I couldn’t help but admire my king. He had gone from living in a huge castle and being royalty to living in an average-sized house, working for a paycheck, and living as a normal person, with no real luxuries. Still, with modern technology at my fingertips after living for a year in a medieval kingdom, I felt like I was living the high life; by comparison, Tastia reminded me of the Stone Age.
I was thrilled when Liz stopped by with salads from Burger King. After eating, I loosened the button on my jeans. “These things are so tight,” I said, tugging at the waist of my blue jeans.
She blinked. “Those used to be so loose on you!”
I bit my lip. “I know. I don’t feel pregnant, just fat. My face is rounder, my boobs are swelling like watermelons, and my butt is growing faster than my stomach.”
“It’s normal for your figure to round out a bit. Besides, guys love curves!”
“Why aren’t you wearing any of the maternity clothes Mom bought? They’d definitely flatter your changing shape. You should look like a glowing, pregnant, gorgeous mom-to-be, not squish yourself into jeans that are too snug on you.”
“I’m trying to hold off for a little white longer.”
“You can’t, Sarah! You’re pregnant, and you’re gonna have a baby bump. Don’t get caught up in all this weight stuff. You’re gonna get bigger—everywhere. You’re carrying another human being inside your body, for goodness sake. Just embrace it...and enjoy it.”
“I don’t want to be unattractive to Victor,” I said.
She shook her head as if I was being silly. “Come on! The man’s crazy about you.”
“Every beautiful woman stares at him. Maybe Victor is out of my league. What does he want with somebody like me anyway?”
“Don’t get insecure on me, sis. That’s definitely not you talking.”
“I guess it’s the hormones. I’m happy one minute, crying the next, and eating a spoonful of peanut butter on top of a pickle.”
She made a face. “Uh, that’s really gross.”
“I guess it’s pretty common in the first trimester. At least that’s what I found on Google.” I shook my head. “I’m an emotional mess.”
“Pregnancy can be stressful and overwhelming, but lucky for you, I’m here.”
I smiled.
“Hey, not to change the subject, but remember that girl you got into a little spat with?”
“Lynn? The one from the theater who says I can’t act?”
“Yeah, that one, the wench with ten years under her belt.”
“What about her?” I asked.
“She’s missing. She went out clubbing and never came home.”
“That’s awful. It seems like a lot of people are going missing, and that gives me the creeps. Good thing I’m Immortal. A serial killer tries to mess with me, and I’ll show him a thing or two.”
“Maybe we could look for her and see if we could dig up any clues,” she said.
“Sounds good. She’s a little snotty at first, but she’s really a nice girl once you get to know her.”
“Nobody deserves to get kidnapped.”
“Or killed.”
“They’ve never found any bodies,” I retorted.
“I wonder what the dude’s doing with them?” she asked, shuddering.
“I’ve got no idea, and I don’t want to start imagining it. All I know is that the whole thing creeps me out.”
* * *
That night, Victor was drinking wine out of a medieval goblet he’d bought from the gift shop. Our dog was lying at his feet.
I blew out a breath when I noticed Victor hadn’t taken his costume off after work. “You’d rather stay in a costume than normal clothes?”
“Normal is a relative term, my dear. This is my normal.”
“Victor, I didn’t mean anything by that, and I don’t really want to fight with you.”
He nodded but didn’t say another word. His lower lip quivered.
Even though I could tell he was upset, I thought he looked adorable. “Have I ever told you that you’re sexy as hell when you’re mad at me?”
He didn’t even look up at me.
“You can’t stay in those clothes,” I said.
His mouth pressed into a hard line. “You criticize my wardrobe when you insist on wearing those?” he asked, pointing to my shoes.
I glanced down at my flip-flops. “My feet are swollen twenty-four/seven. I have no choice. And don’t you dare try to deflect the attention off yourself.”
“I wish to be alone,” he said in an authoritative voice.
