It was enough to cool her hunger, a little.
Mal scowled after Finn, then scooped her up, hanging her over his shoulder so she was eye-to-butt with him. “I’m familiar with this view.”
“Enjoy it,” he said, playfully swatting her rear.
She hung there, relieved when he went through the back door. Jessa was in the kitchen. She giggled but didn’t stop them.
“Mal,” she squealed, the sound of the pack’s voices carrying down the hall. Finn and Jessa seeing her naked was one thing. But the rest of the pack? No, thank you.
He carried her into their room and tossed her onto the bed. She wasn’t sure what she expected to see on his face. Hunger, frustration, even anger—he didn’t like being told what to do. Seeing the shift of uncertainty and worry was unexpected.
He disappeared into the bathroom before she could say a word. She lay there, listening to the shower, wishing Finn hadn’t found them. Now that he had, there was no guarantee Mal would come back ready to pick up where they’d left things off.
She sat up, wrapping herself in the quilt at the end of the bed.
Finn hadn’t been happy. She only hoped he and Mal could find a peaceful way of working through this. Whatever this was.
She sat on the floor in front of the fire, running her fingers through her snarled hair. A twig was stuck, making her concentrate on the tangle until it was free.
“Get it?” Mal’s voice startled her.
She smiled, turning to face him. But whatever comeback she had was forgotten. His shaggy hair was wet, his snug fitting jeans and skin-tight gray T-shirt almost as big a turn-on as seeing him naked. His feet were bare and sexy. Not that she’d ever considered feet sexy before. “I think so,” she murmured.
“I’ll be back.” He swallowed, his attention riveted on her bare shoulder.
“I’ll be here.” She only hoped he’d hurry.
She waited ten minutes before taking a long, hot shower. When he wasn’t there when she finished, she dressed in some of Jessa’s sweats and a large flannel shirt and headed to the kitchen. Her stomach was empty and growling—far too embarrassing to be sexy.
“How was it?” Jessa was feeding something orange to a blue-eyed baby boy. It was in his hair and all over the bib he was wearing.
“Fun.” She smiled at the baby. “You must be Oscar.” She stooped, smiling as he slapped both his palms against the tray of the high chair.
Jessa laughed. “The one and only.”
“He’s adorable.” Olivia spied the stack of empty baby-food jars. “He’s quite the eater.”
“He’s always like this after the full moon.” She wiped his face with a wet-wipe.
“He…he shifts?” Olivia asked.
“Yes.” Jessa nodded. “But this is the first time he didn’t sleep through it all. He shredded a pillow and chased Hollis around the bedroom.”
“Hollis doesn’t go run?”
“Hollis can’t shift. He has a heart murmur.” She shrugged. “Instead, he gets horrible flu-like symptoms for a few days.”
“I think I’d rather shift,” Olivia said, spying a gorgeous green apple. “May I?”
“Olivia, please. This is your home now. Help yourself.” Jessa pulled Oscar from the high chair, laughing at the sounds he made.
Oliva watched her carry the baby to a large mat on the floor. “I can help.” She hopped up, taking Oscar from Jessa.
“I’m so big, everything’s harder to do.” Jessa smiled. “Thank you.”
Olivia nodded. Oscar had bright-blue eyes, like his father. And when he stared at her, another bond was formed. Just when she thought she was getting the hang of things, she was blind-sided. Like now, holding Oscar. This little boy was important, like his father and his mother. He was hers, too. And she, her wolf, would do whatever they must to keep this little boy safe and happy.
Chapter Fifteen