Swallowing His Pride

by Serena Pettus

  Lynn shook her head at Liam but surprised Sam when she answered anyway. “He did, but I took care of it.”

  His eyes widened, and no doubt, his feline curiosity got the best of him. “How did you do that?”

  Lynn stopped, turned and looked him in the eye, her face utterly devoid of any emotion. “I ran him over with my car. Twice. He hurt me, so I hurt him worse.”

  “Well, all right then.”

  “Let’s get some food fixed up,” Dylan cut in. “I don’t know about Liam, but I worked up an appetite outside.”

  “Oh, the yard! I totally forgot. Let me get my purse, and I’ll write you a check, Liam.” Samantha moved to go back into the living room when Dylan stopped her.

  “There’s no charge. Ever. Now, let’s get you fed.”

  That hardly seemed fair to Liam. After all, she’d called him, and he’d already taken time away from other potential clients to come do her yard. “But I hired him, and Liam likely lost some business being stuck here.”

  “We both own the company, sweetheart, and trust me, we aren’t hurting for money.” Dylan ushered her to the kitchen table and Liam slid his cell from his pocket. “Now, I don’t think anyone is really in the mood to cook, so how about we order in?”

  “That sounds fine by me,” Lynn replied as she plunked down in a kitchen chair. “God knows, I can’t cook to save my life.”

  “I don’t think you need to handle anything sharp anyway,” Liam teased. “At least, not until I head out.”

  Samantha couldn’t help but giggle at the devious smirk Lynn sent his way. The girl was just too much, and Liam was good for her. She could see them becoming close friends. Having a guy as a buddy would do wonders for Lynn since she tended to avoid men for the most part.

  Dylan turned back to Sam and asked, “So, anything sound good? Pizza, Chinese, wings, you name it.”

  “Well, I could go for some pot stickers.” Her mouth watered just thinking about it. Could she be having cravings already?

  Liam stepped from the kitchen and placed an order before heading out to pick it up. Since they were a ways from town, he would probably get there right when it was ready to go.

  Samantha took the opportunity to pick Dylan’s brain some more about shifters, and what she could expect with her pregnancy. He was forthcoming with any information she asked for, and Sam couldn’t help but soften even more toward him.

  It wasn’t until they’d all eaten and Liam was saying his goodbyes that a shiver of unease snaked up Samantha’s spine. “You don’t think any of the other shifters will come around like Jag did, do you?”

  Dylan had explained about the group that disliked humans, though she was pretty sure the word “dislike” was probably sugarcoating it a bit. The thought of them coming up to the house was a bit frightening, and with them being so strong and fast, she would be no match for them.

  “I’ll be on guard, so you can rest easy. Jag will take over tomorrow while I’m at the construction site for the day.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her nose, his lips nearly touching hers as he spoke. “I’ll always make sure you’re protected. You’re the most precious thing that has ever come into my life, Samantha, and I wouldn’t survive losing you.”

  “Stay with me.” The words flew right past her lips before she could think better of it, but in truth, she would feel even safer with him by her side.

  “Gladly.” His smile still had the power to weaken her knees, and when he kissed her softly, she melted into his embrace.

  “Well, on that note, I’ll be heading out, too,” Lynn announced as she grabbed her purse. “You call me tomorrow if you need anything, okay? I’m going to set up an appointment for your ultrasound, and I’ll let you know the date when I come by after work.”

  “Thank you.” Sam knew she had the best friend in the world. She also suspected Lynn was every bit as curious about these men as she was, maybe even more so where this Jag character was concerned. She hadn’t missed the way Lynn’s eyes softened when she spoke about him.

  Once everyone left, both she and Dylan made sure all the leftovers were put away and the house was locked up tight. He’d shown her the work they’d done outside that day, and the finished product was beautiful. She had her little pond with the waterfall giving off the calming sound of trickling water. It would do wonders for helping her relax in the evenings as she came out to watch the fireflies dance in the yard.

