Page 84 of Bride of the Sea King

“Holy shit. Holyshit,” she repeated, shoving a hand through her hair to drag it out of her face. Her gaze lifted back to mine, edging on worried. “What do you think?”

“What do you mean, what do I think?”

“Do you think we should try to have a baby?”

“I helped you find a birth control plant, remember? We still have its dried carcass hanging in the grotto, waiting.”

She shoved her hand through her hair again. It was done in soft waves, styled carefully for the holiday. “Right. But that was before.”

“Before what?”

“Before I realized I liked babies.”

“Everyone likes babies, Sweetheart.”

“Joa doesn’t,” she pointed out.

“Okay,almosteveryone likes babies.”

Aria nodded, shoving her hand through her hair again.

I studied her.

She looked… excited. And nervous.

Mostly nervous, but there was definitely an undercurrent of excitement.

“Aria, do you actuallywantme to breed you tonight?” I asked.

I hadn’t considered her changing her mind so soon, and the idea made every ounce of blood in my body surge into my cock.

“I think so.” She bit her lip.

My hands were on her hips in a heartbeat, and I walked her backward until her ass met the wall. She tipped her head back and met my gaze. “This isn’t athink sosituation. You need to be damn sure, because I won’t even think about doing it if you aren’t. Regret has no place in our relationship.”

“Well, I thought I would have more time to work through my thoughts,” she admitted, lowering her chin and looking at my chest. “I’ve been imagining what it would be like if we had a baby, and I want it. I do. I’m just scared, you know? It’s a lot to commit to. And if we did it, I would be yourbreederor yourwomb, which just sounds disturbing, and?—”

I put my hand on her cheek and tipped her head back again, so she was looking at me. “Everyone in the castle knows damn well at this point that you’re the queen. Having a baby would makeyou look stronger, not weaker, so get that out of your head. Our decision to have a child or not will be based on whether we want to grow our family right now.”

“It would be insane to do it this quickly, right?” she asked, searching my gaze.

I lifted a shoulder. “Perhaps. But everyone is trying to repopulate right now, so there’s plenty of support.”

“And a kingdom’s leaders should do their part in repopulation, right?”

“If their leaders want a baby, they should.”

Her lips curved, and she slid her hands over my chest. “I’m terrified that I’ll be a shitty mom, but I still do want to be one. Eloise was right about the freaking fever.”

“It does seem to catch quickly.” I lowered my lips to hers and kissed her lightly. “You have a few more hours to make up your mind. When the first one of your scales falls, you’ll feel it, and we’ll make a decision.”

“If I decide I want one…” she trailed off.

“You know I love children. I would enjoy nothing more than to raise one with you, whenever you’re ready.”

Her face warmed, and she nodded. “I’ll tell you when I decide. And when the scale falls.”

“I’ll definitely know when your fertility begins, Sweetheart.”

---