His smile was private as he ran those chilling eyes over my face. “It’s all right, Gwen. I like having a secret with you, too. And I’ll never tell.”
I hopped over a deep rut in the dirt. “So if you’re not going to tell me the reason why you killed Lord Pippin, which pisses me the fuck off, do you want to talk about this whole children clause you put into the vampire and druid laws?”
Bel hummed softly. “What do you want to know about it?”
“I’ll start with a more practical question. Do you realize you just sealed the druids’ fate toalwayshave a vampire ruler? If you had died at some point in the future, a druid could have taken over. Now, it’s set for only a vampire.”
“Yes, I did realize that.”
“And you don’t care that you took away that choice from them?”
“I think I workedthree thousand yearsto get the Original druid amulet back so that our people on Earth could co-mingle without being spurned or killed. I think I will raise my children to have the same opinions I do, with safety and love and justice in their hearts. And my children will be physically strong and magically powerful. They will bemorethan any other druid or vampire. What kind of magic they hold shouldn’t matter as long as they are the best rulers that the people can have. My children will be that.”
I lifted my brows high on my forehead. “How do you know your children will bemore?”
Bel’s eyes caught mine. He didn’t flinch. “Because I ammore, Gwen. You know this.”
I shrugged one shoulder. “I just wanted to hear you verify it.”
“You are so adorable. And a little annoying.”
“And you’re still on my shit list.”
Bel snickered. “Doo-ly noted.”
I blinked. “That was bad. Don’t try that again.”
“Not funny?”
“Not in the slightest.” I sighed and stared up at the limbs shading us from the sun of a brand new day. “On to the personal question now. You obviously plan to have children with me at some point. How do you think that’s going to happen? Natural relationship? Artificial insemination? Surrogate? What’s going on inside that head of yours?”
His lips twitched. “If you really knew what I was thinking about right now, you’d be blushing again.”
I whapped his chest with the back of my hand. “Stay on track. I know you at least heard what I said while porno was playing in your mind.”
“Don’t ruin my fun, little one. We’re walking by some sturdy trees. I could pound into you—”
“Stop.” I shook my head. “Remember, we’re hands off until you start spilling more of your personal details.”
The tips of his lips curved down in an honest frown. “All right. If that’s what you wish. I can wait for you to be ready.”
I shook my head, and mumbled, “Every time you say that it hits me in the gut. I’ve never met anyone like you before, Bel. And I’m not just talking about your sexy horns either.”
His frown disappeared in an instant, and his chest puffed up more than a little. My lover peeked down at me, and asked, “You think my horns are sexy?”
“They’re fucking hot,” I stated honestly.
One black eyebrow lifted, and he purred, “How hot?”
“I’ve imagined myself riding you hard while I hold on to those sexy as fuck—” I cut myself off and hissed deep inside my chest. “You never answered my question about the children. Quit trying to distract me. We’re getting close to the city, and if I can hear it, you certainly can too.”
His pants were a bit snugger in the crotch area, and his breathing was a smidge labored. Bel rumbled, “I want to hear more about your fantasy.”
“Not going to happen right now. I asked you first.”
The beast that lurked inside him growled.
“Nope. That’s not going to work either.” I snorted.
