out of my thoughts. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m just tired.”
“That seems to be your constant state.”
After placing a kiss to my nose, he gets to his feet and then picks me up. It never ceases to amaze me how strong he is. Even with the added weight from my pregnancy, Jaxar still carries me as though I’m a child. At least he doesn’t treat me like one.
He settles me onto my side of the bed, tucking the furs around me. I hold out my arms, signaling I want a kiss, and he obliges, letting his lips linger. For someone who didn’t know what a kiss was, he’s sure gotten really good at it.
“Sleep well, Massela.”
“Sleep well,” I say back to him.
He walks to the other side of the bed and slips between the furs as Tika rolls close to me. Even though she sleeps in the middle of Jaxar and me, my daughter always seems to find me. I gather her to my chest and stroke her hair as my entire body relaxes. Across the expanse of the bed, Jaxar stares at me, his eyes never leaving my face. His tail slithers across the mattress and wraps around my ankle. My husband refuses to sleep without touching some part of me, and with our daughter wedged between us, it’s become a challenge.
I gaze at him for a moment longer before closing my eyes and letting sleep claim me. With Jaxar’s hold on me, plus Tika’s little breaths fanning across my chest, I’m finally ready to rest.
At this moment, I have never been happier.
Chapter 2
“Makayla.”
Before the sound of my name penetrates the fogginess of my brain, Jaxar is out of the bed. He crosses the room and jerks back the tent flap, affording me a view of Scarlett on the other side.
The only problem is, Scarlett is getting quite the view herself, since Jaxar is naked. Actually, Draal is as well, since he’s a short distance behind her. That habit of Jaxar’s is something I’ve been able to curb but not quite get rid of. The only thing I can say is that I’m grateful he refrains from going nude in public now. However, answering the door in such a state is not beyond him.
“What is wrong?” Jaxar asks, his words clipped.
The fiery redhead keeps her gaze level, and it’s not just so she doesn’t see my husband’s dick. It’s also because she’s not scared of him, even if he is the Masse.
“Vivian’s in labor and is asking for Makayla,” Scarlett says. “I’ve come to get her.”
The second I hear her say Vivian’s name, I get out of the bed and hurriedly put on my clothes. My friend needs me, and that has me wide awake, despite the late hour.
Jaxar’s gaze darts in my direction briefly, and then he exhales. “The Massela will be with you shortly.” He lets the tent flap fall into place as he crosses his arms, facing me. “Do you want me to come with you?”
I shake my head at him and wrap my shawl around my shoulders. “Human births, especially the first one, usually take a long time. You should rest.”
“You know I will not be able to sleep without you. And it’s not me who needs the rest, wife. You should not be up all night.”
I walk up to him and get on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I promise to take a long nap when this is over.”
He grips my upper arms and gazes down at me, worry clouding his golden eyes and making them less bright. I give him a reassuring smile as my heart expands in my chest. There’s never a time he isn’t concerned about my well-being, and he never tries to hide it, no matter if there’s an audience or not.
“Very well,” he says.
I brush my lips across his quickly and then step outside while he holds back the flap for me, effectively flashing everyone once again. I really need to address this topic once I’ve slept.
“Are you keeping watch, Draal?” the Masse asks, his gaze sliding to me.
Draal nods. “The Massela will be guarded at all times.”
Jaxar grunts as I weave my arm through Scarlett’s.
“When did her labor start?” I ask.
“It started hours ago, but Anwa said she’s in active labor now.”
With Draal trailing us, Scarlett and I make our way through the camp until we locate Vivian’s lodging. Frixon is pacing outside the door, his tail jerking with sharp movements. I can’t imagine how hard this