Chapter Twenty-Four

The butterflies in Annie’s stomach fluttered to life at Candy’s words. Her heart beat quicker in her chest.


“So you, you want to us to be together?” Annie asked, she could feel her cheeks heating up.


“Of course, I can’t wait until I can claim you.” Candy said as she grabbed Annie’s hand. Pressing her lips against her fingertips. The eyes of the wolf watching through Candy’s long lashes, studying her mate.


Heat moved through Annie, fiery as it followed through her veins. Desire coiled low in the pit of her stomach. How could she feel like this? Things were not resolved, but she wanted them to be.


At that moment, all Annie wanted to do was find somewhere quiet where no one would see them. To take care of the need she felt, to feed off of the desire she could see in Candy’s eyes.


“I’d really like to get you alone, but there are still things you need.” Candy said as she stepped back, letting out a shaking breath. She didn’t want to let go of Annie’s hand.


Weaving their fingers together, she smiled as Annie pressed herself against her side.


“Thank you.” Annie whispered as they walked down the sidewalk.


“For what?”


“For making me feel like a priority, for making me feel like I matter to you.” Annie said. Her words were soft and they touched Candy. “For giving me a choice, I could go on and on.”


“I like that I make you feel that way.” Candy said, pressing her lips together as she tried to fight down her smile. She guided their steps until they stopped in front of a store that sold maternity clothing.



Candy stepped forward, holding the door open for Annie. The bells chiming loudly, letting the sales staff know they were there.



“I want you to pick out something that makes you feel beautiful. Maybe a few some-things?”



Biting her lip, Annie stepped forward. She looked through a rack that had slacks hung in neat rows. Picking up a pair, she looked at the price tag. Her eyebrows shot up as she sat them down again.



“What size are you?” Candy asked as she started sifting through the rack.



“It’s too expensive, let’s go somewhere else.”



“Annie,” Candy said as she picked a hanger and looked at her mate, “I already told you I’m doing this. Oh, dresses.” Candy chided before she turned and saw the sundresses on display.



“That will probably be comfortable for later.” Annie said, as she watched Candy flit about the store grabbing anything and everything she might need.



Pausing, Candy turned to look over her shoulder, “Why don’t you go ahead and pick out something you want instead of letting me dress you?”



Annie nodded her head before walking off in search of shirts and leggings. She liked that Annie wanted to take care of her, but it was still something she was going to have to get used to.



The sales associate moved to greet her and Annie gave her a tight, strained smile. That stopped the brunette in her tracks.



“Hi, I was wondering where the leggings were?” She said, trying to not scare off the woman. She guessed her resting bitch face must be strong today.



“If you’ll follow me.” Her voice was overly chipper as she spoke, moving in front of Annie. Guiding her to simpler clothing, Annie thanked her and grabbed a few of pairs of the leggings and a couple of simple oversized shirts.



Moving towards the dressing room, she could hear Candy talking to the attendant. She couldn’t help but smile as she fussed with the outfits.



She still didn’t know how she felt about the revelation that Candy was also drawn to Stolas.



Or that Candy had been ready to give up her other mate, for her.



“Annie, come try these on.” Candy called out when she saw Annie by the door of the dressing rooms. She turned back to the attendant, “Thank you for your help.”



Annie peeked into the dressing room, her eyes going wide at all of the outfits that Candy had picked out for her. Turning, she looked back at Candy, “Candy-”



“I know, I went overboard. How about seven outfits? That way you have something for each day.” Candy bargained, her delicate eyebrow raised.



Annie let out a sigh, “Then home after this?”



“Anything you want.”



“Anything?” Annie asked, her lips quirking up into a smile as she moved closer to Candy.



“Anything.” Candy said as she tried to keep herself in check. The shop was much too quiet for what she wanted to do to Annie. The sounds she wanted her to make would get them into trouble here.



Annie leaned closer, dropping the clothing on the small bench in the dressing room. Dragging Candy closer, she pressed her lips to her mates. Her tongue lapped at the seam of Candy’s lips as her mate let out a whimper followed by a gasp.



It fed into the desire, the need. Their tongues moved together as hands explored each other’s bodies. Candy pulled back to take a panting breath.



“We need to stop.” She growled out and Annie rested her forehead against Candy’s.



“We do, why don’t you go sit outside and I’ll come show you the first outfit?”



Candy’s face split into a grin as she realized that Annie was going to give her a fashion show. “I’d like that, I really want to see you in that sundress.” She said pointing to the cornflower blue strapless dress.



“I think that can be arranged.” Annie smiled as Candy left the dressing room, the door closing behind her with a soft click. Turning to look at the clothing, Annie let out a sigh, it was too much.



Doc had warned her that multiple babies were born early and if that were the case for her three she figured she only had about three more months. Give or take.



Stripping her clothing, she turned to look at the full-length mirror. Her stomach was swollen and although she’d never been super thin. Now she looked like she had a basketball shoved under her skin. She turned to the side, studying the curve of her abdomen, trying to see what Candy saw.



Her shoulders fell as she looked away, pregnancy wasn’t fun. In movies in book is they had always portrayed it as a happy miracle.



She supposed it could be, but all she felt when thinking about the babies was anxiety.