Taina went to the bedroom to shower while Daidan read Mirette her bedtime story. By the time she’d returned to the lounge, dressed only in a silk robe, Daidan was back in his position by the fire.
“That was quick,” said Taina, turning the lock on the door behind her. “Is she asleep?”
“She was fast asleep before I got to the bottom of the page. Now, come here.”
“Is that a command?”
“It certainly is.”
“In that case, I’ll think I’ll stay here.” She smiled as she perched on the edge of the couch, causing her robe to fall open and his gaze to drop to her bare thighs.
“So I can admire you better?”
“Of course. And while you’re admiring me, you can tell me how the meeting with Anton Kuzmich went.”
“Very satisfactory. They’re being as cordial as they’ll ever be and they’re keeping to our agreement. And as formidable as Anton is, he’s far more reasonable than his father. We’ve nothing to fear from them anymore.”
“Good.” It was as they’d anticipated. Their association with the Australian mines, now run single-handedly by Amelia, was going from strength to strength and it was a relief to know that there were no longer any threats—either personal or business—coming from the Kuzmich family.
“And you, Taina? You’re later than I thought. How did your meeting go?”
“Very well. My new design has been made up. They used the diamonds we chose.”
“What was the design again?”
“A pendant. A very sexy pendant designed to hang low. I have it on.”
“Show me.”
This time it was a command she wanted to obey. She walked over to him and slowly shrugged off her robe and let it fall to the floor. The heat of the open fire warmed her back and Daidan’s gaze warmed her front which was dressed only in a diamond pendant that dangled between her breasts.
His throat convulsed as he reached out and traced the chain down to her breasts, before taking the diamond cluster in his fingers and turning it back and forth in the firelight, causing shards of light to flicker across the walls. Then his gaze caught hers and entranced, she watched as he licked the diamond before brushing first one nipple and then the other with it. She gasped and clenched her muscles inside as she tried to contain her arousal.
“It’s beautiful, Taina. The setting you designed enhances its shape and color.”
“I’m glad you like it. But that’s not all I have to show you.”
“Really?”
She took his hand and brought his palm to her mouth where she kissed it. Then she moved it down her neck, over her breasts and the diamond which lay between them, and down to her stomach where she stopped. He tried to move his hand down further to her sex, which was so ready for him, but she resisted.
“Taina?”
She moved his palm over her stomach in a brief caress, watching his reaction all the while. She could see the moment he understood. It was there, in the expression of his brown eyes, warm in the reflected firelight. He kissed her. “You’re pregnant.”
She nodded. “Confirmed by Dr Linna this afternoon. A little brother for Mirette to play with.”
He kissed her again except this time his passion was unchecked as he trailed kisses down her neck to her breasts. Then he lay her down before the fire and kissed her stomach, his hands caressing the place where a new life was forming. Then he moved down further and kissed her lower, where she ached for him. She closed her eyes and submitted to the bliss of his touch, a touch that promised a future full of the things she’d always wanted—love and a baby by her most beloved sheikh.
THE END