with that small act, I can’t imagine what will happen when I see him without a shirt covering his chest. A chest I know is muscular and strong. His shirts aren’t able to hide the defined abs and chiseled masterpiece he’s procured between what must be hours spent working out. My tongue dries with the thought of him sweating while doing ab curls and running on a treadmill. His thighs appear to be as big as the trunks on trees—thighs that I long to run my hands up and down while exploring his masculine form. “Earth to Vaughn, are you still there or did I lose you?”
“Huh? Yeah, sorry,” I abashedly respond, trying to deny to myself that I was just caught red-handed—not wanting to believe I got lost in lustrous thoughts and was caught daydreaming while he was speaking to me.
“What has you so distracted over there?” he asks, but I’m not buying his innocent act with that question. I’m pretty positive I wasn’t hiding anything in my pursuit of his physique. Not only that, but I know my arousal hasn’t escaped him either, judging from the answering arousal I’m scenting from him.
“Just thinking about everything that’s taken place since you’ve been here and I found this precious jewel resting in my arms,” I respond, thinking it’s as good as any excuse I can come up with on the fly.
“She’s turning green. Do you think she’s fixing to pull an exorcism move like in that movie and vomit everywhere?” He takes a big step back while asking this.
“Are you afraid she’s gonna projectile and hit you way over there?” He’s wearing a disgusted yet fearful look at the same time as he’s training his displeased look at me. How he’s managed to get three emotions shared with one look alone has me stumped.
“I don’t do vomit,” he admits as he leans his upper body closer to inspect Emmaline further.
“Or shitty diapers I presume,” I tease him while working hard to hold my laughter inside.
“Uh, no, definitely not,” he admits as he places one foot closer to our proximity.
“But blood, guts and gore are okay?” I continue with the questions.
“Well, yeah,” he says, finally taking another step closer.
“She just needs to be burped, Trigger. It’s fine, you can come closer,” I explain to him while lifting her up on my shoulder and gently patting her back. It doesn’t take long for her to release the gas and his eyes widen in surprise.
“I didn’t know such a little being could produce such a mighty burp,” he says in awe as his eyes keep watch of Emmaline.
“Okay, Scar and I are here,” Shyla announces as she scurries into the room with the leopard baby boy in her arms. She quickly turns and shuts the door behind her. I watch and it shuts in her guard’s face as she sticks her tongue out at him like an immature brat. What shocks me most is that I catch a glimpse of him returning the gesture with one of his own before the door slams. Seems those two aren’t getting along. I decide that I need to speak with Trigger later and have him issue her someone new.
“Scar? Who the hell is that?” I ask her in befuddlement. Do we have a new shifter on the island I’m unaware of?
“Him,” she says, pointing down to the squirming bundle in her arms.
“Um, why did you name him that?” I’m almost scared to hear the answer but ask it anyway.
“You know, after that animation movie for kids, duh.” Shyla rolls her eyes as if I’ve lost a brain cell or two.
“The Lion King?” I ask with a raise of my brows.
“Yeah, that’s the one,” she agrees with a point of her finger in my direction.
“Um… Shyla, one, that’s a movie about lions and you have a leopard in your arms. Two, you know Scar was the bad guy, right?”
“They’re all cats, Vaughn, what’s the difference?” she asks with a shrug of her shoulders.
“As are you, but your mother didn’t give you a ridiculous name such as that,” I point out.
“It’s a badass name, Vaughn, admit it.” I sigh in defeat, there’s no changing her mind once it’s been set on its course.
“It’s...different,” I eventually decide on saying instead of what’s really on my mind.
Trigger
My jaw drops as Shyla announces the boy’s name. She’s joking, right? Please Lord, tell me she’s joking and is not really naming that boy Scar. He’ll be stuck with that the rest of