A Mate for Lazarus(43)
“I’m glad that you love me and that you can’t stop because I feel the same. I had to leave because I couldn’t be near you and not be with you. I just couldn’t.”
“So it’s agreed then? You are coming back and we are going to date one another?” His jaw was tense. It was really cute. It was almost like he half expected her to decline.
“I have a question and a condition.”
His eyebrows shot up and his mouth dropped open. “You have got to be kidding me? Only you, Alexandra…fuck.” He grinned and leaned back, folding his arms. “I’m listening.”
“The question first…” She licked her lips. “Um, do we get to keep having sex even though we are dating?”
“Most definitely…in fact…as soon as we finish this conversation I’m going to insist that you fuck my mouth, I’m going to show you how much I’ve missed you with my tongue buried….”
She giggled. “Okay, good. I was a bit worried that taking things slow meant no sex.”
He shook his head, looking disgusted at the thought. “We couldn’t keep our hands off one another even when I was pissed at you. About that…” his whole demeanor changed. “I should never have said those things. I didn’t mean them…I was just so torn up. I’m sorry.”
“That’s fine. I under—”
“It’s not fine. It won’t happen again.” His eyes narrowed. “Now what is your condition?”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “My condition is that you tell me what your condition was and that there be no more conditions between us.”
Lazarus grunted. “That’s technically two things.”
She shrugged. “So?”
He smiled. “My condition… You passed by the way.” His smile widened.
“Tell me…please.” She leaned towards him.
“That my dick would fit inside you.”
Alex slapped his arm. “You can’t be serious.”
He laughed. “I’m deadly serious.”
She slapped him again, it was like his arm was made from steel. “No damned way. That you would fit inside me? What kind of a condition is that?”
He shrugged. “You’re just so small, I was worried. It wouldn’t have been much of a relationship otherwise.”
Alexandra had to laugh. When she finally found her breath, she locked eyes with Lazarus. “No more conditions or agendas or anything else…okay?”
“That’s fine by me.” Then he turned really serious. “What have they told you about the pregnancy?”
“I went and saw one of your healers, she said I was in good health. The plan is to go for a visit every two weeks for the foreseeable future. I know that I’m having a boy.” She smiled broadly.
Lazarus put a hand to her belly. “We’re having a son.” He smiled as well. She could see that he was worried about something though.
“What is it?”
His smile widened further, but she could still see tension in his shoulders. “There is a good chance that you may be carrying twins.”
Her heart pretty much stopped beating for a while. “What?” She finally shrieked. “No.” She put a hand over her mouth. “That can’t be right.”
He nodded and pulled her into a hug. “I know that it is a lot to take in. I know that you might be a bit scared but know that I am here and that I love you and everything will be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“We will take it day by day. No human has ever had a twin pregnancy, but…fuck…if anything happens to you…or the children.” He pulled her onto his lap, his big arms tight around her.
She made a noise of discomfort. “You’re squashing me.”
“Sorry.” He released her a smidgen.
“Human women have twins all the time.”
“I’m fucking huge and you’re tiny. I’m freaking out. We need to get you back to vampire territory. I will carry you.”
“No…wait…Lazarus. Do we even know this for sure or is it speculation?”
“We don’t know for sure but it’s very likely. You craved blood so quickly and you seem to crave it so often.”
Alex nodded. “Yeah, I woke up thirsty.”
“There you go…” He looked nervous as hell. “It’s likely then.”
“We will deal with this…together.” She cupped his chin. “I’m tough. We both want this child. These children.” She swallowed hard. “We’ll be okay?”
He inhaled deeply and then nodded. “Okay, but I’m not leaving your side and I’m carrying you if you—”
“Stop. I’m about to fuck your lips with my mouth and I can’t if you keep talking.”
He smiled. “I’m all yours.”
Chapter 21
Four months later…
The other woman lifted up her top and all three of them giggled.
Cassidy rubbed a hand over her stomach. “I look bloated…you my dear”—she pointed at Alex’s stomach—“look huge. You look seriously freaking pregnant, of that there is no doubt.”
Alex absently rubbed the curve of her belly. “I still can’t believe that I’m having twins. It’s crazy. No human woman in vampire history has ever had a twin pregnancy.” She swallowed hard. This wasn’t without risks but it would be worth it in the end.
“Are you sure there aren’t three inside there?” Jenna’s eyes were wide. “You look at least three or four times bigger than Cass even though the two of you conceived around the same time.”
Alex shook her head. “You go and wash your mouth out with soap right now. There has never been a vampire birth with more than two babies and that’s rare as it is.”
“Oh…” Jenna smirked. “So you’ve researched it. Does that mean what I think it—”
“Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it.” She pointed a finger at the other woman. “If Lazarus hears you, he’ll make me stay in bed with my feet up. I’m perfectly fine yet he insists on carrying me up and down the stairs. I manage just fine when he’s not around.”
“Which is hardly ever.” Cassidy giggled. “York tells me that he’s working less and less. Pretty soon he’ll be at your side twenty-four-seven.”
“No way.” Alex shook her head. “I won’t allow it. At least not for the foreseeable future.”
“I can’t believe he is letting you work.” Jenna sipped on her juice.
“Just because we are mated does not mean that he is the boss of me. We discuss things, we sometimes argue but we are equals. I can’t just sit here. Like I said, I’m fine and so long as it stays that way I will keep working.”
“You love your job.” Cassidy smiled. “It’s so great. I’m so happy that it worked out in the end.”
Alex felt like she was smiling from ear to ear. Her team was small and handpicked. Her job was public relations. Already, much of the bad press surrounding the vampires and The Program had died down. The hate mail had dried up to a trickle. Brant was thrilled. He wasn’t such a bad guy. The two of them worked closely together.
“I heard that you’re going to some gala dinner in New York?” Cassidy picked up her juice.
Alex smiled. “Yeah.” A lump formed in her throat so she picked up her own water and swallowed it down.
“It’s some or other awards ceremony,” Jenna gushed. “I can’t believe that you managed to get permission.”
Alex shrugged. “It’s important to me, both Lazarus and Brant know how much going means so…” She shrugged again. “Lazarus is coming with me, along with half of the elite team.” She had to roll her eyes.
Both of the other women laughed.
“My father has been awarded a lifetime achiever’s award. It’s a huge honor. I’ve been asked to accept it on his behalf.” A tear somehow escaped and she quickly wiped it away. “Damn, these hormones. I don’t know how I’m going to get through the speech.”
“Yeah…” Jenna giggled. “It’s hectic and the whole blood drinking thing is…sheesh…too damned much if you ask me.”
“How would you know?” Cassidy leaned towards Jenna.
“Yeah…how the hell would you know?” Alex looked pointedly at the other woman who blushed profusely.
Jenna played with the tie on her pants. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” Both she and Cass shrieked in unison.
“That’s wonderful news.” Cass went and hugged her first.
“Amazing news.” Alex hugged Jenna close. “How far along are you?”
Jenna blushed some more.” “A couple of weeks already.”
“And you didn’t think to tell us?” Cass wagged a finger at Jenna, who pulled a face.
“I’m pretty nervous about the whole thing. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m so happy…so excited but I’m also pooping my pants.”
“Save the poop for the baby. You’ll have plenty of dirty diapers to change.” Cass smiled.
Alex touched Jenna on the arm. “It’s normal that you would be a bit nervous. Gideon will be there for you and support you. Vampires can be seriously over protective of their women.”