“We already know the full moon hurt.” The sharp intensity of it left her with a cold chill. “When’s the first sliver of it scheduled to appear so we can test?”
“Slow down. While I do agree we should find out, I also advise against it because triggering a shift might not be good for you or the baby.”
“So the fetus is definitely a werewolf?” Ulric asked.
“Maybe.”
“Would you stop it with the maybes?” Honey snapped.
“No.” Dr. Silver didn’t apologize. “We’re in uncharted woods. Everything is a maybe.”
Honey grimaced. “This is so crazy. I can’t believe I went from having a normal life to wondering if I need a sleeper with a hole for a tail.”
“The ultrasound showed no tail,” Dr. Silver muttered.
“Again, you need to work on those pep talks.”
Dr. Silver shrugged. “Not going to happen, nor can I make you guarantees about anything, only that I want to keep you and the child alive.”
“Why?” Honey asked because she had to wonder why the woman cared. “I can’t pay you.”
“This isn’t about money. It’s about understanding the Lycan community.”
“Why?” She sounded like a child on repeat.
“Because it is an exciting scientific discovery,” Dr. Silver blatantly stated.
“That you can’t tell anyone about.”
“And? Not everything is about fame and glory. Some of us are genuinely curious.”
“What the doc is admitting is she is a bona fide nerd,” Quinn drawled, having silently returned.
“Says the meat puppet.” Dr. Silver insulted Quinn without even looking around.
Honey cocked her head at Dr. Silver. “I have to admit that now that I’m not freaking out, I’m kind of curious too.” She knew canines and other animals. Wolves weren’t all that different in many respects.
“I could let you read some of the studies I’ve been conducting on the Lycans. It would be interesting to get your perspective.”
Honey shoved upward from Ulric’s grip. “I have to ask, are female Lycans sterilized as well so they don’t get pregnant?”
It was Ulric who stated, “There are no females.”
She stood and glanced back at him. “What do you mean none? Is it some sexist boy club where you only bite those with penises?”
“More like it doesn’t work on women.”
“You know this because it’s been tried, or is it another werewolf legend?” she queried. How much about werewolves did she have wrong?
“It’s been tried. Like tons. The bite does nothing.”
She pursed her lips. “You’d better not be lying.” Because she remembered much nibbling of flesh. She flushed and turned to the doctor. “When should we get started?”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
“Can someone ever be ready to be a science experiment?” Honey rolled her eyes, but not in rancor. She had a choice with this pregnancy. Abort and live with the guilt and the what-if the rest of her life or take a chance.
She chose life.
“Let me get some equipment set up in the bedroom. Give me like ten minutes. You.” Dr. Silver pointed to Quinn. “Be useful and move some stuff for me.”
She left with Quinn, and only Ulric remained. He stood, looming and solid.
She tilted her chin. “Talk after dinner? My room?”
“Anything you want, Honeybee.”
“Good. See you later.”
Because she wasn’t just keeping this baby. She wanted the daddy too.
19
Ulric spent that day in a state of anxiety. Honey had said they needed to talk.
Good talk? Bad talk? The let’s-give-it-another-shot talk? He almost feared letting himself hope. The wait just about destroyed him. He wanted to drag her off somewhere private right now! But he didn’t want to come off as desperate.
They ordered in dinner, but he couldn’t have said what they ate or said. It was almost time to find out his fate.
When she excused herself after dessert, she cast him a quick glance. Why did his stomach clench?
When he did finally knock on her door, he’d convinced himself she wanted nothing do with him again. To his surprise, and relief, she dragged him inside and kissed him.
No words. Just sensual touch. Her hands tore at his clothes, and he helped her, removing his shirt then hers. Their lips clung in between. Her breaths harsh and hot.
Out of control. He felt it. Wanted it as he crushed her to his bare frame. The heat of her sent a shiver zinging down his body.
She lay on the bed, his woman. His mate. Beckoning with her hands and pouty lips.
He covered her body with his, parting her thighs to nudge the core of her with the tip of his hard dick. She grabbed hold and drew a gasp from him as she intentionally used him to rub her clit. She moaned and rolled her hips under him as she gave herself pleasure. Using him to bring herself to a tiny orgasmic peak.
Even as she still hitched from that tiny climax, he slid into her slick sheath, feeling the tight walls of her channel clenching. Tightening. Pulling him deep and holding tight as he thrust and pulled.
Pushed. And tugged.
Pounded against her sweet spot as her nails dug into his back. She uttered soft, mewling cries as she bucked under him, her hips rolling in time to his thrusts. Begging him to slam deeper. Hard.
Fuck.
He came hard, his whole body bowed with the impact. His head went back in a silent scream. She held her breath as she went rigid.
He cradled her in his arms as she recovered, panting and whispering, “I missed you.”
“Me too. I love you, Bee.” The words he’d been aching to say since their separation.
“I love you, too.” A declaration that eased his heart as she cupped his cheeks and tenderly kissed him.
They made love again, slowly. Sensuously. They woke intertwined, and he could have stayed snuggled like this forever.
Not Honey. She shoved and squeaked, “I’ve got to pee now.”
She ran to the bathroom and emerged with a hungry eye. Not for his morning hard-on. Nope. His woman growled, “Bacon.”
“Put some clothes on first!” he hollered as she aimed for the door.
“If I must.” She dressed quickly, and he hurried to follow.
Once in the kitchen, he didn’t even try to keep up with her appetite. She couldn’t get enough. They split after the last donut disappeared, with her going to do science-y stuff with Silver, while he walked the perimeter with Quinn.
“So…you and the woman made up?” his friend remarked as they set out.
“Yeah.”
“Remind me to never fall in love. It looks unpleasant.” Quinn grimaced.
“Not when you meet the right woman.”
“Which will never happen.”
Ulric snorted. “It’s like you want fate to bitch-slap you.”
“She’d have to catch me first,” Quinn joked.
“Did we ever get any more information on the break-ins at Honey’s place and work?”
“Nope. No prints. No clues. But my guess is the office break-in is tied in to the guy you caught inside her place a few nights ago.”