  “Is it all right if I grab a quick shower? I’m a little sweaty from the work outside today.”

  “Sure.” Samantha showed him where the towels were and stepped out as he began to disrobe.

  Though they’d been intimate with each other, it had been only been once, and over a month ago, too. Her body would soon be going through some rather drastic changes, and Sam found herself wondering how he’d respond to the extra curves that would come with them. Her breasts would become larger, but most men would enjoy that. She was more concerned about how he would view her once her belly began to bulge. What if she developed stretch marks?

  Standing before the full-length mirror in her room, she lifted the nightshirt she’d just donned and examined her tummy. It was still relatively flat, with just the slightest bump showing. The sight of that made her heart swell. She was going to be a mommy! The thought of having a baby growing inside her filled her with a sense of wonder. Every life was a gift, and being able to nurture the tiny life force within her body, having the role of a guardian of such a miracle was an immense responsibility and one she would cherish.

  She was so focused on her thoughts, Samantha never heard Dylan come in, but when his arms came around her and rested over her belly, she smiled.

  “I can sense our child already,” he whispered. “It’s amazing.”

  “You can sense the baby? How?”

  “Our kind can detect one another. I guess I didn’t pick up on it before because of Jag and Liam being near. The fact that he or she is still so small makes them pretty faint on my radar. Once you’re further along, it will become more noticeable, and you’ll need to be careful whenever you are out.”

  A yawn escaped her, and she rubbed her eyes. “Sorry. It’s been such a crazy day I’m just exhausted.”

  Dylan’s expression softened even more as he led her to the bed. “I’m not surprised. You’ll need a lot of rest while you’re pregnant. The demands on your body will be great while the baby grows. If it’s all right with you, I’d like for you to allow me to take care of you. Getting a job right now would be out of the question because nobody would understand why your pregnancy is progressing so quickly.”

  Damn, she hadn’t even thought of that. “I hate to be a burden on you, Dylan. Maybe, I can find something where I work from home?” Did those types of jobs even exist?

  She lay down, and her soft bed was so divine she allowed her eyes to drift closed on a sigh.

  “Sleep tight, sweetheart.” Dylan kissed her forehead before retreating.

  “Will you lay with me?”

  He paused and looked back as if he were unsure of her meaning.

  “I’ve missed you. Would you hold me for a while?”

  “I’ll hold you all night if you’ll let me,” he replied.

  She watched him move to the other side of the bed and shed his T-shirt, his chiseled torso flexing with every little shift as he worked his jeans down his muscled thighs. Holy crap, her hormones were raging. She’d have to talk to Lynn about that soon, otherwise she might embarrass herself.

  He slid in next to her, and Samantha moved closer to his side as he tucked her under his arm, her head on his chest. He was so warm, his body strong and she wrapped her arm around his waist while his were around her shoulders, his hand rubbing her back in slow circles. The steady beat of his heart beneath her ear was soothing and soon lulled her into a deep and dreamless sleep.

  Chapter Seven

  Fourteen Weeks Later…

  “I still can’t get a clear shot of the sex,” Lynn griped as she swept
the ultrasound across Samantha’s swollen tummy. “The little booger just doesn’t want us to know.”

  Smiling at her friend’s disgruntled remark, Sam suggested, “Perhaps she’s just being a lady and keeping her legs shut.” As she expected, Lynn laughed and threw a towel at her, so she could clean off all the goop. “Besides being incredibly stubborn, is there anything else that seems to be amiss?”

  “Not a thing. He or she appears to be perfectly healthy, despite the rapid development. Are you still feeling good? No aches or pains?”

  That was par for the course. Lynn was forever questioning her at each appointment and even at home, trying to ensure that Samantha’s body was adjusting to the added stress of carrying Dylan’s child. “So far, so good. All I have is the typical lower back pain, but that goes hand-in-hand with the gigantic stomach I’m sporting.”

