Forty

“Philomena wrapped the cape of stars around her and kissed the Dragon Prince. The cape wasn’t cold, but warm, very warm. And it sparkled. Philomena had always been partial to a little sparkle.

“Ahead, at the very top of the world, lay the North Pole. Philomena was disappointed to see that it was a bit frayed, and stuck together with Mickey Mouse Band-Aids in places.”

Celina smiled at Jack and adored him for his patience. They’d arrived back from the most grueling experience of her life to find Amelia too excited to sleep, and he’d found the patience to tell her the requested story.

“The very top of the pole was missing altogether, and Santa’s toy makers were chipping another one out of a block of wood in the workshops.”

Cyrus had insisted they leave Chestnut Street, and that he would remain with Bitsy, who was sedated and unlikely to awaken for hours anyway. They must, Cyrus told them, have at least some of their wedding night alone together.

Amelia snuggled against Celina, and they were both propped against the little girl’s pink pillows. Amelia said. “The North Pole’s broken because the elves keep bumping into it when they’re taking flying lessons. Santa takes their licenses away, but as soon as he gives them back, up they go again, and bam.”

“Who’s telling this story?” Jack asked.

Amelia wiggled until she could see Celina’s face. “I told you he’s bossy,” she said.

Choosing diplomacy that might prove ultimately dangerous, Celina said, “You did. And he is.”

Jack’s green eyes grew narrow in the way she’d come to know as a warning. Fortunately she expected to enjoy any punishment he meted out.

“Go on, Daddy,” Amelia said. “Just a little bit more. Please.”

“The Dragon Prince led the way, and Philomena walked in his footsteps because she didn’t want to get her satin slippers wet in the snow if she could help it.”

“Her slippers are green,” Amelia said. “Lily-pad green with magic water lilies on them that open when Phillymeana’s really happy. And they light up to show the way and everything.”

“Wonderful,” Celina said, watching Jack. Such a complex man, and each layer yielded something else she hugged to her with a sense of having found another treasure. She had started to feel she could belong here, that he wanted truly her.

“That’s when Nobby Gnome came swooshing down the hill on his sleigh pulled by fifteen Jack Russell Terriers.”

“Jack Russell Terriers?” Celina said before she could contain herself.

“They’re very well suited to the job,” Amelia said. “Daddy told me. It’s because they’ve got lots of energy and they like to run around. So Nobby can’t wear them out. He’s always rushing somewhere, see.”

“Nobby Gnome swooshed down the hill on his sleigh pulled by fifteen Jack Russell Terriers,” Jack said in an ominous tone. ‘He swirled to a stop near Philomena and the Dragon Prince, opened the fur blankets at his feet, and lifted out the most beautiful elf baby they’d ever seen. `This one is placed in your care,’ he said. `Because you’ve proved that you consider love the most important gift of all, you shall take him home and if, when we meet again, this baby is strong and happy in an appropriate home you have found for him, then I shall ask you to serve me again.’ ”

“No!” Amelia said, popping to sit up again. “That’s wrong. Nobby gave the elf baby to Phillymeana and the Dragon Prince to take care of in their home, so they took the baby home and he grew strong and happy and they still got another one later on.”

Celina hugged Amelia, who put her face on Celina’s stomach and patted it at the same time.

Quiet, watching them thoughtfully, Jack sat still on the edge of the bed. Celina met his gaze over Amelia’s head.

Very soon Amelia closed her eyes. Celina eased her down into the bed, tucked F.P. close beside her, and pulled up the covers.

Jack stood and waited for her to come to him. He took her to their bedroom, where he locked the door.

“What a day,” he said.

“Unbelievable. There’s so much to get used to and deal with.”

“For both of us. Look, I’m going to say what needs to be said right now. When I had just asked you to marry me, I told myself I was protecting Errol’s image. That was part of it. I already wanted you—the baby was a great excuse to do something about it.”

She pulled the bedraggled orchid from her hair and twirled it in her fingers.

“You aren’t going to make this any easier, I see,” Jack said. “Okay, I can handle it. You are my wife and I want you. I want you in my life. You make me complete and I didn’t even know I wasn’t complete until I wanted you.

“Do you think you want to make this work? I mean, do you think you’ll want to stay with me even after the baby’s been born?”

The words she wanted to say were a jumble. “Yes,” she told him. “Thank you.”

He turned up his palms and frowned. “Yes, thank you? That’s it? You don’t feel more strongly about it than that?”

Celina rested a hand on her tummy and said, “I feel so strongly I can’t put it into words. You are already my life. You, the baby, Amelia. And what you just said is too much. I hoped we could make something out of what we feel for each other, but I didn’t dare hope for this much.”

Jack lowered his hands. He let out a noisy breath. “That means you want it to work as much as I do.”

“At least as much.”

He laughed, sobered, laughed again—and paced and shook his head. “Good. Great. Yes, great. Oh, yes, great. Absolutely great.” He closed the drapes before shedding his clothes.

She could look at him forever. Tall and straight, and strong, with green eyes that were narrowed yet again, he did things to her that made her wonder if she wasn’t a nymphomaniac.

Totally comfortable with his nakedness, he came to Celina and pulled her shirt over her head.

Promptly she attempted to cover her belly.

“Don’t,” Jack said, moving her arms and taking off the rest of her clothes. “I’ve been waiting to do this for hours. Making love to a pregnant lady who happens to be your wife is...oh, it’s so sexy.”

Celina wrinkled up her face. “The most difficult day of… well, at least of my life, and you tell me the only thing you’ve had on your mind is sex?”

“I’m a man. You know how base we are. And in case you’ve forgotten, this was our wedding day.”

“That was a good bit.”

Jack ran his hands over her breasts, traced pale veins with the tip of a finger. He kissed her and walked her to the bed. The backs of her knees connected with the mattress, and she toppled onto the bed. With a hand braced on either side of her shoulders, Jack leaned over her. “The wedding was a very good bit. Now comes the really good bit.”

THE END

Turn the page to read excerpts from Stella Camerons next eBook, French Quarter, and her upcoming paranormal romantic suspense, Darkness Bound.

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