Page 21 of Hunting for Redemption

“Not even a little bit. That never even crossed my mind. I’m more worried that Jeff will think he needs to pick the white picket fence life instead of hunting when that’s the last thing I want for him.”

“He’s stubborn,” Carlos says with a smile. “But he’s also calculated. Reasonable. If you talk to him, I have no doubt you’ll figure things out.”

I reach over, squeezing Carlos’ shoulder. “Thank you. You’re very wise for being the baby of the group.”

Carlos groans. “Not you too.”

“I have to, Carlos,” I say with a chuckle. “It’s like a rite of passage. Let me have this.”

“Fine,” Carlos says, faking the most dramatic sigh and making me giggle a little more. He helps me bring everything into the living room, passing out everyone’s drinks.

“Come here, baby,” Jeff says when I step over to him. I go to sit next to him but let out a surprised noise when he grabs me around the waist and tugs me into his lap.

Jeff nuzzles the back of my neck and I can feel him breathing me in. I wonder if he can smell the baby, smell that it’s not just me anymore. Does he even realize the way he’s been more affectionate lately? Are his instincts going crazy, telling him to protect me?

Gods, I really need to talk to him about this. Being a born vampire, I knew this was a possibility but I’d been ignoring it, not wanting to think about it.

The idea of Jeff going back to hunting scares me. Not because I don’t trust him, because I do. I know he’s strong and I’ve seen his self-control first hand, but I’m still scared. What if he comes up against something he can’t fight his way out of? What if something happens to him and I’m left all alone, left with our baby?

My trust in Jeff is bigger than my fear though, so I’ll continue to hold onto that.

He deserves to know the truth.

With my mind made up, I promise to talk to him about it tonight. Joy surges through me and a smile spreads across my lips. I turn my head in order to kiss Jeff on the lips, wanting him to feel the amount of affection I have for him. It doesn’t matter it’s been a mere few weeks since we’ve met. We’re true mates and I know that means feelings grow quickly. I embrace them, just as much as I embrace Jeff.

“Alright, alright,” Ronny calls out with a good natured laugh. “Save it for the bedroom. Sheeesh.”

“Don’t be such a prude,” Cooper says back, looking up from his book. “You act like you’ve never seen someone kiss before. It hasn’t been that long since you’ve gotten laid, has it, Ronny?”

Ronny’s face turns bright red and he looks away. “Shut it, Cooper,” he says but even though the words are terse, I know there’s nothing but love between all these guys.

I’m struck with emotions as I sit back against Jeff’s chest. There’s so much love here and somehow, Lady Fate has deemed me worthy to be a part of this family. I lace my fingers with Jeff’s over the center of my belly. I can’t wait to tell him about the life inside of me. I just hope that conversation goes well and that my anxieties are unwarranted.

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