Chapter One

The morning sun caught his mate and newborn daughter in a flash of light that brought tears to Anton Cheval's eyes. Left weak-kneed by the rush of emotion and a sense of well-being, he grabbed the doorframe for support. It was the feeling that he'd never had so much in his life that was so perfect, that gave him joy.

Nor had he ever had as much to lose.

That insidious thought twisted briefly through his mind, then fled beneath the glare of sunlight as Keisha rolled to one side, cuddling their sleeping daughter against her full breast. Lust, dark and powerful, enveloped Anton. Need grabbed his sac in an iron fist. He sucked in a sharp breath with the rush of blood to his cock. Desire swamped him. It left him feeling at once all powerful, yet uncomfortably unmanned. His. These two females, one lush and ripe, the other as pure and innocent as only a newborn can be-both of them, his. Dependent upon him for safety, yet leaving him overwhelmed with an unfamiliar and frightening sense of vulnerability.

Keisha's eyes fluttered open. She blinked slowly, caught Anton watching her, and smiled. As she brushed the thick tangle of dark hair back from her face, her thoughts floated into his head, as clear as if she spoke them aloud, infused with the intimacy of their mindtalking and the power to raise his arousal even higher.

Lily's out like a light. Do you want to put her in her crib?

He smiled broadly. He couldn't help himself. It had been so long since he'd made love to his mate. If that means I can finally have Lily's mother to myself, by all means. Anton walked quietly across the room, carefully

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