Six Months After Greene’s Demise

“I can’t believe it.”

Sydney’s hand trembled as she held the plastic test strip in her hand and reread the counter for the tenth time. Positive. The result was positive—she was pregnant. Heart racing, she washed her hands and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

This was what she wanted, what Nash and she both craved. After everything they had been through and the trauma of Nash’s past, this was the fresh start they’d dreamed about—a family of their own—but seeing the result in real-time still startled her. Sydney had expected it to take months to fall pregnant. Weeks of trying and having fun with the man she loved. That’s what the books had said and what the other women had mentioned online, but she’d only been free of birth control for a month. Clearly, this little one was desperate to be born.

Lips curling, her hand slid to her belly. Little one. She was going to be a mother.

“Hey, baby, have you seen the—” Nash stopped in the doorway, his gaze meeting hers in the mirror. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Master.” Her smile grew, her pulse quickening as her eyes flitted to the plastic counter. “I have good news.”

“Okay.” Stepping forward, Nash’s expression was wary as he approached.

Collecting the test, she held it aloft for him to see.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Pregnant?” Nash’s brow rose. “Already?”

“Yes!” She laughed, suddenly filled with a rush of happy feelings. “I guess my Master’s seed is more potent than we realized.”

“Well, I could have told you that.” Chuckling, he took the plastic from her, examining it himself. “Wow, baby. I’m gonna be a dad, and you’re going to be a mom.” His expression was stunned as he placed the test back on the counter.

“Are you happy?” she probed, concerned about his hesitant tone. “I mean, we planned for this. It was why I stopped birth control, and—”

“Hey.” He pressed his large finger against her lips. “I am so fucking pleased, Syd. Never think otherwise. It’s just a shock, is all.”

“I know.” Kissing his digit, she smiled. “I haven’t wrapped my head around it myself, but…” She paused, finding the right words. “It’s amazing, Master. In less than a year, we’ll have a baby of our own.”

“You are gonna be the best mama,” he purred, winding his arms around her and squeezing her ass. “And the sexist fucking pregnant woman.”

“Don’t!” she teased. “I can’t even imagine having a swollen belly and ankles.”

“You’ll be gorgeous regardless,” he assured her. “The first of our unit to make the next generation.”

“Do you think the baby will…” She caught her lower lip between her teeth.

“Be a shifter?” he concluded for her.

“Well, yeah.”

“We won’t know for sure until they come swimming out.” Sniggering at his own joke, one hand rose and stroked the side of her face. “We have every reason to assume so since the little one will have my genetics.”

“Wow.” Her gaze lowered to her tummy. “Just think, I’m incubating a new species, Master.”

“You’re incubating our baby,” he reminded her, catching her chin with his finger and tipping it to meet his eyes. “Whoever he or she becomes, that’s good enough for me.”

“Nash.”

Tears welled as she grappled with the enormity of everything. Nine months before, she’d been on the underwater base, increasingly trapped in a role that wasn’t fulfilling her the way she’d hoped. Now, less than a year later, she had everything—a man she loved and who adored her, a devastatingly satisfying sex life, a new home on an island she’d only ever seen on screen before, and now, an exciting new addition.

“It’s okay,” he purred, kissing her forehead as his hand grazed over her hair. “I know it’s a lot.”

“I’m so happy,” she sniffed. “I never thought this could happen to me.”

“You deserve it.” He smiled, catching a stray tear with his thumb. “We both do.”

He held her closer, and she leaned into his strength. It didn’t matter what happened in their futures. Nash was a man she would always be able to rely on. That knowledge meant everything to her. Breathing in his masculine scent, her eyes fluttered closed. Sydney must be the luckiest woman on the planet to have met Nash because—

Her thoughts were obliterated by his insistent ring tone. Drawing away, she watched as he reached into his pocket and retrieved the device.

“Sorry, beautiful,” he mumbled. “It’s Zak.”

“You’d better take it.” Releasing him, she grinned. Sydney knew just how important Zak and the other shifters were to Nash. The unit was one huge family.

“Is it too early to share our news?” Nash’s eyes lit up like a small child at Christmas.

“We should wait,” she answered, frowning at the unrelenting whir of his phone. “The first trimester can be risky, and—”

“But it’s only Zak,” he argued.

 “If you tell Zak, then Trinity knows, and if you tell Trin, then everyone will know.” Sydney chuckled but really didn’t mind. Trinity and the other women had become her sisters and the best friends she’d ever had. “Okay.” She shook her head as she relented, scarcely recalling a time she’d ever seen Nash so happy. “Okay, tell him.”

“I love you, Doc.” Nash winked as he finally answered the call. “Zak, what’s up?”

Moving away, Sydney turned back to the mirror, catching sight of herself again as Nash wandered to the door.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispered as if trying the words on for size. “I’m going to have a baby.”

“Never mind that,” Nash barked into the device. “We have news.” He glanced back, meeting Sydney’s gaze before he continued. “Sydney’s pregnant.” Nash grinned. “Yeah, I know… it only took one month. Must be my super sperm!”

She rolled her eyes as she strolled to him and kissed his bicep.

“Morning, Zak.” Rising to her tiptoes, she spoke into the receiver. “I can validate the fact that Nash has super sperm.” She couldn’t hear Zak’s response as she moved past her lover into the bedroom, but it didn’t matter.

Sydney knew she and Nash would always have the support of the four other shifters and their ladies. This was a tighter family unit than any she’d ever known in her life, and she was so thankful to have been welcomed into its fold.

Perching on the edge of the bed, she tuned out Nash’s boisterous conversation and gazed out into the morning sunshine. They hadn’t lived on Tenerife long, but she certainly approved of the endless hours of sunlight. Secluded, warm, and safe, it was the perfect place to raise a family.

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll be over later.” Nash’s voice garnered her attention as he sat on the bed beside her. Snaking an arm around her shoulder, he tugged her close. “We can celebrate then.”

Ending the call, Nash threw the phone onto the covers. “Well, Zak’s excited for us.”

“I’m glad, Master.” Sydney kissed his jaw. “But I’m happier that you are.”

“Of course, baby.” Pulling her onto his lap, he claimed her mouth in a tender and unhurried kiss. “I’ll love this little person more than I can understand yet, and I know there’s a lot of change on the horizon.”

“That’s one way of putting it…”

“But one thing will never change.” He nuzzled her neck, his cock straining at her hips through his pants.

“What’s that, Master?” She asked wryly, knowing precisely what was on his mind.

“How much I love you, little girl.” Nash rested his temple against her head. “I love you, Sydney. Always and forever. Thanks for making me the luckiest man on the planet.”