He hissed, body growing rigid when my hand brushed against him. He captured my wrist and pulled it away, giving me a sexy wink.
A rivulet of water trailed down his tatted arm until it dissipated around his elbow. Austin had acquired a nice tan over the summer, and for whatever reason, my sexual attraction to him increased with each passing month. But he had denied my advances since the day I started showing, saying it was too risky for the baby. All I knew was that when he swaggered in front of me like that, leaning over the porch railing, water running down his strong back, I just wanted to mount and ride him like he was a wild stallion.
Ivy snapped her fingers in front of my face, a delicate grin hovering on her lips. “I think it’s time for me to go soon. It’ll be dark in a few hours.”
“Give the girls another hour. They like spending time together.”
Austin glanced over his shoulder. “If you want to stay longer, don’t sweat it. I’ll have Reno follow behind and make sure you two get home safely.”
“No need, but I appreciate your generosity,” she replied. “Lakota is with us.”
“Lakota isn’t a man.”
Ivy lifted her chin and straightened her back. “What constitutes a man—testicles? I can assure you he has those. Lakota has gone through the change earlier than most, and he is an intelligent wolf who is ready to fight for his family.”
“Uh-huh. But how much fighting experience does he have?”
She tilted her head to the side. “As much as any Packmaster is willing to give to him.”
Austin frowned. “Point made.”
I couldn’t help but notice Austin was acting a little off. “What’s wrong?”
He turned around and ran his fingers through his damp hair. “I don’t know. My wolf’s pacing like someone’s about to come over.” He wiped his wet hands across his jeans, leaving a few damp streaks. “Did you invite anyone else?”
I patted my belly. “Maybe your wolf senses a new arrival coming soon to a pack near you.”
He arched a brow and swung a leg forward until he reached me. When he knelt down, he cradled my belly in his hands and planted a reverent kiss on it. “That’ll be the best visitor we’ve ever had.”
Austin continued rubbing my belly with his hands, something he liked to do late at night when he thought I was asleep. How could I sleep with a somersault champion in my belly all night? Sometimes Austin would scoot down and whisper so quietly that I couldn’t hear what he was saying. The breath of his words skated across my skin, but in the silence of the room, whatever secrets he told were between him and our child.
I never thought it was possible to fall deeper in love with a person over time until I met Austin Cole. The first time the baby kicked was when I was five months along. Austin had walked in on me lying shirtless on our bed, my hands on my stomach, smiling at the ceiling.
He crawled next to me and lifted his icy blues. “Do you feel anything yet?”
“A little.”
“What’s it feel like?”
I smiled and cupped his face in my hands. “Like the first time I told you I loved you. Butterflies.”
Those secret moments were mine to keep forever, and I couldn’t wait to tell our child about them.
Austin peered over his shoulder toward the road again, so I pinched his earlobe.
“Why don’t you go check it out?” I asked. “Have Reno go with you.”
“Yeah, I need to put on my shoes first. Denver didn’t mow the yard this week. Denver!” he shouted, rising to his feet.
Denver usually spent the afternoon with Maizy before heading to Howlers, and she would stay up at night writing articles for the online Breed news.
Lennon came outside, dragging his feet across the porch before taking a seat on the step.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him.
The sunlight made his hair seem like copper, when it was normally a dull russet. “Uncle Denver’s playing ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’ on repeat again.”
Ivy gave me a fixed stare. “What’s that mean?”
I leaned over, speaking quietly. “When Denver and Maizy want time alone—you know what I mean—he plays that song, and we all know to clear off the second floor.”
She released a short laugh and ran her fingers along her braid. “Some things never change.”
The glider began rocking again, and the wind teased us with a short gust.
Butterflies tickled my stomach, and it wasn’t the baby. I rubbed my belly, suddenly feeling the same anxious feeling Austin was talking about.
Austin reached over and put his hand on Lennon’s head, rumpling his hair. “Go back inside. Make sure all the doors and windows are locked.”
Without a word, Lennon obediently ran back inside. He’d make a great Packmaster someday because he understood the importance of following orders without complaints.
Before the door closed, Reno came out, his heavy boots knocking on the wood porch. I jumped when something clicked in his hand.