“I love you, damn it!” he snarled, picking her up into his arms and squeezing her. “I love you to distraction. There! Is that what you wanted to hear? That I can’t stand the thought of you not being here! That the idea of you being in another man’s arms makes me want to smash the man’s face. And abuse my position by tossing him into prison and forgetting about him!” He lifted her up into his arms, carrying her out of the library. “Is that what you needed to hear?”
“Yes!” she replied, laughing and wrapping her arms around his neck as she hugged him. “Yes, that’s exactly what I needed to hear!”
There was a growl in his voice as he carried her back through the room they had just left. Medira looked up and smiled reassuringly. Shanta was holding a colorful toy, oblivious to her parents’ absence at the moment.
“She’s fine,” Zantar assured Faye as he carried her down a short hallway and…into the bedroom!”
“You’re going to make me crazy, woman!” he warned her as he laid her down on the bed, then moved over her, covering her with his body. “I love you!” he said, this time the words were simple and powerful and he followed that statement with a kiss against her lips.
“That works too,” she whispered, her love for this man overwhelming her.
“Any chance you might want more kids?” he asked, shifting so that their bodies were more perfectly aligned.
Faye groaned, arching against him now. “I don’t think that’s a fair question to ask me when I’ve only had three or four hours of sleep.”
He bent to nibble at the base of her throat, creating another kind of moan from her. “So if I were to ask in…say…another couple of months, you might have a different answer?”
She laughed this time. “It’s possible. But I’m not going to promise anything until I get more sleep!”
“Fair enough,” he said, then proceeded to strip off her clothes and discover all of the lovely ways that pregnancy hand changed her body. His fingers and mouth, tongue and even his teeth explored, teased and tasted every part of her body. He paused at the silver lines along her hips, kissing them and stroking her inner thighs when she started to become self-conscious. He moved lower and lower, pressing her wider until he could breathe in her scent. When she started to protest, he became even more curious. But there weren’t any hidden changes there, even as he explored thoroughly. Very thoroughly!
When she cried out with pleasure from her first climax brought on by his exploration, he lifted himself higher, stripping off his clothes before moving between her legs.
“You’re beautiful, Faye,” he said, taking her hands and shifting so that she was on top of him. “Every inch of you is absolutely beautiful!”
“I’m fat now,” she whispered, agonizing over his comments. But he didn’t allow that. He simply started his exploration all over again, proving that he loved her new curves.
“You’re not fat,” he told her when he entered her this time, condom firmly in place to protect her. “You’re absolutely beautiful. And even more lovely now because of the changes.” He saw the moment she accepted his statement and slid deeper in her heat, being extra careful, wondering if she was tender after giving birth. She only hissed once and he backed away, gently moving back into her warmth. When she didn’t hiss this time, he moved deeper and deeper.
Shifting inside of her, Zantar forced himself to hold back, to give her every bit of pleasure possible. He’d been so angry with her yesterday, but now, knowing what she’d gone through and why, he wanted to make it all up to her. She’d been trying to protect him! Damn her, the silly woman! The silly, beautiful, amazing…he couldn’t think any longer, his mind and body absorbed in the intense pleasure surrounding him. He could only feel now. Feel and absorb her cries of happiness. When he felt her getting closer, Zantar reached down, sliding his thumb against that nub to bring her closer because he couldn’t hold back any longer. She just felt too good!
When he felt her shivers of release, only then did he allow himself to climax as well. He had no idea why, but this time, it was a thousand times better! Maybe because he knew that she loved him. Or maybe it was because she was here, in his bed and he didn’t have to wonder where she would be next week or next month. She was his.
When it was all over, Zantar pulled her over until she was resting against his chest, staring up at the ceiling while he tried to catch his breath.
“Are you okay?” he asked, brushing his fingertips down her spine.
She laughed, but snuggled closer to him. “Yes.”
“I hurt you initially, didn’t I?”
She stiffened, then turned her face, kissing his chest. She didn’t answer for a long time until he finally lifted his head, looking down at her. “Faye?”
“I’m fine,” she told him, acting as if that were the end of the conversation.
He rolled over, looking down at her. “What’s wrong?”
She looked up at him, her fingers tangling in his hair. “Nothing is wrong,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was absolutely beautiful!” She shifted her leg so that she more perfectly cradled his body. “When are we supposed to be married?”
He groaned, then looked at his watch. “About an hour ago.”
He laughed when she leapt out of bed, then dove for cover when she remembered that she was completely naked. She merely grabbed his shirt and rushed into the bathroom.
Zantar followed at a more leisurely pace, more than ready to delay the wedding for another hour.