“Why, love?” he asked. “Why are you back to tear out my heart?”
She smiled. “It’s got nothing to do with you. I want our kid to know its father, and when it first changes into a wildcat, he or she will need someone who knows what to do standing by.”
Liam stopped. “Kid?”
“A little half-Shifter boy or girl. I don’t know which; haven’t had an ultrasound yet.”
“Ultrasound…”
Kim laughed in true mirth. “You knocked me up, Liam Morrissey. Now you have to live with the consequences.”
Connor came running out of the house, whooped, and punched the air. “Kim’s pregnant! Woo-hoo!” He hurtled toward Kim, caught her in a hug and swung her off her feet. “I’m going to be a cousin!”
Connor’s shouting drew people outside. Glory emerged first, sauntering down her porch stairs, her tight leopard-print pants startling. Dylan strolled out behind her. He’d moved in with Glory the day after Kim left, further emptying the house.
“Did I hear that right?” Glory called. “You’re up the spout?”
Kim drew a breath once Connor finally put her down. “Confirmed by my gynecologist last week.”
Liam kept wiping his hands on the rag. “I thought you took contraceptives.”
“I was coming up on the end of my dose, and we had a lot of sex, Liam, if you recall. And maybe Shifter sperm are livelier than human’s.”
“Shite,” Liam said around the lump in his throat.
More neighbors emerged onto front porches, and Ellison came around from his backyard, shirtless, his jeans covered with dirt and grass stains. When Ellison understood what was going on, he put his hands on his hips, threw back his head, and howled. Answering howls came from up and down the street.
Great. How long before the news reached the other side of Shiftertown? Five minutes? Two?
“I’m staying, Liam,” Kim said. “Whether you like it or not.”
“Gods.” Liam threw down the oily rag and caught Kim in his arms, damn the stains. He crushed Kim against him, lips finding her hair, her face, her mouth. “I love you, Kim. Don’t ever leave me.”
“That’s the idea.”
“I need you.”
She rubbed his cheek. “I know.”
Liam had driven her away to keep her safe, most of all from himself. But having her in his arms again, smelling her, tasting her, hearing her voice—it broke him, defeated the beast inside him. The feral in him crumpled as surely as Fergus had crumpled under the Guardian’s sword.
Liam held her tighter. “You’re all mine.”
“You betcha.”
Liam touched his forehead to hers. “I love you so damn much.”
Kim grinned at him. “And I adore you.”
Liam gave her a long, heartfelt kiss. She got into it, sliding her arms around him to cup his butt, snaking her fingers into his back pockets. She was a loving, warm, sexy woman. How’d he get so damn lucky?
Liam eased back from the kiss, licking the light bruise he’d already put on her lip. He’d learn how to be gentle with her, tender. And then he’d be wild. The sparkle in her eyes told him she wanted it both ways.