Page 71 of The Twelve Knots of Christmas
“Did I hear something about pie?” Balthazar strode into the kitchen looking delicious in the red sweater stretched across his wide chest. He’d worn the Santa suit for me last night and showed me how Santa handled naughty girls.
“You heard nothing about pie.” I stood in front of the ruined one and leaned against the counter. “I was talking to the dogs.”
The dogs, in response, all went to greet him. Except for Sugarplum, who refused to move from where she was lying.
“I definitely heard pie.” Balthazar pat Artemis and Twinkle then came over and hugged me, kissing along my neck. I felt his body shake before I heard him laugh. “Oh baby, what happened? Is that the second one?”
“Shh, and yes.” It was embarrassing. I wasn’t inept in the kitchen, but I never thought I was a horrible baker. Not like Jasper whose gorgeous German chocolate cake which was already on the table, and Miss Eloise with her million beautifully decorated cookies. “I have just enough time to try a third. I need to stash this one somewhere so I can have the dish.”
“Forget about it. We have enough food.” He kissed my cheek and tried to lead me away from the counter. “You’re stressing yourself out and that’s not good.”
“I’m not stressing out.” I was absolutely at my wit’s end, but I had one job. One! I wiggled free from his arms to go to the fridge. “There are enough apples, and I can roll out a new crust…”
“Mariska.” Balthazar caught my hand and pulled me to him, a purr rumbling in his chest. I leaned against him and sighed. He ran his hand over my slightly protruding belly. “The stress isn’t good for you or the baby.”
Ever since I’d found out I was pregnant, my Alphas had surrounded my world up in bubble-wrap and done everything for me. Or rather, tried to do everything for me. I wasn’t helpless, and while it was cute how protective they were, I wanted to do the things I normally did until I was too big and sore to do so.
“Telling me what I should or shouldn’t do isn’t good for my baby’s daddy.” I gave him a look, but it only made his eyes grow darker with desire.
Balthazar ran his thumb over my lower lip. “Call me daddy again.”
Oh fuck. I clamped my legs together as my pussy flared with fiery need. Any second now, he was going to have me up on the counter with my legs spread…
“Mm, something smells delicious.” I hadn’t even heard Jasper enter the kitchen. Was my heart pounding that loudly? He grinned at us and rubbed his hands together. Artemis and Twinkle went over to get their head scratches. “Looks like the main course is about to be served right now.”
My cheeks heated. How easily my Alphas could still make me blush. More so, with just a look from any of them, I was a raving nymphomaniac.
“The bun’s in the oven,” Balthazar cupped my pregnant belly and then dipped his hand to attempt to get under my skirt. “But I think the pink meat is nice and juicy and ready to eat.”
“Oh my God!” I swatted at him as both of the guys laughed and fist bumped. “Shoo. Both of you. I’m baking.”
“Baking, huh?” Jasper looked over at my ruined pie. “Oh sweetheart. How did you do that?”
“I don’t know! I followed the recipe exactly.” I needed a hug. Maybe a little cry. I also wanted to kick their asses out of the kitchen and prove to the world I could bake a simple pie. Damn pregnancy was making me crazy.
Jasper gave me a soft smile and kissed the top of my head. “I think you need to put aluminum foil over the edges. That will keep it from burning. It also makes the crust nice and flaky.”
I heaved a sigh and nodded. Jasper knew way more about baking than I did. He didn’t do it often, but when he did, it was like being treated by a professional chef. Usually he helped morewith Christmas dinner, but since Liz, Justine, and Miss Eloise were here, they took charge, and left all the men to tucker out Justine and Hudson’s two boys. Though I suspected the kids would outlast all the adults in the house. There was nothing like the energy of children on Christmas Day.
Lucian entered, his cheeks rosier than mine from having been outside. “Why is everyone in the kitchen?” The dogs greeted him, but seeing me between the other two Alphas, concern lined his handsome face. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I’m fine.” I smiled and silently prayed no one else walked in.
“No, she’s not. She’s stressed.” Balthazar rubbed my back, undeterred by the narrow-eyed look I shot him. “She should lie down.”
“I’m not stressed.” I huffed and picked up a wooden spoon. I wagged it at them. “Get out of the kitchen and leave me to work. I have a spoon and I’m not afraid to use it.”
A gleam appeared in every Alpha’s eyes.
“Fuck. Why does that turn me on so much?” Jasper wet his lips and pinned me to a wall with a sexy look.
“I say we should all be naughty boys tonight and let Mrs. Claus punish us.” Balthazar chuckled and ran his fingers through his beard as if making a spot for me to sit.
Ack! Why was I thinking these thoughts? Pie. Must bake the pie.
“I think I’ve been the naughtiest of all.” Lucian stalked around me, sending hot waves of desire through me. “I left Hudson to fend for himself with the boys, and I abandoned Charlotte to the ladies who are giving her dating advice. And I haven’t said anything as Twinkle snuck your pie off the counter.”
“What?” I spun around in time to see Twinkle take off out of the kitchen with the burnt pie in her mouth. How a hugecanine like that could be so quiet and sneaky was a mystery. Artemis was hot on her heels and Sugarplum decided it was a good time to follow the other dogs.
