Page 69 of Shifter's Homecoming

“He’s done it more than once?”

“It’s during sex.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“And he does it every time?”

Reed shook her head. “Not every time.”

Reed bared her shoulder so Rowan could see the mark. It looked more like a flesh-colored tattoo of a cloudburst or a mushroom than a scar or injury.

“The first time he does it, your wings will come out.”

Rowan didn’t know what to say to that. She had been doing ok with the conversation, up until just that moment. “Wings?” she finally was able to say, but weakly.

Reed laughed out loud, but not unkindly. “Hard to believe, I know, I got you, girl. You wouldn’t believe the shit I’ve seen. I only believe half of it myself.” She thought for a moment. “Maybe less than half.”

Reed faced her squarely. “Ok, here’s the big stuff you have to know. There’s a demon, there’s a goddess, there’sshiften…”

Her explanation went on and on for several minutes and with each thing she said, Rowan felt herself be pulled deeper into this crazy world. When she was just about to put up a hand and say, ‘enough,’ and run as far away as fast as she could, she heard a man’s voice.

They both jumped up. Trent came into view on the other side of the tiny window. He had not even one scratch on him. His hair was wet like he’d showered or … maybe hosed off, and he was wearing what looked like a fresh, clean uniform. His boots were on but unlaced, and something about that messy look on this not-messy man undid Rowan. Her tension from what Reed had been telling her slipped away, and her thoughts went to sex.

“Let him in please,” Reed said and immediately the logs and branches withdrew, leaving an opening like a door.

Trent entered and right away he locked eyes with Rowan. Her body responded. She could not help but let her eyes rake down him and then back up. When she reached his face his head was lowered slightly—wolfishly—and his eyes were on her. He winked at her, then licked his lips.

He turned his attention to Reed. “Thanks. Cool tree house.”

Troy came in behind him, also completely unscathed. He rushed right to Reed, took her wine glass out of her hand and downed it all. Then he grabbed the bottle off the floor and chugged what was left in it.

Reed stared at him, mouth open.

Trent shook his head. “Just tell her,” he said.

“Tell me—,” Reed started to say, but then understanding dawned on her face. One hand dropped to her belly. “Am I…?”

Troy dropped to his knees in front of her and kissed her belly a dozen times. “You are,” he said between kisses. “I hope there’s four in there. No, six. No, four.”

“Six.” Reed looked green. She looked like she might fall sideways. “I can’t handle six babies.”

“Don’t worry,” Troy said, propping her up. “You just provide the milk, I’ll take care of everything else.”

Reed shook her head, but then Rowan’s view of her was blocked because Trent moved in close to her. He crowded her up against the wall, one arm around her for comfort. “Did you miss me?” he whispered into her ear. “I missed you,” he said ever so quietly. “I can’t decide what I’m going to do to you first when I get you back inside, fuck you, bite you, or suck on your sweet nipples.”

Rowan shuddered, hot thrills shooting through her body. Her fingers convulsed weakly on his arm as his words made her imagine it.

Insatiable. She couldn’t wait…

… and since she was taking birth control pills, she did not have to worry about whether she was ready for six babies or not.

46 - Definitely Destiny

Trent took her hand and pulled her toward the door. Rowan mouthed ‘congratulations’ and waved good-bye to Reed, who still looked shell-shocked, but managed to wave back weakly.

Down the steps they went, then out into the open air, past the pool of poison, past the puddle of water on the concrete from the hose, up the porch steps, and that’s when they smelled it, the dusty, bad-intent smell of the poison.It seemed to fall no more or less than once every 24 hours, but the timing was not consistent. To Rowan, it smelled like what she imagined it must smell like in a field of uncontrollably burning oil wells in the middle east, like she’d seen on the news.

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