Bethany noticed that the three females behind her mate were all attempting to stifle their laughter.
“Bethy,” Drake began again, his voice softer as he ran his hands up her calves.
“Seduction won’t work, Drake,” she snapped. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked. I’ve put up with your overprotective, overbearing—”
“Over-the-top, dominant, ass-holery,” Jacque offered.
“Yep,” Sally said, pointing to her best friend. “That. Definitely that.”
“Alsounfair seduction tactics,” Zara added. When all eyes turned on her, she shrugged. “What? You all know Wadim and I completed the bond. Since then, I can’t win an argument. All he has to do is put his hands on me and I’m like, ‘Whatever you want, sir. How can I please you, sir?’”
“Uh, we’ll come back to that later.” Bethany motioned to the three females. “All of what they said. I have graciously—”
Sally shook her head.“I wouldn’t say graciously.”
“No,” Jacque agreed. “You’ve been a raging bitch, and I do mean that literally because you’re a female werewolf.”
When Bethany glared at them, Jacque held up her hands. “But you totally have the right.I mean, hello, you’re growing his baby.Hedid this to you.”
“Thanks for throwing me under the bus, alpha,” Drake grumbled.
“Just doing my part.Keeping it real.” Jacque lifted her mug as if to toast herself.
Bethany knew Jacque had just been trying to get her ire off of them and back onto her mate. It worked. “Yes, exactly.” She pointed at him. “Youdid this to me. I am the size of a house. I waddle like a duck, and I pee every time I move. So, you get to go build a damn sleigh.”
Drake sighed. “So, what I hear you saying is that you need some space.”
“You hear right.” She kept her tone firm, despite the fact that she wanted to take the hurt look out of his eyes. She knew he just wanted to protect her, but she had to stay firm or he’d stay glued to her side.
Drake stood up and gently laid her feet back on the ottoman. Then he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead.“For the record, you look breathtaking to me,”hesaid through their bond and then walked silently from the room.
Bethany felt as if she’d been sucker punched. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“He said something really sweet, didn’t he?” Jacque asked.
Bethany nodded, unable to speak for fear that she’d call his name and beg him to stay with her. Finally, after a few minutes, she managed to sniffle out, “What is wrong with me? One minute I wanthim in Timbuktu, and the next, I want to crawl all over him and plead with him to never leave my side.”
“Welcome to baby-making hormones.” Jacque sighed. “They’re a bitch.”
“And then you die,” Sally said dryly.
“That’s not how the saying goes,” Jacque said.
Sally shrugged. “I wasn’t sure, but it popped into my head so my mouth just said it. It’s called Jen syndrome.”
“Ahh.” Zara nodded. “I’ve caught that a few times. The only cure is separation from the infected person.”
“I think I hurt his feelings,” Bethany said, unable to take her mind off of Drake, despite the three girls’ attempts to distract her.
“He’ll be back in about five minutes,” Jacque said, waving off her concern. “And then you’ll send him away again, and he’ll be back five minutes after that.”
“I’m never getting pregnant.” Zara shook her head.
“Babe, you good?” Bethany turned to see Wadim’s head pop around the corner from the hall as he glanced in at his mate.
Zara gave him a thumbs-up and a sweet grin that met her eyes. “Still not regretting a thing, history boy. Quit worrying.”
Bethany’s head swung back around to the male and saw heat fill his eyes. She knew that look.
