Free Parallel Fire by Deidre Knight Page B

giggle, feeling light-headed and drunk.
    â€œYou just got me high!” She turned in his arms until her cheek rested against his massive chest.
    â€œI’m a little drunk,” he admitted shyly, “so that just evens the odds.”
    She pulled back, gazing up into his dark eyes. For a minute, she swore that his hair seemed a little darker too. “Why did you get drunk?”
    With a shake of his head, he stroked her hair, quiet for long moments. “I was terrified, Anna. Of you, of this change in me, of our lifemating…but mostly of you.”
    â€œI don’t understand. We’re fantastic together, so beautiful, so amazing—”
    â€œBecause I have no control when it comes to you.”
    Anna snorted. “It’s about damn time you lost control, N’Vsai . I’m just honored that it happened with me.”
    His mouth tilted upward in a sideways smile. “Does this mean that you forgive me? For being a stupid stratkai ?”
    Anna leaned up onto her tiptoes, planting a full, wet kiss squarely on his cheek. “If you’re planning to tell Jared our news.”
    Nevin’s gorgeous smile widened. “I’ve already done that. And then some, I’m afraid.”
    â€œI don’t think I want to know what that means.”
    He slid his arm about her shoulder, walking her toward the door that led to the lodge interior. “Well, sweet Anna, there’s a little something I need to tell you about visiting the doctor earlier today.”
    And then he tossed his head back and laughed more deeply than she’d ever heard him do. A strange feeling began deep within her belly at the sound of it, almost like a quiet answer. A knowing answer.
    She stopped in her tracks. “I was right—wasn’t I? About the way it felt the last time we made love?”
    He slid a large palm over her belly. “The doctor described my condition as ‘dynamically fertile’. He also let me know that it was in reaction to you, Anna. You.”
    She covered his hand against her stomach. “So does this mean I’m pregnant? Already?”
    Her lifemate had the gall to look proud of himself, cocky even, as he thrust his chest out. “I believe you said of men my age that we—what was it now? ‘Rut like fucking stallions’?”
    â€œ What did the doctor say ?”
    Nevin’s dark eyes gleamed. “That you are likely carrying our child.”
    She thrust her arms about his neck, squealing. “I told you. I absolutely told you, didn’t I?”
    â€œAnd he also said that we can’t make love without some kind of protection for a while, or there will be more and more babies.”
    She pulled out of his arms, studying him. “You’re afraid that I’m already pregnant with multiples.” He bowed his head, but said nothing. “Nevin, it only burned inside of me that one time. You don’t need to worry.”
    â€œCan you live with this? A man like me?” He cast a shy look up at her. “One with these kinds of raging needs and desires…who might give you many babies, whether intentional or not?”
    She gaped at him, then slugged him lightly in the chest. “You, sir, are unbelievable. First you worried that you couldn’t give me children, now you worry that you’ll give me too many? I love you, Nevin. Do you hear that? Children or no children, age gap or not, I love you. Nothing can alter that.”
    His arms closed about her, and he drew her into an almost-suffocating embrace. “I love you too. Gods, it’s insanity the way this has happened, but it’s right. Deeply right, and I know it.”
    She closed her eyes and stood, just feeling the warmth of him, until a thought occurred to her. “So,” she asked with a giggle, “did you tell Commander Bennett about the rutting like a stallion part? Or did you leave that much out of our story?”
    He swatted her