“Daenae play with me. Nae about this.” His hand came up to cup her face. “Are ye with child?”
She nodded, unable to speak past the sudden tightness in her throat. She’d known for a week now, had been trying to find the perfect moment to tell him. And this, here by the river where so much of their story had unfolded, felt right.
“Aye. I’m pregnant. We’re havin’ a baby.”
For a long moment, he just stared at her. Then, without warning, he pulled her into his arms with enough force to nearly knock the breath from her lungs. His face buried in her neck, his shoulders shaking slightly.
“Elijah? Are ye all right?”
“I’m... I’m more than all right.” When he pulled back, she was shocked to see tears in his eyes. “I’m elated. Overwhelmed. Terrified. But mostly elated.”
“Terrified?”
“Of messin’ it up. Of being the kind of faither to this child that me own faither was to me.” His hand moved to rest against her still-flat stomach. “But also determined nae to be. Determined to be better.”
“Ye will be better. Ye already are.” She covered his hand with hers. “Look at how ye are with Codie now. How ye play with him, listen to him, make him feel important and loved. That’s the kind of faither ye’ll be to this baby too.”
“Ye really think so?”
“I ken so.” She smiled. “Besides, ye’ll have me there to keep ye in line if ye start gettin’ too broodin’ and beastly.”
“I’m nae beastly anymore.”
“Ye’re a little beastly, but I like it.” She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his mouth. “I love ye, Elijah Craig. Even when ye’re impossible.”
“I love ye too.” He kissed her, his hand still pressed protectively against her stomach. “God, Iris, I love ye so much. Thank ye. Thank ye for givin’ me this. For givin’ us a family.”
“It’s what I wanted too.” She rested her forehead against his. “A real family. The kind I never had growin’ up. The kind where people actually care about each other.”
“We’ll give both our children that. Codie and this new little one.” His voice dropped lower, rougher. “And later, when we’re alone in our chambers, I’m going to show ye exactly how happy ye’ve made me.”
The promise in his words sent heat spiraling through her. “Is that so?”
“Aye. I’m goin’ to worship every inch of ye. Show ye with me hands and me mouth exactly how much I love ye, how grateful I am that ye’re mine.” His thumb traced along her jaw. “I’m goin’ to make ye scream me name so loud the entire castle kens how well I take care of me wife.”
“Elijah,” she breathed, her cheeks flushing. “Codie’s right there.”
“Then I suggest ye compose yerself before he comes back.” His grin was wicked. “Though I’m nae promisin’ to behave meself once we’re alone tonight.”
“Ye’re terrible.”
“Ye love it.”
She did. God help her, she absolutely did.
“Maither! Faither! Look what I found!” Codie came running back, his hands cupped around something. “It’s a perfect skippin’ stone! Can we try to skip it across the water?”
“The water’s too rough here for skippin’ stones, lad,” Elijah said, but he was already standing, offering Iris his hand to help her up. “But we can try at the pond near the castle. The surface is calmer there.”
“Really? Ye’ll teach me?”
“Aye. I’ll teach ye.” Elijah pulled Iris to her feet then surprised her by keeping her close, his arm around her waist. “But first, we need to tell ye somethin’. Somethin’ important.”
Codie’s eyes went wide. “What? Is somethin’ wrong?”
“Nay, nothin’s wrong. In fact, somethin’s very right.” Elijah looked at Iris, silently asking permission. She nodded. “How would ye feel about havin’ a little brother or sister?”
Codie blinked. Then blinked again. “What? Really? Ye mean... Maither’s havin’ a baby?”
