by Honor James
“There will be many more, Luhpynes are naturally pack animals. The more kids we have the happier we will be, even Ansell and his no-diaper policy will be right there with us the entire way. Besides, it’ll be interesting to see just how many variations you have on your pregnancies. I see big money in our futures,” he teased with a wink.
That had her laughing and she shook her head. “And if I have a pregnancy where I don’t want sex, at all?” she asked with a laugh. “That would seriously suck for you boys now wouldn’t it? If I found that I didn’t want to have sex at all.” Yeah right. She couldn’t see herself not wanting Ansell and Zhubin, ever.
He shot her a look and grinned, giving a lazy shrug. “I somehow doubt that would happen but if it did, we would deal. It’s only a few months and just think of how well-rested we’d all be by the end of that pregnancy.”
“Good point,” she said with a grin. “All that I know is that if that happens, I will be a cranky bitch by the end of the pregnancy so let’s hope and pray that never happens.” Because to be honest, she was a very sexual being and they all damn well knew it.
Bantering back and forth some more, they got through the meal quickly. When they were done, Zhubin cleaned up and grabbed them both some water. After that they headed back up to the waiting room they’d been assigned to. Settling in the seats again, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kept her tucked close to his side.
Chapter Twenty-One
A month later…
She slapped his hand again as he started to itch at the wounds on his shoulder. “I’m telling you, Ansell, you touch it again and I’m damn well going to beat you black and blue.” Lacey pushed Ansell back into the pillows of their bed and gave him the eye, and all but dared him to move. “I mean it. You might be home now and all that fun stuff but you are now under my domain and that means you do what I darn tootin’ well say or else I’m going to be very cross with you mister,” she grumbled.
Tipping his head slightly he squinted up at her. “I am already black and blue, woman, so really, I doubt I’ll notice. Second, I’m drugged up out of my gourd, bring it babe.”
“Someone is cranky on drugs, good to note,” Zhubin commented from the door. He grinned at her when she spun and moved to hug him close. “Hello, little darling. How’s it going keeping cranky pants in line?” he asked, pressing a kiss to her lips.
“It’s going but I don’t know who is crankier, me or him.” She hugged Zhubin close and closed her eyes. “Your mom is supposed to come by today to check on Ansell, and your dads are coming as well. I figured we would order dinner in?” Because right now, Lacey couldn’t seem to cook to save her ass. She tried, gods only knew she did, but she was burning even water at this stage in her pregnancy.
“Sounds good and yeah, I remember Mom saying something to that effect. She also offered to stay over to lend you a hand tomorrow with Grumbly there so you could have a bit of extra rest.” Dropping a kiss to her lips he drew back a bit and then passed her the present he had in his hand. It was gaily wrapped with a bright bow on the top, about the size of his fist.
She grinned and took the gift. “You brought me prezzies?” She settled on the bed at Ansell’s side and smiled. “And I would love to have your mum’s company. Especially since I seem to just drop right off to sleep if I get too comfy, too warm, too full, well you get the picture.” She looked at the gift and then him. “What’s this?” She toyed with the wrappings of the gift instead of opening it.
Zhubin settled on the bed and shrugged, grinning. “It is a present, for you,” he told her with a chuckle. “You’ll have to open it to see just what it is, won’t you?” Laughing softly, he leaned in and said something to Ansell very softly, too soft for her to hear. But Ansell grinned and laughed before groaning, pressing a hand to his shoulder.
“Oh you are bad. Both of you, so bad,” she teased her men, mostly because she could. She slowly unwrapped the gift, baring the box and then smiling. “You had someone else wrap this didn’t you?” While Zhubin might be amazing at most things, giftwrapping was not his forte, at all.
“Uh, yeah.” He nodded. “Give me a weapon and I’ll strip it and reassemble it better than new. But a bunch of super-thin paper that has to mold to the shape of something else, not in this lifetime. I had one of the assistants at the office wrap it up for me.”
