WES
I waited a week. A fucking week. Joy still hadn’t said a word. Was she not happy about the fact that she was pregnant and didn’t want to tell me? Did she think I wouldn’t be happy?
I ran a hand through my hair as I paced the kitchen, which was only a few steps before I had to spin around. She was in her studio working. Torturing me.
I scented the baby eight days ago when I was buried deep, fucking her. Her hands had been up and gripping the headboard because she’d begged me to take her harder. Faster. Deeper.
What my honey wanted, she got. The closer to orgasm she got, her heat built. Her scent. And then…
There. A different scent.
More.
Sweeter.
Purer.
It’d broken my rhythm, and I’d pulled out to sniff her skin, lick down her body. I parted her thighs and ate her out, forcing her to one orgasm and then another as I tasted her sweetness. Breathed in the fact that I’d fucked a baby into her.
I hadn’t said anything because what if it wasn’t true? What if my wolf was wrong? I hadn’t been around when Soraya found out she was pregnant. When I’d returned, she was round with the baby. The answer was obvious.
Now, I was positive. I knew Joy’s body perhaps better than she did. Every inch of her I’d tasted. Savored.
Her period was late. I knew that about her, too. I didn’t care. My wolf didn’t either. But when it didn’t come? I was certain.
But why wasn’t she coming to me with the good news? Wasn’t it the female who knew first?
I picked up Remy’s plastic juice cup and set it in the sink. Spun about. Looked out the window.
“Why the fuck am I standing here?” I asked myself. Storming out the back door, the screen slapped closed behind me. I cut across the backyard and weaved around the shrubs to her garage.
I stalled in the doorway. Took in my woman propped on her stool, mug in one hand, paintbrush in the other. Her hair was up in a sloppy bun. Sun glinted on the strands.
Her body was lush. Full. Soon it would be heavy with my baby.
I took a deep breath. Smelled Joy, her scent sweetened with pregnancy.
I didn’t make a sound, but she sensed me and spun about on her seat. When her gaze met mine, she smiled.
Beamed.
“I thought you were at the ranch.” She set her brush down.
“I… I–” I, what? I wanted to know. Needed it.
“Something you want to tell me, honey?”
Her forehead crinkled in a small frown. Then cleared. “Yes! I’m sorry. Remy does have to bring cookies tomorrow to school, so we’ll have to get the mini chocolate chips.”
Now I frowned. “Cookies?”
“Well, I guess we could do popsicles. It’s warm enough.”
“Popsicles?” I repeated, then ran a hand through my hair again.
“Wes, what’s the matter?”
“What’s the matter?” And… I was done. Boom. My patience evaporated. My panic was taking over. “Why isn’t my female telling me she’s having our baby?”
Her mouth opened.
Closed.
Opened.
“Baby?” she echoed.
“You’re late. Your tits are bigger and last night you came when I sucked on your nipples. Ever done that before?”
“B–”
“I can smell the change in your chemistry. “Why didn’t you tell me? Are you scared? Afraid? Do you not want it?” I asked one question after the other.
“Oh my God.” She took my hands and squeezed. A sheen of tears coated her beautiful eyes. “I didn’t know. Wow. I don’t know.”
“You’re late.”
“Yeah, I guess I am.” She let out one of her laugh-cries. “I’m pregnant? You can tell by my scent?”
“And your tits.”
She blushed. “I guess me coming from you playing with them was definitely a first. But there’s a smell?”
“Sweet. Perfect.”
“You’re sure?” she asked me.
“I’m supposed to be asking you that. But yes, I’m sure.”
She was a happy woman to start, but now, in this moment? She glowed. Even with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“We’re having a baby.” She sounded awestruck.
I cupped her cheeks, swiping my thumbs through her tears. “We’re having a baby.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t notice.” She looked down at her swollen breasts, then back up at me. She gave another watery laugh.
“You’re happy?” I asked, suddenly unsure. It was already a lot for her to become mama to Remy. But was she ready for an infant. They are intense, to say the least. Soraya didn’t last more than three weeks.
“I’m thrilled. I… I never imagined this life. With you.”
“Imagined it? You’re living it, honey. It’s real.”
“I know. I’m overjoyed. What are we going to tell Remy?” she asked.
“That she got what she wanted… although that’s going to be a problem if she always gets what she wants.”
“I think we can spoil her with babies.”
“Plural?” I asked.
She shrugged. “One at a time. How about that?”
I nodded, then leaned down and kissed her. “One at a time. Sounds fucking perfect. I love you, Joy.”
“I love you, too.”
