Page 66 of Twilight Longings

She looked up at him and laughed. Maybe he was right. “Can I ask you something?”

“You know you can ask me anything.”Here it comes,he thought.The question he’d been dreading.

“If I decide to stay human for a while, could we adopt a baby?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“But you don’t.”

“I won’t lie to you. The truth is, I’d rather not. But if it will make you happy, then I’ll do my best to be supportive. I know how much it means to you.”

Kadie blew out a sigh, then rested her head on his shoulder again. “Never mind. It was just an idea.”

“Kadie—”

“Just forget it. It won’t work unless it’s what we both want.”

“Dammit, Kadie … don’t do this. I’ll love the kid because you do. And I’ll be the best father I can. You gave up your chance to be a mother to stay with me. I won’t deprive you of the opportunity now.”

“Rylan, I can’t ask it of you. I won’t.”

“Look at me, darlin’. I’ve lived a long, long time. I think I can put up with a kid for eighteen years or so. I love you, Kadie. I know this is important to you, and that makes it important to me.”

She looked up at him, tears shining in her eyes. “Are you sure?”

“I said it, didn’t I? Have I ever denied you anything?”

“Just my freedom years ago.”

“Are you ever gonna forgive me for that?”

“No. I’m going to thank you.” Putting her hands on his chest, she pushed him down on the bed. “I’m going to thank you for making me the happiest woman in the world.”

“Oh?”

She grinned at the evidence of his arousal. “I see you already know what my thank you entails.”

“I’m hoping.” Falling back on the mattress, he pulled her down on top of him. “When you’re done giving me your thanks,” he said, a thought whisking their clothes away, “maybe I’ll give you a thank you of my own.”

“Oh, yes,” she whispered, breathless with anticipation. “Please do.”

They were a few minutes late to the party. Kincaid threw Saintcrow a knowing grin when they arrived. “About time you got here,” he said. “Rosa was going to call you, but I talked her out of it.”

“I appreciate that.”

Kadie glanced around the room. Everyone was there—Ethan and Sofia, Micah and Holly, Rosa and Jake. All the people she considered her family. All vampires. The women all gathered around her, hugging her, telling her how worried they had been, how happy they were that she had recovered.

“What are you going to do now?” Holly asked.

“Are you going to ask Saintcrow to turn you again?” Sofia queried.

“I’m not sure,” Kadie replied. “We’re thinking of adopting a baby.”

“Really?” Sofia exclaimed. “That’s wonderful. It’s been a while since we had a baby in the family.”

“It’s not definite yet,” Kadie said. “Is it hard, Sofie, raising a child in a vampire household?”

Sofia shrugged. “Not really. At least not now. Jenny is still too young to be trusted with the truth. I’m not sure how we’ll explain that her parents are vampires when she’s old enough to understand. But we still have a few years to figure that out.”

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