Page 148 of As The Shifter World Turns

Ryder was crying. His eyes were leaking huge tears. “Is that our baby?”

“Mmmm.”

He rested his head on me, his ear against my mid-section. “Oh my gods, our baby’s going to play football.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

When the kicking stopped, Ryder got up and made tea for us both. Our little one’s first kicks had put off the awkward conversation of what happened in the shower.

“About last night,” we both burst out.

“You go first,” I told him.

“No, you.”

I gathered my thoughts—or tried to. “I don’t know what to think. It was nice, beyond nice, and I felt so close to you.”

“I sense a but coming.”

“Not really. Maybe. Inside my head must be similar to scrambled eggs.”

Ryder put down his cup and took mine from me, setting it on the bedside table. He took my hands in his. “I’m not going anywhere. Take all the time you need. The baby’s healthy and we’re getting along great.” I opened my mouth but he put his finger to my lips. “No more sex unless you give the okay.”

“And if that doesn’t happen?”

His face registered pain but he said what I needed him to say. “Then we’ll co-parent and sort out our living situation after the baby arrives.”

Co-parenting would be complicated if we didn’t work out, but in themeantime, I felt the baby again, and Ryder got into bed and we snuggled, hands on my belly until the alarm rang.

Neil

“Ivor, I love your little baby bump. It’s so cute.”

“Wanna feel?” he asked. “The baby’s awake.”

“Awww.” I rested a hand on his belly. “I can’t wait to hold your little one.”

“Me neither, but first food. I’m starving.”

“Sorry, I’m late,” Archer announced as he walked in. “I was visiting my parents.”

“How are they doing?” Ivor asked as he munched on a slice of pizza while holding garlic bread in the other hand.

“So so,” Archer said as he helped himself to fried noodles.

“I’m going to see them tomorrow and taking them chocolate cake from their favorite bakery,” I told Archer.

“Thanks. You’re a sweetheart.”

“Time to go around the circle and say what’s new in our life,” Ivor announced as he polished off his second slice of pizza.

“You’ve heard mine already,” Archer said. “When I’m not working or with Elune, I’m with my parents. “Your turn, Ivor.”

“Ummm.” He was stalling.

“Is that a good ummm or a bad one?” I asked.

“Okay, fine.” He told us about Ryder giving him a hand job in the shower and the aftermath the following morning.

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