Page 95 of Peacock Me Like a Hurricane

The magnitude of what we’ve done sort of sinks in. ~Oh, God, we’re pregnant. We did it! We’re going to be having a wee one. ~I pull back so I can look at her. That sodding mysterious sting in my eye and a lump in my throat is back.~We’re a family. ~

Her face softens and she whimpers a little, her hand sliding up to stroke over my face. ~A family, ~ she says.~The three of us together will be a family. ~

~Forever. ~

She nods, still stroking over my jaw.~Forever. ~

I cup her face in my hands and kiss her.~I love you so very much, love. I love what we’ve made. Know that I’ve never, never been more satisfied, felt more joy and love than I do right now. ~

Sniffling a bit, she kisses me back, her arms draping around my neck and fingers burying in my hair.~I love you so much ithurts, ~she says in a soft, emotion-filled voice.~I can’t imagine being happier than I am right this second with you here with our baby growing inside me. ~

My heart aches in a bloody good way as emotions swirl between us through our connection.~Inside. ~I span her stomach with my hand, holding it there.~Inside... She’s inside…~

~It could be a ‘he’, daddy. ~Her eyes dance.

Grinning, I shrug.~I can’t say that I care, mum. Whichever’s fine for me. ~I kiss her, my tongue searching out its mate and sliding against it.~Make love with me, baby. Let me love you. ~

~I always do. ~Her body presses into mine, melting against me as the kiss inflames us both.~In fact, I think that’s how she got inside. ~

I slide a hand between us and unbutton the shirt she’s wearing. ~Is THAT what does it? I had no bloody idea. Good thing I’ve got you, baby. ~Peeling off the shirt, my hands trace over her heated skin.

Before she can reply, she pulls back and gives a big, echoing yawn, covering her mouth with her hand.

Smiling, I hold her close and kiss the top of her head.~It’s okay, baby. You can make love to me tomorrow. How about I hold you and watch you sleep for eternity? ~

She blinks her big, beautiful eyes at me as if she’s trying to clear her vision.~Oh hell, baby, I’m exhausted. ~Even her smile’s sleepy looking as she wraps around me.~So long as you stay here with me, eternity is fine with me.~

I draw away from her long enough to get out of my clothes, then slip between the sheets and cuddle her close, curving around her. Brushing my hand through her hair in slow, soothing strokes, I keep feeding our bond with my love, joy, and pride in her.

~Sleep, baby. Sleep. I’ll be here for every tomorrow. I love you, my mate, my love, my heart. ~

~Love you so much baby, ~she whispers, snuggling into my embrace. I feel her emotions. She gives that to me like the most precious gift and I feel her happiness, know that she’s feeling safe and warm and well- loved. Turning on her side, she pulls on me until I’m spooning her, twining our fingers over her stomach.~Tomorrow. ~

As I feel her slip under, draw deeper into slumber, I watch her, listen to her heart. I figure it’s too soon, but I can’t help straining to listen for any sound of life under our hands. I’m not surprised I can’t, but I know that one day soon, I will.

Smiling, lying there, I listen, I watch, and I wait.

The Cat and the Bird Have A Serious Discussion

DELILAH

“This place is a dump.”

I know, I know. You think I’m biased, right? Maybe I’m even being a little snooty after moving to the Rift’s version of the royal vacation home. No, I’m not. It’sbecomea dump.

As much as I hate Sari and Belle for opening this place, I know the power of having a gathering area. It gets people excited because it’s new, everyone is here, and it gives them a place to socialize that doesn’t violate their private spaces. So I relented and didn’t have it blown off the face of the Rift on ‘accident’.

That is what I suspect the Company did to Sari’s previous bar, Dirty Deeds. A sign saying ‘closed’ appeared on the door one day and there was a smoking hole in the ground the next. I’m not sure why Sari didn’t learn her lesson after the first bar went boom, but that’s Sari for you.

Most of my family members have made appearances here since it opened. They’re glad-handing: singing a song or two, taking part in theme weeks, and monitoring the landscape. I visited the first week to make an impression. That is how I knowthat this means that it IS becoming Dirty Deeds revisited. That place needed a power wash to get clean enough to look at the floor and furniture, much less to sit on it.

I sigh, watching various community members take turns at the mic. I listen to some of my friends and their families. They allseemhappy, but I don’t know who is putting on a public face and who is enjoying themselves anymore.

I seem down for someone who got the best news of the century, right?

It’s been a few days since I broke the news to everyone. They acted calm in public, but I don’t trust it. Every single person I talked to smelled like lies—sweaty socks, if you’re wondering—and I couldn’t bring myself to push them until they were honest with me.

Rafe and I discussed their reactions. Sari and Wilde had already warned the rest of the crew before I could even get to them because no one seemed surprised.

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