I knew he knew when, after a rather rowdy round of lovemaking, he put his hand on my belly and rumbled happily.
“You know,” I said simply.
“My Purr-roo knowed?” Kehl asked.
“I had an inkling,” I murmured. Rolling to face him, I studied him. “Are you okay? With the baby, I mean.”
“Babies,” he rumbled out, sounding very happy at the idea. An idea occurred to me then.
“They’re Elm and Cy’s, aren’t they? That’s why you aren’t panicking.” I certainly felt like I was panicking. I was going tohave Cy’s and Elm’s babies and they weren’t ever going to meet them?! They’d never know their bio daddies?!
Kehl curled me close, a soft, crooning noise rolling up his throat. “Be ‘kay, my Purr-roo. Be ‘kay.”
“No, it won’t,” I blubbered, losing it all over his chest as I pressed my face into his fur and the tears started to spill.
“Be ‘kay. Kehl and my Purr-roo has the luffs. Babies know the luffs. Kehl be goot bapa.”
“I know you will,” I got out between loud sniffles as I struggled to get a hold of myself. “I know you will, I just…”
“Sad for males,” he rumbled out softly.
“I love you, you know I do, I just love them too… I miss them so much.” And there I was again, a watering pot.
Once I’d calmed down some, he rumbled out softly, “Smell like Kehl too. Check, my Purr-roo sleeps. Smell like all.”
“They- They do?”
Kehl nodded and held up three fingers.
“Are… Are you okay with that?” I loved the idea of three little ones, each like their respective daddy.
“Kehl still leetle scared.” Lifting his hand, he showed me a tiny pinch with his fingers. “Rothy males tell Kehl talk other hide-brid males, hear they say. Zhuii. Jehkal, Buu. Say ‘kay be scared but not need. Kehl and Purr-roo has the luffs. Babies know the luffs. Krampus no know the luffs. Lo denaii not know the luffs ‘til find village, mates, make fam’ly groups. Be ‘kay.”
“You mean you’re okay then, if we end up with an antler-horned little cutie that’s an exact miniature of you?”
Khel scowled at the idea. “Kehl want bebeh look like my Purr-roo too.”
“And a little like me, of course. Maybe my nose,” I joked with a laugh.
Khel gave me a look. “What wrong Kehl nose?” he growled out in a tease.
“Absolutely nothing.” Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed the tip of his malformed snoot.
Kehl let out a snort that might as well have been an eye roll. “No smell like my Purr-roo lie but Kehl say some the thing stink funk-kneed.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Funk-kneed? Who have you been getting Earth slang lessons from?”
“Kirch. Rek. Luk. Zhuii, say they help Kehl with the Urff words.” Smiling a little, he admitted, “Zhuii say no worries, say wrong, him say wrong all the times and it makes him Rosie-lindly laugh.”
“It’s never lacking in entertainment,” I murmured.
Kehl gathered me up to roll us, so he was on top. “Kehl endertain my Purr-roo,” he growled out with that half feral grin that makes my heart race and my insides all warm and gooey.
Fluffing the fur along his shoulders, I teased, “Are you sure you’re up to the task?”
Kehl growled and dove for my neck. He growled louder as he pretended to gnaw on my ticklish spot and I squeaked and squealed with laughter. When I’d sufficiently begged and pleaded for mercy, his teasing turned tender, his growls more pleasurably demanding. By the time he was done with me I was a spent, breathless puddle of my former self.
Was I not entertained? Most thoroughly.
