Kendrick sniffed indignantly at being called out so blatantly. Was it his fault there were two babies to buy for and everything was so damn cute? No, it wasn’t.
“What time?” he asked, ignoring Rue, who didn’t contain his laughter.
They were finally moving into the lake cabin Trey had been having refurbished after he’d bought it. “First thing, if that works?”
“I can help,” Rue offered. “Take a couple of hours off.” He glanced at Monty. “Monty could have the girls up at the ranch house.”
“I’d love that,” Monty murmured in response, staring at a droopy eyed Zinnia, whose slurping had slowed considerably.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Cassidy had come to an agreement with Ethan about working on the ranch and bringing the babies in a stroller with chunky wheels that could manage the terrain, so Trey mentioned. Cassidy had only gone back the week before.
“Not at all. Office work… baby cuddles… it’s a no brainer. And I have to confess, I’ve been missing my time with Emmy.”
The honesty worked its magic on Cassidy, who nodded in agreement. “It would only be a couple of hours, but I’d very much appreciate it. And if it’s too much having them both, just call me and I’ll come straight back to the ranch.”
“I’ve got Ivo, Otis, Eric and Cace. They’ll be more than eager to help. Heck, I’ll be lucky to get a hold of the girls with how much they adore them.”
“They do.” Cassidy wore such a gleeful grin that, in the next moment, Trey had his arm slung around his shoulder, kissing him soundly.
When Trey pulled back, he was decidedly flushed. “Yeah, babysitters would be good.”
Everyone laughed as he finally caught up with Cassidy’s earlier comment.
“Should I order pizza for dinner?” Rue shifted upright, looking around the room.
“I’ve made meatball subs, and there’s plenty for everyone.” Kendrick switched his attention to Trey and Cassidy. “If you wanna stay?”
“You just want the girls to stay so you can get baby cuddles,” Trey accused, with some hilarity.
“And?” Kendrick replied, not looking at all abashed at being called out so accurately. And if he considered it practice, then what harm did that do?
Epilogue
Monty
December
Monty woke disoriented and feeling way too hot for comfort. His skin felt too tight for his bones, and with it came the reality of what was happening. His womb contracted and slick trickled from between his ass cheeks as he inhaled the scent of his mates from where his face was buried in the pillows. His previous heats had never started so violently.
Was it a mate thing?
He couldn’t find an answer in the fogginess of craving that was like a three day thirst. He whimpered at the force of the desire pounding through him, rolling over and running his hands over his body, undulating with need, working to entice his mates. Why weren’t they touching him?
Monty reached out, touching the cool cotton surrounding him, searching for what he needed. He whined in distress, opening his heavy-lidded eyes to find the bedroom empty. He searched through the lust haze as to why that was. What day was it?
He squinted at the blinds, his brain trying to tell him something. Sunday… it's Sunday. Kendrick and Rue would be downstairs making him breakfast. They had a tradition where they’d share breakfast in bed on Sundays. Their one truly lazy day together.
Why weren’t they here where he needed them? Why?
He arched into the sheet covering his cock, and whimpered louder at how much it hurt. Clutching at the bedsheets in fisted hands, he pushed it off him when the pain of its touch became too much for his oversensitive skin. He clenched his thighs together. His ass drenched the sheet beneath him as he rocked frantically, needing something to ease the ache consuming him.
“Kendrick… Rue…” he cried out.
Could they hear him?
Why weren’t they coming?
He needed them.
