Austin had almost bitten his tongue in two trying to keep from laughing. The whole scenario was funny until he found out how long she’d been stranded. She’d left her phone on the kitchen counter, so she had been unable to call anyone for help.
Austin heard a sniffle, the soft sound brought him back to the moment. He was horrified to see tears streaming down his mate’s cheeks. What the hell? Pushing away from the doorframe, he across the room to kneel in front of the two most important people in the world.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Talk to me.”
“I want to be wanted again. I want to feel pretty. I’m tired of being a blimp. I already had the baby, and I’m still huge. I know I need to exercise, but I’m too tired. Why don’t babies sleep longer than a couple of hours? And he eats all the time. My nipples hurt so bad, I’d go topless, but I’m terrified I might accidentally walk past a mirror. If it wasn’t for Lindy, I’d have thrown myself off the damned balcony. I don’t know how women do this… it’s exhausting.”
Fucking hell. How had he missed all these signs, despite every Dom he knew warning him about the baby blues? Sure, he knew the condition didn’t typically start this soon, but with Charlotte’s unique healing ability, it was no surprise she was well ahead of schedule.
The nanny they’d hired wasn’t scheduled to arrive for a few days, so Cam Barnes suggested they hire Lindy Timish in the interim. Since she’d been at the reception, Lindy had already known Charlotte had given birth, and bless her heart, she’d been waiting for them when they arrived home. Stepping into the room, Lindy looked more like a recent high school graduate than a young woman studying for the bar exam. Austin grinned at her, wondering if any of the younger Doms at the club would ever brave Cam Barnes wrath and claim the pretty brunette as their own. Everyone at the club knew she was under Cam’s protection, and if that wasn’t enough, Dr. Cecelia Barnes was standing right beside him. CeCe might be submissive to Cam, but she was hell on wheels when it came to her family and patients.
CeCe called Austin when she’d learned Lindy would be helping out until their nanny arrived. He joked later, the interrogation involved a hundred questions fired at him so quickly, his damned head was spinning by the time she’d finally been satisfied they weren’t going to keep Lindy locked in a dungeon or planning to steal her away from their employ.
Lindy bounced into the room and grinned. “I saw the little bags of milk in the freezer. You’re doing a great job with your pump. Y’all weren’t kidding when you said Charlotte’s body healed quickly. I know a lot of first-time mamas have trouble getting into the rhythm of nursing. Little man is set for the rest of the night and most of tomorrow, as well. Get some rest, Charlotte. Spend some time with your husband. Let him pamper you a little. You’ve earned it.” Lindy lifted Marshall from Charlotte’s arms, giving him a soft kiss on his forehead. Austin could have sworn the boy smiled—the little flirt. “Come on, handsome. Let’s get you settled. My granny said babies grow when they’re sleeping, so you better get to it. You have so many wonderful things to learn.”
Lindy’s voice trailed off as she moved down the hall. Cam and CeCe both stressed how much they appreciated the way she talked to their children. Lindy always said, “Babies are little people and deserve better than the nonsense-talk people subject them to. How are they supposed to grow up to be functioning adults if their brains are fed gibberish? It’s insulting.” Austin agreed and hoped the nanny they’d hired would be as forward-thinking as Lindy.
Austin looked at his wife, wondering how he was going to prove he wanted her just as much now as he had the first time he’d taken her to bed. When her image started to shimmer, he shook his head.
“Don’t you dare disappear, Little Star. Your punishment swats are going to have to wait. I have something else in mind for tonight.” He was flying by the seat of his pants. For the first time in years, he was going to walk into an evening with his sub and let her responses paint the scene without him leading.
Pulling Charlotte to her feet, he led her down the hall to the master suite. He’d have her naked and flat on her back in ten seconds flat if it were up to him, but, tonight, he wanted to touch her heart as well as her body. It was time for a little romance.
Spending the day with Bristol had been enlightening and fun. Israel loved how her sharp mind functioned on multiple levels at the same time. Smiling to himself, he thought about how quickly she saw through any smokescreen he threw in her direction. At one point during lunch, she’d shaken her head and sighed.
“I don’t understand it. I’m not usually this good at reading people. Most of the time, I’m borderline dim… or at the very least, I’m considered naïve when I’m dealing with anyone outside the office.” She’d paused, watching him for any sign she was pushing too far before finally adding. “But with you… it seems like I know when you are trying to throw me off. I know shifters can speak telepathically while they are in their animal, but this feels different. I’m not sure how to put it into words.”
Israel understood what she’d been unable to explain, but he didn’t respond—some things are better left to the other person to sort through on their own. Any explanation he’d give her would fall short, so he decided it was best to simply redirect the conversation.
Dusk was settling outside the large window leading to his balcony. The glass railings and floor made it the perfect place to begin pushing the boundaries of the submissive side of Bristol’s personality.
After spending the day talking with her, it hadn’t come as a surprise when she admitted listing complete nudity as a hard limit at the club. He’d been pleased to learned Bristol had refused to have sex with any of the Doms she’d scened with. It was humbling to realize how pleased he was she hadn’t been seriously involved with anyone at the club. Hell, from what he could tell, she wasn’t getting much, period.
Opening the accordion-style glass doors to the patio, Israel crooked his finger, beckoning Bristol to join him. He’d given her another shirt to wear after her bubble bath that afternoon, and the thin white cotton did little to hide the outline of her areolas or the peaking of her nipples, anytime she noticed his appreciative gaze. A light breeze drifted around him, separating the front placket of the shirt, the two sides moving far enough apart to reveal her smooth mound. He shook his head when her hands moved to close the shirt. Bristol’s hands fell to her sides, her face blushing his new favorite shade of scarlet. Her sex was lasered smooth, and the tantalizing glimpses revealed the outer folds of her labia were already glistening with arousal.
Gasping when she stepped out onto the balcony, Bristol forgot she was flashing anyone lucky enough to be looking up. When she settled her hands on the polished steel rail atop the glass panels, Israel moved close, caging her in by placing his hands on the rail, his arms framing her.
“Watching your expression as you take in the beauty surrounding us is like seeing it for the first time. Seeing the world through your eyes is a treat, baby.” Pressing himself against her, he smiled to himself when he heard her soft gasp.
“I’ve never thought about how beautiful the downtown skyline would be. I’m living in a small second-floor apartment. I’ve paid off the student loans I had to take out to pay the living expenses my scholarships didn’t cover. I’ve stayed in my little hovel, so I can save enough money to build my dream house. I already bought a large lot by the lake.”