Savage Craving - Cecilia Lane Page 0,41

she corrected—and Seth’s. The space felt more lived in with photos on the wall and little touches that offered signs of life. A pregnancy book lay open with the arm of the couch marking someone’s spot. On the coffee table, the face of a chubby-cheeked baby adorned a parenting magazine.

Seth’s room felt sparse by comparison.

“Excited?” Lilah asked, holding up the magazine.

“Thrilled!” Hailey gushed as she bustled around the kitchen. “I’ve always wanted a big family. We waited to try until we were clear of the whole Jasper death cult thing, but that fucker had to rain all over our good news. Surprisingly, Trent hasn’t gone off hopped up on bloodlust to track him down, but he’s been redirecting those urges into prepping. Those are his, by the way. Every time he tells me something I already know, I just remind myself that he’s not trying to be annoying. Besides,” she paused and a huge grin spread over her face as she laid a hand over her still-flat stomach, “it’s pretty adorable to wake up with him whispering to the little one.”

Lilah doubted she’d ever be able to look at the man in the same light now that she knew his secret. All tough, growly exterior, and a perfectly gooey center for the loves of his life. Hailey was an incredibly lucky woman. They all were, actually. She doubted Trent was the only one who let his gruffness slide for his mate.

“What about you?” Hailey continued. “Any little rascals in your future?”

“I don’t know.” She set the magazine back on the coffee table. “I used to think so, but I haven’t found the right person.”

“Or protective bodyguard?” Hailey asked with a waggle of her eyebrows.

Lilah let off a startled laugh. She felt a blush spread over her cheeks. “Is it that obvious?”

“The staring and spinning away act you two have perfected kind of gives it away.” Hailey crossed the room and took a seat on the couch. “So, dish. I’m dying for some good gossip.”

“We... kissed,” Lilah admitted. “Then slept together.” At Hailey’s gasp, she quickly corrected, “In the same bed! Not slept, slept.”

“Just kissed and laid together inches apart for hours on end.” Hailey gave her a thumbs up and disbelieving nod. “No big deal, right, sure.”

“I don’t even know!” she lamented and sagged against the couch. “This is so strange. And sudden. Not to mention dangerous.” She winced and looked away from the other woman. She picked her words carefully, drumming her fingers against her leg in the seconds of silence. “I’ve... had run-ins with shifters. Before Jasper. Before they were out. A boyfriend was involved, and I’m sure you can imagine the difficulties trusting people that created. And Seth… I don’t know. I feel like there’s more to him than he’s showing me.”

“Trent hated humans. Then he met me.” Hailey brought her fingertips under her chin and fluttered her lashes in a picture of innocence. Her joking dropped away with her hands and she turned sympathetic eyes on Lilah. “People suck, but they can also be incredible forces for good. They can leave impressions, scars, good memories and bad, but you’re the one that places the importance on one thing or another. I just hope we’ve shown there’s more good in the world than bad.” She jerked her thumb to the guys gathered around a grill on the other side of the window. “Them? They’re some of the good ones.”

Lilah nodded. They’d been nothing but good to her. Wild, yes. Frighteningly savage at times when their lions ripped out of their bodies and they tore into each other. But there was gentleness, too, like with Trent buying baby books or Seth running his thumb over her inner wrist to bring her back from the edge of panic.

The Crowleys, at least, weren’t monsters. They’d become friends.

The rumble of another truck pulling into the yard pulled her from her thoughts. Hailey leaned around her to check the windows. "Looks like that's the last of the arrivals. Let's get these outside, and then we can feast."

Lilah caught the potholders Hailey tossed in her direction, then dutifully followed the other woman back into the evening air. Under Hailey’s watchful eye, she deposited her pan of enchiladas at one end of the table line.

“Jackson!”

Lilah looked up to see a woman with a long, red braid chasing after a blur of blond fur. Shouts rose up as people jerked and jumped aside on the heels of the cub’s mad dash of keep away. The