  Lynn nodded. “Just be sure to let me know if it gets worse at any time, because back pain can also be a sign of labor in some women. You are only about two weeks out, so we need to be on the lookout for anything. I want you resting, missy,” she scolded as she retrieved the pictures from the ultrasound. “Well, I suppose it was a good thing the baby decided not to cooperate since Dylan couldn’t be here.”

  “He was really frustrated this morning, but Jag told me Dylan is working on some sort of surprise that’s running on a deadline, so he had to miss this appointment.” Samantha picked up her phone and turned it to Lynn. “He’s been messaging me non-stop though, wanting a play-by-play of the ultrasound.”

  “And here I thought you were transcribing your appointment,” Lynn teased. “I’m glad you found Dylan. He’s good for you, Sam. I can see you’re really happy, and you deserve it.”

  “So do you, Lynn, and you’ll find a man who will treat you the same way Dylan treats me,” Sam promised. She had some inside information Lynn wasn’t privy to. “I have no doubt you’ll be able to weed out all the ones who are unworthy. Just try to do it in a way that won’t require bail money.”

  “It was one time! Okay, maybe it could have been twice, but once they saw all the cuts and bruises Bumper Boy left on me, they decided to call my hit-and-run self-defense.”

  “And you’re lucky. He could have killed you, Lynn, but at least, the guy from the bar dropped the charges. You know the only reason he did was because his handprint was still on your ass, but had it not been, he could have won and you would have spent some time behind bars. Although I’ll admit, you had one hell of a lawyer. How anyone can turn a smack on the ass into an assault worthy of a barstool to the face is beyond me.”

  “Yeah, she was great.” Sighing, Lynn stood and headed for the door. “Go ahead and get changed. Jag is probably getting pretty anxious in the lobby with all those pregnant women surrounding him.”

  “I should take pity on him, but now, I plan to drag him to the store. I need a few things before we head back to the house. I feel like fixing tacos tonight. Will you be coming out?”

  “For tacos? You bet your ass! Besides, you’re finally making them spicy enough for me now that little baby North is on board. And while I’m on that, are you guys ever going to decide on a name for the kid?”

  “We’re working on it. Of course, it would help if we knew if we needed a name for a boy or a girl. Now, we have to come up with one of each, so it’s double the work,” Sam pouted, sticking out her lip for effect.

  Lynn tried to hide her smile but failed. “Nope, you’ll get no sympathy from me. Now go before poor Jag starts pacing the floors. You remember how that unnerved the mothers last time. Besides, there are too many trying to hold their pee out there for him to be making anyone nervous.”

  “Oh, please. The man is hot, and they all know it, so the only wet panties coming back here probably won’t be from a lack of bladder control.” Sam smirked as Lynn shut the door on a giggle.

  Once she was fairly certain all of the goo was wiped off, Samantha righted her clothing then left to rescue her bodyguard from the waiting room. Being the best friend of the doctor sure had its perks. After all, getting into the office before it even opened didn’t happen any other way.

  They’d decided to bring her in that way, since her medical record was one that Lynn had to keep locked away in her office. If anyone were to read it, not only would there be questions, but Lynn would be caught up in trouble, too. Nobody wanted that, so most of Sam’s visits happened at home, with the exception of the ultrasounds.

  When she entered the lobby, Jag jumped from his chair as if his butt had a spring in it.

  Guess he’s ready to go, Sam thought with an inner chuckle. She waited until they were out of the building before announcing her need for a grocery store stop on him. As with many males, there was grumbling involved, but he grudgingly agreed.

  She managed to gather up all of the ingredients except the meat. As she decided whether to use chicken or beef, Jag moved closer, his body actually rubbing up against hers. “Jag, I so didn’t take you for a snuggler,” she joked, nudging him with her elbow.

  “You need to hurry. There are others here.”

  Well, that didn’t sound ominous at all. “What do you mean? More shifters?”

  “Yes, but ones I don’t recognize. It’s best if they don’t see you,” he replied, his eyes scanning the aisles.

