He turned away. Appeared to stare at the face of the door for a moment. "It's going to stick. "
Of that he was far more confident than she, but it was gratifying to learn of his faith, and his desire for what she wanted.
"I'll be back at dawn," he said.
"I shall be here. "
After he left, she attended to herself in the shower, passing the bar of soap over her lower belly again and again. It seemed odd to have such a potentially momentous thing occurring in her own body, and to be as yet unaware of the particulars.
They would find out soon enough, though. Most females bled within the first week if they were going to.
When she got out from beneath the spray, she toweled off and discovered that he'd thoughtfully left another of her robes upon the counter, and she drew it on, along with some underthings in the event that a termination event occurred.
In the main bedroom, she sat down on the duvet to pull on her slipper shoes, and then. . .
There was nothing for her to do. And the silence and stillness were rotten companions for her anxiety.
Unbidden, the image of Xcor's face returned to her once again.
With a soft curse, she feared she would never forget the manner in which he had regarded her, his eyes staring up at her as if she were a vision he couldn't fully comprehend, yet would be e'er grateful for having seen but once.
Unlike memories of the needing, the sensations she had felt when that male had focused upon her were as incandescent as the moment she had lived them, unfaded through the months that separated her from that meeting. Except. . . had she simply imagined it all? Was it possible that the recollection was strong simply because it was fantasy?
Clearly, if the needing was anything to go by, real life faded fast.
The desire to be wanted did not, however -
The knock on the door made her gather herself. "Yes?"
Through the panels, a female voice replied, "It's Xhex. Mind if I come in?"
She couldn't imagine what the female was doing seeking her out. Still, she liked John's mate, and she would always entertain his shellan.
"Oh, please do - hello, this is a welcome surprise. "
Xhex shut them in together, and awkwardly looked everywhere but upon her face. "So, ah. . . how are you feeling?"
Indeed, she had the sense a lot of people were going to be asking her that in the coming week. "Well enough. "
"Good. Yeah. . . good. "
Long silence. "Is there something I may help you with?" Layla asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes. "
"Then by all means, tell me and I shall do whatever I can. "
"It's complicated. " Xhex narrowed her eyes. "And dangerous. "
Layla put her hand over her lower belly as if to shelter her young in case there was one. "Whate'er do you seek?"
"On Wrath's orders, I'm trying to find Xcor. "
Layla's chest constricted, her mouth opening so she could breathe. "Indeed. "
"I know you're aware of what he did. "
"Yes, I am. "