Creations 3: Creating Chemistry (13 page)

“Our child.” Nu rubbed her belly. “A son.”

“I’ll take that bet. I say it’s a girl.”

Nu gaped. “Raggas don’t have girls.”

“Raggas don’t have Anin. We do.”

Nu shook his hand. “You have a bet, brother.”

“That I do. But no matter the sex of our child, I’ve already won.”

“So have I.” Nu clasped his hand, then let it go to place it over their mate. Set kissed her lips softly, amused at her sleepy smile, then fell into sleep, his dreams of the future and his daughter laughing up at him.

Chapter Nine

Two Years Later

Anin grimaced and rubbed her sore belly. If anyone had explained exactly what two

mates would entail when it came to being pregnant, she wasn’t sure she would have agreed to it. Then again, she’d had so much fun making the baby, she couldn’t see herself turning down not one, but two delicious men with libidos that didn’t quit. As if her masters would allow it.

Set and Nu weren’t kidding about being fathers. It had taken both of them to create this child, a combination of Nu’s and Set’s seed to fertilise her. She’d thought for a time that their fathers merely shared in their upbringing. But Ragga fathers were truly biological parents. Which solved at least one of her concerns, that one of her husbands might feel slighted at not being the father.

Once she’d announced her pregnancy, they’d taken a leave of absence from
Mara’s Light
, and she had the feeling they wouldn’t be going back. Set had turned out to be a master craftsman while Nu had a knack for raising
raks
. Anin, much to her delight, was in high demand. Her
feshwa
pieces, those that she made with Nala, were constantly sought by Raggas and offworlders alike. Experimenting with different fabrics and styles, she spent her time designing and sewing when not tending to her new family.

She did miss life aboard the ship, the small crew she thought of as her second family. She’d come to care for Mara and Isa especially. Catam, Isa’s mate, had a clever tongue. He annoyed her mates to no end, but Anin found him amusing. He made a wonderful father, one who would soon be announcing his retirement from the bounty trade, according to Isa. Their daughters were a handful, and grown enough to need a more stable life.

Which was what she and her mates also wanted. The three of them agreed. They wanted to raise their child with Ragga tradition—a rich past Anin had never had. To show him, or her, according to Set, how to live off the land and appreciate life’s gifts.

And what a gift she’d been given. Anin smiled as she patted her belly and made her way towards the communal room, where she’d last seen Winnu. Her family was large enough that she’d never lack for love. Ryen and Drekk visited every few weeks, supposedly to keep an eye on her mates. But Anin had caught Ryen laughing with Nu and Set a time or two. She knew for a fact he enjoyed the hunts with her men.

Erin and Rafe were expecting a child as well, and Anin couldn’t be more pleased. Years ago at her bonding ceremony, Drekk had offered to help her should she wish to conceive. She’d thought him kind. She hadn’t understood that he’d planned to personally help her, but thought that he’d refer her to someone who could cure her supposed infertility. Apparently, his ability to heal had fixed Erin. But it had involved some sexual activity Anin knew Nu and Set would have frowned upon. Anin could only credit Rafe’s love for his wife that he’d allowed Drekk to do...whatever it was that he’d done.

No, Anin hadn’t needed any help conceiving. One incredible night of lovemaking with her mates and she’d known it was the right time.

Her baby kicked again, but this jolt was accompanied by a cramp of severe pain.
You’re ready, aren’t you?
She breathed deeply and sought help, stopping several times until she just couldn’t go on.

Minutes later Nu and Set found her panting with pain. As Nu carried her to their bed, Set returned with Nala and their fathers.

“It’s now. She’s having the baby now.” Nu paled. He gripped her hand tight, then swore and stroked her fingers whispering his apologies.

Anin would have teased him except Nu seemed petrified.

She glanced at Set, who nodded.

“Come on, brother. This is a job for the child’s mother and second mother.” Nala. “We’ll wait out here with the fathers.”

Nu nodded. He hurried back to Anin one last time and stroked her face. “I love you,
meena
. Be well. We’re right here if you need us.”

The poor man. It tugged at her heart to see her giant, who scared men spitless, so vulnerable. “I’ll be fine.” She tensed, gasping as another wave of pain hit. “Go, please.”

“We love you,” Set said before dragging Nu from the room.

“Now, daughter. Are you ready?” Nala smiled, her elation contagious.

“More than ready.” She could already tell this baby would be a handful.

Three hours later Nu was ready, once more, to burst in on his wife and mother. “What’s taking so fucking long?”

Orset smirked. “You took half a day. Sit down before you wear a path in the floor.”

Set sighed and laid on the couch, his hands clasped over his belly, as if he had not a care in the world. Nu wanted to pound on him. He already had, until Winnu had broken them apart.

“Easy, son. Your Anin’s a strong one. She’ll be fine.”

