Chapter 12
Camden
“Ican do this,” I told myself. I turned to the side, and although I wasn’t going to be walking around the clinic naked or even half-dressed, I could tell that my stomach was certainly rounded.
I was roughly a month pregnant, had six weeks left to go, and I was skinny.
Maxwell liked to say I was slender, but I had always thought I was just skinny.
“Is that what you’re wearing to the clinic today?” Maxwell asked from behind me. “I approve, but I might have to zap everyone else around because I suddenly find myself a jealous man and don’t want anyone else seeing you like that.”
I grinned and walked toward my mate. “I’m not. I was going to wear a very respectable pair of khakis and a blue button-down. I see that you’re wearing that color, so I’ll opt for the gray one instead.”
Maxwell smiled at me before he leaned down and kissed me quickly. “You can wear blue if that’s what you want. I can change.” Maxwell waved his hand down the front of him, and I watched as his shirt changed from blue to black. I sighed because the man was simply sinful.
I couldn’t imagine myself not being pregnant by the man because he seriously was the hottest person I’d ever laid eyes on. Maxwell stopped, turned, and raised an eyebrow at me. “We can certainly make sure you’re pregnant again early next year.”
I melted on the spot. I couldn’t express what that did to me. My mate was sinfully sexy, and he seemed to be quite happy to give me a family. In short order.
“Umm…yes, please?” I said with a mischievous smile.
“You are trouble this morning,” Maxwell said. “I like it. Unfortunately, you need to get dressed because we don’t have time to end up back in bed or against the wall.”
I knew that was the case. We had already spent more time in bed this morning than we should have. I couldn’t help myself though. When Maxwell woke up with a morning wood, well, I wanted to ride it because it felt so good.
I gave myself another glance in the mirror and nodded. My stomach was slightly rounded. I wondered if I was one of those who was going to pop early, or would my body wait until the very end, and I ended up just looking chunky until it was undeniable?
I picked up my briefs and stepped into them, then reached for the khakis.
I thought about changing them for a pair of darker ones, but I liked how these looked with the blue shirt.
I put the pants on, then the shirt, and as I was buttoning it, I shook my head at the reflection staring back at me.
I finished buttoning my shirt, but instead of tucking it in, I took the tan khakis off and opted for a pair of charcoal slacks. Yes, those looked so much better.
I stepped into my shoes and tied them before I left the massive closet I shared with my mate. I did a little shimmy at the thought of that. I had a mate. Maxwell was…amazing. He was caring and attentive. But he was also sexy and definitely checked all of the boxes I had ever wanted.
The bedroom was empty, but that didn’t worry me. I knew that Maxwell wouldn’t leave without me. He was most likely downstairs, making tea. Because he was absolutely the sweetest. Granted, he’d use magic to make it, but I absolutely would if I had that ability as well.
I hurried down the stairs, making sure I had my hand on the railing so Maxwell wouldn’t worry.
I understood why, and I couldn’t quickly shift into my fox, which was so much better at taking tumbles, so I made certain I did my part to steady myself.
It was such a small ask, and it wasn’t an inconvenience or anything.
I found Maxwell exactly where I thought I would. He was picking up the second travel mug as I entered the kitchen. “Are we going to stop at the bakery on the way?” I asked.
“Yes. Is that all right? I can fix you something to eat if you would like something more substantial.”
I shook my head. “No, that’s fine. Well, maybe? It’s possible that I’ll want something else once we get to the clinic. Do you have an early appointment?” I took the mug of tea that Maxwell was holding out for me.
“I’m not sure. Owen didn’t say that I had an early appointment. I do know that Master Ambrosius is coming in for the four-month checkup for his youngest, Andrea.”
“Is the baby having issues?”
Maxwell shook his head. “Not that I’ve heard. He’s just bringing him in for a checkup. Or more likely, Master Ambrosius is coming in with the baby as an excuse. He’s really coming to get a look at you.”
My eyebrows rose. “Am I news?”
Maxwell nodded. “Very much so. There are a lot who are curious about the council’s new doctor.
Even more who are wondering who it is that has become Dr. King’s One.
Most know that I was absolutely open to finding my One.
Now that I have, I’m certain they are curious about who it is that the fates decided was perfect for me. ”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
Maxwell wrapped his free arm around me, and when he leaned down and gave me a kiss, this one caused my stomach to flip. I didn’t have to look around me to know that he’d used magic to teleport us from our house to the bakery. I was smiling when he pulled away from the kiss.
