Gerri Reznik was leaning casually against the counter beside the sink.
“Gerri! What are you doing here?” Seren grinned and hugged the younger woman. “It's wonderful to see you! How are you?”
“Really good,” Reznik smiled back, mentally hugging the surprise she had brought with her.
“Can I get you something? Juice? Pepsi? Beer?” She opened the fridge door and looked inside.
“No, I'm fine, Seren. Thanks.” Reznik studied the other woman as she stood by the open refrigerator. She seemed to have gained a little weight. In fact, she was getting positively tubby in the tummy. Realization sank in.
“Seren,” she said quietly. Seren looked over at her, a small bottle of apple juice in one hand. “Are you ... you know.” Reznik made a gesture with both hands to indicate a pregnant belly.
Seren closed the fridge door and smiled softly, almost sadly. “Yes.” She stroked her belly protectively. “Starting to show, huh?”
“Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah. I just wish Daffyd...” she trailed off, her eyes focussing on the middle distance, lost in thought.
“Well. I have some news for you,” said Reznik. “He's awake, conscious, alive and well. He asked me to bring you a message.”
“He's okay?” Her face brightened, and Reznik fought to suppress the huge grin that threatened to burst forth.
“He's great! Lost a little weight, but he had some to spare.” Her eyes twinkled. “You want to hear his message?”
“Yes! Of course. Tell me!” She sat at the table, twisted the cap off the juice bottle and took a sip.
“Okay. Here goes.” She fought down the grin again. “He loves you madly, misses you terribly and is living for the day when he can hug your socks off. Actually, and he didn't say this, but it's what I think, my guess is he'd really just like to spend about two weeks in bed with you somewhere private.” She let the grin surface. Seren would assume it was related to the comment.
“And he sent you something. Hang on. I left it in the front hall.” She walked across the kitchen and opened the door. Seren could hear Devany giggling like mad and Karina's voice hushing her. Seren turned in her seat to see the door and her eyes widened.
Reznik was right. He had lost a little weight, but he looked wonderful. She rose unsteadily to her feet, holding on to the table to support her trembling knees. “Daffyd,” it was barely a whisper.
His eyes drank her in, noting, but not really registering the thickened waist. Seren, you're so beautiful. He held out his hands. She put hers in them and stepped close, looking up into the wide blue eyes she loved so well.
“I've missed you,” she told him.
He took her face in his hands, his thumbs stroking her cheekbones, her temples. He hesitated. He had dreamed of this moment for so long, he didn't want to rush through, but to savor it. His lips touched her cheek and slowly made their way to her waiting mouth.
She tasted his lips, his tongue, staring into his eyes. Her arms went around him and held him tight, so tight. His hands slid down her neck and her shoulders, wrapping around her and pulling her even closer.
“Oh, Daffyd,” she murmured between kisses, tears flowing freely. “Sweet Daffyd.” She hid her face against his neck, her heart racing.
He kissed her hair, stroked her back. When he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion. “Seren, you once asked me to come home with you.... “He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He needed to know, but he was afraid of her answer. “Do you still want me?”
“Do I still want you?” she repeated his question. “Do fish want water? Yes. YES! I want you. Oh, god, Daffyd, I want you!” She bit her lip. She was starting to babble. “I need you.” She stepped back a pace. “But there's something you need to know.”
He looked at her questioningly. Then, as she stepped back again, loosely holding his hands, he saw her. He saw the roundness of her abdomen and the heavy fullness of her breasts. His little smile touched his lips and shone from his eyes. He released her hand and touched the swell of her belly where his baby grew inside her.
“How?” he asked her. “I thought you said....”
“I don't know. Something about where we were, I guess. When the Medicos scanned me, they realized that I had recently conceived. They told me that my tubes had apparently grown back, but the new tubes were fading again. They're gone, now. But I guess they were there long enough for your swim team to get through.” She dimpled. He smiled down at her and caressed her abdomen gently, lovingly.
She stood stock still, scarcely breathing. His touch was having an unexpected erotic effect on her. She didn't know why she was surprised—he had always aroused intense desires in her, without ever trying; sometimes without even being aware of her reaction to him.
Giggles from the doorway distracted her. Devany was peering through the partly open door, her hands over her mouth. Seren's other children and Reznik pressed close behind.
“Is it safe to come in yet?” asked Karina. She approved of the tender way this man was touching her mother and his obvious love for her. Seren deserved someone like him.
Daffyd reluctantly removed his hand from Seren's belly, but continued to hold her hand. He raised an eyebrow at her. She nodded.
“Yes, it's safe,” she told them.
Whooping, they piled into the kitchen. Reznik grinned at Seren over the heads of the others as they gathered around their mother and her love. Seren beamed back.
Devany demanded that Daffyd pick her up. When he did, she hugged him fiercely around the neck. “I missed you!” she told him accusingly.
“I missed you, too, Little Girl,” he kissed her nose.
“Are you home to stay, Daffyd?” she asked.
“Yes, Devany,” and his eyes met Seren's. “I'm home.”
* * *
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Angels Among Us Page 38