Page 22 of Simon's Runaway Mate

“Then we better make the most of this time.” Leslie motioned everyone to follow her as she headed toward the back of the house and the kitchen. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want to eat so I might have gone a bit overboard.”

Dad snorted, and Leslie swatted at him.

“Hush, Cain. I thought we’d talk while we ate. Then maybe I could persuade Simon into going on a run with me. It’s been a while since Hannibal was here long enough for us to go out, and Cain doesn’t like for me to go by myself.”

“I’d enjoy that,” Simon agreed.

I had a feeling it was more than Simon going out with Leslie. It was giving my dad and I some time alone to talk. My chance to ask him anything and everything I needed to know about being the human mate of a wolf shifter. Maybe, he would share things I hadn’t even thought of asking yet.

“In the meantime,” Simon continued as we sat at the family dining table off the kitchen. “Why don’t you tell me all the crazy stories of Cecilia while she was growing up?”

I shook my head. “No, no, and no. No stories and absolutely no photos.”

“Now, that’s just cruel, mate.” Simon gave me a pouty look that had me laughing. It was far too easy to imagine a little boy with that same expression. He’d have me wrapped around his finger every time he looked at me. Which made me wonder. I dropped my hand to cup my stomach. Simon had said I wasn’t ovulating, so I knew I couldn’t be pregnant yet. Still. The thought took root in my mind.

“You’ll know first when I get pregnant. You’ll be the one to tell me instead of me getting to tell you. I’m not sure how I feel about that, Simon. It seems unfair.” I paused as my mind churned. “We’re not using anything to prevent pregnancy, and at the rate we’re going at it, I’ll be pregnant as soon as I ovulate. Am I able to carry a shifter baby? Like, do I need to do anything special?”

My dad cleared his throat. Simon closed his eyes and shook his head. Leslie laughed. Then what I’d shared aloud hit me, and I felt my face heating up.

“I thought you weren’t comfortable discussing our sex life with your dad?” Simon prompted, and I realized he wasn’t embarrassed. He’d been trying to keep from laughing at me.

“Well, shit!”

“Cecilia Rose!” Dad admonished.

“Shoot,” I amended. “Sorry, Dad.”

Simon burst into laughter. He didn’t even attempt to keep it under control. Then my dad was snickering. Then they were both bellowing, and I felt my temper igniting. I stood from the table, ready to say something snappy and stomp away in a snit. Instead, I found myself hauled onto Simon’s lap and wrapped in his arms. There was no point in struggling. Not unless I wanted to make a fool of myself, and I didn’t. So I sat still, arms crossed over my chest, while I glared at the wall. That lasted all of five seconds.

Simon tipped my face toward him and kissed me soft and slow. I forgot where we were and who was with us. I fell under the spell he always seemed to put me under. I turned into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding him close. He never deepened the kiss. Merely kept it soft and sweet, and I still melted like a puddle.

“You’re right,” Simon told me. “Yes, I will know when you’re pregnant by the change in your scent. As for birth control? I’m sorry. I should have asked if you were on anything. I didn’t, and I didn’t speak to you about pregnancy, either. My only excuse is I lose my head when I’m around you. All I can think about is—”

“Hold that thought,” Leslie interrupted. “I believe the remainder of that conversation would be best had in private. As for Cain and me, we decided not to have more children. I have Hannibal. Cain has Cecilia. They’re the very best we could have ever wished for. It seemed selfish to ask the fates for more.”

My dad reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “That and the thought of starting over at my age had me breaking out in a cold sweat.”

Leslie laughed, and it was so easy to see the love between them. A love I hoped Simon and I would have.

“How long were you together before you told Dad what you were?”

“We’d only gone out once when your dad showed up unannounced. Hannibal hadn’t met him yet, though I’d mentioned them to each other,” Leslie began.

“She didn’t answer the front door, so I walked around back and saw her approaching a huge wolf. I yelled out as I moved forward, and instead of the wolf, I found myself facing Hannibal. Gave the old ticker a jolt.” My dad shared a smile with Leslie.

“There was nothing to do but tell him the truth. I half expected we’d need to move on quickly, but your dad took it all in and began asking questions. Hannibal wasn’t sure what to make of him, and I…” She paused, pulling my dad’s hand to her mouth and kissing his palm. “I think that was the moment I tumbled completely in love with him.”

“It was the first date for me,” my dad said, but I didn’t think he was speaking to me or Simon.

“And how long after then was it before you mated?” I wanted to know if the rapid pace Simon and I were on was the norm or not.

“After the first date,” my dad answered with a laugh. I wasn’t sure why until I watched Leslie’s face flush with color.

“Cain!”

My dad was saying they’d had sex after the first date. I wasn’t sure what to think about that. I was appalled I was even remotely thinking about that. Then quickly tried to shove it out of my mind.

“The bite, Dad, and so help me, if you say anything along the lines of ‘there was a lot of biting’, I will hurl up my breakfast on this table.”

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