Page 73 of Not Ready

My senses become aware of Vale’s scent and the warmth of her skin against mine before I’m fully awake. Okay, so my cock clearly woke up before I did.

I grunt, my hand tightening on Vale’s bare back. My head tilts to look at her. It’s then I notice she’s rubbing her hand over my heart, but she stops when she realizes I’m awake.

“Sorry,” she whispers. “You were unsettled, and it made me anxious. Are you okay? Did you have a bad dream?”

Flashes of all the shit I’d like to forget play through my mind again. Logically, I know there are teams like Andrew’s all over the world, doing what they do, but it still feels like a failure.

My heart feels extra raw because I can fully comprehend how close Vale came to that reality.

“I’m good, sweetheart.” I run my hand down her bare spine. I’m in just a pair of boxer briefs, since my overnight bag didn’t have pajamas or sweats. It’s strangely comforting breathing in her soothing, sweet scent in combination with her body pressing against mine. “Get some rest.”

“You too.” She yawns and her eyes close.

She and Mercy started out on the bed farthest from the door. I stayed close to the edge by them, but now, she’s in the middle of the bed closest to the door.

Motherfucker.

I sigh, carefully climbing over her. Her eyes pop open as I’m hovering over her. My dick is still hard, and the fabric of my boxer briefs isn’t doing shit to keep it from pressing against her thigh. I give her forehead a quick kiss and move to the side by the door. It puts me behind her as I roll in her direction. Planting a hand on her stomach, I scoot until her ass is lined up with my pelvis. Her mane of hair is all in my face, but I ignore it and pray for sleep.

I’m just teetering on the line of consciousness when her skin starts to bounce against my hand. It’s so unexpected that it takes me a while to realize it’s the baby.

Aurora.

My hand slides around, trying to follow the movement.

That’s really fucking weird.

Kinda cool.

Okay, it’s crazy.

Vale is asleep, but the baby is obviously awake.

Damn, that really is wild.

I snuggle closer to her back and do everything in my power to fall asleep.

She came to check on me to make sure I’m okay.

My head shakes.

She really is too damn sweet for her own good.

And I’m going to obliterate anyone who tries to take advantage of her inner light.

Mercy is awake and fully dressed the next morning by the time I pry myself out of bed. Fuck me, I somehow smell like a combination of his cum and Vale’s pussy.

I need a fucking shower.

This is why I have doubts if I’ll ever fit in with a pack. I’m not great at sharing, and smelling his scent all over her only presses my impulses to want to cover it up with mine.

I grunt, dropping my feet to the floor and scratching my chest. The man can afford a suite, so I’m a little confused how we ended up in a space with exactly one room, outside of the bathroom, but bringing that up would make me sound spoiled.

“I’ve got to fill you in on everything we found yesterday,” I say as quietly as possible.

Mercer nods, looking at the limited options.

“I need a shower. Hopefully, the water will be enough of a background noise.” I head off, and he comes in shortly after the shower curtain closes.

---