Page 16 of Beta's Virgin Bride

“Yeah,” I agreed. I planned for them to be my family from now on. “Did Taylor get Rebbie to one of the houses for the night?”

“I’m assuming so,” Simon answered. “He hasn’t checked in yet today. He was pretty worked up last night, though. He might be hitting the gym. I’ll make a point to check on him later this morning.”

“Keep me posted. I’ll have my phone on in case I’m needed.” I knew Bas would text or call if he needed anything, but I wasn’t expecting to hear from him any time soon.

“Cyan.”

I glanced over and got lost in a pair of big, chocolate-brown eyes that reminded me of Ivy’s. I could easily imagine my future daughter looking just like Jasmine.

“Gotta go,” I informed Simon and hung up, oblivious to whatever he was saying. If it was important, he’d text. Or call back.

She padded toward me on bare feet, still in her pajamas. “Morning. I didn’t know if you’d still be here this morning?”

I grinned, translating her statement to mean she’d expected her sister to kick me out. She glanced around.

“Where’s Ivy?”

“Your sister’s still sleeping. Want to make breakfast with me?”

She nodded. “Ivy loves pancakes and bacon. Do you know how to make pancakes?”

“I know how to cook all sorts of things,” I promised. “Pull a chair up to the counter while I look around and gather ingredients. We’ll make the best pancakes you’ve ever tasted.”

I lost myself in her giggles and conversation. She had a lot to say about Ivy, telling me her sister’s favorite foods, television shows, games, flowers and anything else she thought to share. I soaked up every moment of it. I’d never had siblings while growing up. Not any that counted anyway. I found myself enthralled with Jasmine. She had an infectious humor that dared me not to join her.

I was just setting plates on the table, while Jasmine poured glasses of orange juice, when Ivy appeared in the doorway. Our gazes locked. I wanted to cross to her, snatch her up in my arms and kiss her until she was ready for an encore of last night. The guarded look in her eyes held me back. She appeared ready to flee at one wrong move on my part. It appeared I had more hurdles to overcome before my mate accepted me.

“Hungry?” I asked and enjoyed the way her gaze immediately fell to my groin. I watched color suffuse her cheeks and neck and knew she was recalling all we’d done last night. We’d do it all again as soon as we had the time.

“We made pancakes and bacon,” Jasmine gushed, carrying two cups of juice from the counter to the table.

“My favorite,” Ivy enthused, smiling at her sister. Then she turned back to me. “It smells great.”

There wasn’t much talking as we all took seats and dug in.

“You really can cook,” Jasmine gushed around a mouthful of pancakes.

“Thanks, I had a pretty good helper.” I winked at her and grinned when she pealed off into more giggles.

“What do you ladies have planned for today?” I asked, picking up another piece of bacon.

“Nothing exciting,” Ivy said and offered nothing more.

“I can’t imagine anything with the two of you being unexciting,” I countered.

More giggles from my favorite eight-year-old.

“Today’s shopping day,” Jasmine offered. “Groceries, fresh flowers, and chocolate.”

“Sounds pretty exciting to me. Mind if I tag along?”

“Jasmine, why don’t you go brush your teeth and get dressed while I clear the table,” Ivy told her sister, instead of answering. It didn’t bode well for me that she was waiting for Jasmine to leave the room. I had an ally in her younger sister, and Ivy knew it.

Jasmine was up and going like a shot, yelling something about the good chocolate this time. I rose as soon as she was gone, and when Ivy stood, too, I closed in, pulling her to me and taking her mouth. She tasted like syrup and bacon and sheer carnal bliss. She tasted like sex, or maybe, that was just my mind conjuring what I craved. She curled into me, arms winding around my neck as she pressed against me.

“I thought you’d left,” she murmured when we finally broke the kiss.

“No such luck, gorgeous. In fact, I thought we could spend the week together. Just the three of us. We don’t have to go anywhere. We can stay here. Have some downtime together. Let Jasmine get comfortable having me around.”

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