Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
“Just making sure, princess.”
She laughed. “The truth is, you want children.”
He didn’t argue. Shylah realized Gino did want children with Zara, that it was important to him. She glanced at Draden. Is having children important to you, Draden? If it doesn’t happen, are you going to be upset? She felt a little anxious over the issue. She wanted to have his children, she already knew that, but what if, because of her genetics, she couldn’t? Or something went terribly wrong?
Loving you and living my life with you is important to me. Having children is a natural progression, and yes, I want them. I’d like to have a large family, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be equally as happy with just the two of us. If you don’t want to go there …
She did. She liked that he gave her that choice. She could hear that he meant it from the sincerity in his tone. I’m getting used to the idea and with all these mothers and Nonny around, they’ll help me.
I’ll help you.
Shylah sent him a smile because that was adamant. A declaration. She watched Zara pour equal amounts of orange, grapefruit and pineapple juice into several pans. She added fresh lemon and lime juice and then pointed to the fruit she had sitting out on the counter. Gino moved around her without missing a beat and began quickly slicing through oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes, which were added to the mix in the pan with crushed red pepper. The shrimp were added. She covered the pans and put them in the refrigerator. Gino began the cleanup while Zara washed her hands.
“How long until we get that?” Malichai asked.
“About thirty minutes. The pasta is prepped and will be ready around the same time. If you can keep from eating all the bread, we’ll have plenty with a salad.” There was amusement in Zara’s voice.
Malichai groaned. “I don’t know if I can last that long.”
Everyone, including the little girls, laughed. Malichai held out his hand to them. “Come on, let’s get out of the kitchen so I don’t eat all the bread. We can play outside before it gets too dark.”
Cannelle grabbed his hand and the three little girls tried to skip out of the room with Malichai. Mordichai made a face. “I guess I’d better go along and keep them out of trouble.” He sounded long-suffering, but Shylah knew better than to buy into his acting.
Ruben and Diego exchanged a long look and then they drifted after Malichai and Mordichai. Shylah knew they wouldn’t be playing with the triplets. They’d be outside, on the roof, guarding them.
The group moved out of the kitchen, Draden keeping his arm around her waist. He liked being close to her. She had never particularly liked to be touched, but it was different with him. She found herself needing to feel his hands on her almost as much or more than he insisted. She also reached for his mind often. The way he stroked caresses through her with that psychic touch was both exhilarating and comforting.
“Gino.” Nonny came down the hall, her expression all business. “We need you now. She’s going to deliver the first one any minute. You’ll need to look after the baby with me.”
Gino rose instantly, leaned into Zara to brush her mouth with his and then he was hurrying for the bathroom to wash up.
The sitting room was the largest informal gathering room, but it failed to hold them all so several spilled over into the living room. Wanting to be close to the kitchen to keep her eye on the meal, Zara remained with Trap and Cayenne and Draden and Shylah. Cayenne clearly was worried about Pepper and wanted to be close in case of an emergency.
Shylah identified a bit with Cayenne, in that the woman was a warrior through and through. She had less confidence in herself as a woman than she did as the competent fighter who had earned and deserved a place on the team. Shylah felt exactly the same way. Cayenne was learning at a rapid pace, absorbing everything Nonny was both showing her and telling her. She watched everyone, but mostly paid attention to Trap.
Shylah knew she was taking that same route. After meeting Nonny, she wanted to be like her. She loved the way Nonny’s home was so open to everyone and how it felt warm and welcoming. Zara was like that, her skills in the kitchen and sweet nature allowing her to find her way fast. Bellisia was taking a little more time. The concepts of cooking and housework were foreign to her. Fortunately, Ezekiel didn’t mind in the least.
The sound of a baby’s cry drifted from the bedroom, and Shylah went utterly still. She lifted her head alertly, her eyes meeting Draden’s. They both smiled. Simultaneously, everyone else in the room did the same. It was the first time Shylah had ever heard a newborn and it was an amazing experience. Even Cayenne was smiling.