Aeromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 3)

“Maybe. Maybe I just wanted to save you the horror of the truth.”

“I love you.” She squeezed his fingers. “You’re a good man. You’re fighting for what you believe in, and we believe in the same things.”

“Do we?”

“We believe in the future of our child, don’t we? We want the world to be a better place for him.”

“I want to make it a better place for you.” He bent down to kiss her. When she rubbed her body against his, all he could do to hold onto reason was push her away gently. “Let me clean up, and then we’ll continue this.”

Early the next morning, Eve knocked and called softly at their door. Leaving Kat to sleep, Lann got up from bed and pulled on the pants he’d discarded on a chair the night before. The memory of their lovemaking made him turn hot all over again. Katherine had been a demanding lover, and he’d almost given in and lost control.

So as not to wake Kat, he stepped into the hallway and closed the door. “It’s too early for tests.”

“I need to speak to you about something else,” Eve said.

“What is it?”

“Joss mentioned that Kat wants to visit her parents.”

“That’s right,” Lann said with a question in his voice.

“I can only permit her to fly for another two weeks at most.”

Kat was only two months along. “I thought pregnant women could fly up to six months.”

“This isn’t a normal pregnancy.”

“You’re saying it’ll have to happen in the next two weeks, because after that, she’s stuck here.”

“Exactly.”

“Thanks.” He dragged a hand over his head. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

Eve offered him a smile before walking off.

There were a lot he and Katherine still had to talk about, such as when they were getting married and how much to let her parents in on.

He went to the kitchen, prepared a breakfast tray, and carried it back to the room. Kat was still asleep when he entered, and he didn’t want to wake her, but he also had to get back to his research, trying to find answers, and he had to speak to her before he left.

Gently, he brushed his fingers over the soft curves of her breasts that peeked from under the sheet. She gave him a lazy smile as her eyes fluttered open.

“Breakfast.” He handed her the tray, and lay down next to her, supporting his weight on his elbow.

He watched her sip her tomato soup for a while. He could never get enough of her.

“Just say what’s on your mind,” she said, smiling at him. She placed a palm on his chest and dragged it down in a slow caress. His breath hissed between his teeth.

“What was that?” she asked, teasing him.

He grabbed her wrist before she reached the hardness under his pants, or else they weren’t going to have this conversation. He’d forget about what he was supposed to say, and think only about her hot little tongue and all the places on his body where he wanted it.

“Katherine.” The seriousness of his tone made her withdraw her touch. “We have to make plans to go see your parents.”

“Why do you say it like that?”

He trailed his fingers over her shoulder. “I spoke to Eve a few minutes ago. She said you can only travel for two more weeks.”

“Oh.” Tension set into her shoulders. “So, this is my last chance to go home?”

He hated the sadness in her expression. “Yes, but we can speak to Joss about bringing your parents here for a visit or even to stay, and about safety for having them with you for the birth.”

For a long time, she was quiet, staring at her food. Giving her time to digest the news, he didn’t speak.

Finally, she looked back at him. “I don’t want them to know.”

“Of course. They can’t know what I am or what our baby’s going to be. It will put them at unnecessary risk. They can’t know about this organization either.”

She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I don’t want them to know I’m pregnant.”

That surprised him. He sat up, his gaze drawn to her belly.

“I’m not showing much yet,” she said, misinterpreting his thoughts. “If I wear loose clothes, they won’t notice. In the worst case, they’ll think I’ve gained a bit of weight.”

“Why, krasavitsa?” He stroked her hair. “Why don’t you want them to know?”

“If they know, they’ll want to be with me. They’ll want to come here. There are too many things I can’t explain, and I don’t want them at risk.” She looked at him quickly. “Don’t get me wrong. I want them to know their grandchild. I just don’t want them to know until he’s born. I’m not flying them to France after what just happened with you, with us, and with David after the clinic.”

“What will I tell them?” he asked, perplexed. “What will I say when I introduce them to their grandchild and they ask why we never told them?”