"What did I tell you about calling me weak? You must want to be punished later," Grant whispered against her ear.
Darn it all! She did not want to get hot and bothered during an emotional meltdown at the table. She must look like a ninny!
"Have you seen me lately?" Meryn demanded. "I'm fucking huge! Like seriously." She pointed down at her belly. "I'm not all sexy curvy like you. It's starting to look like I've swallowed a damn beach ball." She shrugged. "If Aiden pulls me onto his lap and risks me squishing his nuts, I let him. It makes him happy to go all caveman, and if he drops me, Ryuu will shock his ass."
Ellie stared. "I don't know what to say to that."
"I do." Grant nipped at her neck. "Don't squish my nuts."
"Did he just make a joke?" Declan crowed.
Adriel rubbed his chin. "I do believe he did."
"You see, my love, I told you you're beautiful." Grant wiped away her tears.
"You know, maybe I'm starting to believe you."
And she was.
CHAPTER NINE
Ellie inhaled deeply when they walked through the door of the house they were sharing with her gram on Level Six. Checking in on the kids took longer than the previous night since there were more children. By the time they had finished with the nightly doses she was starting to get hungry again. She followed her nose to the kitchen. Two plates of assorted cookies covered with plastic wrap were on the table.
"Gods, what's that smell?" Grant asked.
She held up the plate. "Cookie?"
"Is that my plate?"
She turned her body, guarding the plate. "No. We have to share. The other plate has a name tag for Meryn."
Grant eyed the second plate and shook his head. "I'm afraid of what Meryn would do to me if I ate her cookies."
Giggling, Ellie set the plate down and removed the plastic. She picked up her favorite peanut butter oatmeal cookie and bit it in half.
Grant stared. "Damn, that was sexy."
Ellie chewed quickly then popped the rest of it in her mouth before grabbing two more. Grant was practically inhaling the chocolate chip cookies. He looked around until he located the refrigerator. "Please gods, let there be milk," he pleaded. He opened the door and sighed in relief grabbing the carton.
Ellie opened a few cabinets and found the plates and glasses. He poured them each a glass before returning the milk to the refrigerator.
"I could eat these every day," he announced happily.
"Me too."
"Keep the kitchen stocked for me and I will gladly make you both cookies," a warm amused voice said from behind them. They both turned and hid their cookies behind their backs guiltily. Marjoram laughed. "Too late, I already saw you got into the cookies. Eat up, it's why I made them." She sat at the table, uncovered the cookies, and grabbed one for herself. Ellie and Grant grinned at each other, sat down with their milk and plate of cookies, and continued eating.
"I'm glad you're both here," Marjoram began.
Ellie froze. "The children?"
Marjoram shook her head. "They're just fine. No, I wanted to discuss something else with you." She eyed her granddaughter. "Ellie, have you given much thought to moving here?"
Ellie nibbled on her cookie. "Of course. Grant's here, so I'd have to move." She frowned, thinking of her lab. "Maybe I haven't thought it all the way through."
"I didn't think so. I took the liberty of speaking to Magnus, such a lovely boy." Ellie and Grant exchanged looks, and Marjoram continued. "When he heard about your research, he offered to put in a lab next to Broderick's for you."
Ellie dropped her cookie onto the table. "What?"