Page 59 of Medusa

Maddie had expected the pain; he was biting her flesh, after all. What was surprising was the surge of pleasure that came with it. Her nerves took the sensation in her shoulder and fed it directly down into her clit, sparking the most intense orgasm of her life. The feedback loop built on itself until her brain couldn’t cope with it and she lost consciousness.

* * *

When she woke up,she was wrapped in her sheet, her head resting on the firm muscle of Jaden’s pectoral, sitting on his lap against the headboard of her bed.

“You’re awake,” he rumbled. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not. I’m still tingling with aftershocks.” She giggled.

“I didn’t hurt you?” Jaden asked, petting her hair back from her face.

“That was incredible. I can’t wait to do it again.” She craned her neck, sitting up straighter to give him a kiss.

“You’re not sore?” Jaden raised an eyebrow, his hand running down her body, pulling at the sheet to get between her legs.

“A little, but I ache to have you buried inside me again.” Maddie spread her knees, giving him easier access. When his fingers entered her, her eyes rolled back at how good it felt. “Come on, Jaden, let’s give your stamina a workout.”

“Your wish is my command,” Jaden growled, ripping the sheet off of her.

EPILOGUE

The daycare hadcolorful balloons and streamers around the front door. The decorations continued into the backyard, where the kid’s talent show was going to be held. There was a table in the shade well stocked with sugary pastries from the ButterNut Bakery, and Hera and Augustine were already there, helping with the food.

Jaden went to find Maddie. She was inside with the kids, who were bouncing off the walls with excitement.

“Is everyone ready?” Maddie asked them.

“Yes!” the ones who could talk replied.

“I think everyone’s here now, so we’ll all go outside to cheer for each other. Let’s go!” Maddie cuddled Chloe’s child while Hestia picked up a little girl that Jaden didn’t know. The boys followed them outside, and they all sat on the grass.

“If I might have your attention, please?” Maddie stood in the center of the yard. “Your children have prepared a show of their recent achievements for your entertainment. First off, we have Shana. Come here, baby,” she encouraged the little girl that Hestia had carried. She was sitting calmly in the grass, running her hands through it.

When Maddie called her name, she twisted around and started crawling toward her. Maddie greeted her with a big smile. “Good job, Shana! Lyta, are you ready to show your mommy and daddy your new skill?”

Lyta took Maddie’s hands in her chubby fingers and helped the girl stand up. The little one wobbled before steadying. Then she took two steps forward.

A woman and man in the audience of parents started clapping loudly and Lyta fell onto her diaper-clad bum. Jaden chuckled.

“Thank you, Lyta!” Maddie cheered enthusiastically. “Now we’re moving on to Damien and Alexander, who have choreographed an acrobatic routine for you.”

The two little boys got to their feet and Maddie joined Jaden at the side of the mock stage. “They’ve been practicing this for weeks,” she whispered to him.

He watched, impressed, as the boys did simultaneous somersaults in a mostly straight line. They got to their feet close to the parents, and then did cartwheels all the way back to where they had started. Finally, they did handstands. Alexander, the younger of the two, fell over first, but both boys were beaming as they took their bows.

Maddie ushered the boys back to the side as she took her place in the center again. “Last but not least, we have Atlanta! She’s going to show off her shifting abilities!”

Jaden’s eyebrows rose in surprise, and he looked at the placid six-month old sitting with Hestia. She had turned her head when Maddie said her name.

“Come here, Atlanta!” Maddie called.

The baby shifted into a wolf puppy with tiny black wings and trotted over to Maddie, her tail wagging proudly.

Jaden clapped loudly for her. Dragon shifters were much older than that when they first attempted shifting, as far as he knew. He’d been almost seven years old when he’d managed his first full shift.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming to our show. Please enjoy all the delicious treats from the ButterNut Bakery!” Maddie returned to his side and took his hand shyly. The kids were all chattering or babbling excitedly at their parents, who were beaming proud smiles at their offspring.

“Where’s Alexander’s father?” Jaden asked, pointing out the one solo parent with a child.

Maddie rolled her eyes. “Not in the picture. Artemis has been doing an excellent job of raising the boy on her own. He’s such a darling, and much better off for his father not being present.”

“That bad, huh?”

“He left when she told him she was pregnant.” She glanced up at him. “How do you feel about kids?”

Jaden thought about that for a second. “I think I’d be a shitty father, but if they have you as a mother, I would do my best.”

“Good to know.” Maddie smiled and put her hand on her belly.

“Wait, what!?”