Page 76 of Wild Card

I’m so fucking grateful that I got stuck undercover with the Barretts. If I hadn’t, there’s no way I’d be here right now.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Lennox

“Ohmigod. We fucked through Christmas,” I say, planting my hands on my hips.

Rush snorts, bursting out laughing to the extent his wet, dirty blond hair bounces as he bends in half.

“I can’t even lie, it’s my favorite Christmas to date.” He shrugs, prowling closer. “Take that as you will.”

I laugh as he pulls me to his bare chest. I run my fingers over the tattoos lining it and tilt my head up toward his.

“Sorry about the disaster we woke up to,” I whisper as my cheeks heat.

I’m not sure how I forgot about the post-heat cramps, but waking up to a massacre wasn’t high on my list of Christmas wishes.

Rush was very tender as he carried us both to the shower, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get over the embarrassment.

“I’ve told you about fifty times,” he says, palming my ass. “It’s nothing to stress about. I’m actually kinda relieved. No babies for us this time around. I was a little worried Bear’s giant cock dislodged your IUD.”

My heart races.

I really should have had this conversation with Bear and Rush before we bonded. Thorne knows how I feel about kids, but I never had the chance to mention it to them.

“Are you really sold on kids at all?” I ask, trying to gently test out the subject. “I’m not ready for them anytime soon, and I don’t know if I ever will be.” Or I could just lay it all out there…

Rush’s head tilts. “We can see how it goes. I definitely don’t think a pack needs children to be fulfilled and happy, but if you change your mind one day…” He shrugs. “I could probably handle one or two.”

Bear surprises me as he wraps his arms around me from behind, running his hand over my pelvis. “I have no strong opinions on kids, either. Thorne and I stripped the nest mattress, and everything is in the laundry room to be washed. Once he’s done with his shower, we can do gifts.”

A very omega-sounding squeal escapes my lips. “I can’t wait, but I feel terrible. I don’t have anything for you guys.”

Thorne jogs into the room with wet hair and his sweats hanging low enough I can see the tops of his Valkyrie tattoos. “You’re the gift, kitten. Now, let’s do this whole Christmas thing.”

And we do.

Epilogue

Lennox

A Few Days Later

New Year’s Eve at Dry Dock is pure insanity, but I kinda love it. There are people everywhere, and I’m in my element.

Thorne sits on one of the corner bar stools, watching me as I work. Based on the bond, I’m pretty sure he’s daydreaming about dragging me down the hallway and kissing the hell out of me up against the wall.

It’s rather romantic to see his eyes follow me throughout the room. It gives Bear the opportunity to actually focus on running the business, which I think is the only reason Bear let me work on such a busy night.

I smile as Rush comes in, scanning the room. He spent most of the afternoon at the bed-and-breakfast, but he promised he’d stop by once he was done over there.

All it took was a failed trip to The Omega Exchange, and I stumbled right into my perfect pack.

“I’m sure they’re waiting on us,” I whisper against Rush’s lips as he pins me to the wall just inside Bear’s office.

“They’re fine,” he murmurs, kissing my cheek. “But I have something important to tell you.”

“Yeah?” I ask, my fingers wrapping in his shirt as I try to feel him out in the bond.

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