Page 6 of When She Wishes

"Is that bad?"

Yes. It's terrible. I'm a cougar. A knocked-up cougar. Worst of all, I'm still finding him attractive despite knowing this and being excessively pregnant. But it's like the bigger my belly gets, the bigger my libido gets. I'm thinking of him like a partner, and that's dangerous. He's literally just showed back up on mydoorstep today. I need to remember that. "I was just...curious. That's all."

He just grins at me as he picks up his plate. "I don't mind, in case you were wondering."

"I wasn't!"

Chapter

Four

PAYTON

In the space of a week, having Bodhrri around has proven to be both the best and the worst thing to happen to me.

The good—he's turned my farm around. While I've slept more than I could have imagined and remained in bed for most of the day, he's repaired all the bots, cleaned up the barn, and is running a borrowed fencing bot to make another pasture to put the cattle in. I didn't fence off much of the land when I acquired this place, because I could only get the fencing robot for one day before it had to be returned. I figured there'd be more time. Now everything is running smoothly thanks to Bodhrri and his long hours of work.

And that's just outside. Inside, he's cleaned up the kitchen and filled the pantry with all kinds of goodies from the store in town. He's brought me cookies from the baker in town and while they're not fantastic cookies, I eat every single one of them in a sitting. Bodhrri spends his credits to make sure I'm well stocked and says he'll just bill me later. He makes me every meal and constantly presses mugs of hot tea into my hands. He's alwaysthere to puff a pillow up at my side or behind my back, and he's done the laundry and swept the floors to boot.

I feel useless.

It's beenamazing.

I didn't realize that having someone to help out would bring such immediate stress relief. Of course, Bodhrri's taking care of more than the farm. He's taking care of me, too, and I know it's because I'm carrying his babies. No other farmhand would do half as much. It makes me feel guilty, but he hasn't asked about taking a more active role in their lives once they're born.

God. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like trying to run a farm with three (possibly four) infants in my hands. That's a problem for the future, though. I need to get through the pregnancy first.

If having Bodhrri around doesn't kill me, that is.

Because having him take care of me? Having him handle the farm? It's turning me on in the craziest sorts of ways. If he shows up and his mane is tousled or there's a streak of mud in his fur...? Hot. If his coverall tightens as he reaches for something? Hot. If he leans over me and fluffs my pillow and I catch a whiff of his scent? Hot. So hot. Shoving mugs of tea into my hands? It's the stuff fantasies are made of.

I didn't think that having an employee here to handle the farm work would mean I'd spend the rest of my pregnancy in perpetual horniness. Am I uncomfortable and ungainly? Yes. Does my libido care? It does not. It has apparently decided that I need sex and that Bodhrri is the solution to all my problems.

I don't act on it, of course. I don't act on any of it.

But I have lots and lots of dirtythoughts.

Like today. Earlier he made me a breakfast of veggie pancakes (which sounds gross but were actually amazing), changed out the blankets on the bed so he could wash them, and right now he’s tucking me in so I can have a mid-morning nap.

He bends over me and I notice a piece of straw sticking out of his thick, yellow-orange mane. I absently pick it out and hold it up in the air.

Bodhrri's tail twitches and he gives me a sheepish look. "There's not great facilities for bathing in the barn."

Oh, of course there's not. I'm not trying to shame him. I'm just fascinated by his nearness and my brain misfired. "I wasn't...I didn't mean..."

"I know. I just wanted to explain." Bodhrri gives me another cheerful smile. "Which leads into my next question—can I borrow your shower? If it won't bother you to have me in there, of course. If it does, I'll make do."

"You can absolutely borrow my shower. You don't even have to ask." I clasp my hands on the bedsheets, feeling like the worst hostess ever. "I didn't even think about the facilities in the barn. Are you...is it comfortable?"

"I have slept in much worse situations on far less pleasant jobs. Do not worry one bit about it." With a swish of his long tail, he turns and heads for the linen trunk in the corner of my bedroom. "I'll make sure and wash all the towels once I'm done, too."

"Take a break at some point," I joke feebly, gesturing at my body. "Wallow a bit. Like I am."

His expression turns absolutely serious. "You are taking care of yourself and our children. There is no job more important."

I nod meekly, wishing I knew how to talk to him comfortably. To gush out all of the thoughts and feelings I've been having for the last few months, and how those feelings have been amplified in all new directions now that he's here. But I just pick at the bedsheets and feel awkward.

"If you need anything, you come to me, yes? It is my great joy to do this for you, Payton. I hope you realize that."

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