“Here, let me get that for you.” Finn nudged her out of the way and carried the roasted chickens to the table for her.
“God, that smells delicious.” Kenzie inhaled then turned toward the counter. “Did you make a pie, cake, and cookies?”
“I wasn’t sure what everyone wanted, and I like to bake,” Ariel offered with a shrug as she pulled the rest of the dishes from the warming oven.
“Oh, wow! This feels like Thanksgiving.” Laura grinned, rubbing her tummy. “Look at all this food.”
“I like to cook.” Ariel felt her face flush as they all looked at her again.
“And we’re very grateful you do.” Finn snagged a fresh roll and bit into it with a moan of pleasure. “Good. Very good.”
Ariel laughed, and it felt wonderful. It felt natural. She automatically sought Daniel’s gaze and wasn’t surprised when he bent to kiss her soft and slow. Hell, she’d laughed more since she’d accepted him than she ever had before in her life. He filled her with happiness and brought constant joy into her life.
“Watch out, Ariel,” Laura warned. “Much more of that, and you’ll end up like your sisters-in-law.”
Daniel’s gaze heated, and she knew he was imagining her pregnant with their child.
“I wouldn’t mind that,” she whispered, though everyone could hear her.
“Yeah?” Daniel asked, dropping his hands to cup her hips and pull her even closer.
“Yeah,” she agreed.
“We’ll have to work on that,” he promised, dropping another kiss onto her lips.
“Could you at least wait until after dinner?” Finn asked then grunted when Laura elbowed him. “What? It smells delicious, and I’m starving. Besides we all know they had sex before we got here.”
Ariel laughed again, burying her head in Daniel’s chest as she did. She’d wasted so much time pushing him away. And she’d never forget she’d almost lost him. He could have died from the bullets he’d taken in Illinois. If not for Tony’s intervention, he would have. Daniel had been good since they’d returned. His bloodwork still showed a fluctuation in his animal genetics, but there’d been no issues. He said it was having her with him. That she calmed him. She liked to think he was right, that he needed her as much as she needed him. Either way, she was lucky, and she wasn’t taking another moment with him for granted.
“I love you,” she whispered, gaze locked on his.
“I love you.” His voice was loud and clear, not caring that they had an audience watching them.
“I love you both, too,” Gabriel said. “Now, let’s eat before Finn picks the table clean.”
Ariel grinned, letting the conversation wash over her as Daniel led her to the table and told her to take a seat while he got drinks for everyone. Gabriel helped him, and soon, they were all seated around the table, eating. Conversation flowed freely and she even offered a comment here and there. Once again, she was struck by how right it felt. How natural. Daniel found her hand under the table and linked their fingers.
She’d thought she was broken, incapable of being a mate. Daniel had proven differently. With every touch, he’d mended the wounds inside her, healing what she’d feared couldn’t be. With every kiss he’d filled her heart with hope and love. Making love with him? He’d shown her what it was to be wanted, to be needed and desired above all things. Daily, he reminded her that she mattered. From what he said, he felt as if she’d mended him, too, healing the wounds his father had cut deep inside him.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Daniel leaned close to whisper to her.
“Just thinking how happy I am.”
“Yeah?” he asked, his lips tilting up into a smile.
“Yes,” she answered and leaned over to kiss him.
“We’re still eating,” Finn said with a groan. “There are innocent eyes here. Control yourselves until we’re gone.”
“Innocent eyes?” Kenzie asked.
“Mine, of course,” Finn offered, and Gabriel snorted.
“I doubt you’ve been innocent a day in your life.”
“Ahh, ye wound me.” Finn clutched his chest as if in pain.
“There goes the brogue that lets you know he’s full of blarney.”
“You, too, Kenz? I see mating that one has changed you.” Finn gave them all puppy dog eyes.
“I’m rather fond of the brogue myself,” Laura purred, and Finn’s gaze heated as he turned to his mate. He leaned toward her.
“We’re eating here,” Daniel told him. “Save it for later.”
Gabriel and Kenzie both started snickering, and soon, they all joined in. Dinner passed quickly, and everyone was heading out the door. Ariel didn’t balk when each of them pulled her into a hug. Both Gabriel and Finn dropped kisses atop her head and called her little sister. Kenzie and Laura hugged her and said they needed to get together again soon. Then they were gone, leaving her alone with her mate, who she realized had never made it to the shower earlier.
