“That’s it,” he muttered. “Tell me how you really feel about me.”
With a sigh, Shay scooted closer and laid her hand on his thigh. “Not you,” she admitted, “but your actions.” She rested her head on his shoulder.
He covered her hand with his own, and nothing more was said until they arrived. It was nice, Shay reflected. She’d heard of companionable silences, but this was the first one she and Rory had experienced. Only now that the clinic sat in front of them, he was tensing up. The shoulder she leaned on and the thigh her hand lay on felt like rocks. Deep inside where she was bonded to him, she could literally feel his aggression rising.
The small parking lot was rather full for a Friday afternoon, but somehow she didn’t believe that was Rory’s issue. Personally she hated waiting in doctor’s offices. They really should have called first and made an appointment, but it was too late to argue now. They’d driven almost an hour to get here, and he was determined that she see someone today. So it was sit here and wait or see his pack’s midwife.
Shay mentally debated the pros and cons of staying. Neither she nor Rory made a move to get out of the truck. She knew why she hesitated but had no clue what his problem was. Finally she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“He’s going to see you. Touch you,” he growled.
“Alex’s a doctor. That’s what they do, especially for this type of exam.” Shay didn’t particularly like the idea of Kiesha’s husband seeing her—the whole thing was creeping her out—but she couldn’t tell Rory that, not when she’d insisted Alex be the one to do the exam. Damn, now she was tense and the tiniest bit nauseated.
Rory snarled. Actually snarled.
Shay turned to look at him. Meeting his gaze, she realized Rory was no longer home behind those eyes. Rory’s wolf’s golden-eyed gaze stared back at her. Lord, spare me from possessive werewolves. “We can go home. I’m sure the baby’s fine,” she offered.
A growl rumbled from his chest. She could see the wolf’s possessiveness over his mate fighting with his concern for his cub. He couldn’t go inside with his wolf this close to the surface. He’d scare the staff, be kicked out, and then all hell would break loose. She needed to calm him somehow. Shay rose to her knees on the bench seat and rubbed her cheek alongside his, the way she’d seen wolves do, hoping to calm him.
It did and didn’t work.
Shay found herself plastered to Rory from chest to pelvis as he pulled her to him in an inescapable grip. Feeling his claws on her butt, she quickly shrieked, “Don’t rip my pants.”
The world tilted, and she found herself on the seat below him. As Rory attacked the button and zipper of her pants, Shay rose on her elbows, trying to see if there were any witnesses to what was surely about to take place. Having her body put on display once was enough, thank you very much. If the wrong person came along, they’d get arrested for indecent exposure. If that happened, Kee would tease her mercilessly, forever.
“Down.” One hand pressing firmly against her chest ensured she obeyed while his other stripped her pants and panties from her legs. At least he left her upper body clothed. Thank God for small favors.
A slash of his claws and his jeans fell open, revealing his already heavy and bobbing cock. Shay hoped he had another pair in the truck. Rory parted her thighs and then he was between them. “Mine,” he pronounced as he entered her with one determined thrust.
Good thing she stayed in a perpetual state of arousal with this man or she would never have been able to take him. If Rory’s wolf was running the show, all it was interested in was staking its claim. Come to think of it, that’s all the man was usually interested in as well. Then Shay lost the ability to reason.
Hours later Shay entered the house, still in a state of shock.
A whistling Rory closed the door behind her. “Guess I’d better get started on the nursery. With the way time’s flying, our cub will be here before we know it. I was thinking of opening the wall between our room and the one on the right. I can close off the hallway door and leave the only access through our bedroom. Just for the first year or so; then we’ll move him across the hall. I think two’s a good age, or sooner if you get pregnant again. I think we should have more than one cub, don’t you?”
He didn’t stick around for an answer. Instead he wandered up the staircase muttering about safety gates and baby proofing.
Shay drifted into the living room and sat staring out the picture window. She didn’t see the vibrant greens and browns of the surrounding hills and forest. All she could hear was Carol’s voice saying, “Well, you’re definitely pregnant.”
Shay couldn’t believe she’d forgotten Alex and Kiesha were gone on their honeymoon. Since they’d driven all that way, she’d agreed to let Carol, a nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife, do the honors.
Thinking she was pregnant and having it confirmed were two different things. Nothing like hearing a heartbeat to drive home the fact that she was really going to be a mother. She didn’t even have nine months to get used to the idea. According to Carol, her pregnancy was progressing more like a shifter than human.
Normal gestation for a human female was forty weeks. For shifter females it was more like thirty. That meant in four to five months, she’d be delivering. Figured she couldn’t even do pregnancy like a normal human. But then, when had the word normal ever applied to her?
Her body jostled as the weight of Rory lowering to the seat beside her dented the cushions. “Somehow I’m sensing you’re not sharing my excitement.”
Shayla shrugged. “It just hit me. I mean, I knew I was pregnant. All the signs were there, but…I’m pregnant! This is really happening. What do I know about being a mother?”
Rory put his arm around her and tugged her to him. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. Every first-time parent feels that way. You think I’m not nervous about being a father?”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “If there’s any part of this equation I’m not worried about, it’s you. Shannon said you practically raised her. Our kid will be lucky to have you as a father. I’m the one most likely to make it need therapy.”
He tucked his face against her nape and squeezed her so hard the breath left her body in a rush. “Can’t breathe,” she gasped.
Immediately his hold loosened. After a while he raised shining eyes and said in a hoarse voice, “Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
“It’s the truth,” she stated, waving aside his gratitude.
He shook his head but didn’t argue. They sat in yet another companionable silence, each busy with their own thoughts. Rory broke it when he said, “I might have some experience with little girls, but I know nothing about raising boys. Being one doesn’t count.”
“Good thing it’s a girl.”
“Highly improbable. Shifters aren’t known for their female offspring. Most likely it’s a boy.”
“That’s what you say. Excuse me if I choose to believe Conor instead,” she told him.
He turned her face so that he could look her in the eyes. “Conor said we’re having a daughter?”
“Actually he said daughters, which I assume meant plural, not possessive, but I’m not sure if he means now or accumulatively speaking,” Shay said with a shrug.
“He’s a seer,” Rory murmured, speaking to himself. Then his gaze sharpened. “Did he say anything else?”
“You must fight to hold on to what is yours. Treachery surrounds you. Only by uniting together will you be victorious. Show no mercy. Your daughters’ safety depends on the decisions you make now.” Conor’s words flowed through her mind.