Blake’s mom jumped in. “There’s no rush. I didn’t have Blake until I was thirty and everything worked out just fine.” She smiled. “I’m sure Jasmine wants to finish school first anyway. I’ve heard she’s a great student.”
“Just don’t wait too long,” Blake’s dad chimed in. He looked over at Blake and said, “You either, Blake. Let’s make sure the pack stays nice and strong for the next generation.”
Blake rolled his eyes at his dad. My dad pulled me aside and said, “Hey, Luke, while I’m here, do you mind fixing something on my iPad for me? I can’t get into my emails anymore.” I told Jasmine I’d be right back and walked over to the living room, where my dad’s iPad was lying on one of the end tables, to see what was wrong with it. Last time he had accidentally put it in airplane mode.
As I played around with his iPad, I glanced back over at Jasmine who was laughing at something Blake whispered in her ear. She pushed him on his arm, and he snickered at her, smiling much wider than I had seen him smile in years. She returned the smile, her eyes shining as she looked at him. In reaction, my hands gripped the iPad very tightly, practically breaking it. They were clearly much closer than they had both led me to believe, their chemistry evident. Jealousy at the pit of my stomach, I observed as they were lost in their own world, apparently oblivious to everyone around them.
Blake’s mom finally tapped Blake to ask him something, and I could see that he was surprised, as if he’d forgotten where he was. He followed his mom to the kitchen while Peyton and Lauren went over to talk to Jasmine.
I finally figured out that my dad had simply moved the icon for his email on accident, so it was no longer in its usual place in the bottom menu, but on a different screen instead. I moved the icon back to where it was previously and handed it back to him. Blake, his mom, and my mom helped Connie bring all the food out to the dining room table and then they called us to be seated.
I sat next to Jasmine, Lauren on one side of me and my mom next to Jasmine. I looked down to where the former alpha was sitting at the head of the table. Blake was sitting next to him, smile replaced by his usual scowl. I wrapped my arm around Jasmine’s shoulder, feeling the need to show that she was mine.
The dinner went smoothly, Blake’s dad abstaining from his normal running commentary. I wasn’t sure that Jasmine was ready to be exposed to his brute personality quite yet—better to ease her in.
During dessert, my nieces and nephews all made plates and went over to the living room to play Xbox while the adults stayed at the dining room table. “How are you feeling, Lauren?” Blake’s mom asked my sister.
“Not too bad actually. Not too many symptoms, thank Goddess! Last time I feel like I lived in the toilet bowl I was throwing up so much. But no nausea this time around.”
“But she definitely has some of the better symptoms.” Lauren’s mate, Isaac, winked and smirked at the table.
“I know exactly what symptoms you’re talking about,” Ryan chimed in. “That’s definitely the best part of pregnancy. It was like heat all over again. Peyton was so horny all the time. That’s how we figured out she was pregnant this time around actually.” He laughed.
Peyton hit his arm and said, “My parents are sitting right in front of us, Goddess!” Everyone began laughing, including my parents.
“I’m definitely going to miss these days once the baby’s born,” Isaac added, bringing Lauren closer to him. He turned to me and said, “Don’t worry, Luke, you’re next. My advice, though? Don’t mark her until after marriage. Enjoy heat sex for now—it’s the best.”
“Oh my Goddess, Isaac! You guys are the worst!” Lauren yelled. “How did my sister and I end up with such pigs for mates!”
Ryan and Isaac started snorting, setting off laughter again.
Something about this conversation made me feel uneasy though. And then I thought to myself,No, Lucy and I had always been careful, hadn’t we?It was impossible. I kissed Jasmine on the cheek, pushing the thought from my mind.
Chapter 41
Jasmine
OnSaturdaymorning,Iheaded to the gym early, before work. I was surprised to see Blake again once I got there, especially with it being so early in the morning. “Why do I keep bumping into you at this gym?”
“I told you, the women are hotter at this one than mine.” He smirked. “Actually, I got here early because I have to meet with some of the trainers in an hour to discuss training plans for all of the pack members. Most members come in on Saturdays for their training appointments, since they work during the week, so we thought it would be a good idea to meet ahead of their day. I figured I might as well get my own workout in beforehand. And, since you’re here, you can be my benching partner now.” He winked at me.
“I feel like I don’t have a choice.”
“Come on, you know you want to watch me work these guns. I’ll even take my shirt off and give you a whole show.”
I smiled and playfully pushed him on his arm, shaking my head at how arrogant he was. He led me to the benches and strolled over to the racked weights, ready to pull some off to place on a barbell.
Glancing over at me, he asked, “So, how much do you press?”
“About 180.”
“Nice,” he said approvingly, and placed the plates onto the barbell for me. He went behind the bench and waited for me to lie down so he could spot me. I began lifting as he kept his hand under the barbell, ready to catch it. “Damn, watching you bench all that weight’s so fucking hot. I think we need to become official gym partners.”
I got up after eight reps. He added weights to each side for himself. Then he removed his shirt, and—dear Goddess!—I couldn’t help myself as I stared at his broad shoulders and perfectly formed pecs. My eyes traced the flawless ridges that outlined his statuesque abs, to his stomach with a dusting of hair that trailed from his belly button and disappeared underneath the waistband of his sweatpants. Damn, was it hot in here, or was it just me?
He lay down and I spotted him as he benched, not able to pull my eyes off his body as all his muscles flexed while he lifted the barbell and breathed heavily. I felt a tingle between my legs as I watched him, completely turned on. I couldn’t deny how hot he looked.
“Don’t get too distracted watching my ripped body. You still need to spot me.” He laughed. A flush burned across my cheeks at getting caught.