Page 393 of Bride of Choice

Celuk nodded and it was like everything in Rek relaxed. Turning to me, he gave me the most pitiful puppy dog look in existence. “My Jojomine sit with Rek on big seat?”

“If you can manage to get over there without passing out or tipping over like a falling tree onto me, then of course,” I mumbled, eyeing him. He looked about ready to drop where he stood. It worried the shit out of me, just how easily he tired.

Rek nodded, completely unoffended by my words, and carefully made his way over to the couch to turn, sit, then sink into it with a soft sigh.

I’d barely made it over there and his body was already going lax, eyes falling shut. Peeking to make sure I was beside him, he took my hand, urged me over, then settled our joined hands in his lap. Leaning against me, he buried his face in my hair as his free hand fell to my belly. “My Jo-mine make Rek so happy.” His voice was a soft, long sigh, like he was fighting to speak as he slipped into dreamland.

Literally moments later, a soft snore left him.

Jeh-kal hovered close by, eyeing Rek leaning against me, waiting for any sign from me that he was too heavy to swoop in and help me move him.

Celuk observed from the spot I’d left him, his lips tipping up as he watched his fellow mate-brother-husbands with something close to pride.

I held out until I found myself trying to support Rek’s full weight.

Celuk and Jeh-kal hurried over at my signal.

Celuk rumbled something at Jeh-kal, took me into his arms, and headed down the hall, towards his room.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

Celuk gave me a look but offered nothing else.

Content to wait and see because I trusted him, I leaned my head against his chest as he slipped inside his room and quietly closed the door.

Laying me down on the middle of the bed, he placed a kiss to my forehead, nuzzled the spot, then kissed my lips. Finally, he placed a kiss to the bump where our baby girl was growing, and placed a blanket over my lap.

Studying his every move, a slow smile tipped my lips as he left to retrieve my toast, water mug, and tablet.

“My Jo needs rest,” he whispered, opening my selection of movies to glance to me pointedly, waiting for me to choose.

“Why are we whispering?” I whispered back.

“Rek needs sleep,” he said simply.

He definitely did. I worried if he’d ever be back to his old, crazy, drive me up a wall self. Thinking about that, I pursed my lips. “Are you going to tell me what you’ve been doing differently that’s suddenly helping him, because the fella I came home to last night and the mobile male of this morning, the difference is crazy.” Thinking this over a bit more, I wondered aloud, “Do you think it would be good for the baby? Like, for me too, this magical whatever he’s been introduced to?”

A choking noise issued from somewhere down the hall.

Celuk cocked his head, eyeing me.

“What?” I mumbled around a bite of toast. “What, did I say something really dumb?” Nudging him gently, I sighed, feeling left out, but entreated, “Tell me.”

Celuk reached out and cupped one of my breasts. His thumb brushed over my nipple. “Jo help Rek,” he stated pointedly.

My gaze darted from his hand on my tit, ignoring the pleasurable sensation that produced, to the pointed look on his face.

“You- Oooooh.” My face flamed. Okay. Got it now. Getting over the momentary embarrassment quickly as his hand fell away and he wrapped an arm around me to snuggle me close to him, I murmured as we settled in, “We should do that again then, you know, for him. Soon.”

“Need be careful,” Celuk cautioned, though he purred like a madman. “Want keep baby in my Jo.” Kookypant’s face pulled into a grimace. “Not think. What if Celuk not careful ‘nough? Hurt Jo and baby girl?”

“You wouldn’t. You love us.” Leaning towards him, I pecked a kiss to his cheek that had his purr rumbling to life so loudly I wouldn’t be surprised if it woke Rek. Taking his hand in mine, I placed it over my baby bump, smiling when he got a little kick to the spot in return.

Looking unconvinced, Celuk smiled tightly at my words but his face lit up at that tiny little nudge from inside my belly. And I thought Rek was stubborn?

“You won’t hurt us,” I muttered adamantly, daring him to argue. Resting my head on his shoulder, I added, “If you think it somehow scared me, you need to ask yourself how I was reacting in the moment. Did I smell scared or worried? Kooky-poo, I fucking loved it, okay? It rocked my world.”

Walking my fingers up his chest, a small smile tipped my lips as he hit play on one of my favorites right as my fingers brushed across a taut little pinkish-blue nipple.

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