Thargen spread his arms wide. “Our three favorite terrans!”
“Going to guess they’re also the only terrans you know,” Drakkal said with a smirk, though he didn’t take his eyes off Shay.
The vorgal flashed a toothy grin. “Doesn’t change the fact that they’re my favorites.”
“The real test would be for him to choose which of us is his most favorite,” Shay said.
Thargen barked laughter and dropped into one of the breakroom chairs. “Might be crazy, but I’m not stupid.”
Shay grinned. “Good answer.”
Drakkal moved to stand in front of Shay and held his hands out. Shay’s smile softened as she lifted Leah off her shoulder and placed her in the big azhera’s arms. Despite the immense size difference, Drakkal was delicate with the baby, cradling her on his right arm and leaning down to nuzzle her forehead.
“She just eat?” he asked.
“Yep. She’s been changed and has a full belly.”
He lifted his left hand and gently tickled Leah’s belly with his forefinger. The baby’s little hands latched onto it, and she stared up at Drakkal in wonderment. Drakkal smiled down at her, and suddenly, Leah smiled back. Drakkal’s ears perked and his eyes widened.
“She smiled!” Despite her excitement, Shay couldn’t help feeling a little bit jealous that Drakkal got the first one.
Drakkal’s smile stretched into a grin. “Guess I’m the fun one,kiraia.”
“She probably just realized how funny looking you are,” Thargen suggested.
Leah smiled a big, gummy smile again.
“That is too cute,” Samantha said.
Shay sat back and swept her eyes over Drakkal, who was beaming with love and pride. “Now we know she’s a daddy’s girl for sure.”
“Was there any question of that?” Drakkal asked. After a few more seconds of staring down at Leah, he finally looked at Shay again. “How’d it go earlier? What’d Urgand say?”
Shay caught a loose strand of her hair and twirled it around her fingers. “I’ll have to tell you inprivate.”
That fire she’d come to love so much sparked in his eyes, giving his grin an entirely new meaning. “Is it almost nap time?”
Shay sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately, she just woke up from one.”
“Oof. Cock-blocked by a newborn,” Thargen said with a chuckle.
Drakkal turned his head toward the vorgal. “Looks like we have a volunteer.”
Thargen’s face sobered, and his eyes rounded. “What? What the fuck you talking about, Drak?”
Samantha brought a hand up to cover her mouth and stifle her laughter.
“You just volunteered to watch the cub for a little while. About an hour”—Drakkal glanced at Shay again, and eyes smoldering—“maybe two.”
Fuck yes.
Shay grinned at Thargen. “How thoughtful and sweet!”
Drakkal walked over to the vorgal, who was staring at him with a look of confusion and terror. Without missing a beat, Drakkal placed Leah in Thargen’s arms and stepped back. “Good luck.”
Thargen’s eyes dropped to Leah before returning toDrakkal with a pleading gleam in them. “What am I supposed to do with it?”
“Her,” Drakkal corrected.