Page 22 of An Unexpected Claim

Nathan’s eyes iced over, and his wolf rumbled in his chest before he looked away and grunted something unintelligible.

My head canted to the side as I studied him, confused by his reaction. The jealousy idea floated through once more, but I looked for a more plausible explanation because that seemed ludicrous. Okay, not ludicrous so much as terrifying. My panther sniffed haughtily. Unlike me, she found the idea of Nathan being jealous over us intriguing. She wanted me to preen and entice him to claim us again.Not happening.She hissed and swiped at me before stomping off to pout.

Without her interference, I returned to my speculation about his attitude.Maybe he’s opposed to cubs altogether.

That thought both perked me up and depressed me at the same time.Five more months of rollercoaster emotions is going to kill me.

I didn’t like the idea that he would reject his cub. It tugged at old wounds, but I tossed those thoughts away. I was encouraged by the idea of him not wanting children because it meant that he might not try to stop me when it came time to leave.

“Who?” Nathan growled.

I raised an eyebrow in question. “Who is the father or who am I running from?”

He opened his mouth automatically, but his speech halted for a moment before he answered. “Who is chasing you?” Then he quickly added, “And who is the father?”

Biting my lip, I assessed him and mulled over my options. In the end, I decided to keep both answers vague. I didn’t want to drag Nathan or his pack into my mess, possibly putting them in danger from the lunatic trying to kill me. In addition, what did I really know about Nathan? I didn’t believe he would hurt me, but could I trust him? I twisted the ring on my finger as I pondered.

I didn’t feel quite ready to share my child’s paternity with him, but I would tell him eventually. I wanted him to admit he didn’t want kids first so that I could leave without any guilt hanging over me.

I faked a yawn, but it turned into a real one as fatigue spread through my limbs like a wildfire in a dry field. “Can we talk another time?” I asked sleepily. Damn, that had happened fast. I could barely hold myself up and I swayed in my seat.

The next thing I knew, Nathan was there to catch me as I pitched sideways. He scooped me into his arms, and I rested my cheek on his warm chest, my heavy eyelids falling shut. Warmth surrounded me and I sighed, feeling safe for the first time in over a week.

“Get some rest, baby. You can tell me everything later.”

Chapter Twelve

Nathan

Peyton slept through the entire day and night. I checked on her multiple times after I’d taken a nap, but she’d been sleeping deeply each time.

I considered waking her to make her eat, but she I could see that she needed rest and if she became hungry enough, it would rouse her. When I rose in the morning, she still hadn’t moved. Her ability to sleep like the dead was impressive.

I was working on KBO business when she knocked on my open office door.

The sight of her in my shirt, her toned legs on display and her long, black hair mussed from sleep, sent a jolt of lust through me. Peyton must have felt my slow, burning perusal of her body because she shivered and shifted her weight from foot to foot. I was tempted, so tempted to take her right back to bed and spend the rest of the day inside her…but it wasn’t the right time. It didn’t help that she was practically devouring the sight of my naked chest.

My wolf perked up at her presence and his possessiveness of Peyton flared. I bluntly reminded him that she wasn’t ours and he needed to stop acting like it. He growled menacingly in disagreement and I gave up trying to convince him. He could have his little fantasy, as long as it didn’t affectmyfeelings and actions.

“Good morning,” I murmured as I leaned back in my seat, resting one elbow on the arm while fiddling with a pen. My residual irritation with my wolf caused my tone to be a little rougher than I intended.

Peyton frowned and muttered, “Is it? Could have fooled me.”

I chuckled, her candor lightening my mood. “You have a point. How are you feeling?”

A small smile graced her pink lips and she sighed. “Much better, thank you.” Then she tugged on the T-shirt and grimaced. “I could really use a shower though. And, um, I should probably find some better clothes.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her she could only wear my clothes, but the logical part of my brain knew it was a ridiculous notion and beat back the possessiveness bleeding from my wolf’s emotions.

“I’m sure I can find you something. The bathroom is the door between my office and your room. Go ahead and shower while I make breakfast and scrounge up something for you to wear.” I smirked as my eyes trailed down her gorgeous legs. “Not that you don’t look good in what you have on.”

Peyton rolled her eyes, but one corner of her mouth lifted as she turned and strolled from the room.

I watched her sexy ass sway as she left, and my body tightened painfully. I had to fight like hell to subdue the urge to join her in the shower. The fierceness with which I craved her perplexed me.Our night together had been extraordinary, the best sex I’d ever had. But I couldn’t fathom one night resulting in this level of hunger for her. Not to mention the way my wolf was reacting.

Our chemistry had an element of wildness, something beyond my control. And it pissed me the fuck off because I was always in control.Always.

I shook off my thoughts—or shoved them into a corner to ignore—and picked up my phone from where it had been resting beside my keyboard.I tapped my mother’s number and put it on speaker as I stood from my chair and headed to the kitchen.

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