“Well its beautif…” Her voice trailed off as she opened the top of the box. Inside she saw a small teddy bear, a little handcrafted bear that you could tell was obviously created with love, time and care. Lifting it from the box she looked to Zhubin and had tears in her eyes. “Our baby’s first teddy bear,” she whispered softly. “I love it.”
“The first of many, I’m very sure.” He grinned at her. Leaning over he pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’m glad you like it though, I was a little worried about getting it done up. So, what are the grand plans for this evening?”
“I love it,” Lacey whispered to him and then threw herself into his arms. She hugged him tightly, her cheek pressed into the curve of his neck and breathed him in. “Thank you. So much.” She knew that it was such a small thing, but it meant the world to her because it was their child’s first possession. Even though their child wasn’t there, it had its first gift that was just for their son. She loved it.
His hands adjusted her in his lap and he let out a relieved breath as Ansell snickered. “You are very welcome and I’m glad you love it.” Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he squeezed her gently and held her as she hung onto him.
She looked at Ansell and smiled. “Look, Junior has his very first gift.” She hesitated and then frowned. “It will survive a Luhpyne baby, right?” She had no idea what to expect, but from what Gennetta had told her they loved to chew. Everything. Anything. And claw. Oh boy, she was so over her head!
“This, maybe not right away. I’d wait until he’s a little older,” he said softly with a grin. “We’ve already ordered a lot of toys and items that he’ll be able to get his mitts on early in his life. Things he can chew on and try to shred without there actually being any damage to the toys.”
“I kinda figured that you guys would know just what to do for the little guy. I just really hope that he doesn’t see his mommy as a chew toy,” she grumbled and rubbed her belly. “He’s certainly active.” She had the kicking under her hand to prove it. “Anyone wanna feel?”
“Oh, I can feel it,” Zhubin said with a laugh. “He’s trying to kick in my ribs from what it feels like.” He grinned down at her. “Wiggle over closer to Ansell though, and let him get a feel of our little scrapper.”
She did just that. Moving closer to Ansell she wrapped her arm around his middle and hugged him with her head on his shoulder. “See, he’s gonna be a bruiser when he grows up.” She felt the child kicking and rolling and giggled because part of it actually tickled.
“He’ll be as big as his daddy, at least.” Ansell grinned at her. Pressing a kiss to her hair he gave her a one-arm squeeze. He chuckled after a particularly hard kick to his side. “He’s definitely got some major power behind those kicks of his.”
“You’re telling me. Try sleeping with this kid constantly kicking. Why do you think I take so many catnaps? It’s because I sleep when he does.” Which was sad, but true. Already she was adjusting to be able to ensure that she slept with her child so that she would be there for him when he was awake.
“Well, if it works for you then that’s all that matters,” he said. Hugging her closer, he chuckled again and shook his head. “That is bloody amazing,” he murmured. A moment later he rested his cheek to her hair and just held her as Junior kicked out at him.
“It is, isn’t it? To know that he’s doing so well.” Lacey felt the heat of Zhubin at her back, Ansell at her front and suddenly felt her exhaustion weighing on her. She yawned and rubbed her cheek to Ansell’s chest and closed her eyes. Even with her son kicking her she was sound asleep in a matter of moments.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in the mid-seventies, Honor has always had a love for the written word. Whether she is reading a book from another author or writing a story of her own, she is always letting her mind expand and delve into possibilities. It all started off as scribbles for her, then a phase of poetry before she found her true calling in the erotic paranormal genre, where her imagination is the only limit.
Since beginning her journey as a published author in 2011, Honor says she has learned a great deal about herself and writing. She believes that it’s a never-ending journey, the mind always wanting to learn and to grow. With that comes a better skill and smoothness to her writing she’s discovered and begun to enjoy more with each story she creates.
Thankfully, as she puts it, she has a job that gives her plenty of opportunity to write whatever comes to mind with very few interruptions. Her biggest supporters are, as always, her family. Her two children and her husband are continuously providing her with laughter and joy, making the time she takes to write a little bit easier. Without them and their support she knows she wouldn’t be half the author she is today.
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