Page 87 of Pure Magic
The music turns to a reel, and Adam guides us to where Sylvia, Henry, and Minerva are enjoying wine. They procure two more glasses and pour for Adam and me.
My stomach twists at the first sip. Pushing the wine aside, I feel magic growing inside me.
Adam studies me.
Before he can ask, Henry says, “You’ll leave for Scotland tomorrow?”
Adam’s smile is forced. “We’re taking Kaden to Glasgow, and then I’m going to show Sara Beth Inverness, where I was born.”
“How long do you think you’ll be gone?” Minerva studies my face and then looks at my hand covering my stomach.
“Just a few months.” I give her a wink and hope she’ll keep my secret at least until I can tell Adam he’s going to be a father.
“Best to be home before it gets cold.” Minerva smiles.
Sylvia nudges my shoulder. “No one would blame the two of you if you sneaked up the steps and away for the night. It’s nearly two, Prudence has gone to bed, and the neighbors are starting to make their way home.”
“Do you think so?” Excitement builds in Adam, as if it were the first time we’d be making love.
Laughing, Sylvia says, “Go!”
The dancing is in full stomp when we make our way upstairs and into my room. Adam’s things now share the space. It’s strange to find a man’s boot left out, but I like having him part of my life. It feels right.
As soon as the door closes, Adam creates a privacy spell to keep any noise from inside the room silenced to the rest of the house. “What happened when you drank the wine?”
“Will you untie this dress?” I’m teasing, but I can’t help myself.
His heat warms me from behind as he stands closer than necessary to untie the dress stays, and then the light corset beneath. Soon I’m in nothing but my chemise, stockings and shoes.
Adam wraps his arms around me from behind. His hand splays over my abdomen and the witch growing inside whirls as if she knows her father is there.
With a gasp, he backs away.
Unable to read if his surprise is full of joy or worry, I turn. Perhaps it’s both.
Once I’m facing him, he drops to his knees, and cradles my stomach. “Is it a girl?”
“I think so.” I run my fingers through his hair. “How did you know?”
“She feels like a girl,” he says.
“She does. Please tell me you’re happy, Adam.” My heart is pounding as if I ran a few miles.
Eyes glistening, he looks up at me. “This is the happiest day of my life. To have shared our marriage with our family would have been enough. This…” He caresses where our baby grows. “This is beyond any joy I thought possible.” He presses a kiss to the baby.
“I’m relieved. I didn’t know how you’d react to a child after all we’ve been through with your sister.” It feels as if a load has been taken from my shoulders.
“Nothing evil could come from you, Beth. Besides, we’ll be careful in making certain none of our children ever become targets.”
“What took your sister will need decades to heal, maybe more. We may be long dead before the demon world is strong enough to make another attempt at conquering this land.” I drop to the floor with him. “But we’ll tell the tales so that ours, and those who come after, will remember and be ready.”
He nods. “More than just a cryptic children’s story, mind you. We won’t want it to be thought of as fable rather than history.”
“Time will decide how the tale is interpreted.” I sigh at his stern expression. “We’ll do our best to make the warning strong for generations to come.”
Brushing his fingers through my hair sends pins tinkling to the floor. “Let me take you to bed now. Unless you’re too tired.”
Still on the floor, I straddle his lap. The move pushes my chemise to my hips. “I hope to never be too tired for passion, husband.”