“This isn’t Tastia, your castle, and I’m most definitely not your servant, Victor. I won’t be talked to in that tone or in that manner, and I refuse to be ordered around.”
“My apologies, My Queen. If I need to leave for any reason, I will change into more suitable clothes for this world.”
I rolled my eyes and left the room.
A few hours later, he changed into something more appropriate and sat silently on the couch, staring out the window.
His brooding silence and constant mood swings annoyed me. How can he go from being the charismatic, charming king everyone loves to this? He was a complicated person whom I couldn’t even begin to understand, and taking him out of his element was not helping our relationship.
“You’re hurting,” I said. “You’re homesick, so you’re lashing out at me. I get it, but you should understand that I was hurting, too, when I was forced to leave everything I loved to stay with you in Tastia. You’re not alone, Victor, because I, too, have felt the sting of missing my home world. If anyone knows what you’re going through, it’s me.”
“I don’t think I can do this any longer, Sarah,” he said, his voice growing louder.
“I’m here for you.”
He swallowed hard. “I know, but you’re also asking too much of me.”
“I’m asking you to do this for your child, your firstborn son.”
He pulled me close, and his eyes sparked to life when I kissed his soft lips. “I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you,” he said, staring deeply into my eyes. “I’ll do anything I have to do to protect our family, but I’m having a hard time adjusting to this world.”
“We’ll get through this together,” I said. “I promise, baby, but you have to let me in. Please don’t shut me out.”
We embraced in a tight hug. I loved the man, and I would fight for him no matter how many mood swings I had to deal with.
With our Immortal hearing, we both caught the faint sound of a twig snapping outside. Sparky barked, and I called him over. Victor reached for a gun strapped to his ankle, then whipped it out and aimed carefully at the door.
My jaw dropped. “Where did you get that?”
He met my gaze straight on. “Your father.”
“Hmm. Well, just wait till I talk to him.”
“I need it to protect you if those blue-ringed Immortals drain my power. Also, it’s much more accurate and far more lethal than a sword.”
He opened the door and breathed in relief as a stray dog took off running from the garage can and into the brush.
I shut the door. “How long have you had a gun?”
“Your dad gave it to me a few days ago. We have been practicing at the shooting gallery.” He slipped the gun back into his ankle holster, then gripped my hands. “I cannot protect you and the baby without a proper weapon, Sarah. Honestly, I think you should have one too.”
“Just be careful. You’re not even a legal citizen, and if you get caught with it, you could get thrown in jail. They’re really cracking down on guns these days.”
“No jail could hold me.”
I glared. “Victor, I’ve seen how things work in your kingdom when it comes to jail, but if you get arrested here, in this time, there are legal ways to get out. You should never try to break out, or there will be worse consequences to face.”
He shifted his stance and looked away.
“Promise me that if it ever co
mes to that, you won’t blast the police station with fireballs and wind. It just doesn’t work that way in my world. You’ll only end up on every news station and the front page of every single newspaper across the nation.”
He smiled and kissed my lips. “You have my promise.”
“It’s strange to see you with that gun. I have this image of you as a warrior king in medieval gear, swinging a sword from atop your horse, and now here you are in black pants and a shirt, holding a gun.”
“The gun won’t kill them, but it’ll slow them down, giving us enough of a head start to flee.” He stared at me with intense eyes. “I do not run from battles, Sarah—not ever—but with these Immortals, we have no choice. I must put my pride aside for the sake of our unborn child.”
“I agree. We have to be prepared.”
“And we will be,” he said firmly.
Chapter 9
I called Liz the next morning and told her the entire story about our mini-fight. She assured me that Victor just needed time to adjust and told me not to give up on him. Victor was a complex person, and sometimes I wondered if I could really handle him. It was daunting and draining, as if I was trying to tame a wild horse. I was thankful that we had the day off from the theater.
When I went into the kitchen, Victor greeted me with the biggest, brightest smile, and I was impressed to see that Victor had made pancakes and eggs that were almost as delicious as the cook himself.