“What is it that you and the baby are craving this morning?” Maxwell asked. “Still lemon?”
I thought about it for a moment and nodded.
“Lemon could be good. Or maybe Bavarian cream? I’m not sure.
” I got a whiff of cinnamon, and my stomach growled.
“Oh, maybe a cinnamon roll,” I said as we walked inside.
There was quite the line this morning. “Is it because it’s Monday that the line is so long?
” I asked through our bond. We were getting several looks, and I assumed it was because of me.
I was new here. Well, sort of. I’d been here for a little over a month now, but fate had other plans for me first.
The door chimed before Maxwell could answer me, and a gorgeous man with dark hair and bright blue eyes entered. He smiled as he came directly toward us.
“Good morning, Maxwell,” he said, then looked directly at me. “Camden.” He turned his attention back to my mate. “I hope you are doing well? Enjoying yourself?”
Maxwell laughed and shook his head. After a moment, he finally answered, which was probably a good thing since the man looked at me as if my mate had lost his marbles.
“You’re funny this morning, Thomas. You know very well that I’m doing fantastic,” Maxwell said.
He pulled me closer as we all moved up in the line.
“My love, this is Thomas. He’s one of the fates.
Specifically, one of the matchmaking fates.
He and his Chosen, Canyon, are the ones who decide who all is paired with others. ”
My mouth opened, and my eyes widened. Thomas smiled kindly. “I get that look often. How are you doing, Camden? I would ask if Maxwell is treating you well, but I know Maxwell, and he could never do anything other than dote on his One completely and totally.”
I nodded slowly. “Umm…yeah. No. He’s amazing,” I said as I looked up at my mate. “Yes, he completely dotes on me. Thank you for gifting him to me.”
Thomas slightly bowed his head. “You are most welcome. We will be seeing one another again soon, I’m certain.”
“Oh?” Maxwell said. “Is there something wrong?”
Thomas shook his head before nudging to the front of the line.
“Lewis will be finding his other half soonish. He’s not quite ready yet, but I’m thinking not too much longer now.”
Did he just say that Lewis would be finding his mate soon?
Seriously? I glanced up at Maxwell, completely shocked.
It seemed as if my mate was equally surprised.
We moved again, and when a throat clearing finally got my attention, I turned and looked at the other fae. Not Lewis. What was his name though?
“Good morning, Beau,” Thomas said. “I believe that I surprised Camden here.”
Beau. That was it! “Sorry,” I said. I quickly scanned the glass cases.
“Take your time,” Beau said. “We welcome a bit of a slowdown every so often.”
I grinned. “Did I smell cinnamon outside?”
A new guy with a huge smile moved in and nodded. Beau laughed. “You did,” he said. “I’m Banner. I made coffee cinnamon rolls. Did you want some?”
My mouth dropped open again. I was obviously going to look like a fish this morning instead of a fox. “Yeah. Seriously? Coffee cinnamon rolls?”
Banner’s smile was huge. “Yep. How many do you want?”
“At least four,” Maxwell said. I nodded.
“What he said.” I looked at the cases again. “Do you have anything lemon or Bavarian cream as well?”
“We have both,” Banner said. “Did you want one or the other? Or both?”
“Both, please. I’m not sure what the craving is this morning.”
Banner froze with the tongs halfway to the case again. “Cravings?”
I tried to smile. “Yeah?”
“Banner, this is Camden,” Maxwell said. “You weren’t here the last time we were. Camden is Dr. Kennedy, who is joining me at the clinic. He’s also my One.”
Banner’s eyes grew. “You’re mated, Dr. King? Since when?” Banner looked toward the others. “Why didn’t any of you bother to tell me?”
“Because you were busy being in your own mated bliss bubble?” Beau said. He handed a pair of boxes across the counter to Maxwell. “Here you go, Dr. King. These are for the clinic.”
“Thank you.”
I smiled at Banner. “It’s nice to meet you,” I told him.
“Yeah, same.” He grinned. “I’m happy for Dr. King. It’s good he’s found his mate and you’re a doctor.” Banner looked to the left. “Did you do that on purpose, Thomas?”
“It didn’t hurt. Profession is only a small part of who people are though. We pair more for personalities and desires. That tends to work better in the long run.”