Page 168 of As The Shifter World Turns

Estate. I always thought of it as an estate.

“We’re appreciative of how you’ve been a good friend to our son,” Daire’s alpha dad said.

Hurry up, Ryder. You’ve said thank you, now let’s go.I wound up the window, shutting out their voices.

This weekend was our babymoon. The last chance we’d have to sleep in late, eat whenever we wanted and maybe have sex, though I was more interested in sleep and cuddles than sex.

Daire’s folks had given us the use of the estate for the weekend and while me and the bump would swim in the pool and not risk being smacked by awave, walking along the sand in the evening and listening to the waves crash on the shore was just what I needed.

I’d finally gotten the baby’s room the way I wanted, after more than one coat of paint and tearing off the wallpaper I’d had put up before we moved in. Crossing that off my list took a weight off my shoulders. Not that our baby would care whether she had horses or dinosaurs on the wall when we brought her home.

When Ryder couldn't find me, he’d walk in the nursery and I’d be on the day bed, ‘cause no way would I make it to the floor, folding and refolding baby clothes. Nesting. That’s exactly what it was. Making sure I was ready for our daughter.

With a final head nod and an awkward wave to Daire’s folks, Ryder got in the car and we took off. “I hope they weren’t at the manor to give their son a hard time,” I noted.

“Actually, no. They said how proud they were of him that he’d created not one but two careers.”

“Is that a joke?” I asked.

“Nope.”

“Wow. Go, Daire. Maybe he can stop chasing his parents' approval,” I said.

“Love, can I ask a favor?” He didn't wait for my reply. “Let’s not talk about our friend or his folks this weekend. It’s just you and me, lying by the pool, having our food brought to us and enjoying being just us two before the baby arrives.”

“I second that.”

As we sped down the road, I dozed off and woke as Ryder drove into the beach-fronting estate. My mate hadn’t been here since the weekend we shared a room, but I had, and I was determined not to allow those memories of not being with Ryder and the whole asswipe episode ruin our time together. Joy had given me coping techniques such as deep breathing to help.

But from the moment my mate turned off the ignition, our bags were whisked away by the chef’s mate, the housekeeper, and we were asked by the chef what time we wanted dinner. He’d already emailed us giving a choice for the main course and suggesting a dessert. I was way past the ice cream stage and was into chocolate eclairs, and he said he’d whip up a batch.

“Cocktails will be served on the terrace in an hour,” he told us. Plenty of non-alcoholic ones for you, Ivor.” He turned away. “Unless you’d prefer to eat in your room.”

We agreed we’d like to be by the pool. Once the baby arrived, I’d be seeing a lot of the inside of 1A at the manor. When we got to the room, Ryder stuck his head into the bathroom. “Well hello, huge bathroom. I’ve missed you.”

“The one in 1A is pretty big,” I reminded him as I studied the view of the beach. “And we have two bathrooms at home now.” It was still odd referring to 1A as home again. I’d lived there with Daire but I’d been someone’s roommate. Now I was a mate.

“But this one is massive,” my mate pointed out. He jerked his head toward the big tub. “Hoping we can spend some time here before we leave.”

Getting in and out of the bath, even with Ryder’s help, seemed like an effort but being surrounded by warm water and bubbles while leaning against my mate’s chest as he gave me a hand job would be the perfect way to finish the day.

I sank onto the bed and put my feet up. I peered over the bump and waved to my toes as I wriggled them. “Me too, because if you don’t shower all weekend, you’re not coming anywhere near me.”

The joy on his face evaporated, and he cocked his head. “I was talking about?—”

“Gotcha,” I giggled.

He climbed on the bed and crawled toward me growling. The look in his eyes was pure lust. “You tricked me.”

“I did.” I raised a brow. “What are you going to do about it?”

“The punishment is that I get to undress you and give you a blow job.”

My ass was suddenly slippery as slick slid from my hole. But then another urge came over me and I screwed up my face. “I just need to pee first. Hold that thought.”

Ryder helped me off the bed and I waddled to the bathroom. But when I was done, I leaned against the doorway, making what I hoped was a sexy pose. “Hey, good looking.”

My stag shifter was naked, his cock standing at attention. But his eyes were closed. And not in a hot, I’m pretending to sleep and then pounce on you way. No, he was asleep. Falling asleep whenever I got on the sofa or couch was my thing. And wasn’t thenapping whenever you canconcept supposed to happen after the baby was born?

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