“Why don’t you go rinse off while I clean up in here?” she offered.
Daniel shook his head. “Why don’t I help you in here, then we can shower together?”
“I’d like that better,” she agreed.
“Me, too,” he said as he covered dishes and put them in the fridge while she headed to the sink and rinsed dishes to load in the dishwasher. “You can tell me more about how you wouldn’t mind getting pregnant.”
She glanced up and felt singed by the heat in his gaze. “Did I say that?” she teased.
He nodded. “I’m already planning all the ways we can work toward that goal.”
“All the ways?”
“I’m willing to put in as much time and skill as needed to help make it happen.”
She shut the dishwasher and set it on delay start before walking to him. “Maybe, you should tell me what you have in mind.”
He scooped her up against his chest and held her tight. “Maybe, I should show you instead?”
“Mmm,” she agreed. “You should definitely show me.”
Daniel did exactly that. Over and over and over again.
Want to know more about the members of the pride? You can find more of the Awakening Pride at laceythorn.com
Thank You!
Thank you for your purchase of MENDING THE BEAST. If you enjoyed reading MENDING THE BEAST, I’d appreciate it if you’d help others enjoy it too.
Recommend it: Sharing a few words with friends, book groups, and on social networks would be amazing.
Review it: Please share what you loved about my book by reviewing MENDING THE BEAST at the retailer where you purchased. If you have a Goodreads or Bookbub, share your love there also.
I love hearing from readers. You can find all the links to stalk me by stopping by my website at laceythorn.com Be sure to sign up for my newsletter while you’re there.
About the Author
Lacey is a hyper blonde, bouncing through life with her magical bracelets of positivity. A die-hard gamer (she refuses to call it an addiction), she resides in Oklahoma, mom to three awesome children, one mini goldendoodle, and a black cat. She has a passion for life and romance. She writes possessive, alpha heroes who demand everything from the women they love. Her stories reflect her strong family ties, friendships that showcase how some family consists of those we choose, and a goofy sense of humor that helps keep her laughing through all life’s ups and downs.
She loves to chat with anyone and often does to the annoyance of her children who are always in a hurry. If you want to talk books, television, movies, actors, World of Warcraft, prepping for the zombie apocalypse, or music (she loves music!), drop her a line at laceythorn2007@gmail.com.
Lacey’s Booklist
Awakening Pride Series
Their Wild One (Prequel)
Waking the Beast
Tempting the Tiger
Freeing the Feline
Saving the Beast
A Jaguar's Touch
Unleashin
g the Beast
Eyes on the Pride
Cry of the Pride
Mending the Beast
Awakening Pride: The Holloways
His to Bear (comes between The Liger's Mark and Unleashing the Beast)
Claimed by the Grizzly
Rumble and Growl
Kodiak’s Heart
James Pack Series
Alpha's Unwilling Mate
Beta's Virgin Bride
Wolf’s Wild Woman
Bee’s Enraged Beast
Knight's Watch Series
Prequel: Beautiful Dreamer
Jagged Hearts
Craving Sin
The Billionaire’s Knight
Bare Love Series
His Bare Obsession
Bare Confessions
Bare Seduction
Something More Series (Previously Girls Night Out Series)
More Than One Night (Previously Jack's Dee-Light)
More Than Friends (Previously What Friends Are For)
More Than I Do (Previously Marital Bliss)
Pleasures Series
The Greyson Sisters Trilogy:
Cuffed for Pleasure
SEALed for Pleasure
Pleasures Anthology: The Greyson Sisters
The Angel Investigations Trilogy
Guarded for Pleasure
Roped for Pleasure
Arranged for Pleasure
Pleasures Anthology: Angel Investigations
The Foster Sisters Trilogy
Cured by Pleasure
Faithful in Pleasure
Agents of Pleasure
Pleasures Anthology: The Foster Sisters (coming soon)
Stand Alone Pleasures Stories
Bewitched for Pleasure
Hammered with Pleasure
Wrapped in Pleasure
Alpha Enforcer Squad Trilogy
Enforced Love
Love by Command
Breaking Into Love
Stand Alone Books
Chaps and Lace
Finding Home
Grave Magic
Santa Maybe