The next morning, Isabel awoke to find James in bed beside her, fully clothed and quietly speaking to Sadie, who was snuggled between them. Outside, the caretakers Isabel had hired for the nursery were already getting the pups up and fed, so she allowed herself to relax a while longer. She peeked one eye open, trying not to think about how nice it would be to have James's arms around her again. Sadie came first, of course, and while Isabel was excited to see her, her wolf struggled with competing desires.
"I don't think it's fair for anyone to be so cute," James was saying, his fingers gently tickling Sadie's tummy. She grinned and giggled, wriggling and stretching her plump arms. "And that smile! It's criminal. Don't you know people will eat you up if you show them that dazzling smile? I'm tempted myself, and I love you to pieces."
Sadie babbled happily at him, speaking her sweet baby language as joy and amusement pulsed through their nascent bond. "Oh no!" James said with theatrical horror. "I don't think I can resist, Sadie bug. It's just too much to bear. I'm going to do it! I'm going to eat you up!"
He lowered his mouth to her tummy, kissing her repeatedly and making exaggerated "nom, nom, nom" noises. Sadie squealed happily, and Isabel could feign sleep no longer. She opened her eyes fully and found James watching her with a look of reverence and overwhelming affection. "Good morning, beautiful."
"Good morning," Isabel mumbled, fighting the blush creeping up her neck and trying to pretend her insides hadn't just turned to mush. She diverted her eyes to the baby between them. Sadie blinked her gorgeous wide eyes at her adoptive mother, and an incandescent smile stretched across Isabel's features. "Hello, my love," she said, running her hand over the pup's downy head. "How long has she been up?"
"Just a little while ago," James smiled. "She didn't make a sound; she just lay there like a little angel."
"That's because she is one," Isabel informed him earnestly, noting that Sadie was already changed into a fresh onesie. She reached through her bond with the little girl but found she wasn't yet hungry and felt perfectly content. Appreciation for James welled in her heart because, even though she'd known he would make a loving father and strong protector, not all Alphas are so eager to do the more tedious parenting tasks. "Thank you for letting me sleep in."
"I figured you haven't had the chance in a while," he replied easily, reaching out to stroke her hair. She should have objected, but she couldn't bring herself to. It felt too nice to be touched this way again, and for the first time since meeting her mate, Isabel truly considered what it might be like to make love to another man. She imagined James kissing her, stripping off her clothes, and exploring her body with his hands and mouth. Much too quickly, her body began to heat up, and she forced those thoughts from her mind. The last thing she needed was for James to scent her arousal.
"When was the last time you slept in?" Isabel asked instead, genuinely concerned that he'd made this sacrifice for her.
"Today was sleeping in," James chuckled. "I've been doing 5 a.m. flights for so long that even making it until now feels like a luxury."
Isabel turned to look at the clock, noting it was already seven o'clock. "What about today's flights?"
"Dominic ordered me to take the day off," James admitted with a frown.
"Are you worried how it will go without you?" Isabel questioned, sensing his disquiet.
He shook his head. "I know the other pilots can handle it." James paused, watching as Sadie rolled over and snuggled up to Isabel's breast with a sweet coo. "Oh, I see how it is," he joked as Isabel reflexively circled her arms around the pup, cuddling her closer. "Now that Mommy is awake, I might as well disappear."
"Nonsense, she loves you," Isabel smiled, trying to block out the sound of her wolf, which was currently demanding that she invite the pilot to hold them.