* * *
I balanced on a ladder and painted the wall robin-egg blue. I was six months pregnant and dressed in a white t-shirt with giant-sized denim overalls splattered in blue paint. I must’ve looked horrible with paint smeared across the side of my face; it had somehow gotten all over me. The early morning breeze from the open window blew through my hair, and a beautiful fragrance from nearby flowers drifted in on the breeze. June was my favorite month of the year, and the sweet aroma covered the smell of fresh paint that was lingering in the air. My heart exploded with joy when I saw how fresh and clean the walls looked; I’d been dying to paint the nursery for such a long time.
I’d rearranged the baby accessories, toys, and clothes a million times in a fit of nesting, and now I was painting like a maniac. I felt a powerful urge to prepare for the arrival of my little one, to make sure everything was ready for my son to make his grand entrance into this world.
“Getting the baby’s room ready is a time-honored tradition,” I said. “After we paint, we still have to install shelves and build furniture.”
“We still have plenty of time,” Victor said. “You’ve been cleaning, organizing, and shopping for months now.”
“I know, but I’m so excited.” I felt a drop of paint hit my face. I reached out my hand and focused on the clean white rag in the corner, coaxing it to fly up in the air and straight into my hands.
“I could’ve gotten that for you,” Victor said.
“My powers barely work, but I can handle simple tasks.”
Victor set his paint roller down, and I watched his amazing muscles stretch under his shirt. “I declare this wall done,” he said, stripping off his paint-splattered shirt.
I glanced around. “It’s beautiful, baby!”
He smiled as he met my gaze.
“I think your shirt is ruined.”
“It’s an old one anyway.”
“We’ve made this nursery a safe, warm, loving place.” I nodded, satisfied. “We’re quite the team, aren’t we?”
Happiness was evident in every detail of his face. “This is a sweet room for a precious new life.”
“Definitely, and I think we’ve nailed the color perfectly.”
He held the blue swatch up against the wall. “Perfect match.”
A tingle of excitement spread through me. “I want Alex’s room to be fun and inviting.”
“It is all of that and more, my dear. When it dries, we’ll adorn the walls with decals.”
I tapped my chin. “About that...I know my mom bought them for us, but I want more of a personal touch.”
He glanced up at me on the ladder. “What are you thinking?”
I grinned widely. “Well, you’re the artist in the family, and I know painting is you’re passion, so...”
“Are you challenging me to create something fantastic for our son?” he asked.
“You’re the best artist I know, Victor.”
He met my gaze. “Hmm. I may be willing, but I must warn you that I will ask for a lot in return.”
I shot him a flirty grin. “I’ll make it up to you all night long.”
“I shall hold you to it.”
Cupping his cheek, I felt the stubble from his unshaven face. “You got me, baby.” I motioned to the wall. “Perhaps you can paint an ocean mural.”
“I can paint the perfect underwater dreamscape.”
“You’re hired!” I smiled. “I just know it’s going to be perfect.”
“Sparky!” Victor yelled.
I couldn’t help but laugh as our yellow Lab knocked over a can of paint, dotting his fur with flecks of blue. Victor patted him on the head as I smiled. “I guess he wants to help too,” I said with a laugh.
“Apparently.” Victor’s biceps flexed as he picked up the bucket of paint, and sweat rolled down his shirtless chest.
When Victor set the cans down and walked over to me, I dropped the paintbrush and fell into his arms as he spun me around. I loved the life I’d chosen for myself.
“You have speckles of paint in your hair,” he said.
“I’m a mess,” I said.
“A hot mess,” he purred in my ear, trailing kisses down my neck.
“I’m a hot, fat mess of raging hormones.”
“Your body is carrying our amazing miracle. I think you’re beautiful,” he said, setting me back on my feet. “I’ve never been happier, Sarah.”
