Page 74 of Peacock Me Like a Hurricane

“Don’t fret, beloved. She will be ours again. The blustering bird may have won this round with his surprising surrender, but we will be victorious.” He logs out of his account and stands, taking my hand. “Let’s go find our family and have an enjoyable night out. There will be time to discuss our plans more tomorrow.”

I smile up at him.Where would I be without him?

The Cat One-Ups A Bird Gift

TAURUS

Icouldn’t help myself.

I felt so good about her damn ceremony and our decision to try for a wee one—I had to get her something. The goddess would laugh me out of the house if she saw me right now.

It didn’t feel right to follow the ‘big secret’ with something equally big, so I didn’t go to Amsterdam or South America to look at stones. I figure jewelry the likes of which I’m considering should be its own big moment.

Instead, I headed to Italy and saw the hairy git. I swear to Christ, that little weasel can’t stop himself from touching parts of me that donotneed tailoring. The minx would’ve found it funny for ten seconds before she filleted the best tailor I’ve found in years.

Regardless, I’m carrying a large box wrapped in hunter green and gold with my purchases tucked inside.

When I get to our place, she’s sitting on the bed with Aradia while she works on her laptop. I suppose she’s sending out another blog entry or working on the plans for that blasted party for her primary. She’s got on the glasses she only wears when no one can see her. You’d think someone with a predator’s eyeswould switch to that vision, but she’s got so much human left in her that she puts them on to work with technology. It makes me chuckle and squeezes my heart every time I see it.

I cough, letting her know that I’m coming. Chuckling when I hear her scrambling to stow the glasses in the bedside table drawer, I wait for a moment.

When I finally round the corner, she gives me a big grin. “Hello, baby. Did you have a good day at work?”

She’s pretending not to see the honking great box I’m carrying. For someone mated to so many people, she’s unfamiliar with people doing things to make her smile. It makes me wonder what went on with my brother’s family and what still goes on with the gnome’s family. She’s always eager to show an abundance of gratitude—almost a little too eager, but who the hell am I to complain?

I pad over to the bed, sit the gift down, and kiss her. “I did at that, my love. I had Italian after my trip and they were delicious.”

Her eyes widen. “You didn’t!”

“Of course not, minx! You never waste good, and that hairy little prat is the best tailor I’ve found on three continents. I found some petty thieves to snack on.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, she gives me a crooked grin. “Stayed with the wicked this time to make me happy?”

I grouse under my breath and push the box towards her, not wanting to admit it. “I’m not getting any younger. You plan on opening this or what?” Her chuckle is pleased and I pummel myself internally.

The minx has me tied like a bow and she bloody well knows it.

Her claws flick out and she cuts the ribbon, trying to stop herself from ripping in like a toddler on Christmas Day. When she gets inside, her gasp makes me beam. I think I got it right.She holds up the infant-sized duster that matches ours—right down to the silk lining with the peacock and panther design. The git assured me it wouldn’t matter if the nipper turned out to be a girl or a boy—it would fit. She’s cooing and making squishy womanly sounds that make my black heart burst with love. When she looks up at me, the look in her eyes floors me for a moment and I don’t have words.

Sod off. It happens, even to me.

“It’s beautiful—no, perfect.” She leaps forward and knocks me to the bed, kissing all over my face like a cartoon character, and I laugh.

Christ, the things I do to make her smile and the things she does to me when she does. “You haven’t changed your mind about the wee one after the magickal minx reveal? You’re not worried that we’re going to make a baby of infinite power that will destroy the Universe?”

Her snort is loud as she sits on top of me, her lips quirking up. “Baby, I’d be disappointed if wedidn’tmake a baby that threatens the fabric of our existence. It would boggle the mind.”

I grin and kiss her. “A powerful mite she shall be then, I’m sure.”

Her brow arches as she gives me a look. “She?”

“Not that I’m averse to a son, but honestly? I have a yen for a girl.”

“Oh, yes, Daddy’s little princess. I canseeyou buying the entire stable when she asks for a pony!”

I frown. “A pony’s got to have somewhere to live, right? There’s nothing wrong with that.”

She laughs again and leans down, her hair cascading over us like a waterfall of soft crimson curls. “You are adorable when you’re being all silly.”

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