Chapter 33 #2
He nodded, but his eyes remained glued to my belly, even after I’d sat back down, and Phoenix had brought a little stool for my feet. Gemma’s lips twitched.
“And no, you’re not imagining things, and no, I haven’t been taken over by aliens. Phoenix’s whole family has certain biological abilities that mean he can get me pregnant.”
Danny paled, and Bayer held his coffee cup and firmly instructed him to take a sip. For a second, his eyes left me and looked at Bayer in only what I could describe as awe. I glanced at Gemma who’d noticed, as well. He sipped and swallowed. “Can you do that?”
I blinked because Danny was asking Bayer of all people, which surprised me, but I stopped questioning it when I saw the fond look Bayer sent him.
Well, that was interesting…
“In certain circumstances,” he confirmed. “Yes, I could get a man pregnant, but you have to understand how vital it is that you keep this knowledge secret. If anyone found out, Emery could be taken to some secret lab or hospital or…”
“Oh God, yes,” Danny said, and I tried to hide the smile even if it wasn’t really that funny because Danny had never met a conspiracy theory he didn’t like.
“Even if a paper offered you a million bucks,” Phoenix said gravely, and Danny looked hurt.
“So it’s all normal,” Gemma said, doubtfully.
I nodded, but Danny jumped in again. “You’ll have to have a C-section, though.
I mean, what will you use for a hospital?
How will you keep that quiet?” He was getting worked up, and Bayer took the cup off him before he spilled it and then simply laid one of his big hands over both of Danny’s.
Even more startling, Danny seemed to relax immediately.
I quirked an eyebrow at Gemma because I knew she was fascinated, as well, and not even male pregnancy trumped what might be happening with those two.
Danny was adorable, and the kids loved him.
He was very detail-orientated and excelled at one-on-one interaction with fractious kids.
What he wasn’t so great at was managing large numbers.
It meant he could seamlessly take care of the small problems and issues that cropped up in class so I could carry on with helping larger groups.
It was why we’d worked so well together.
I wasn’t about to get into the mechanics because, basically, I didn’t know either.
“We have a doctor that knows about us and will help when the time comes,” Phoenix said.
“And when exactly will that be?” Gemma asked.
“Male pregnancies don’t last as long as female ones.” We all turned at Esther’s voice, well, everyone except Phoenix and Bayer, who I supposed knew she was there. She smiled and walked over to Danny, who jumped to his feet.
“I know you. You helped Gran with Grandad when he was sick.”
She beamed and simply hugged Danny, who relaxed even more and clung on a little. “How’s your gran?”
Danny nodded. “Good.”
“And her knees?”
“Mom was actually going to ask for some more ointment.”
She patted Danny’s hand. “I asked Matthew to run and grab me some from my cottage. I’ll send it home with you.”
Gemma smiled at her, and Esther asked after Gemma’s family. It was quite surreal.
“I understand you’re both somewhat shocked by Emery’s news, and I wondered if I could help to reassure you that we’re taking very good care of them.”
“Them?” Gemma asked.
She twinkled. “Emery and the baby. Have you told them what color you’re painting the nursery, or is it a surprise?”
“Pink.” I smirked, and Danny squealed again.
“Oh, we have to have a baby shower.”
Bayer shook his head in bemusement, but he didn’t take his eyes off Danny.
They visited through all the pastries and two rounds of coffee while Esther assured them both I was safe, while skillfully not giving away any details. Promising to visit again in a few days, Bayer escorted them both out and back to the barrier.
I sighed when everyone left, and it was just Phoenix and me. Then I squeaked a little as he lifted me off my feet and carried me to the couch where he sat and held me on his lap.
“What’s happening with Bayer?” I asked innocently. I’d barely seen him all week, but I knew we were stretched.
“Bayer’s hurt. Feels betrayed and is constantly worried he might bring trouble here. He offered to leave twice.”
“And go where?” I asked, deciding there and then to make more of an effort to stop him avoiding me.
He thinks his pack might cause trouble for us, but neither I nor my dad is worried for the moment. Simeon even agrees that they can’t cause trouble for us without heaping more on themselves.”
I shifted a little to get pressure off my back.
Phoenix hadn’t been wrong when he’d said my new body was taking some getting used to.
He grunted as I wriggled a little on his lap, not entirely by accident.
Well, a mixture of my exhaustion and Phoenix’s terror that I was going to break if he touched me too hard meant we’d done a lot of cuddling this week, but not much else, and when opportunity knocks as my seventh-grade math teacher used to say…
He grunted again when I moved, and knowing he would move himself if I didn’t distract him, I launched into my assessment of the situation.
“As I see it, the vamps aren’t any more or any less of a threat than they have been for years.
Bayer’s dad might be more of one, but you don’t see how they can pull anything off with the numbers they have.
I’m waiting for a scan, which should happen in a week.
” I nudged, hopefully. “And Bayer and Danny seem smitten with each other.”
Phoenix narrowed his eyes and regarded me suspiciously. “I’m not even sure how to respond to any of that.”
“I’ve seen Bayer more today than I have all week.”
He nodded. “Maybe you’re starting a trend.” He chuckled.
“Why do you think the vamps let me go?”
Phoenix shook his head. We were no nearer to finding it out than we were when Alessandro took me. But there was something bothering me. Well, a lot of somethings, actually, but there was one main one.
“I know you all thought the only reason he let me go was so he could get Rhys back, but if you all think it’s the vamps that are suddenly responsible for the shifters not being born, why didn’t he seem alarmed? Plus, we both think they’re similarly affected, so it makes no sense. None of it does.”
“No,” Phoenix agreed, and then his lips parted as I moved again.
I could feel him getting hard, and I wanted all of that.
We had tons to sort out, but right this moment, we needed some alone time.
I curved my palm around the back of his neck, pulled him down, and swallowed whatever words he was going to say next.