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“How long has it been since someone appreciated you, Summer?” His voice was so much deeper now, his hold on my waist tighter, and I couldn’t deny that the moment had shifted, the air between us charged, and I didn’t want to do a thing to stop it. “How long have you been without what you deserve?”

I couldn’t think, Emmett’s face lowering toward mine, the feeling of his breath on my lips. And all I could find in my mind was the truth.

“A while…”

Never.

“That…” Emmett raised up onto his knees, his hands on either side of my shoulders as he hovered over me. “…is a damn shame.”

Every inch of me was on fire, and all I could do was stare up into Emmett’s eyes. He was so close, towering over me, but I didn’t feel the need to run, to tell him to stop or shove him away. Anyone else would have been imposing, but for some reason, I welcomed it from Emmett.

“Say no, and I’m out of here, Summer. But…” He leaned closer, his face—his mouth—inches from mine now. “…if maybe you don’t want me to go…”

“I don’t.” The words were out of my mouth before a logical thought passed through my brain.

But then he smiled, and I was fucking done for. “Good,” he whispered, grinning devilishly, “because it's high time we change that.”

And then Emmett kissed me.

It was like being struck by the best type of lightning, and I wrapped my arms around his neck without a second thought. My eyes shut, and I lost myself to the kiss. After months of nothing, this was not only my first kiss in so long, but it was also the best damn kiss I’d ever had.

“Goddamn, gorgeous. You’re so in⁠—”

Milo let out a low whine, which only got louder. I knew that cry. He was hungry and grumpy. We both shot our stares over toward the crib, and when Emmett gazed down at me again, I sighed.

“Sorry, duty calls.”

He cupped my cheek. “No need to apologize, Summer. We have all the time in the world.”

I smiled. Emmett seemed to know the perfect thing to say at any given time. We separated, and I padded over toward Milo, lifting him out of the crib. He settled some, but I knew we’d have a full-blown scream-fest if we didn’t get him a bottle soon.

“I’ll head downstairs and make him some food. Get comfy.” Emmett gestured at the bed, and I nodded back, sitting down with the baby.

As he left, all I could think was, this was damn nice. Kisses and someone else running up and down the stairs to make a bottle.

I could get used to that.

Chapter 14

Tobias

We tended to eat well in the mornings. We were all large alphas who ate accordingly, but our first morning with Summer, we went all out.

Noah made fluffy buttermilk pancakes while Marshall fried up bacon. I had run out to the grocery store first thing when I woke up to get some fresh fruit.

We had a rough idea of what Summer liked and didn’t like. The matchmaking service had made her fill out a pretty in-depth questionnaire of her food preferences. At the time, that had seemed weird, but now we all appreciated it.

That was how I knew she preferred apple juice over orange juice.

“I’m shocked Emmett isn’t awake yet,” Noah commented, glancing down the hallway.

Our pack mate wasn’t the earliest of risers, but usually, when one of us woke up and started moving around, the rest of us followed shortly. None of us were heavy sleepers, and none of us were particularly quiet around the house, either.

“I’ll go check on him,” I said, turning and bounding up the stairs as quietly as possible.

I’d deliberated for a few moments before walking over to Summer’s room. I told myself that I was simply checking on her, but the truth was, I was deadly curious. Was she asleep? Was Milo already awake?

I knocked lightly, loud enough so if someone was awake they would hear, but quiet enough that if someone was sleeping they wouldn’t be disturbed. I wasn’t looking to ruin a mom’s chance at rest.