She wanted to tell him yes, but bit her lip instead.
“I didn’t think so.”
Cocky bastard.
“Let me help you with those hormones, cher.”
“How? By taking me to the laundromat?”
“Non.”
Goddammit, the way he said that one word made her brain short circuit.
She shouldn’t.
No, it was a bad idea.
The worst idea.
But he was offering.
“This is just sex,” she said, her voice trembling. “Nothing else.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And no kissing.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I—” Her words died in her throat as he bent down to press his lips to her neck. The scent of damp grass, smoke, and dark sex was even more intense in the shadows, and a low growl of need escaped her mouth. “Marc, we should go back to—”
As if reading her mind, he pulled them back into the light. Her eyes shut briefly, and when she opened them again, she realized they were already by her car. “How did you do that?”
“Should I explain or drive back to The Enclave?”
“Drive.”
They scrambled into the car, and she’d barely clicked her seatbelt on when the engine roared to life. Sexual tension crackled in the air, even as they sat inches apart. Stealing a quick glance at him, she saw the look of concentration on his face as he drove, brows drawn together, lips pursed tight.
When they pulled into The Enclave, she said, “Your place.”
He didn’t argue, but instead, quickly turned the wheel to head toward the group of buildings that comprised the Center Cluster, maneuvering the car into the garage of one of the smaller buildings and pulled into one of the empty spots.
She followed him out to the elevators, neither speaking or touching as if doing so would break the tenuous agreement between them. When the car stopped on the fifteenth floor, he motioned for her to get out first, then led her to the apartment at the end, opening it quickly with the keys he fished out from his pocket.
When she stepped inside, she wasn’t really sure what to expect. It was spacious, that’s for sure, bigger than her own apartment. It was decorated comfortably in neutral colors, neither masculine or feminine, but surprisingly both at the same time. The space opened to a large living and dining area and an open kitchen. While apartments in The Enclave were subsidized, units like these were usually reserved for senior, higher-up clan members or families who need the space. She guessed there were probably two or three bedrooms in the place. How did he score this?
“I need to take care of something,” he said. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Before she could say anything, he disappeared down the hallway on the other side of the room. Unsure what to do, she took off her coat and scarf, then walked toward the living area and sat on the couch. She looked around; her eyes drawn to a stack of books on the coffee table.
“Huh.” She picked up the heavy volume on top and read the title aloud. “Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth?” Glancing back at the other books, she read the titles carefully, one by one.
What to Expect When She’s Expecting
Pregnancy 101
Baby and Me
So You’re Gonna Be A Dad
Her grip loosened on the book in her hand, and it landed on the carpet with a soft thud. The books looked well-thumbed through, and several pages had been dog-eared. Did Delacroix—
“Cher, is everything all right?”
Her heart jumped to her throat.
Chapter Twelve
“Cher, is everything all right?”
Delacroix had waited for this moment to happen for what seemed like forever that when it finally did come, he realized how woefully unprepared he was. Of course, he had no idea that tonight would be the night she finally gave in, and if he had, he would have cleaned up his bedroom this morning. He had only moved into this new apartment a few days ago, and what little possessions he did have were still in boxes scattered around. He quickly tossed them into the walk-in closet and straightened out the sheets on his bed.
His question made her start, and she all but leapt off the couch. “I’m fine.”
He took a step forward, watching her carefully. Had she changed her mind? Hopefully not. She clearly wanted his body; he just needed a chance to show her she also wanted the rest of him. His resolve to have her only strengthened when his hand touched her belly rounded with their pup. She and their baby were now the twin stars in his universe, shining so brightly nothing else mattered. He would kill for them, die for them. His wolf wholeheartedly agreed.
The realization made him freeze. He couldn’t move, shock gripping him. So, she came to him, raising a hand to cup his cheek.
Turning his head, he nuzzled at her palm, moving lower to the pulse at her wrist, breathing in her scent. He traced his lips up her elbow to her shoulder and along her collarbone. As he moved to the soft skin of her neck, he thought to steal just one kiss from those plush lips. But no, he didn’t want to scare her away, not when he was close. Besides, he knew he would have to earn that privilege, and it would be all the sweeter a victory.
“Bedroom,” she gasped, and he didn’t need more of an invitation than that.
He dragged her down the hallway as he continued to kiss every bit of skin he could, his fingers deftly unbuttoning the front of her blouse. As they entered his bedroom, he pushed the fabric off her shoulders and let it fall to the ground, then reached for the hook on her bra.
“Wait.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Turn off the lights first.”
“But why?”
“They … my body’s changed so much.” She cast her gaze downward. “You won’t … you’ll find it weird.”
“Cher,” he said gently. “Please … don’t say that.”
She swallowed audibly. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He smiled at her reassuringly, then reached behind to remove her bra. Gently, he pulled it away from her, careful
