Bait & Switch: Book 4 of The Claimed Series

Lena and Webb had it all figured out. They couldn't go about the start of their budding family in a traditional way, but they were willing to try anyway.

That was until Hugo came to town.

Thinking a chance at a true mate had long-since passed him by, Webb picked up the pieces of Lena's tattered heart years ago only to break it again when she was most vulnerable.

"What are you doing?" Hugo questioned.

"Touching the baby."

"You're-what?"

"His hand is on my belly," I told Hugo. "It's the closest you can get to touching the baby. If it makes him feel better..." I drifted off, closing my eyes again. There was a heavy silence in the room.

"Does it...does it feel like anything?" Hugo asked.

"No, her tummy is still flat," Webb said. I could hear the smile in his voice as I was pretty accustomed to it after living with him for so many years. " But I can almost imagine I can feel him or her kicking in there."

That was met with another long pause.

"Can I feel?" Hugo asked. He sounded like a boy of 2 years old, wanting to touch some animal in a petting zoo.

"Sure," I said, my eyes still closed. This was getting weird.

I heard Hugo get up and then move over to the other side of the bed before hopping on. Then two hands were on my stomach, still as they tried to sense any movement. I almost wanted to laugh at the two of them. Both stubborn.

"I see what you mean," Hugo said. "It's almost like there's something moving around inside there."

"Well, when you're done, turn the damn light off," I grumbled, tired enough not to care if they continued to place their hands on my belly.

"Sorry, Lena," Webb said, and flicked the switch off.

I was soon asleep in the land of nod. If I had any interesting dreams, I didn't remember them, though I woke up with two warm bodies on both sides of me, their hands still placed over my stomach.