Page 40 of Ready or Not

“Okay,” he says, moving to lift me. “The baby belly is taking some getting used to.” He chuckles as I scramble up to bury my nose in his throat. I bury my fingers in his facial hair, and my face rolls around, trying to soak up his pheromones. “Goddamn, I missed you.”

I sigh, unwilling to say anything back to that. Which might be shitty, considering I’m all up in his personal space like I have the right to be. My system doesn’t seem to care that he really hurt me, because my feet dig into his jean-covered ass like I’m terrified he’ll try to escape.

“I haven’t been with anyone since you.” Cooper runs his hand up and down my back as the other tightens on my hip and ass. “I swear to God, I haven’t. You can ask Ranger. That’s my boss. Well, he runs one of the teams, but we’re technically at the same level in the company. Anyway, he can vouch for me. I didn’t even want to go out and meet anyone. I was licking my own wounds.”

I huff against the warm skin of his throat. “Yeah, me neither. I mean, I hadn’t had sex with anyone else. Not until I got here.”

He exhales heavily, nodding. “That’s a relief. I hate the idea of you with anyone, but if it had to be someone, then I’m glad it’s the guys I’ve always considered packmates.”

I bite my lip, raking my nose down the column of his neck, just past where the hair of his beard stops. It’s such a bizarre position to be in, but I do know what he means.

If the situation were reversed and he was carrying my baby… I’m pretty sure I’d have a giant fit at the idea of him having sex with someone else.

His huge hand drags up and down my back. It’s comforting, and combined with his scent, it makes me feel floaty.

“I truly am sorry for the way things played out between us,” I admit.

“Don’t apologize?—”

My hand moves from his beard to push against his lips, cutting him off.

“The circumstances are much different than what I spent all these months thinking they were. It means a lot that you were in here, helping to get ready for the baby.” I sigh, snuggling deeper. “I felt bad that I never told you about Bishop or that I worked for the cam site. In my head, I thought we’d cross that bridge at some point in the future.”

He twists his head, and my hand moves to his shoulder. “I get that. We only went on one real date, but I was already thinking of you as my girlfriend, even if I hadn’t had the chance to ask you yet.”

“You smell so good. It’s making me sleepy.”

“All right. Let’s get you to bed.” He tightens his hold and takes off toward the doorway. “Don’t give me that look. I was just taking her back to Holt and Bishop.”

I gasp, pulling my face free of Cooper’s neck.

Mercy stands with a very confused look on his face.

“I think we’re going to have to ask Patrick about the reaction she’s having to my scent.” Cooper steps closer to Mercy, and I stretch out my hands. “I can’t help but wonder if it’s a medical thing.”

“You look tired,” I say as Mercy carefully takes me from Cooper.

“It was a long day,” Mercy says, his accent thicker than normal. “But I’m quite ready to snuggle up next to you and call it a night.”

“Me too,” I agree.

“Check with Patrick when you get the chance,” Mercy says to Cooper before striding off toward our room.

Chapter Thirteen

Holt

Pack life is fucking weird. I wake up drooling on Bishop’s chest, which makes me chuckle at the absurdity of it. He actually makes for a decent pillow.

I snort, shove myself up, and go searching for my omega.

Vale’s arousal smacks into me in the bond before I’m even halfway down the hallway to the bedroom.

Mercy seems very fond of fucking her while they’re both vertical on their knees. It’s wild, with the baby belly and her tight nipples bouncing as they writhe together. It’s also a convenient position to access her clit.

I smirk. Her blue eyes are hazy, but a wide smile breaks out on her face when she spots me.

My fucking heart thumps as I kneel on the edge of the bed. Mercy stills his grinding thrusts as I pull her mouth to mine. It’s a quick but tantalizing kiss. She tastes like strawberries, and they’re officially my new favorite fruit. Cupping her tits, I give her nipples a little flick with my fingers.