Page 68 of Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck
“That’s the first question you have about the baby?” she shot back. “Not, are you and the baby healthy? Is everything okay with the pregnancy? Or what do you think we’re having? A boy or a girl?”
“Yes, I want to know all the things, obviously,” he returned, tensing. “Are you okay?”
“I’d be better if I could trust the man I’m married to,” she snapped.
He wanted to have a do-over. To go out into the hall, come back in the front door, and not be an asshole when he found out he was going to be a father. “I’m sorry. I swear I’m just worried. I’ll be happy about this. I mean, I am happy about this.”
She stepped back from him, leaving him losing contact with her. “I love you, and I don’t want to say anything I can’t take back later, so I’m going to go now.”
Deep down, he knew if he let her walk out the door, she’d walk out of his life for good. He’d burned any goodwill he’d had with what he’d pulled after the Nile incident.
Sucking up any manly pride that he had, Drest went to his knees before her.
She looked down at him, confusion coating her face.
He took her hand in his. “Rachael Bright.”
“Frankenstein,” she corrected. “We’re not legally married. Just married by the rules you love so much. The supernatural ones.”
If her goal was to take a dagger to his heart, she’d succeeded. Drest couldn’t stop himself from tearing up. He couldn’t lose her. She was his everything. It didn’t matter that they’d only been mated for three months. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was the single most important thing in his life.
As he stayed on his knees and found himself face-to-stomach with her, he realized something else. He was happy he was going to be a father. And he didn’t want his child raised away from him. He wantedbothof them with him for good.
He slid his hands around Rachael and cupped her backside as he remained eye level with her abdomen. He squeezed her ass cheeks, making her grunt before he jerked her against him, pressing his lips to her stomach. Closing his eyes, he wished with all his might that something would give with the Nightshade Clan so he could figure out a way to keep his family together.
It took him a moment to realize Rachael was running her hand through his hair, cupping his head to her body as she did.
“I love you,” he said, holding her tightly to him, scared that if he dared let go, she’d walk out the door. Out of his life even.
She bent and kissed the top of his head before exhaling slowly. “Well, Hunter, we’ve made a fine mess of things, haven’t we?”
He snorted. “I have. You never have anything to be sorry for. Ialwaysdo.”
“Well, at least you’re consistent,” she returned with a partial laugh.
“Don’t go,” he said. “Please.”
Rachael slid down, going to her knees before him. “Drest, the baby has been making me tired. Very tired. Amice mentioned something today about it being Fae—a lot more Fae than me. She thinks the pregnancy will be fine and that the baby will be healthy, but she also thinks the pregnancy is going to sap a lot of my energy.”
“And she’s worried because I have to be gone so much for work that you’ll be here, in the city, all alone during the pregnancy,” he said, understanding what that meant.
“Yes,” she said.
“If you’re at the manor, I won’t be able to see you,” he argued.
“You will,” she returned. “As it stands, you’re working so much that we only get a few hours together here and there.”
“But we at least get that,” he said, holding her to him. “I don’t think I can go more than a couple of days without seeing you.”
Truthfully, he couldn’t go more than a few hours, but he didn’t want to put added strain on her.
“We’ll figure it out,” she said. “I’m sure of it. But I do think I should move back to the manor, sooner rather than later.”
His gaze dipped to her mouth, a sense of urgency driving his actions. He kissed her, desperate to feel her against him. How could she possibly think he could be without her for any length of time?
She was part of him now—connected to him by the threads of destiny—and he’d do anything to be sure they could be together.
Rachael ended the kiss but kept her lips close to his. “Drest, did you hear what I said about moving back to the manor?”
