Page 64 of Three of a Kind

“No, but something similar happened the other night. Pregnant omegas crave alpha pheromones. I haven’t exactly been around many alphas lately, and every time I do get close, my system seems to spike into what feels like a mini heat.”

“I see,” he says calmly. “I can assure you that your daughter is safe. She ran in to check on you, but Bless scooped her up before she could wake you.” He turns me back toward the living room. “Why don’t we peek in and see how she’s doing? That will help you feel better, and then we can try to bring down your fever.”

A shiver runs along my spine as he gently pushes me toward the corner that opens up into the living room.

“This is for you, Miss Ma’am,” Libby says.

I converse with her on a daily basis, and it still takes me a moment to make out that’s exactly what she said.

Gunner places his hand on my middle, keeping me from stomping out into the living room. “See, even Nova was invited to the tea party.”

He’s right.

Someone carried Libby’s small plastic table and chairs out into the living room. Maverick sits on one chair, but he’s so tall, his knees are out at a wide angle so that he can reach the table.

Nova sits back on her haunches, but she leans forward, nosing the teacup like she’s checking if Libby gave her an actual treat.

“We need real tea.” Libby shoves herself out of her chair and walks over to grab Maverick’s hand. She proceeds to try to pull him from his chair. “Let’s get some.”

Maverick laughs, shaking his head. “I bet real tea would make a real mess. We should just use our imaginations. That way, Mommy doesn’t wake up to a disaster.”

“I will clean it up!” Libby says, frowning. “I will.”

My hand flies to my face as I try to cover my laugh.

I’m even more surprised to spot Stacia on the couch. She’s got her leg crossed over the other, and she smiles, watching Maverick and Libby.

Nova has her whole snout down in the teacup, and it looks like she’s searching for the treat she’s still convinced must be in there.

I wish I had my phone.

I’d take a picture.

“See?” Gunner whispers directly against my ear. “I told you she was fine. Now, let’s make sure you are too.”

My heart races as he drags me back toward my bedroom. Once we’re inside, he shuts the door quietly and clicks the lock.

I step back and bump the wall as Gunner twists to face me.

“You smell anxious but also sweet, like your pheromones are trying to entice my system into believing you’re in heat.” He licks his lips, and his hands come to rest on my hips. “My dads always told my brother and me that we would instinctively know how to care for an omega. That our system would sense it.” He moves a hand to cradle my cheek. “Tell me what you need.”

“I need my system to not betray me right now, so I can check on my kid and make a plan for the future.”

“Gorgeous, she’s fine. You saw it with your own eyes. Having more people to look out for her isn’t a bad thing,” he says, sounding very reasonable.

My entire body aches with a pain that radiates from my middle outward.

I gasp and clutch at my stomach as my skin prickles with heat. “That sucks.”

“I’m not going to touch you unless you tell me it’s okay,” Gunner says, tugging his shirt off with a tattooed hand at the back of his neck. He tosses it aside and focuses on my face once more. “I’m a firm believer that biological reactions don’t indicate consent.” He tilts his face until it’s only millimeters from mine. “It takes a lot to pique my interest, and yet, I wanted to follow you to the bathroom that night.” He slots his knee between mine as I stare up at him with my chest rising and falling rapidly. “Ached to brush my lips over yours and to scent your arousal in the air, but I didn’t. Mostly because I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else hearing your begging moans or catching those hints of your pheromones in the air.”

The dark stubble that lines his jaw, combined with the intense look of desire on his face, makes my knees weak.

“It was very out of character, but I still would have taken you home that night and done my best to convince you to never leave.” His lips tease so close to mine, but he still doesn’t make contact with my skin.

My shoulders push against the wall for support to keep me up as my knees wobble.

Why didn’t I put on underwear when I got dressed?

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