Read Rocky (Tales of the Were) for Free Online Page A

their eyes blinking open and little arms flailing upwards, seeking her. She picked up the nearest twin and set about changing his diaper, then did the same with the other boy.
    When they were clean and sweet smelling again, she picked up the most active one and sat with him in the rocker. She pushed aside the collar of the robe she still wore from the night before to allow the baby room to suckle.
    The little mewling cries started up louder this time from the other twin. When they suddenly stopped, she looked over her shoulder in alarm, only to find the baby nestled in one of Rocky’s big hands as he rocked the child against his powerful chest.
    “I’ll keep him company until you’re ready.” The wink he sent her stole her breath. He looked so natural with the baby in his arms, so perfect, like he really was their father. And perhaps now he was.
    “What was all that claiming stuff about during the ceremony?” she asked softly, still facing away from him.
    “These cubs are werebears. Unlike most were , they shift right from the get go, as you saw last night. Their animal sides are very strong. Bears—grizzlies most of all—need a strong Alpha presence to help them as they grow. Since you’re not a shifter, these boys will need a male Alpha to step in and show them the ropes. That task falls to me as closest kin to Tony.”
    “You’d take on that kind of responsibility for his sake?” She knew he and Tony had been closer than brothers, but Rocky had a life of his own that very obviously didn’t include children of any sort. Now he’d essentially agreed to act as a father to two babies not his own. That had to put a cramp in his lifestyle.
    “For his sake and for theirs. These cubs are more special than you know. But most of all, I’m doing it for you, Maggie.” His rumbly voice sent warm shivers down her spine while his words sparked a long lost hope.
    “I’m flattered.”
    “Just flattered?” he asked, a wry chuckle in his words.
    “Well, relieved too.” She paused. It was easier to talk like this, in the intimacy of the night when she wasn’t facing him. “And maybe a little hopeful.”
    Rocky surprised her, coming around the side of the rocker. She looked down to realize the baby at her breast was now fast asleep. Rocky shocked her further, picking up that baby in one giant hand and placing him back in the crib before turning the chair with his foot against one of the rockers so she faced him.
    Her breast was still exposed and he made no move to cover her, instead he tugged the zipper down, exposing her other breast. He placed the second twin in her arms and the baby hungrily rooted around, searching for her nipple. Rocky slipped one large finger under her breast and tugged upward, helping the baby find what it was looking for.
    Maggie was breathless, Rocky’s touch sending tingles through her body. He’d never touched her this way before, much less seen her bare. Yet she sat there, anticipating his next touch, his next caress.
    The back of his knuckles brushed over her other breast, shocking her gaze up to his.
    “Are you sore?”
    She was surprised by the warmth in his eyes and the care in his touch. He seemed so matter-of-fact. “A little,” she admitted. His calm actions made this moment less about embarrassment and more about being cared for. She felt special. Cherished.
    “Allie left something for that.” He turned away for a moment and she tried to catch her breath, but he was back too soon with a small jar of cream in one hand. When she would have taken it, he shook his head, the dominant streak in his personality asserting itself in a quiet way. “Let me.”
    She watched, transfixed, as he dipped his finger into the jar and lifted out a small amount of white cream, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger to warm it before placing the jar on the table at his side. He crouched next to the rocker, putting him on level with her, then reached out with those coated fingers and tugged