The King(218)

“Oh, shit. Yeah. And don’t forget the beets. Or the beef.”
“I shan’t.”
“Hurry, okay? iAm’s bringing her in from Pottery Barn.”
Wrath shut the door. “Let’s do it,” he said to George.
And the dog knew right where to go, leading him to the entrance—which Wrath opened with his mind. “Hi, honey, I’m home!” he hollered.
“Did you bring flowers?” Lassiter shouted back.
“Not for you.”
“Damn it. Well, I’m on deck tonight with Tohr, so can we get moving? There’s a full list of appointments, but I want to get back for Hell’s Kitchen.”
“Don’t you DVR that shit?” Wrath groused as he and George went into the old dining room.
“Yeah, but I have poor impulse control. It was on at nine, okay? And I hate waiting. I put George’s fresh water down by your chair, b.t.dub.”
“At least you’re a dog lover. That’s the only thing that saves you.”
“Ha! I have wings and a halo, you cranky son of a bitch. I’m already perma-saved.”
“Just our luck.”
“Hey, my brother,” V said as he came through the archway and lit a hand-rolled. “Where’s your girl?”
Lassiter cut in, “She’s got to be coming back soon, right?”
Wrath had to smile as he took his seat. About the only time that annoying SOB got serious was when it came to Beth—and he had to admit, that was kinda endearing.
“She back yet?” Rhage asked as he walked into the room.
“How long can it take to order baby furniture?” Butch demanded while making his appearance.
“Weeks,” Z answered. “You have no idea.”
And so it went, everyone arriving with the same question, from Blay and Qhuinn to Phury and Rehvenge.
The only one who didn’t ask it out loud was John—but he didn’t have to. Beth’s brother had been a quiet, worried presence since they’d made the announcement of the surprise pregnancy. And Wrath loved the guy for it. John never got in the way, but he was always there, listening to Beth, being supportive, talking with her, bringing her movies.
Funny, the gravity with which he treated the situation made Wrath think of Darius.
God, he wished the brother had survived to see what was coming in … was it only four weeks?
Jesus …
Every time Wrath thought about the impending event, he found he couldn’t breathe. But he forced himself to remember all the checkups iAm had been taking his wife to. Beth was having a perfect pregnancy. She was healthy, happy, eating and drinking, and feeding well—not that Dr. Sam, the human physician she went to, knew about that. And the heart rate was great. And his son was great.
It was almost too easy.
Four weeks to go—
“Leelan,” Wrath barked as he exploded up from his chair.
There were all kinds of deep-voiced greetings, but his brothers got out of the way so that she had a clear shot into his arms. And as he lifted her up, he was careful to put no pressure on her belly.
“How are you?” he whispered in her ear, knowing that one of these days, she was going to answer that she was having contractions.
“Fine and dandy. Oh, my God, I got the best stuff! I had to go blue—I mean, whatever, we’re having a boy. The crib and dressing table are perfect—right, iAm?”
The Shadow answered, “Perfect.”
No doubt the poor bastard had no interest in the shit at all, but that didn’t matter. He was another one who had stuck by Beth and been her protector in the human world—and Wrath knew the why, of course. It was iAm’s way of paying the household back for letting him and his it’s-complicated brother stay at the mansion after their pad at the Commodore had been compromised. Plus, it was pretty obvi that he liked Beth in a nonromantic kind of way.#p#分页标题#e#
“Right? I know, right?” Beth hugged Wrath’s neck so hard he couldn’t swallow. “I’m so excited! I want to meet him now!”
“Is this nesting?” Wrath asked in the direction of where he’d heard Z’s voice last.
“Yeah. And wait for it. You still have Diaper Genies and bottles to get through.”
“We’re going Born Free,” Beth informed him, like he knew what that meant. “In case my milk doesn’t come in.”
Wrath just sat down in the chair and arranged her on his lap, content to ease back and let her enjoy making her report. And the brothers and the fighters? They rallied right around, asking questions like big brothers would.
Any one of them would have laid down his life for her or that young in her womb.
It was enough to make a male have to blink a little faster.
As Wrath held his female, he found his hand making a circle on her rock-hard belly and his brain reverted back to just before sunset. Once he’d gotten over his hang-up about sex, things had gone back to the way they’d been right after they’d met.