Page 30 of Kissing the Kelpie

“It won’t overflow either. We added a drain so if the water rises too high, the drain will lead excess water away from here.”

“We?”

“Em and me.” Now they’re working together? I thought Em’s loyalty was supposed to lie with me.

“I replanted a few flowers like the ones around the large spring. Em said they’re your favorite. We need to give it some time for new ones to grow. And in the winter, when it’s cold, we have a big, beautiful fireplace inside.”

I open my mouth to say something, but I can’t find words to express how I feel. I’m speechless. As the next intense pain rips through me, I’m breathless as well. The baby kicked; I swear it’s trying to break its way out of my body. I swear it broke my pelvic bone.

“Say yes. Be my life companion. Whether it’s thirty years or a hundred.”

I want to. My tear-filled eyes soak Finn in. I study the nuances of his handsome face. In his heyday, Fabio had nothing on him. The blue of Finn’s eyes—his perfectly sculpted strong, chiseled jaw and straight nose. Finn is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t just possess magic. He is magic. Looking at him makes me forget all the reasons why we shouldn’t be together.

I can see it now, the future he promises. A family and a happily ever after. Growing old together. All I have to do is survive this pregnancy. He loves me, and I love him. Oh boy, do I love him. More than I imagined was possible.

“Finn . . . I. . . lo . . .”

“Shh. Save your energy.” There’s an urgency to his voice.

I nod. I can’t speak. I don’t have the strength.

“Masha! Stay with me. Masha! Em, help!”

I close my eyes and welcome the darkness.

Chapter 21

“Wake up!” A hand jostles my shoulder. “Masha. You need to wake up.”

I struggle to open my heavy lids. I’m confused. Immersed in the private spring next to the house he built for us, Finn faces me, shirtless and still in his human form. How? His hands rest on my sides and hold me upright. I look down as I process his words.

“How’s the pain?” He asks, concern etched on his face.

“Bad,” I whisper. “But tolerable.” Which is a world of improvement from before I lost consciousness.

“Good.” He nods, looking almost smug. “I thought the water would help. You need to stay awake now,” he says as my eyes close again. “The baby is coming.”

“Then get me out of here,” I whine. “I need a bed.”

“No. It should be less painful if you stay here. If I’m correct, the water will allow the baby to be born with a tail instead of four legs. I think that’s why you were in so much pain. Our little nugget sensed you were on land and shifted into horse form.”

I narrow my eyes at him, not sure I believe him.

“Are you saying I’ll give birth to a horse if I get out of the water?”

He shrugs. “It’s a possibility.”

“Don’t you think you should’ve disclosed all this before you knocked me up? I hate you, Finn!” I splash water in his face.

“Don’t be angry. You wanted to couple.” His lips curl up on one side before he corrects himself. “Excuse me, fuck.”

Now I’m the one offended at the word. “Yes, but I didn’t know you were a kelpie or that you were trying to get me pregnant!” I grunt.

He smiles, infuriating me.

I splash him again, but my intended reply morphed into a guttural scream. Labor is not fun. “What’s so funny?” I ask once I find my voice.

“I tried to impregnate you, but I had no idea if it would actually work. Kelpies and humans have never conceived before.”

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