Page 89 of Not Ready

All thought seems to bleed from my mind as Holt spins around. Holy shit, I am a big fan of the way his tattoos flex and move on his lower biceps and forearms as he weaves between the two advancing guys.

“Is there any way he’s going to get hurt because of this?” I ask, grimacing as I rear back at the sound of Holt’s fist connecting with the other guy’s jaw. Is this why the medic is hanging around?

“Hardly,” Ramirez chuckles.

It takes ages for the two men to stop getting up when Holt puts them on the ground. He bends over, growling something too low for me to hear.

“Nice to meet you, Vale. It’s my turn to take over. I’ve got to patch them up,” Ramirez says, finally standing. Oh, so he was here for them, not Holt. That’s a relief.

Holt climbs between the ropes and jumps down. His curls are stuck to his forehead with sweat. The way his shirt clings to his lithe muscles has me licking my lips like a total creeper. My impulses seem to know all those delicious pheromones are within reach.

He leans down, scooping me out of the chair with very little effort.

I squeak. “You’ve got to be exhausted after all that. I can walk.”

“I know, but I like carrying you.” He heads down a hallway and shoves open a door. “It’s Mercy’s office.”

“Oh,” I whisper, still a little dumbstruck by his salty scent that seems to be everywhere.

He takes a seat on the leather sofa on one wall and carefully brings me to sit on his lap. My fingers dig into his neck as I stare up into his bluish-gray eyes. He smirks, stretching back a little. It makes my bottom grind right over his lap.

“We all know you like us best when we’re extra ripe, right after a workout. Go ahead and get all up in there, so you can drink down my pheromones,” he says, pulling my face to his neck. A shiver runs down my spine at his words. Damn, does he always have to make everything sound so sexual? My panties are already more than a little moist.

It’s probably completely inappropriate, but seeing him defending himself against two attackers was surprisingly hot.

The next few days are pretty peaceful.

Dr. Garza’s office calls to schedule my next appointment, since they finally received my medical records. All three of the guys come with me, but Holt still hasn’t specifically asked me if he can court me. He’s attentive and hangs out with us more as a group, so I try not to let it bother me that I technically don’t know where we stand.

During the appointment, I meet Dr. Garza’s partner. They specifically set the appointment up with her, in case she’s on call when I deliver. It’s nice getting to meet both doctors as a precaution.

The appointment falls just a few days before I turn thirty-six weeks, so from here on out, my appointments will be weekly.

My excitement is only matched by my concern about how things will change once Aurora is in the mix.

Bishop is fully on board, and it’s easy to trust him. I’m a little worried Mercy has never been around babies or kids. Saying you’re okay with helping out is totally different than actually being around a crying baby.

I don’t even really let myself think too much about Holt. Worrying won’t change anything, and I’m trying to keep my stress to a minimum. Which is practically impossible when I gained three pounds at my last doctor’s appointment.

I feel swollen and unattractive.

My impulses want to hunker down and nest, but Mercy’s family will be here Monday.

I can’t obsess about that yet, either. There’s so much other stuff going on. We’ve finally got our appointment to meet with the judge.

Maybe a counselor.

I have no idea, but it’s to finalize our pack paperwork, and my nerves are shot.

The dress I’m currently trapped in fit just fine when I tried it on with Mercy, but it’s tight now.

I can’t reach the zipper.

I don’t know if I should just give up and put on something from my old wardrobe, but I don’t have anything this fancy. And I don’t want to embarrass them or myself. Plopping down on the edge of the bed, my boobs smack against my chin with force.

A weird shooting pain has me wiggling my hips, because something in the vicinity of my cervix throbs.

I’m so over being pregnant.

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