The smile was gone and she instantly missed it. He leaned close, his fist bunching in her hair. “I take you seriously, baby. Very seriously. I’ll watch my foul temper around our children. All six of them.”

The air was gone again. Not just from her lungs, but from the entire room. She stared up at him, mesmerized by the look on his face. By his eyes and voice. By the way his fist tugged at her hair. By the things he said to her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Go clean up for me.” His hands settled around her waist and he lifted her to the floor, allowing her skirt to drop to her ankles. “And Siena, keep those panties off. Cooking for you, knowing you’re right there, waiting for me, available to my hands, my mouth, my cock—I like that, a fuck of a lot.”

Her womb spasmed right along with her feminine channel. She felt the rush of damp heat and sent him a smoldering look. “I’ll just go clean up. I can’t wait for my first cooking lesson, so hurry, Elijah.” She walked a few steps from him, feeling his eyes. She stopped and turned slightly, heart pounding. “Honey, I know you don’t want me to interfere, but I need to know Alonzo is safe.”

His face turned to stone. Absolute stone. Her heart stuttered. He stepped close, curled his hand around the nape of her neck and pressed his forehead to hers. “I thought we were clear.”

She swallowed—hard. “I know, Elijah. I thought we were, but he’s mine. He feels like mine, and I didn’t do right by him. He saved my life and I didn’t treat him right. I need to know he’s safe.”

His hands went to either side of her neck, his thumbs sliding along her jaw. “You’re mine, Siena. That means I do right by you. That means you’ve got to trust me to make certain your life is good. You got my baby in you. You’re mine. Understand what that means, mi amorcito. I need to know you trust me. People are going to say things. You’ll hear them. They’ll treat you a certain way. You have to hang on to me. You have to know I’m doing right by you. That always, you’re my first priority. Learn that now, Siena.”

She searched his liquid silver eyes. They burned. Took her breath. She read honesty there. She read the fierce, driving need of the male shifter to protect and care for his woman, his mate.