Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

“Hey baby!” I say cheerfully to Sinclair as he appears in the doorway to our room late that night, leaning against the frame and smiling tiredly at me. “Do you want some pizza?” I hold up the greasy square box perched on the edge of my nest. “There’s only half a slice left but…” I shrug, “it’s really good.

“No, Ella,” he replies, laughing and coming into the room, sitting on the edge of the bed. “That’s your cold, hours–old pizza. You keep that for you.”

“Right answer,” I murmur, snapping the box closed, pleased. I was saving that half–slice for my inevitable midnight craving, when I knew I’d be starving for it. “Is it normal?” I ask suddenly, turning my head to Sinclair. “To be this hungry in a werewolf pregnancy?”

He nods, smiling at me and laying down to bring his face closer to my stomach, placing a warm hand on it and saying hello to our pup through the bond. “Yes, it’s normal,” he says, looking back up at me. “There’s a notable uptick in feeding habits in a wolf pregnancy. Baby is hungry and mostly formed, all he has to do now is grow. He needs lots of food for that.”

“Good,” I murmur, running my hands through Sinclair’s hair as he gently strokes my stomach, murmuring little nothings to our pup. “I didn’t just want to be a pig.” As soon as I say the word, though, I have a sudden, striking desire for bacon. My stomach grumbles with longing, making Sinclair laugh.

He looks fondly up at me. “Can I get you anything, oh hungry one?”

I laugh and swat at him. “No,” I say, nodding towards my food reserves on the bedside table. “I’m set for a while. Besides, I just want you.” I scootch myself down so that I’m flat on the bed, moving down so that Sinclair’s face is even with mine, instead of my belly. “I missed you all day,” I pout

“Did you,” he murmurs, wrapping one of his huge hands around the small of my back to pull me close against him. He angles his head down, nuzzling my mating mark and giving it a gentle lick. I feel a little thrill climb up my spine.

“Yes,” I murmur, running my hands through his dark hair again. “Even though I know you were off being important and powerful,” I sigh dramatically, “It was a great sacrifice for me.”

so sorry to have put my angel mate through such an ordeal,” he teases, brushing his lips with mine. “I’ll have to think up some way to make it up

and intention I see in his eyes. “Dominic,” I warn, pushing him away

pulling me closer. “I know, little mate,” he murmurs, “but just because I’m hungry for

of course, that

means.

tugging on the hem of my pajama

shirt up over my head so that I’m sitting only in my pajama pants and a bra. I wonder what the hell he has in mind. “What are you doing? Just because you’re confident in your ability to

pulls his own shirt off, grinning at me. “Don’t worry, trouble,” he says,

I wrinkle my nose in confusion. “Dominic, what on earth

the bed and gathers me back in his arms. “I’m going to

“We haven’t done that for months – and I’m your mate now, don’t

something he can’t

and laughing at the same time. “I smell

glancing at the two empty bags on the nightstand.

going limp on his arms. He laughs, letting me fall flat on the

only in my plain bra and cotton panties. I certainly hadn’t worn anything s*xy or alluring – I hadn’t known this was on the table. Beautiful,” he mutters, and then

face as he brings it close to mine. “Wait,” I protest, glancing towards our bathroom. “let me go brush my teeth – corn

he laughs, pushing me back on the bed. “It’s not your breath

eating anything but pineapple

22

it needs.” He brings his face to mine, nudging my nose with his, coaxing a little smile from my mouth. “And when it makes you smell like a truck stop…I’ll