Sophie Oak - Sirens in Bliss

“No,” Callie and Rachel finished in perfect harmony.

Baby Logan was sleeping, his head on her breast. Naomi had suggested that she hold her baby skin to skin. She’d offered to diaper the baby, but Stef wouldn’t have it. He’d looked a little lost in the beginning and tossed out the first two diapers, but he’d finally managed to get it around the baby’s bottom perfectly. Stef had been the one to put Logan against her breast. He’d sat and watched as their son latched onto her nipple and began to suck.

Now her baby was sleeping and Naomi had been right. Being skin to skin with her baby was perfect.

Stef walked in. He took in the scene and his eyes heated for a moment. And then he frowned. “Anyone could walk in here.”

While Logan was covered in a blanket, her torso was still naked.

Rachel rolled her eyes. “We’ve seen her naked before, Stef.”

Callie shook her head, a confused look on her face. “I’ve been naked with Jen lots of times. What’s the problem?”

Callie was a bit of a nudist. And it was completely true. Before Callie had married Nate and Zane, Jen had felt completely comfortable shedding her clothes at Callie’s house. Nate had caught them sunbathing once and said she blinded him because those boobs didn’t belong to him, so now they only did it at Mountain and Valley and only where she wouldn’t cause Nate Wright hysterical boob blindness.

Nell frowned Stef’s way. “I sincerely hope you’re not trying to discourage your wife’s very healthy practices.”

Stef wasn’t amused. He pulled the blanket up. “I think I’m going to have to agree with Max on the whole nursing thing. I don’t know that I want my wife’s breasts on display for all to see.”

Rachel’s eyes narrowed. “Well, then you should figure out a way to make your man chest produce some milk, mister.” Her face softened, but Jen wasn’t fooled. “Uhm, by the way, Stef, I was just kind of hoping that you wouldn’t kill my dumbass husbands over the whole shooting you and carrying your naked body around town thing. And I want you to know that I have confiscated all the pictures. I also took the thumb drive Max thought he hid.”

Stef’s face went a little red. “I promise you this, Rachel, I’ll tell the assassin I hire to not touch you or Paige.”

“Stefan!” It wasn’t nice to scare pregnant ladies.

The second pregnant lady in the room wagged her finger Stef’s way. Nell gave him a good frowning. “That was very impolite, Stefan.”

Stef shrugged. “So was shooting me up with sedatives and shoving me in the back of Rye’s truck naked. I have a sunburn on my ass you wouldn’t believe.”

Jen stifled a smile. “Rachel, he’s not going to hire an assassin. He’s going to jump Max when he least expects it and beat the holy living shit out of him, because that’s what they do.”

Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank god. He’s been a pain in the ass lately. He really needs a release. Do it quick, Stef.”

“I will,” Stef agreed. “And don’t you protest me, Nell. This is totally consensual. Mostly. I think I need a physical outlet, too, and it can’t be sex. I asked Caleb if he could shave a couple of weeks off that whole six-weeks-without-sex thing and he just told me no.”

Yep, that was Caleb Burke. He had zero bedside manner. And he would be the one to perform her baby’s checkups. Baby Logan would have to get used to his gruff doctor, but then he was a Bliss Boy. Jennifer had made damn sure of it. She’d wanted her baby born here and not in Del Norte or Alamosa, and Caleb Burke had made that happen, so she would put up with his “nos.”

“I think Logan here will keep us busy for a couple of weeks.”

Stef frowned. “Fine, but I’m sleeping with you.”

She couldn’t help but smile. He’d talked about sleeping in the guest room so he wouldn’t disturb her. “I thought you had other plans.”

He turned his Dom eyes on her. “You’ll just have to put up with me.”

What had Jack Barnes told her? Sometimes a Dom needed a good poking. Her Dom was back in charge. Well, he thought he was in charge, and that was just the way Jen liked it. “I suppose I will.”

“Ladies, I think Jennifer needs some rest,” Stef said.

Callie sighed. “It’s time to get to the wedding anyway. I’ll send your regards.”

“And I’ll be waiting for you to jump Max,” Rachel said. “Do I even want to know what you’re going to do to Rye?”

Stef shook his head.

“All right then.” Rachel and Callie and Nell took one last glance at the baby before saying their good-byes.