  “It’s not like I can really hide behind you. My stomach makes that impossible.”

  “I’m hoping that by my being close to you, my scent will overpower that of the baby,” he explained. “If you’re finished, I’d like to get you home where I know you’ll be safe. Not only does your baby carry the scent of a shifter, but you carry that of the Prime. Outsiders who have an issue with our Prime would love to get their hands on his mate if they thought it would give them any leverage against him.”

  A shiver of unease shook her, and Samantha grabbed two packs of hamburger meat before dumping them in the buggy and allowing Jag to escort her to the checkout line. “So, do you see anyone? I mean, are they nearby?”

  He looked down at her, and the pale blue of his eyes seemed to intensify briefly before going back to normal. “They can hear you. Our hearing is very keen, but in answer to your question, yes.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Smile as if I am telling you something amusing. I want it to appear as though I’m your male. It will give us a better chance of making it out without a confrontation.”

  Samantha did as he said, even going so far as to give him a playful smack on his chest. They managed to pay for their things and get to the car, but just as Jag was climbing in, someone called out. She watched as he calmly placed the keys on the driver’s seat, pressed the lock button on the door and closed her inside.

  She would have to be the one to let anyone into the vehicle, but if things went south, she didn’t think there was any way she’d get her belly behind the wheel if needed. Luckily, the two men spoke for just a few minutes, and Jag soon came back over.

  She let him in and watched as he let out a relieved sigh when he started up the truck. “They’re drifters. He claims they’re looking to join a new Pride so I pointed them in the direction of our land. Dylan and Liam will decide whether or not they’re allowed to join.”

  “So you don’t think they’re some of the ones who don’t like humans?” Dylan had explained the dangers to her. Because she couldn’t readily identify a shifter on sight, it was imperative Dylan, Liam or Jag be with her anytime she needed to leave her home.

  “There’s no way to tell without asking, and with you here, I wasn’t willing to risk drawing any attention your way. As it was, he didn’t even ask about you, so we got lucky.”

  Jag might consider them lucky, but Samantha still had a niggling feeling something wasn’t right.

  * * * *

  Later that evening, Dylan and Liam arrived just as Samantha put the finishing touches on dinner. Jag inquired after the men from town, but despite the forewarning provided, nobody had arrived on Pride land seeking to relocate. That left all three men slightly on e
dge, and as far as Dylan was concerned, Samantha didn’t need the added stress. He could hardly blame her possible exposure to danger on her insistence on having tacos for dinner, either. After all, it wasn’t often when a craving hit her. Dylan simply couldn’t refuse her anything. He loved her too much to ever do so.

  “There’s always the chance they’ll come by tomorrow. Maybe, they decided to check out the town and stuff first. I know I’d like to take a look around any area I was considering relocating to,” Liam suggested.

  Dylan hoped it was as simple as that, but his gut said otherwise. His instincts were screaming at him to beware, but he and Liam had combed Samantha’s property before coming in and found no sign of anyone other than themselves and Jag. Having already discussed the evening’s guard duties with Liam, he trusted his brother to fill in Jag on the fact they would both be keeping a watch on the house that evening.

  “If that’s all it is, I’m fine with it. Tonight though, I plan on pampering my mate, especially after she went to the trouble of fixing this incredible smelling meal,” Dylan proclaimed as he pulled Samantha’s back against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her middle, he spoke low to their child. “Hello in there. Did you give your auntie Lynn a hard time today?”

  Samantha giggled, and his lion purred at the happy sound. Her hair smelled of strawberries while her nape held the unique scent that marked her as his. Dylan took a moment to breath it in deep, allowing the addictive fragrance to soothe his inner cat.

  “You know it!” She moved to the counter by the phone and pulled some small, black-and-white pictures from her purse. “Once again, either we have a very modest daughter or a son who is enjoying being difficult. Hmm, maybe he just takes after his uncle Liam?”