Page 49 of Bratva Wolf

She shakes her head. “Childhood doesn’t count.”

“Ha. I didn’t have sex for about two years after my mother died.”

“Really?” She wipes the tears off her face with her t-shirt.

I nod. “Yeah. I worked myself to exhaustion every day.”

She moves around me and sits on the bed. “How’d you getover your mother’s death?”

“I saw the shrink I told you to see. She made all the difference.”

Her jaw drops. “There’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”

I kneel in front of her. “We have the next sixty years to explore each other. Right now, I want you to agree to see Dr. Kemmerer.”

She cocks her head. “Fine. I’ll see her.”

The weight that’s pressed between my shoulder blades in my back eases ever so slightly. “It’s almost five. Want to go out for breakfast?”

“Yeah. I would.” Her hand goes to her abdomen. Does she realize she her hand always goes to our son? Her eyes catch mine staring at her belly and she blushes. “I’m getting fat.”

I swallow, reminding myself to be patient. “You’re stunning. I can’t wait to see you round with my son.” I stand and lead her to the bathroom, pulling off my concert t-shirt she wants to wear every night. “This needs to be washed again.” She nods as I walk us into the shower.

SCARLET

I walk into the classroom after having been gone for over a month and take my seat. My professors offered to let me take a break and finish in the summer and I declined. My professor drones on and I stretch my shoulder. I’ve learned this material already. The only good thing about being home with nothing to do is the chance to get ahead in my reading.

“Ms. Petrova?”

I lift my head as he asks me a question to see if I’ve been paying attention. I answer, and a small weight lifts from myshoulders.

A few minutes later, I step out into the hallway and smile at Thane, who’s leaning against the wall. “You can’t spend all your time with me. You have other responsibilities.”

He shrugs. “I can’t let you out of my sight.”

I press my head against his chest. “Dr. Kemmerer wants me to get back into my usual schedule. That means I go to school or my rotations, and you pick me up.”

“Yeah. I know.”

I shake my head. “I need you to get back to your usual, too.”

He cocks his head. “I’ll try.” Kissing my nose, he grabs my bag and puts it on his shoulder. He looks like a giant carrying a kid’s satchel and I smirk.

“You shouldn’t laugh at the big, bad wolf.”

I put my hand on my chest and fake-gasp. “What big… things you have.”

“Be careful, little girl, or I’ll eat you up.”

“Promises, promises.” I smile, and for the first time in six weeks, my old self is within my reach.

Chapter 15

SCARLET

Thane’s phone pings on the bedside stand. “Thane, your phone.”

He calls from the bathroom. “Who is it?”

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