And then she was alone with her boys. With her husband and her son. God, she had a son—a little piece of her and Stef—someone totally unique in the world. She wanted her boy to have her sense of humor and his dad’s intelligence and talent. She wanted him to have his namesake’s bravery and Stella’s enduring loyalty. She prayed the universe gave her son Rachel’s stubborn will and Callie’s deep tolerance.

And that the world around him would give him such bliss.

“Hey, you’re crying.” Stef’s voice had softened and his hand came out to cup her cheek. “Are you in pain, love?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m just so happy.”

“Scoot over,” he commanded. “And get rid of the blanket. It’s warm enough in here.”

Such a bossy man. She moved slightly, and Stef climbed on the bed and wrapped his arm around her, cuddling her close. The blanket fell away and she lay naked from the waist up. Baby Logan’s body moved as he sighed, his eyes opening and his mouth starting to move. She moved her nipple to his mouth and he started to suck. “I thought I was supposed to be modest.”

“Not around me,” Stef said, his eyes going straight to where his son was nursing. “And that is a beautiful sight.”

“Stef, I don’t want you to think of me as just a mom.” She remembered how Callie had worried that her hubbies hadn’t wanted her sexually. She didn’t want to get into the rut they’d been in before one long night in the guesthouse had proven to Callie that she was still a woman.

Stef chuckled a little and moved against her, pressing on her thigh. “Love, does that feel maternal to you?”

Nope. That was an erection. “God, I’m so glad you’re a complete pervert.”

“I’m a pervert who loves his wife. Jennifer, I love you. I love our son. I can’t thank you enough for him.”

“So no more pulling away? You should know that I’ll just pull you back.” She had no intention of ever losing her husband.

“I live in fear of it.” Stef touched his mouth to hers in a sweet kiss. “I’ll never leave you. Either of you.”

Logan kicked and started to cry.

“I think he wants his dad.”

“His dad is right here.” Stef gently cradled the baby. “Come on, son. Let’s let your mom get some sleep.”

He took Logan to the rocking chair and unbuttoned his shirt. He cuddled the baby to his chest and started to rock. “Well, Naomi said skin to skin, right? She said it would soothe him. I assume she meant my skin, too.”

Sweet tears pricked at her eyes. “Yes, absolutely.”

Logan settled down again and Stef was watching their son.

Jen laid back and dreamed of their future.

The Wedding of Leo, Shelley, and Wolf

Leo pulled at the bow tie of his tux.

“Don’t, son.” Mel was suddenly in his space, standing in front of him. “You have it too tight. Let me.”

Mel knew how to tie a bow tie? He moved his hands away, allowing Mel access.

Mel quickly worked the tie into something that allowed Leo to breathe. He looked at himself in the mirror. It was damn near perfect. “Thanks, Mel.”

The older man smiled. He was in a tux, too, but he was also wearing a trucker hat that sported a tinfoil lining. “You’re welcome. Oh, and I took care of the problem with Robert, though I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention it to your momma. I had a little help from your boss. I told you that one would make a good hunter.”

“If I ever decided to rid the world of aliens, I could certainly do it,” a low voice said.

Leo felt his eyes widen. He turned and Julian was standing there looking resplendent in his tux. “Is he still alive?”

“Of course,” Julian replied steadily. “I wouldn’t kill anyone right before your wedding, Leo. I’ve heard the sheriff around here is quite unreasonable, but Danielle told me not to replace him.”

“Replace him?”

“You know, with a more reasonable man. Apparently the town is happy with him. Danielle thinks I should just pay the tickets he’s written us, but I told Finn to do whatever it takes.”

Oh, god. “I’ll have Wolf talk to Nate. We’ll get it cleared up. So what did you do to Robert?”

Mel smiled. “Julian just talked to him.”

Julian smoothed down his jacket, looking into one of the mirrors and checking his already perfect appearance. “I pointed out a few irrefutable facts of life to Mr. Meyer. It’s very likely that he will end up in jail again, and despite the fact that he’s always been in minimum security prison, accidents can happen there, too.”

So Julian threatened to have him killed. That wasn’t so surprising. “So you and Mel found him and just talked to him?”

A tiny shake of Julian’s head indicated his negative response. “I simply talked to him. Mel gave him a very sound thrashing. Apparently he’s quite up on all the alien fighting techniques. He’s quite good in a fight. A mean fucker. I like him.”

Mel tipped his trucker hat. “A man has to stay in shape. I’m going to go see how Wolf and Jamie are doing. I doubt either one of them knows how to tie a bow tie either.”