“I’m talking to you right now, B.” She walked toward the great hall, which would lead to the doors to take them outside of the sprite compound. “So how can I be avoiding it?”
He sighed. “Don’t be obtuse, Jennifer.”
Jen felt his frustration through their bond, but that wasn’t all she sensed. There was also excitement, joy, and love. Her mate wasn’t just happy she was pregnant; he was ecstatic. It was practically suffocating her.
“I’m suffocating you?” His voice sounded hurt, and Jen cursed herself for not censoring her thoughts.
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed.”
“Maybe you should stay here and guard the children. Not because I don’t think you can’t handle yourself—” he started, but Jen turned and held up her hand.
“I understand what you’re saying, Dec, and I’m sorry you feel the need to walk on eggshells because of my reaction the last time you suggested I stay.” She stopped walking, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them and met her mate’s amber gaze. “I love you. And I am so excited that we’re going to have another hellion to turn loose in this jacked-up world. But I need to do this. I have a gut feeling that Ineedto be there with Jacque.”
He stared at her, his eyes searching her face even as his mind looked into hers. Jen left the bond completely open, allowing him to feel everything she felt. “Okay.” He reached for her and pulled her tightly to his body. “I love you so damn much.”
Her lips turned up in a small smile. “I know you do. You tell me every five seconds.”
Decebel chuckled. “You’d complain if I didn’t.”
Jen patted his chest. “Yep.” She pulled back and lifted her face to his. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She sighed and soaked up the adoration she felt from him. One of his arms released her, and his hand rested against her stomach. It reminded her of when she’d been pregnant with Thia. He had loved to touch her stomach and press his ear against it to listen to their daughter’s heartbeat.
“And I do again,”Decebel said through their bond. He dropped to his knee and pressed his ear to her abdomen. Jen ran her fingers through his hair, and he hummed.
“He’s got a strong heartbeat.”
“Psht,” Jen huffed. “Already wishing for a boy?”
He turned and pressed his lips against her stomach, and then stood. “There is no way I can handle another female, mate. If this little one isn’t a boy, I will happily live in a doghouse.”
“Ha … ha … ha,” she deadpanned. She saw the playfulness on his handsome face, and her heart felt lighter. “You have to be able to put a doghouse together before you can live in one.”
A smirk appeared on his face, and his eyes danced with a wicked gleam. The same gleam that had put Jen in her current condition—with a furry bun in the oven. “Has it been too long since I span—”
“Nope.” She pressed a hand to his lips. “No dirty talk around the bean.” She pointed at her stomach with her free hand. “We didn’t censor ourselves while we were pregnant with Thia. I think that’s why she’s such a nut.” She tilted her head and screwed up her face. “A nut I love, of course. But a nut, nonetheless.”
“Are you sure it’s not just your genetics?”
“Who wants a spanking now?” She pushed him away with a laugh at his rumbling growl.
She started off again and picked up her pace as she heard him pursuing. She felt Dec’s eagerness to catch her through their bond. As they reached the outer doors, he scooped Jen up in his arms, and she let out a ridiculously girly scream, which was cut off by his lips against hers.
“Glad to see you two are attempting to rip each other’s clothes off in public again.” Jen heard Jacque’s voice. “Oddly enough, I find this more comforting than when Jen is shoving your hands away, Decebel.”
“Don’t be jealous, Red.” Jen pushed at Dec’s chest until he finally put her down. “I’ll totally tell you the secrets to getting yourself knocked up again, and it doesn’t even have to includepublicrelations.”
“Why do I feel like she’s not talking about the PR that involves improving communications between species?” Sally stepped outside with Costin at her side.
“Because she doesn’t know what kind of PR that is,” Crina answered.
Jen snorted. “I have obviously trained you all too well in the art of sarcasm. Remind me to knock you off your high horses when we get back.”
“You can try.” Zara joined the group.
Wadim gave his mate’s butt a pat and grinned. “Only if I get to watch.”
“Perv,” Jen muttered.
“Takes one to know one.” Wadim winked.
