Page 73 of Three of a Kind

She’s building a baby one cell at a time, and my instincts are fascinated.

Brooklyn sways forward in her dress and leggings, and I watch, transfixed.

Damn, I bet I look like a total fucking creep.

The shy smile that tugs at her lips gives me hope. She moves to sit at my side, but my hand wraps in hers, giving her a tug.

“If you’re comfortable”—I clear my throat—“I’d like you right in my lap.”

“Are you sure I’m not too heavy?” Her long, dark hair falls around her shoulders as her hazel eyes sparkle.

“You know, with a couple of perfectly placed throw pillows, I could toss your ass over my knee for the spanking you’re working on.” I smirk, pulling her closer.

She climbs right onto my lap like a sweet omega.

I grew up watching my family pack be disgustingly affectionate, but if nothing else, it convinced me that love exists. We aren’t there, but I’ve pined over this woman for months.

It’s hard not to go the route Gunner did and lock her ass down before she can get away. There’s plenty of time to get to know each other once we’re bonded.

Hell, it might seem weird to betas, but alphas and omegas end up with claiming bites before names are exchanged.

I’m pretty sure my instincts are trying to rationalize me right into bad behavior.

Brooklyn holds herself up on her knees as her head tilts.

My forearm rests in the indent above her ass, and I give her a little shove. “I could cuddle Gunner in my lap and not even notice. Sit on me.”

She snorts, lowering herself to rest on my thighs. It puts her pussy directly over my cock, but I ignore it.

I figure only one of us gets to rush things. So, that means it’s my turn to be the gentleman for a change.

“Thank you for saving me today.” Her lips push together as her head shakes. “More than that, thank you for carrying Liberty. If she’d been in the stroller…”

My stomach drops.

She’s right.

It would have been disastrous.

I’ve spent a lot of time this afternoon replaying our exchange with Avan. The man didn’t even ask to hold his daughter. Sure, it could be easily explained away by him not wanting to wake her, but even that is a cheap excuse.

“Just thank you,” she says, burying her face in my throat. She sniffles, and it makes my chest tight. “I had more time to really think about it, and it clicked how close it was.”

She has so much stress.

All I want to do is to help alleviate it.

In a few months, she’s going to be a mom for the second time.

Brooklyn deserves to rest and enjoy all the time with Libby that she can before that huge life change.

“No thanks necessary,” I assure her, palming the back of her head. “What’s the bond like?”

Her warm breath fans over my throat as she hums. “Incredible, but strange. I still have no idea how it works. I could be projecting all my thoughts and feelings at Gunner.” She shrugs. “It’s amazing. Even though he’s not close by, I can still feel him—like I know he’s alive and fine.”

“That does sound unreal,” I murmur, nuzzling my cheek to the top of her head.

She runs her fingers through my beard as her nose cuddles to my skin on the opposite side of my neck.

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