Page 116 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“It’s not as stupid as it sounds.” She threw her hands up. “It’s not like I knew what I was doing. I still don’t know what I’m doing. I have all this magic, supposedly, but...” She dissolved into tears and flopped onto the leather couch. “You’ve had almost a thousand hundred years to get ready for kids,” she croaked. “I’ve had a couple of weeks.”

“Until the day I met you I never even considered being a father.” I covered her hand with mine as I knelt before her. “Not once in all my centuries....until I met you.”

“And now you’re suddenly ready?”

“No.” I laughed at the thought. “I’m terrified.”

She rubbed her chest. “You don’t feel terrified.”

That was the problem with our bond. Thea might feel most of my emotions and even hear my thoughts, but sometimes she missed the nuance. I couldn’t blame her for that. My own feelings were everywhere and even worse, trying to give her boundaries left me feeling out of balance. No sooner did I think I had a grip on myself than some new consideration overwhelmed me again.

I sat back on my heels, still clutching her hand. I needed to get control of myself. I couldn’t care for Thea like this, and if I was right, that was now my primary job.

“I am fucking scared,” I whispered. “Scared that I’m going to fuck this up. Scared I won’t be male enough to be a good mate—a good father.” The word even felt funny on my lips. “I’m scared that I’ll lose you again. I’m scared that I’ll be like my parents.” She laughed softly at this despite her tears. “I’m scared about what happens when everyone finds out. But there is one thing that I’m not scared of.”

“What is that?” she asked, her shoulders trembling, tears soaking her cheeks.

“Of us.” I leaned forward and carefully rested a hand over her abdomen. “Of this love I feel for both of you. Because I know that it’s worth all the fear. I know that no matter what happens nothing can change how I feel about you, except maybe I’ll love you even more.”

“What if I can’t do this?” she whispered.

I released her hand so I could brush her tears away. “You can.”

“How can you be so sure?” It wasn’t a question. It was a plea—for proof, for assurance. Not just that she could carry our child but that she could be a mother. I understood where it came from, even though I knew her fear was unwarranted.

“Because you are strong and brave and full of magic, but also because you are kind and good.” I paused and drew a deep breath. She might not believe anything I said, but I would spend the rest of our lives proving it was true. “I never thought I would find someone like you, because I never dreamed someone like you could exist in this fucked up world.”

“I know what you mean.” She sniffed. “But, Julian, I need to understand my magic before...”

She placed her hand over mine, and I smiled, understanding what she couldn’t say. “I understand. We’ll find someone to help you with it.”

Her head bobbed a little. “And I still want to take a pregnancy test.”

“Deal.” I couldn’t help but smile. Pushing to my feet, I whipped out my phone, buoyed by her abrupt lack of resistance.

“What are you doing?” she asked as I punched out a text.

“Getting that test.”

“Now? It’s the middle of the night!” She jumped to her feet and grabbed for my phone.

“We’re vampires, pet. We like the middle of the night.” I finished sending the text before grabbing her around the waist and lifting her off her feet. “It will probably take a while for Celia to bring it. What do you want to do?”

“Well, I haven’t seen the rest of the house.” She laughed, nuzzling into me. “Where do we sleep?”

“Sleep? Are you tired?”

Thea rolled her eyes. “Just take me to bed, old man.”

She didn’t have to ask twice.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

JACQUELIN

I hoped Julian and Thea were enjoying their impromptu holiday because I was not enjoying dealing with, well, everyone else.

“This is my job. I took a vow to protect her!” Aurelia glowered at me. She paced the length of my sitting room. Moonlight caught her face as she passed under the large windows overlooking the garden.

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