As much as Nu wanted this child, he couldn’t help fearing for Anin’s safety. A Ragga birthing was never easy. And Anin was small to begin with. Her belly seemed to take up her entire body, and there was nothing he could do to ease her pain, which gnawed at him. Backrubs and foot massages were all well and good, but they didn’t relieve the strain he constantly saw on her face.

It took a moment before he realised everyone in the room was looking over his shoulder.

Nala stood with tremendous smile on her face.

“Come, my sons. And meet your
children
.”

“Children?” Set asked, finally looking dazed.

“Twins.” His mother grinned.

Winnu swore.

Orset gaped. “Twins? That’s not possible.”

Nu and Set glared at their father.

“Relax, you two. It’s a shock, but no one’s questioning Anin’s loyalty.”

Nu nodded, unable to speak. He trusted Anin with his life. Unlike Lita, Anin had never played with his affections or gone to another man outside their union for love. She was his in every way. And now the mother of his twins? What the hell did Vas mean by this?

He hurried with Set to Anin’s side. She looked flushed and tired, but the love in her eyes brought tears to his. On either side of her lay a small bundle wrapped in silken swaddling.

“One for each of you.” Anin received their kisses with a grin. “A boy for Nu. A girl for Set.”

The room grew silent.

“Twins
and
a girl? Mother of Vas, a blessing of the first order!” Winnu whooped, then quieted when Nala shushed him. He looked at the second children in his boys’ arms and couldn’t contain his delight. “Come on, Orset. We need to go into town and brag about this. Nala, get the house ready. We’re going to be having visitors by the dozens. You know everyone on the damned planet is going to want a look at these two.” He kissed Anin on the cheek.

“Twins. A girl,” Orset repeated, shaking his head. He leaned down to kiss Anin’s forehead. “You truly are one in a million, my daughter.” He hugged Nala, then followed Winnu out the door.

“They are so small.” Set couldn’t take his eyes off their daughter, and Nu joined him, swapping the children. “My son.” Set rubbed his cheek against the infant, startled when he cried.

“Don’t worry, Set. He’s just hungry. You two were just as small when you came out, though I’m thankful it was one at a time. You wouldn’t think carrying a babe would hurt so much,” Nala said to Anin. “But it’s all that kicking and scrapping they do when inside you that takes its toll. Not to mention how much they eat.” Nala took the baby from Set and set him at Anin’s breast. It took some doing, but the infant finally began to drink from his mother.

Nu’s daughter lay happily in his arms. He couldn’t help noticing her darker skin flecked with pink and gold. Like Anin’s. He couldn’t make out the colour of her eyes since she’d closed them, but her grip around the tip of his finger was Ragga, through and through.

He glanced up to see his mother walk quietly from the room. He and Set sat on either side of Anin. Nu was so damned happy he didn’t even feel like himself.

“I am blessed beyond measure.” He placed his daughter in Set’s arms and kissed Anin.

“As am I. I think maybe Vas likes me.” Anin smiled. “He gave me two of his finest men, and future Raggas as well. I hope you’re pleased.” Her happiness shone despite her fatigue.

Nu had never seen her look more beautiful. “I’m happy,
meena
, more than I can say. But that doesn’t mean you’re getting out of your last punishment. In another month, you and I have a date with some cuffs and a whip.”

Set frowned. “Mother said three weeks. A month?”

“To be on the safe side.”

Set groaned.

“You two asked your mother when we could have sex again?” Anin blushed. “I suppose I shouldn’t say that in front of the children.” She bit her lip, her smile fading. “Do you think I’ll be a good mother? I’m really not sure how I should act with them. They’re so small.”

Nu stroked her hair. “You’ll be fine,
meena.
We’ll help. You have a whole family here to support you.” He groaned. “And if I know Ryen, he’s already on his way to the planet. That man knows more about you than Set does.”

“Hey.” Set smiled. “Your brother loves you very much, Anin. Drekk’s been good for him. He finally broke through Ryen’s hard shell.”

“Yes.” Anin cleared her throat. “I was wondering...”

“Yes?” Nu and Set said at the same time.

“We talked about naming the children. Would you mind if,” she paused.

“
Meena
, tell us,” Nu said gently. She’d gotten so much better about voicing her opinions. Though still naturally submissive, she’d very much become her own woman during the course of their marriage. And he loved her all the more for it.

“I’d like to name the babies after my sister and brother. They saved me from Blue Rim, from certain death not so long ago.”

Set met his gaze and nodded. Nu wasn’t sure he liked the idea of naming his son after Ryen, that pain in the ass. But if the boy grew up to have even half of Ryen’s strength, he’d be well met.

“Welcome to your new family, Erin and Ryen Fas.”

Set gasped. The little one in his arms had finally opened her midnight blue eyes, a spark of orange in their centre.

“She has your eyes, and ours,” Nu murmured, and joined hands with his brother and wife. “Now if only she has my temper.”

The baby chose that moment to cry her displeasure, and Set and Anin laughed.

“She does, brother. She surely does.”