mated, so we have no need to rush for the wedding—the engagement ring reminding me that Tate and I are already together and meant to be for eternity.

We head back inside a few minutes later, making a quick dinner and snuggling up on the couch to watch another movie on Netflix, barely paying attention to the T.V. as the two of us talk and relax. Eeva arrives at around eight at night with Julia in her pink stroller, a relieved look on my sister-in-law's face as she hands a box filled with cheesecake to Tate and wraps me in a tight hug. I smile with the love she radiates for me while she holds me at arms-length, her eyes scanning my body before she lets out a relived sigh.

“Glad to see you home safe and sound, Laina.” She whispers with tears of joy in her eyes.

“So am I.” I agree, my eyes also tearing as we pull each other in for another hug.

The three of us head into the kitchen as I hold Julia in my arms, taking in my pup’s sweet scent and closely holding her. I’ve missed my daughter so much, more than I thought I would. With a grin on my face, I take a seat, relishing in as much mommy-daughter time as I can while Eeva cuts the cheesecake and Tate pours us all a cup of hot chocolate.

I get caught up on the things Julia has done in my absence, smiling with the news that she is starting to sleep through the night as well as how Eeva’s boys have treated their little cousin. The night ends with Eeva telling us she is pregnant and hoping for a baby girl, before leaving Tate, Julia, and me alone. With my little girl already fast asleep, Tate moves a bassinet to my side of the bed where I lay my baby down and tuck her in before climbing into bed and cuddling with Tate, his warm body and secure embrace as well as the sounds of my pup sleeping beside me helping me fall into another deep sleep.