Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 429 – Names

Cora

Matthew? Roger tries, passing the name down the line to the baby and I grip his hand, and we both wait…

But nothing.

“The baby doesn’t like the name Matthew,” I whisper, laughing a little. “Well, it was just a starter,” Roger murmurs, grinning at me again. “You try one.”

“All right,” I say, leaning my head back and taking a deep breath. And then I pass a name down, trying… Oliver.

“Oliver!?” Roger bursts out in disgust and I gasp, glaring at him.

“You are biasing our son!” I accuse, sitting up to smack him. “I said nothing when you said stupid Matthew!”

“Matty is a cute name “he protests, laughing and blocking my blow. “Oliver is the name of a sickly Victorian child who wants more gruel -”

I growl and lay back, taking a deep breath and gathering myself. “Well, let’s see what the baby thinks,” I murmur, sending Roger another glare. And then I try again, whispering Oliver? down the bond. But nothing comes back.

“Good baby,” Roger murmurs, kissing my stomach again and making me laugh. “Don’t let her call you that. It’s terrible.”

“Okay okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Let’s try one more.”

“I’ll pick it?” Roger asks.

“Sure,” I reply, relaxing. “But this time, pick one you really, really like. One that you’d actually want him to be called – your favorite.”

“Okay,” he murmurs.

And then Roger passes another name down the bond, and I smile, because…

Because I love it.

And we wait…

gasp at the same

Happy!

Roger snatches me

we just -” he stares at me, thrilled. Laughing, elated, I take his face in my hands and kiss him, and kiss him,

just named

the sun came up, and then we gathered up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket and trooped back to the house, where we closed the doors and slept for hours

afternoon to the owner of the bungalow tapping on the door, bringing us a basket of food so we could eat something, and Roger went to get it while I curled further up in

for the elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger, who never learned to cook. But the spread of sandwiches and warmed soup and crackers

laugh, sending messages to the baby when he was awake to see what he’d do. And

with everything else we did, a usual part of the day as we napped, and went swim and laid out in the sun. The entire

day, we knew we had to get back – because as much as

do this again, yes?” Roger murmurs, pulling me close outside the little bungalow after we’ve

it sweep through me. “Maybe not next week. But

nods, giving me another little peck, before looking around. “I really like this place. Maybe the owner will let us

stomach. “But, considering that this little guy

Roger says, his eyebrows raising. “And considering what the goddess

break into a grin. “You’re

bunch more,” he nods, eager. “And I’m going to enjoy

him away a little bit. ” You just make the babies, I’ll

I’m going to be a very involved dad. You’ll see. You’ll barely have to lift a

car door for me. “Or, we can just pass them all

our tiny luggage into the trunk before crossing to

in the car, closing my door behind me as Roger climbs into his seat. “Ella, loaded up with four of her own kids and as many nieces

a deal,” he says, half serious and grinning at me as he buckles his belt

say, smiling down at him and stroking my belly fondly. “We’re lucky. We’ve got a good