“How am I accepting all of this without freaking out?”
Simon gave me that grin that had my womb aching with need. My hands fell to cradle my stomach. Holy shit! What if I was pregnant? We hadn’t used any form of protection, and if he’d mistakenly assumed I was on birth control, he was wrong.
“What are you thinking now?” he asked with a shake of his head.
“What if I’m pregnant?”
“I’m not even going to ask how you got from your dad and Leslie joining the pack to thinking you might be pregnant. I think your mind might actually scare me. But for the record, you’re not pregnant. Yet.”
I ignored the comment about my mind as well as his “yet” and focused on his confident answer. “How do you know I’m not pregnant?”
“Your scent would change. It hasn’t. You’re not ovulating.”
“No.” I shook my head and held my hand up when he would have said something else. “I don’t want to think about you scenting me. Or using it to know when I’m ovulating. I’m not ready for that.”
“Think about it. It could come in handy.”
“No,” I stated again. “Just, no.”
I turned and headed back toward the bathroom. “I’m taking a shower. Grab my bag out of the Jeep, so I can get dressed in clean clothes. Then I’ll clean the kitchen up while you shower. By the way, where are the clothes I was wearing last night?”
“I folded them and put them on the table by the front door. I already showered, but I’d be happy to help you.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t sure we’d leave today if he got in the shower with me. Hell, just the thought of him naked in the shower with me had my thighs clenching. That was one department I didn’t have to worry about. Sexually, we were more than compatible. Which wasn’t fair. I liked Simon. A lot. He would be a very easy man to fall in love with.
“Then you can clean the kitchen while I shower. I’d like to get to my dad’s tonight. Plus, I need to go by my place. There are things I’ll need to take care of before I join you.”
He caught my hand before I could leave the kitchen, pulling me back to him.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Cecilia. We’ll go to your dad’s. We’ll go by your house. But in two days, we’ll be heading back to Rigton. Together.”
Chapter Five
~Simon~
Cecilia fell asleep after a few hours on the road. The woman’s brain bounced from one subject to the next, and most of the time, I had no idea how she made the transition between topics. But I loved it. I’d learned so much about her. More than she probably realized. She was effervescent, outgoing, with more energy than should be possible in such a small package. She had courage. Strength. She was one of those people who would always stand up for another person. And somewhere along the line, her mother had left and made her feel unwanted. Unloved. At least she’d had her father. My mate loved her father. It was easy to pick up on even without our growing connection. She couldn’t help but smile when she spoke of him.
My phone buzzed on the dash, and I grabbed my earpiece and put it in before answering. Bas’ voice sounded in my ear.
“Where you at?”
“On our way to her house to get her things. I’ll meet her dad and Hannibal’s mom and invite them our way. I’ll let you know. How’s everything there?”
“They’re still in Bee’s room.”
I snickered at the irritation is Bas’ voice. I’d always wondered how he’d react when Bee’s mate finally showed up for her. It appeared he wasn’t too happy.
“Are they staying with the pack?” Maybe, that was why he sounded so surly.
“I don’t know. Raina won’t let me interrupt them yet.”
Oh, that was petulance. From my alpha. It took all I had not to laugh aloud. If Cecilia hadn’t been sleeping beside me, I would have. I didn’t want to wake her, though. I’d been rough on her last night. She had my sex drive through the roof. Hell, even now, I was rock-hard and ready. All I needed was a look of invitation from her, and I’d find a place to pull over.
“When will you be back?” Bas asked.
“Couple of days. Three at most. Something else going on?”
“Madison took off. Gabe’s gone after her. Haven’t heard from him yet, but keep your eyes open.”
“You think she’d head after me?” I didn’t see that.
“She ran after the phone call with you. Maybe, she thought she didn’t have a choice after how she treated your mate,” he suggested.
“I’ll keep my eyes open,” I promised. “Now, tell me what else is bothering you.”
“Nothing. Everything’s quiet.”
It was there in his voice, though. I knew what was bothering Bas. We’d been friends for a long time. “Bee’s not going to leave you or the pack you’ve made.”
“He’s her mate.”
“A mate who doesn’t have a pack of his own. He’ll be a great asset. Make him an offer. His sister will be a part of our pack. I’ll see what I can do to talk his mom and my mate’s dad into coming back, as well. Plus, you know your sister. She’ll have her mate wrapped around her finger in a matter of minutes.”
Bas snorted. “I swear. My sister went streaking downstairs in her skin and jumped right into his lap. She refused to listen to reason. Then she initiated the mating in front of everyone there.”
“She what?” I interpreted the refused to listen to reason as not doing what Bas told her. But initiating a mating in front of her brother and others? Bee wasn’t bashful, but she wasn’t an exhibitionist either.
“She bit him.”
I had to hold back a laugh
