“I love the life we have built together.Each day is better, and my lady grows more beautiful.”
“Tawera,” Nyree whispered.“You make me so happy.You will make a wonderful husband and father.”
“And you will make an excellent mother, and we have plenty of people to look after our children should we decide we wish to have special time alone.”
Nyree smiled against his broad chest and pulled away a fraction to see his face.“About that special time alone,” she said.“That might end sooner than we’d planned.”
“What?”Tawera sent her a blank look.
“I’m fairly certain I’m pregnant.”
Tawera’s eyes grew wide and round.“Really?So soon?”
“Yes.”
A beam broke out on his face.“That’s wonderful.I can’t think of a better wedding present.”
Nyree returned his smile, joy in her heart.“Me neither.”
“Let’s celebrate,” he said, and he kissed her gently.
The minutes grew to hours, interrupted only by room service with the breakfast they’d ordered the previous night.They lazed and slept and made love again.
A thump woke them, followed by a feminine holler.Nyree recognized Emma’s shout instantly.
“What time is it?”
“One o’clock,” Tawera replied after glancing at his watch.
“Our wedding is in an hour.”Nyree leaped off the bed, her gaze going to the locked door on which her friend was banging with enthusiasm.
“We know you’re in there,” Jessalyn shouted.“Tawera, you need to join the boys in our room and get dressed while we have our turn with the bride.”
“Is this an important tradition?”Tawera asked.
Nyree smiled.“Yes.”
Tawera climbed out of bed and pulled on underwear.“I’ll get the door and tell them you’re in the shower.I can shower at Manu’s place.”
“Thank you.”Nyree gave him a quick kiss.“Baby Daddy,” she whispered before fleeing.
Manu grabbed a pair of shorts and donned them, too, before answering the door.“Nyree is in the shower,” he said before any of the three women could say a word.“I’ll grab my wedding clothes and leave you to it.”
“We thought we’d see you at breakfast,” Jessalyn said.
“No, we ordered room service last night.We had things to discuss.”
“Like what?”Emma demanded.
“Can I tell the men about your being pregnant?Are you certain?”he asked Nyree through their mind link.
“I am almost positive.My mother told me you can sense when you’re with child.It’s a quirk of the taniwha genes,”Nyree replied.“I thought I would tell the women.You may tell the men.”
“I’ll see you later, Nyree.”
“You will.”Her tender voice echoed through Tawera’s mind, bringing warmth to his chest.
Happiness filled his heart to overflowing, and his mouth ached from smiling so wide.Rawiri might have cursed him, but to Tawera’s mind, his life had changed in the best way.He’d won, and Rawiri had lost.