I gazed into his eyes as we shared a slow, deep kiss. “We have everything I’ve ever wanted. We have our own place, I have a wonderful husband—”
“Who absolutely adores his stunning, gorgeous wife,” he chimed in.
My face lit up in a grin. “And we’re having a baby!” I yelled excitedly.
He touched my stomach lovingly. “I can’t fathom it myself. I’ve waited for this moment for hundreds of years. I didn’t think I’d ever be happy and assumed I’d live my life alone, but then you walked in and changed everything.”
“I couldn’t be happier either, Victor.”
He stroked my face. “Do I deserve to be this happy?”
“The past is the past. Let’s focus on the present. You deserve all of this. After everything you’ve been through, it’s about time.”
He stared into my eyes. “I can’t believe I’m holding the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. You have no idea how long I waited to find you.”
“We’re gonna have a great life, Victor,” I said.
He smiled. “And a fantastic room for our baby.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? Wait until we have the crib, the curtains, and that fish diaper-changing table my mom got us. It’s gonna be fabulous and...”
I was stopped mid-sentence by the kicking of our child, and I glanced up at Victor and smiled. “Your son’s moving. See?”
He put his hand over my stomach and grinned as Alexander kicked. “I felt that!” he said. When the baby kicked again, Victor pressed his face gently against my stomach and kissed it. “Yes, baby boy, I love you too.”
Tears welled up in my eyes because it was such a beautiful moment. Watching his reaction was nothing short of amazing. He could feel the life growing inside me for the very first time, and the love and joy in my husband’s eyes was overwhelming. Through the nausea, heaving, mood swings, anxiety, swollen feet, and irritability, I was having some truly amazing moments during the pregnancy, and I wouldn’t have traded any of them for anything. I couldn’t wait to write all about that Kodak moment in the baby book Liz had given me so that Alexander would
know how much his father loved him before he ever laid eyes on him.
“Whoa!” I suddenly said. “Super Baby is really kicking up a storm. I think he’s going to be an acrobat or a soccer player.”
He chuckled. “We have a very strong son.”
“Just like his dad,” I said as emotion overwhelmed me.
Victor glanced at me, and neither of us could stop smiling. We were bringing a new life into the world and couldn’t wait to meet him. The countdown had started to that amazing moment when I’d hold my precious bundle of joy in my arms. We were the happiest parents of all time, and we hadn’t even held our baby yet.
* * *
Holding a screwdriver, I sat in the middle of the nursery with the crib in pieces. I held up the directions and squinted and decided that building it would be a breeze.
The door opened, and Victor walked in with a bottled water. “I’ve brought you something to drink.”
“Thanks, hon.”
“What are you working on?”
“Building the crib,” I answered, cool, calm, and collected, as if it was a normal thing for me to be doing so late at night.
“It’s midnight, my love.”
I shot him a look, warning him not to give me a lecture. “And?” He set the bottle down on the dresser I’d just built an hour ago. I couldn’t stop nesting and I was a building machine.
“Let me help you,” he said.
“I know I should be crocheting a cute little blanket, but that’s just not me, and—”
He captured my lips in a long, soft kiss.
“You’re not helping me with my project.” I laughed.
Victor tried to grab the screwdriver out of my hand, but I refused to let go. He lowered himself onto me, hungrily bringing his mouth down on mine. “Surely this can wait till tomorrow,” he said in a deep, husky voice.
I buried my hands in his soft, tousled hair. “Hmm. You can probably convince me if you try hard enough.”
He took me up on my invitation, and his lips and tongue gently played against my throat, leaving a trail of kisses up and down my skin. Dropping the screwdriver in my hand, I wrapped my arms around him and let out a soft moan. He slipped my shirt off, and I pulled him down hard in another passionate kiss. Electric chills swept through me as he cupped my breasts in his large, warm hands. My body shivered from the feel of his tongue sucking my erect nipples with a gentle force. I trembled under his touch; it felt so good, and I loved every second of it.
Eternal Faith - Book 4 (The Ruby Ring Saga) Page 9