‘Adam?’ I repeat as the nurse leaves, almost post swoon.
‘That was one of your choices, wasn’t it?’ he asks softly, still staring at his dark-haired son. ‘I think it suits him. Adam, because of the earthy tone of his skin.’
‘I keep telling you it’s temporary!’
Raising our son in his arms, he kisses his head, pressing Adam’s tiny body to his cheek. ‘And all that’s best of dark and bright meets in his aspect and his eyes.’ Coming to sit on the edge of my bed, Kai strokes his index finger against our baby’s chin, his tiny rosebud mouth puckering in response.
‘Isn’t he perfect?’ I ask, unable quite to believe we’re responsible for making him.I can’t even make a nice sandwich.
‘Like his mother.’ Despite feeling far from perfect right now, I’m not going to arguethatpoint. ‘He has your mouth.’
The tiny bundle begins to struggle against his blanket bonds, and as the beginning of a scowl forms on his brow, the familiarity of his expression comes as quite a shock. His mouth begins to tremble in a sort of whimpering pre-cry, and somehow I know instinctually what he wants.
‘My mouth and your appetites.’ I begin loosening the strings of my silk gown. ‘And you know this isn’t maternity wear, right?’
Laying Adam gently against me, Kai takes up a position at the opposite end of the bed. ‘You said, “grab nightwear”.’
‘I think I might’ve meant those maternity pyjamas, not silk lingerie.’ My stomach flips at the way he looks at me; dark and desirous, and so fricken’ sexy. ‘You know, it’s all kinds of wrong the way you look at me when I’m doing this.’
‘It’s not putting him off his food,’ Kai replies, with a nod to the nuzzling bundle. Stretching out his legs, he folds his arms. ‘And I can’t help it. You always have this effect on me.’
Yeah... not so sure that would’ve been the case a few hours ago.Baby’s crowning—well, it certainly felt like he was coming out wearing one.God knows what it looks like down there.I hope Kegel is just another word for miracle.
‘Adam.’ My exhalation is more breath than word. Worth it. So worth it. All of it. The pain, the indignity. The making noises like a slutty bovine.
We made a real live person.
‘Like the first man.’ His gaze alters then, to a look of love and wonderment. ‘The first of our little men.’
‘Good job Niamh’s baby isn’t named Eve. That would be a cliché too far.’
‘It doesn’t matter what she’s named, as gorgeous as she is. Our son will marry on his own terms.’
‘Nup. We went all Arab on their arses. They were betrothed in utero. I just have to get her to move back here first.’ Niamh and baby Ailish are back in Ireland, and not likely to return to Dubai on the account of her unmarried status.Grounds for big trouble out here.Stupid Rob. He’ll come to his senses, or I’ll crack open his head. Pity Niamh still likes his face the way it is. She said I’m not allowed to rearrange it. ‘And I hate to break it to you, but after last night, I’m not sure I’ll be up for doing this again, for like, along time.’
‘I’m happy enough practising,’ he says with a light shrug.
‘I thought I got forty days respite?’ Think I heard that somewhere.
‘Respite?’ He says with a wicked gleam. ‘I’m sure I’ll be the one fending you off well before then. And technically, it’s forty days spent at your mother’s house, I believe.’
‘Screw that. I’ll come home and tryvery hardto keep my hands to myself, only you have to tell Martha to stop trying to get me to swallow her voodoo. She put fenugreek in my milo last week.’
‘I’m sure it was an improvement on that chocolate sand.’
‘It was bloody awful.’
‘Not to worry. Cynthia’s arriving tomorrow. You can put her in charge.’
‘That’s me moving out, then.’
‘Speaking of families, I’ve heard from Faris.’
‘Fuc—’ I glance down. ‘Fudgeaduck.’
‘I don’t think we need to start worrying about swearing in front of him just yet,’ Kai says with a half-smile.
I ignore him. It’ll probably take me a couple of years to get out of the habit. Best start now. ‘What did he want?’
