It had been a long six weeks, but we were finally at the end of it. My brother was now happily mated, and as soon as they got back from their honeymoon on Sunday, Wyatt and I were going to break the news to them.
Honestly, at this point, it might not even be that surprising to anyone. We hadn’t been doing that great of a job hiding our relationship, the both of us too in love to care what anyone thought. Still, it would be nice to not have that hanging over our heads anymore. We just had to wait two more days.
“How about mate?” he suggested, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I raised a brow at him, and his cheeks darkened the tiniest bit with a blush. “What are you saying, Carter?”
He shrugged, his cheeks still rosy and so cute, I had to remind myself not to kiss him in public.
Just two more days.
“I’m just wondering if we’re next is all,” he said, his eyes not able to hold mine for more than a few seconds at a time. “You ever think about us having a mating ceremony?”
I watched him for a moment, hating the fact that he was nervous. That I’d made him like this. That I’d been so worried about my family’s reaction and dealing with their crap that I’d made Wyatt this insecure about us.
So, I told him the honest, no-holds-barred truth. “All the time.”
His eyes widened along with his smile. He spun me away from him before tugging me back into his chest as I giggled breathlessly.
“I’ve just been waiting for you to ask,” I finished.
He shook his head and dipped it closer so he could whisper in my ear. “I’d do it tomorrow, Callie girl. You just say the word.”
My stomach flipped with this nervous excitement that only Wyatt could create. “I wouldn’t have time to find a dress,” I said softly, my smile still stretched across my face.
He shrugged and pulled me close again. “You could go naked. I wouldn’t complain.”
I laughed and slapped his shoulder. “Well aware of your preference, but I’m not sure the other guests would appreciate me in my birthday suit.”
His face fell instantly. “You’re right. I don’t want anyone else seeing what’s mine.” He shook his head and spun me around again. “I guess we’ll just have to wait a little longer then.”
“Not too long,” I said with a grin.
His smile got soft as he tucked a curl behind my ear. “No. Not too long.”
He pulled me in close again, our hips swaying in time to the music. I closed my eyes and got lost in the feeling of his arms around me. Of the cool autumn air breezing through the tent. Of knowing I was with the person I was meant to be with for the rest of my life.
That thought brought me up short for a moment as guilt darkened my thoughts. Because even after all this time and all we’d been through, I still hadn’t told Wyatt we were fated. I could barely admit it to myself, let alone say it out loud.
I’d been conditioned from the age of sixteen to fear that term and everything that came along with it. To hate the very idea of two people being so inexplicably linked that one couldn’t survive without the other.
Now, though, things were different.
Now, I knew I wouldn’t want to live if anything were to happen to Wyatt. I wouldn’t want to go on without him. Now, I realized being fated wasn’t the curse I’d believed it to be, but the blessing that it really was.
I just hadn’t found the right time to tell him.
“Since we’re on the subject,” Wyatt said, his voice low and gritty in my ear. “What do you think about taking this a step further?”
I pulled back to look him in the eye, setting my thoughts aside for the moment. Something I was getting really good at but needed to stop one of these days. “Further? Further than a mating ceremony?”
He shrugged a single shoulder. “Yeah, further. Like making our duet a quartet instead.”
His light brown eyes were laser-focused on me, so serious and so hopeful, I felt my heart lurch in my chest. “Are you talking about having babies, Wyatt Carter?”
His smile was small and tentative. “Yeah, Callie McCoy. I am.”
I pressed my lips together and looked away from him, my eyes landing on my new sister-in-law and her growing belly.
Did I want to have kids with Wyatt?
Absolutely.
Was I ready for that right now?
I wasn’t so sure of that.
And at the same time, I wasn’t sure I was going to get a choice in the matter.
I looked back up at him. “You think we’d only have two?”
His smile grew as he squeezed my waist. “Well, who knows with your bloodline? It could be five for all we know.”
I laughed and shook my head. “It better not be.”
“So, what do you think?” he asked again, his voice hesitant and full of uncertainty.
I ran my fingers through his short hair. “Yeah. One day.” And that day might be sooner than either of us thought, but I wasn’t going there right now. Not thinking about that yet.
His eyes sparkled as he looked down at me, and I knew in that instant that we’d handle whatever came our way. Our love was strong enough to carry us through anything. I knew that down to my bones.
The song ended and Wyatt released me, albeit reluctantly. His fingers trailed along my forearms, sending a shiver down my spine before he let them fall
