Page 64 of It Must Be Fate

I don’t think anyone hears what he says. We’re all too focused on the fact that he struts in shirtless. He holds Suki with one hand against his bare chest as he goes in search of her forgotten paci.

She’s so tiny that she barely covers up one of his tattooed pecs, making him look even larger than he already is. His muscles ripple beneath her body, the sinewy perfection of his abs making me drool. Every part of his chest is defined like it was chiseled by hand using fine tools.

He seems completely unaware of the effect he’s having on me, my friends, and my lady parts.

His gray sweatpants are slung dangerously low on his hips, revealing the deep V of his muscles. The physical need I have to lick a path down those lines and straight to the promise land makes my blood throb in my veins.

“Ah, there it is,” he says, finding it on a bookshelf. “Sorry, she just projectile vomited all over me so I’m between shirts at the moment.”

He holds our daughter with such ease against his strong body. There’s something about it that sends a bolt of lust straight to my pussy.

I didn’t think Tristan could get any more attractive than in his professor era. That really felt like the hotness equivalent of the peak of Mount Everest—the limit had been reached and yousimply couldn’t go any higher. And yet it’s beingeasilyblown out of the water by him as a father.

When he’s met with resounding silence once again, he turns around with a questioning expression on his features. He takes one look at my face and hisses in a breath.

“Watch it, Nera.” His voice is heavy with intent and deep in tenor, his words more of a promise than a threat. “Or else.”

I clear my throat of the needy moan that’s itching to break free. “Or else what?”

He walks up to me and cups my chin with his free hand, tilting it upwards. “I’m not going to say it in front of your friends, baby.” He pulls down my lip slowly, his thumb abrading the skin. His hungry eyes linger on my mouth, his voice turning husky with arousal. “But you know.”

He walks out without a backwards glance, but I see him adjust himself in his trousers as he leaves. An anticipatory shiver shoots from the bottom of my spine and up to the base of my neck.

Behind me, Thayer whistles wolfishly.

I turn towards her, face flaming bright red. “What?”

She looks to either side of her, first at Six who’s smiling knowingly, then at Bellamy, who’s making every effort to hide her laugh, and finally back to me.

“I want to be the first to officially congratulate you on your next pregnancy, Nerita. I’m thinking baby number four will be with us exactly nine months from this afternoon. With this one, we might actually be able to time it down to the minute we leave your house.”

I gasp and clamp a palm over her mouth. “You shut your mouth right now. Don’t you dare say that within earshot of him, what if he actually hears you?” I release her, then add, “My vagina is screaming just thinking about it.”

“Girl, and my mouth was watering just looking at him.For you,” she quickly adds when I glare at her. “For you, of course.” She grins. “You should have him walk around the house shirtless more often, that was the best part of brunch.”

“You have one at home, just look at him.”

She shrugs. “I sure do, but it’s always fun inspecting other available merchandise. And, let me tell you, Tristan is a luxury good.”

“I’m going to kick you out of my house if you keep mentally ogling my husband.” I wave my hand energetically in her face and she laughs. “Forget you saw that!”

The doorbell rings. The girls throw me a questioning look that I give right back to them because I’m not expecting anyone.

I pull up the door cam app on my phone. Tristan had it installed the moment we brought the twins home. Having kids has made him even more protective than before.

I smile when I see who’s at the door and set my phone back down on my lap.

“Bellamy, do you mind getting that for me, please?”

“No problem,” she answers, getting up and heading towards the hallway.

“You’re making the pregnant lady get the door?” Thayer asks, incredulous.

A deep voice followed by a delighted squeal answer her question for me.

A knowing look crosses Thayer’s face. “Ah.”

The muffled voices continue for a couple of minutes while Thayer, Six and I talk, and then Bellamy joins us back in the living room. She’s clutching a bouquet of flowers to her chest and holding a paper bag in her hand.

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