Page 61 of Emerald Waves
We need to set alarms on your phone to remind you to eat. You have two very special people to consider now.
This was going to be one very long pregnancy with a helicopter mate. But then again, that was better than being ignored.
I’ll be out in a few.
“I knew better than to believe that.” Caro’s voice startled me. “Sorry, my love, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He slid a plate in front of me with the largest sandwich I’d ever seen.
“I’m eating for one, not for Alex’s army.”
His boisterous laughter filled the room. “Noted, but I’d rather go big.”
I almost added, than go home, but we were already here.
“How did the meeting of the minds go?”
“Well,” he sighed as he sat, not a good sign. “We’ve all got secrets. Things have happened over the centuries. Now that all of mine are out in the open it’s a matter of where to go from there. But to find that Mattias and I were so closely linked was a bit of a shock. I mean, as kids we were tight, but the affinity part of that equation hadn’t sunk in until recently. That and the fact that he’d been following me all these years. But I feel his secrets run much deeper than he’s letting on.”
That thought was a bit frightening, given the things the brothers saw and had done. Sometimes it was overwhelming knowing my mate was thousands of years old while I was barely in my thirties.
“Honestly,” it threw me a bit to think this, let alone admit to it. “I feel bad for Ionus. I’m sure he’s not exempt from holding secrets either, but he’s very hard on himself and expects to know and understand everything.”
“We’re all a work in progress, from birth ‘til death.”
“True. Maybe you can find a nice way to reiterate that to him. You’re closest with him of all the brothers.”
“Nice?” he arched a brow. “Is my mate insinuating that’s not the norm for me?”
Shrugging was the best response I had. “We didn’t exactly start off on the strongest of grounds.”
“True, and I accept full responsibility for the mistakes I’ve made with us. Emerson,” he came around to my side of ourpaired desks and lifted me from the chair, then sat with me upon his lap. “You and our baby are the best things to ever happen to me, and I’ll spend eternity making it up to you.”
From nothing to spoiled, all it took was finding my mate.
“Here,” he placed the sandwich to my lips. “Eat. We’re building the next line of protectors.”
“Building? Is it like a dragon erector set is growing inside me?”
“Quite possibly. Or the next bookworm archivist. I’m good either way.”
“Good to know, since they will choose their own path in life, and we will love them no matter what.”
“Spoken like the true genius you are. Your heart is so full of love, Emerson. I can’t wait to see you as Daddy and me as Papa.”
“Same.” The overwhelming sensations at finding I was with egg had since waned. “Why don’t you walk me through the construction plans rolled up on your desk.” I’d purposely not unrolled them, wanting to hear and see the excitement I knew filled my mate. He’d given me so much already. Love, a home, my dragon, and now I would return it in the best way possible—by carrying our baby.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He sat me back in the chair and gathered the plans to spread across my desk. “In here, where we spend most of our time, I wish to carve a bassinette between our desks from the beautiful rock that surrounds us. Then the baby is always here with us when we’re working.”
Tears filled my eyes at the thoughtful suggestion. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
Caro kissed me. “Fantastic, I’m building that myself, so I’ll get started immediately. Regarding the nursery, I chose a neutral pallet. Earth tones, of course.”
“I’d expect nothing less. Will it be fireproof?”
“Absolutely. With a crib made just for our little, one carved out of the finest oak and stone. A day scene will be carved into twoof the stone walls, falling into night along the others. Dragons in flight, the moon high above illuminating their beautiful colorful scales.”
“Mate,” I gasped, on the verge of tears. Damn these hormones.
“I’m glad you like it. I put a lot of thought into it and our contractor was so enamored he immediately placed the supply order. He’s also carving us a large rocker for two so we may lull our bundle of joy into slumber together.”
