I chuckled. “I like the sound of that.”
“Me, too.” She nipped my chin with her sharp teeth. “Now, I’m showering. Alone. You keep that gorgeous ass in here while I do. I can’t wait to take you to my dad’s house and for you to meet Leslie. She’s amazing.”
“I’m sure she is,” I agreed and kept my gaze glued to Cecilia’s ass as she walked away. Leslie might be amazing, but I couldn’t imagine her holding a candle to my woman.
Chapter Eight
~Cici~
I watched Simon’s face as he met Leslie. I knew she wasn’t what he’d expected. Hannibal was a big guy. Huge by any standard. Most people seemed to assume his mom had to be tall, as well. As if he’d been born the size he currently was. But Leslie wasn’t that much taller than I was. And she had a petite frame like I did. Her personality, though? It was larger than life. She loved ferociously and protected those she loved the same way. I didn’t know all of her and Hannibal’s story before they met us, but I knew she’d watched over her son and kept him safe. I knew she’d accepted me as her daughter even before my dad talked her into saying I do.
“Cici! I hear you had some excitement.” She folded me into her arms, hugging me tight. “This must be your Simon.”
“Ma’am,” Simon answered.
“Oh, I like you.” Her expression hardened. “Hurt my girl, and things won’t go well for you.”
Simon smiled. “Have you ever hurt your mate?”
She shared a glance with my father. “Unintentionally.”
“Simon’s not going to hurt me,” I jumped in, walking to his side and lacing our fingers. “I won’t let him.” I needed all of them to know I could take care of myself.
“Cecilia brought me here, so we’d have a chance to get to know each other,” Simon told them. “She and I will need to head back to Rigton County, soon. My alpha’s expecting us.”
“How soon?” my dad asked.
“A few—”
“Tomorrow,” Simon answered.
I started to question but pressed my lips together. I wasn’t going to make my dad worry any more than he already would. I’d save my questions for Simon until we were alone. Simon obviously wasn’t picking up on that, though.
“Sorry, baby. We need to get back. Hannibal will be leaving with the wolves he caught, and a few of our guys will be going with him. I’d like to be back before they leave.”
“Why?” Leslie asked, gaze sharp as she looked between us. “Is there something going on? Is my son in danger?”
Simon snorted. “Not from us. He’s mated to Belinda James. He’s my alpha’s brother-in-law, now. Hannibal’s place in our pack is solid.”
“Can’t Cici stay here and join you later?” my dad asked.
Simon shook his head. “No. I won’t leave my mate any more than I’m willing to bet you’d leave yours.”
“Then we better make the most of this time.” Leslie motioned everyone to follow her as she headed toward the back of the house and the kitchen. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want to eat so I might have gone a bit overboard.”
Dad snorted, and Leslie swatted at him.
“Hush, Cain. I thought we’d talk while we ate. Then maybe I could persuade Simon into going on a run with me. It’s been a while since Hannibal was here long enough for us to go out, and Cain doesn’t like for me to go by myself.”
“I’d enjoy that,” Simon agreed.
I had a feeling it was more than Simon going out with Leslie. It was giving my dad and I some time alone to talk. My chance to ask him anything and everything I needed to know about being the human mate of a wolf shifter. Maybe, he would share things I hadn’t even thought of asking yet.
“In the meantime,” Simon continued as we sat at the family dining table off the kitchen. “Why don’t you tell me all the crazy stories of Cecilia while she was growing up?”
I shook my head. “No, no, and no. No stories and absolutely no photos.”
“Now, that’s just cruel, mate.” Simon gave me a pouty look that had me laughing. It was far too easy to imagine a little boy with that same expression. He’d have me wrapped around his finger every time he looked at me. Which made me wonder. I dropped my hand to cup my stomach. Simon had said I wasn’t ovulating, so I knew I couldn’t be pregnant yet. Still. The thought took root in my mind.
“You’ll know first when I get pregnant. You’ll be the one to tell me instead of me getting to tell you. I’m not sure how I feel about that, Simon. It seems unfair.” I paused as my mind churned. “We’re not using anything to prevent pregnancy, and at the rate we’re going at it, I’ll be pregnant as soon as I ovulate. Am I able to carry a shifter baby? Like, do I need to do anything special?”
My dad cleared his throat. Simon closed his eyes and shook his head. Leslie laughed. Then what I’d shared aloud hit me, and I felt my face heating up.
“I thought you weren’t comfortable discussing our sex life with your dad?” Simon prompted, and I realized he wasn’t embarrassed. He’d been trying to keep from laughing at me.
“Well, shit!”
“Cecilia Rose!” Dad admonished.
“Shoot,” I amended. “Sorry, Dad.”
Simon burst into laughter. He didn’t even attempt to keep it under control. Then my dad was snickering. Then they were both bellowing, and I felt my temper igniting. I stood from the table, ready to say something snappy and stomp away in a snit. Instead, I found myself hauled onto Simon’s lap and wrapped in his arms. There was no point in struggling. Not unless I wanted to make a fool of myself, and I didn’t. So I sat still, arms crossed over my chest, while I glared at the wall.
