Chapter 17 #2
Abel’s face changed subtly, and if I’d not been staring at him, nor if he’d had any sort of block up between us, I wouldn’t have felt the sharp pain in the center of his stomach.
“Are you all right?” I asked as I sat forward and reached for my beloved.
“Yeah,” Abel said. He rubbed the front of his stomach and sighed. “Someone is moving, and it was just a really sharp pain.”
I wasn’t so convinced. I’d felt those movement pains before, and this definitely didn’t feel like those had before in the past. I quickly glanced at Rio, who nodded subtly.
His hand started to glow dimly, and in order to keep Abel preoccupied, I turned his face to look at me.
“Tell me if things change, all right?” I said.
Abel nodded. “The babies could come anytime now.”
Rio tilted his head side to side. What did that mean?
“I’m good,” Abel said. “It was just a sharp pain, but it was the first one, and I think it was one of the twins trying to find more room.”
I stared intently at Abel, but I found no deceit through our bond. He was saying he was all right, so I was going to have to take him at his word.
“I’m sorry to run,” Mazzi said as he stood.
He looked directly at me. “Call Naldo’s phone if he goes into labor, and I’ll come and help,” Mazzi said.
“But I need to get to Naldo. He’s saying that Tulio is fussing and won’t stop.
” Mazzi rolled his eyes. “I’m sure he’s exaggerating, but we will see.
” I nodded, and then Mazzi looked at Abel.
“Don’t think some pain is insignificant.
Any of them at this point could be labor, and then you might get stuck out here in the gardens like I did and go into labor. ”
Abel and Mazzi both laughed. “True. But Marcello can carry me back to our rooms.”
Mazzi touched Abel’s shoulder as he walked by. “Yes he can. Rest. And make sure you feed your beloved because those first few days are going to be a huge blur for the both of you, and if he’s needing to feed, he’s not going to be the best help for you.” With that, Mazzi walked off.
I’d not thought about that, and I was sure that Abel hadn’t either. It had been about a week since I’d fed, but it had also been about a week since we’d had sex. Abel wasn’t feeling the best, which was completely understandable.
“Umm…Rio?” Abel said, and it sounded like a question was to follow.
“If you’re asking if you can go have sex with your beloved, yes. As long as it’s pleasurable and not painful. There are also satisfying ways to feed a vampire without penetration, and I’m certain your beloved knows more about those than I do.”
I glanced over at Abel, who giggled. Rio chuckled and stood. “I’ll be around if things should happen to progress. Just give me a call, and I’ll come if needed.”
“Thank you, Rio.” I tilted my head. “Should we call you doctor something?”
Rio shook his head. “I am not nearly that formal. You may call me Dr. Rio if you wish, but the thought of being called Dr. Silva…” Rio shook his head.
“My father is Dr. Silva, as are several of my older brothers, uncles, cousins. We come from a family full of doctors, and we were all called doctor. I’m very happy to have my name spoken, trust me on that. ”
I nodded. “Very well. I’ll continue to call you Rio.”
Rio smiled and then left, leaving me alone on the terrace with my beloved.
“How did your meeting go with Master Vincent?”
“Not terrible, but not quite what I was hoping for either. He asked that I wait for a bit to make any permanent decisions about things.”
Abel sighed. “Can I help? I don’t really know what you’re deciding, but I feel like it’s going to affect me.”
“Because it does. I will happily discuss things with you in the privacy of our suite,” I told him.
Abel grinned. “You just want to get me alone.”
“That too, but also this is something to discuss between just the two of us.”
Abel stood. “Well then, let’s go to our suite.” He swayed a bit, and immediately, I reached for my beloved.
“Are you all right?” I swept Abel up into my arms, and despite his very obviously pregnant belly, he felt as if he’d lost weight, not gained it. I knew that wasn’t the case, but he felt so incredibly small in my arms.
“I’m tired,” Abel said. “And it’s a little past time for my afternoon snack. I think I might want cake or something. A quick sugar fix might really help.”
“We will stop in the kitchen and get everything you might want before I take you to our suite. Once there, I’ll personally feed you if need be.” He’d been sitting here with both Rio and Mazzi. How could he have missed his snack?
Into the kitchen we went, and I placed Abel on the island and then opened the refrigerator.
I found the cake he’d mentioned and wondered how he knew it was there.
It had already been cut, and the pink color told me that it was most likely made specifically for Abel, who was the only pregnant omega or carrier in the coven at the moment.
His favorite fruit was strawberries, so it made sense that the chef made Abel a strawberry cake.
I pulled it out, and after transferring a thick slice to a plate for my beloved, I found a tray and placed the cake, a fork, a bowl of fresh fruit, as well as some cheese, crackers, and drinks to it. I handed the tray to Abel and then picked him back up.
He giggled as I carried him toward the stairs. “I can walk.”
“Sure, but it’s not only faster if I carry you, but safer at this point. If I am carrying the tray, my hands are occupied, and I would have to drop the tray if you were to slip.”
Abel sighed. “I wouldn’t slip, but I understand. I know I’m slow and off-balance.” I stopped outside of our suite and carefully placed Abel on his feet.
“Yes, but that’s to be expected,” I told him. “You’re carrying twins. Two babies. You were tiny to start, and your stomach is quite noticeable.”
Abel narrowed his eyes. “Are you calling me fat?”
I opened the door and gestured for my beloved to enter.
I took the tray and shook my head. “I would never. You aren’t fat.
You are pregnant.” I gave him a heated look.
“And it’s sexy as sin.” Abel’s cheeks turned pink, and I leaned down and kissed his nose.
“Come on, mio angelo. I have plans for you, and the first one is to feed you and then see what trouble we can get up to.”
Abel whimpered, and I knew that it was going to be a fun afternoon for both of us.
I had no intentions of making love to my beloved because it was just uncomfortable for him.
But just as Rio had said, there were so many other ways for us to find pleasure without penetration.
I was about to introduce Abel to the joys of such pleasures.