by E A Price
She was also training to be a dental hygienist and had managed to get some part-time hours at the town dental surgery working as a receptionist until she qualified. It was weirdly fun to be working and driving; she actually felt a little independent. Not that she would admit that to Carrick, he wanted her to depend on him – needed it even, and she wasn’t about to let him down.
Carrick was beta to the pride. He grumbled and groaned when Asher tried to name him beta, but Lauren told him she was proud of him and that finally convinced him. He wasn’t exactly patient with his pride mates, but Asher was, and the two of them made good leaders together.
It was Saturday, and she had spent the morning working, which left Carrick at home with the monster…
“Lauren!”
Lois came tearing out of the living room the moment Lauren stepped foot in the house, pigtails bouncing, and with a gap-toothed grin on her face.
When Lauren suggested they take in Lois, Carrick didn’t hesitate to say yes. He had a huge heart where Lauren was concerned, and he knew how important Lois was to her. Her parents had been even easier to convince. They were more than happy for Lois to live with them. It made Lauren a little sad to know how little they cared for either of their daughters, but it was for the best. Carrick was wonderful with Lois. He’s the perfect mate purred her tiger.
Lauren leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Hey, sweetie, have you and Carrick had fun?”
Lois nodded.
“What did you do?”
She started jumping up and down, breathlessly reciting what they had done that day, only tumbling over her words a few times. “We had a tea party. And then, and then we went for a walk and, and he carried me on his shoulders, and I definitely saw a unicorn. Then we watched Frozen four times,” she held up three fingers, “and he started snoring.”
“Did he?”
Lois giggled uproariously.
“Okay, sweetie, go wash up for lunch.”
She squealed and ran off to the bathroom.
“No running in the… oh, what’s the point.”
Lauren walked into the living room and only just managed to stop herself from howling with laughter. Her tiger did it for her.
Snoozing in a sitting position on her couch was the reason why you don’t fall asleep around a six-year-old girl. Carrick was now wearing lipstick, heavy rouge, purple eye shadow and a glittery hair accessory. He’d never looked prettier.
Lauren took a quick picture of him with her phone camera – just in case she needed a reminder later – and gently eased herself onto his lap and kissed his neck.
Carrick stirred and a lazy grin settled over his face. “Hey.”
“Hello, beautiful.”
He frowned at her compliment. “You’re home early.”
“The last patient didn’t arrive, so we closed up early. Have you enjoyed your morning with Lois?”
“Yeah,” he admitted chuckling. “She’s exhausting.”
“Just wait until six months from now.”
Carrick beamed and placed his hand over her stomach. Her pregnancy was only three months along, but he swore he could already sense they were having a boy. Her first heat hit a month after they returned from Los Lobos. It didn’t last long. Heats for tiger shifters generally lasted a few days or until they were pregnant. Hers lasted an hour and a half.
Carrick was thrilled when he found out and immediately started decorating the nursery. He was so happy he ran out and bought Lauren a gift – a tortoise called Percy Two.
Lauren nuzzled his neck. “What do you want for lunch?”
His hand ran up her thigh, and she groaned. “To eat,” she clarified.
He leered suggestively, and she slapped his shoulder. “Honestly!”
“Let’s go out. How about that Chinese place you like? I’m sure they have some new waiters for Lois to terrorize.”
“That sounds lovely. I just need to get changed and, ah, you might want to look in the mirror before we go.”
“Hmmm?”
“I just wouldn’t want our lipstick to clash,” she giggled as she moved away from.
Carrick got up to look in the mirror over the fireplace and groaned as he spotted Lois’ makeover.
“Suits you,” she said seriously.
Lois came running into the room and jumped on the couch next to Lauren, immediately hugging her. Lois laughed as she saw Carrick’s stern expression – a response to his makeover. He couldn’t hold the look for long and started chuckling too.
“I love you,” Lauren mouthed at him.
Carrick smiled smugly and mouthed back, “I know.”
Her tiger roared. Mine.
The end
Hello!
Thank you for reading!
If you have enjoyed this and would be interested in reading more, please do sign up for my newsletter from my website: http://elizabethannprice.wix.com/eapricenovellas
The site includes info on previous novellas already available, those planned for the future, as well as the one I’m working on right now. So please, take a look!
Best wishes
Elizabeth