AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I sighed. “I think he and I are bonding, and that means it might be troublesome for his panda. He might be grieving a little still, as well. It’s okay. Sometimes kids get like this even when they’ve had no trauma and he’s had a lot.”
He grunted as Sloan sat on the other side of me. “He’s so different with you. Different than he was with his mom, even.”
Koby must’ve heard his daddies’ voices because he woke up and rubbed his eyes.
I said, “I think I’m going to go down to the coffee shop and maybe the bookstore tonight. I need some me time.” I didn’t want to say alone time in front of Koby. He wasn’t doing anything wrong by being clingy.
Justice took Koby from my lap and we laughed at the Koby-shaped sweat stain on me. The kid ran hotter than a desert.
“We put money in your account, and you can take the car if you like,” Sloan said.
“I’m just going to walk. I need the fresh air.”
Justice growled a bit. Interesting. “Please be careful.”
“I will. I’ll be back, Koby. I promise.”
The little guy was giving me the cold shoulder, but I had to do this for me so that I could be steady for him. And he needed to see that I could leave and would be back. I quickly changed my clothes and put on some palazzo pants and a tank. I took a light sweater, just in case a cool breeze came up, and made my way out.
The cinnamon-roll iced coffee tasted like a dream as the sweetness rolled down my throat. It was quiet in the coffee shop. I’d picked up a book from the stand in the corner but found sitting in silence pleasurable for now.
I missed the little guy already. I’d been here fifteen minutes but couldn’t wait to see him once I got home.
And Justice.
And Sloan.
They were caring and sexy as hell. I was their mate but in name only. For show. For Koby.
Day by day, I found myself craving more.
These were the feelings I needed to sit with. Make peace with. What would happen after Koby grew up? Would I be discarded—no longer needed?
The only way to deal with those thoughts was to accept that all possibilities were on the table.
I would save like mad and have some kind of nest in case that happened.
“Is that a good book?” a male asked. Not human. Feline, maybe. Perhaps a hybrid.
“I never got into it. Did you want to read it?” I reached to hand it to him but he waved his in protest.
He laughed and looked down. His cheeks heated. My panther went up on high alert. She roared inside me. “No, I was actually just looking for a reason to talk to you. I’ve never seen you in the coffee shop before.”
I forced a smile. “I’ve been here a couple of times.”
“Not when I’ve been here. Trust me. I would’ve noticed you from a mile away. If I may, you are stunning.” He leaned down to speak into my ear. “Panther?”
I nodded, but my animal and I were not pleased. She scratched me up from the inside and sent me images of her clawing him for being so close.
Too close.
Get him away. We are mated.
We are…wait a damned minute. We are not mated. Not to Jason. Not to anyone.
Mates. And a cub. Family. Pride. Ours.
“Okay. I smell anger. Sorry to bother you.”
