Claire’s eyes widened at this news. “You mean you’re doing this? You’re shifting to make it bigger?”
He nodded, then caught the lobe of her ear in his teeth and sucked lightly. “Anything for my lady’s pleasure.”
“But Kyle,” she cried. “You shouldn’t be shifting. What about the possibility of destabilizing the cells further, to the point of breakdown?”
Kyle straightened with a sigh. “I don’t really think that’s likely. Mostly I just didn’t want to have to share you with Jill anymore tonight,” he said, then added with a wry smile, “Getting you naked was also a consideration.”
Claire narrowed her eyes on him. “Kyle, you may be able to fool Jill with that, but I’m as savvy on the experiment as you are. I know there is some worry that—”
“Some small worry,” he acknowledged. “But very small, and you’re worth the risk.”
“Oh, Kyle,” Claire breathed, pulling him back down toward her. “That’s just the sweetest thing ever.”
Epilogue
Five years later
“I can’t believe Kyle agreed to babysit,” Jill said as they got out of the car.
Claire laughed as she led the way around to the trunk to unload the goods they’d bought. “He knew I wanted a special dress for the graduation next week. I have to look good when I become Dr. Claire Lockhart.”
Jill smiled faintly at her obvious pride in finally achieving her doctorate, but shook her head. “Still…”
“Oh, come on,” Claire chided. “Kyle’s a great dad. He loves little Beth.”
Jill snorted. “He loses little Beth every time he babysits and it drives him wild.”
Claire laughed again, the laugh of a wife and mother who was happy and satisfied. It was five years since their high school reunion and her first date with Kyle Lockhart. Four years since she’d become Mrs. Claire Lockhart, and two years since they’d had their first child. Claire was now three months pregnant with their second child and already couldn’t wait for Beth’s little brother or sister to be born. She was hoping for a boy. Nothing would make her happier than giving Kyle a son to go with his daughter.
“Kyle!” Claire yelled as she led Jill into the house. “We’re back!”
A childish giggle answered her from the end of the hall and Claire started slowly forward, carefully scanning the floor as she moved toward the kitchen. She was nearly at the kitchen door when she stopped abruptly and shook her head.
“You little dickens,” Claire chided. “Are you playing hide and seek with your daddy again?”
The uneven bit of floor she’d noted gave another little giggle and suddenly shifted into a naked baby girl with curly strawberry blond hair and big blue eyes.
“Claire!” Kyle came rushing down the stairs, his hair and clothes a tousled mess, his eyes slightly frantic and a diaper and pink dress in hand. “I can’t find Beth. She shed her clothes and is hiding on me again. She—”
He paused, blinking abruptly as he noted the child standing, leaning against her mother’s knee.
“Oh, Beth,” Kyle breathed with relief, hurrying forward to scoop her up into his arms. “Naughty girl, scaring Daddy like that.”
When his daughter’s only response was to giggle, Kyle shook his head and bent to kiss Claire softly on the lips.
“I love you,” he breathed by her ear before straightening.
“And I love you,” Claire assured him.
She watched with a soft smile as Kyle moved off down the hall, reprimanding their daughter as he went.
Five years had passed since the day they’d both been exposed to the destabilizer. They’d managed to keep their secret and still see John Heathcliffe lose his position for his “attempt” to test the destabilizer on a human. And, so far—much to their relief since they’d passed their condition on to their child—there didn’t appear to be any terrible side effects to the exposure to the destabilizer. If anything, it tended to make life more than a little interesting.
LYNSAY SANDS
LYNSAY SANDS is the national bestselling author of the popular Argeneau vampire series, including A Quick Bite. Known for her humorous edge, Lynsay delights fans everywhere with stories of the unexpected.
Visit her official website at www.lynsaysands.net.
CHAOTIC
Kelley Armstrong
For Alexander and Marcus,
who keep my life “chaotic”
but in a good way.
1
“S o what kind of stories do you cover?” he asked, bathing my face in champagne fumes. “Bat Boy Goes to College? Elvis Shrine Found on Mars?” He laughed without waiting for me to answer. “God, I can’t believe people actually buy those rags. Obviously, they must, or you wouldn’t have a job.”