A Sinful Trap (Three Sinful Wishes 2)

Mate.

She lifted her hands, touching the small scars on either side of her neck. She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to the changes. At first, she’d been a little disappointed to learn that she couldn’t shift, but she was healthier than she’d ever been and Stax had told Cam her aging would slow to match theirs, so she’d accepted the trade-off. The link between them all meant she’d die if they did, but it also meant she’d live just as long.

Bailey hadn’t worked up the courage to tell her friends about that yet. Or that she could now—when she concentrated—see Sedona the way Cam and Davide did. The magic all around them. It was what she’d always felt, but seeing it was a gift she’d never stop being grateful for.

“Are you telesexing again?” Dani asked impatiently, snapping her fingers in front of Bailey’s face.

“Am I what?”

Kaya smirked. “She’d been trying to come up with a name for the face you get when your guys are communicating with you through your link.”

“Telepathic sexting. Telesexing.”

“What about sextapathing?” Kaya threw out.

Dani shook her head emphatically. “No. It’s telesexing. Consider it trademarked.”

Bailey’s blush burned her ears. “I approve of the name, but I’m not doing that right now.”

I like it.

Stop telesexing her, she’s busy.

Bailey burst out laughing and her friends gave her knowing looks. “I can’t help it. I’m still working on how to put them on hold. And the trip was amazing, but right now I’m just so glad to be home. Especially now.”

“Why especially?” Kaya asked, as usual zeroing in on her exactly when she didn’t want her to.

She gestured around Dani’s backyard. “Because Liam is teaching Cam the fine art of barbecue, Bunny and Aaron are enjoying the pool and it’s a beautiful day. Because the addition is complete and now Ava and Alwin have an apartment instead of my old cubby to get frisky in when they aren’t running the inn while I’m away. Because I’m with my best friends in the place I love best and I’m happy. Pick a reason.”

It was all true. Every word. And she was blissfully happy.

“Because you’re pregnant,” Dani said, her blue eyes wide.

“What? How did you…” Bailey shook her head. “I mean, what?”

“See Bailey? You leave for three weeks and suddenly Dani is the psychic,” Kaya said dryly. “She’s right, isn’t she? You’ve already got a little furry bun in the oven.”

She hadn’t been ready to say it out loud yet. Davide had told her a few days ago. He could smell the change in her before a pregnancy test could confirm it. A baby. She was going to be somebody’s mother. Lord help them. “How did you know?”

Dani’s smile was full of compassion and love. “I’m a nurse, and you’re glowing more than usual. Also, with two insanely gorgeous men, epic marathon sexy times, and the mating frenzy you were telling me about, it was only a matter of time. Plus, Stax might have said something.”

Kaya’s frown was a split-second long and then gone. “When?”

Dani held up her phone. “Not in my head this time, we’ve all agreed that’s only for real emergencies. He texted me. He has a smartphone now. Said it was one of Alpha Locke’s requirements.”

Kaya turned to pin Bailey with a look of disbelief. “Cameron ordered the Istaqa to get a smartphone?”

Bailey tried not to laugh. “Stax gave him the go ahead to modernize some pack laws and make a few long overdue changes. He has to be able to get in touch with him somehow.”

Kaya touched her fingers to her temple. “I feel strangely guilty for my role in corrupting him.”

“You haven’t corrupted anyone yet, K,” Bailey soothed teasingly. “That’s something I’d like to fix immediately, to be honest.”

Dani turned toward the grill. “Jace is here.”

“Oh joy,” Kaya muttered. “Then I’m going for a dip in the pool.”

She hesitated, then got up from her chair and wrapped her arms around Bailey. “A baby,” she whispered. “I’m so happy for you.”

Bailey hugged her back, blinking away tears. Kaya’s own eyes were wet when she pulled back and curled her hands into fists. Oh no. “Is it getting worse?”

Kaya barely nodded before walking away without another word.

“I’ll go say hi to Jace and make sure he doesn’t harass her,” Dani said, a worried wrinkle between her brows. “At least Nick isn’t with him. Those two keep setting each other off these days.”

When they were gone, Bailey laid a hand on her stomach.

Baby Locke, don’t worry about your aunts, okay? They’ll be fine. And you are going to be brilliant. You’ll thrive both these worlds. Shifter and human. I promise you’ll be loved, and no one is ever going to leave you.

Two worlds. The next time she saw Will, she’d have to tell him that she finally understood what it meant. She’d been happy with her small piece of the life pie, for the most part, but there was so much more now. Every day she learned something new. Every day she felt more love than she’d ever dreamed of having. And every day she chose her mates and this big life they’d given her again.