Unfortunately, as part of her agreement with Heaven, she couldn’t leave Sheoul-gra to see them. Only Reaver’s interference had allowed her to stay with Cara temporarily, and he’d been clear that after the baby was born, she couldn’t leave again except for the daily allowances of an hour of time travel.
“Eidolon told me that some species of immortals have strict dietary requirements to keep them healthy,” she said. “The rest of us could survive on nothing but lard if we wanted to.”
“I’ll remember that next time I order a tray of snacks delivered to you.” He shoved the cupcake at her.
She took it with a sigh. “Darling, I’ve eaten so much lately, I’m about to pop. People keep bringing me fattening food. Except Juliana. She brought me fruit. Who gives a pregnant chick fruit? I ate an apple to be nice, but I really wanted more of the chocolate cake Suzanne made me. Or the petit fours Maddox brought. And Emerico brought me Belgian chocolates from the same shop in Bruges where Jasmine got the chocolates she gave me.”
That had been a surprise. She hadn’t always been on good terms with Emerico. She shared a tense relationship with several of Azagoth’s adult children, in fact. They were all so complex. Children of both good and evil, the only angels who had to earn their wings—they had a lot of resentment. And none of them, save Suzanne, had grown up in stable, loving homes.
After being told the truth of their existence, they were whisked away to training centers, where they spent decades training to fight demons and learning how to watch over their Primori charges. They also learned to fear and despise their father, and for good reason.
He used to be a real bastard.
He’d come around, even if many of his children hadn’t. Still, some of them, like Jasmine and Emerico, were making an effort.
“Oh,” she added, “I’m hoping Jedda brings me more of those divine little jelly mushrooms she smuggled out of the elf realm.”
Ugh, all her babbling had made her hungry.
“Didn’t Limos bring you pastries yesterday, too? Is it ironic that the Horseman known as Famine brought you food?” Azagoth pawed through the tote, and it struck her that she loved moments like these with him. They were just two normal people at their happiest, simply…enjoying life. “And what is this? Caramel corn? Why is it people think all pregnant females want is food?”
Laughing, and despite her protests, Lilliana unwrapped the cupcake as if she hadn’t eaten in days. “Because it’s true.”
“Didn’t you just say you’re going to pop?”
She nodded because it was all she could do with her mouth full.
Smiling, he wiped a bit of frosting off her lower lip. The mere brush of his finger made her long for more. More of his fingers…in more places.
He could get a scoopful of frosting and paint it along the V-neck of her top, using his touch to sweeten her skin for the stroke of his tongue…
After the baby is born.
“Dammit,” she breathed.
“Dammit, what?”
“Nothing. I’m just so ready to have this baby.”
“Me, too.” Standing, he took her tote in one hand and held out the other to her. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Where are we going?” She let him help her to her feet, which spared her the awkwardness of trying to get off the stupidly low bench. “Because I gotta be honest, the only place I want to go is into labor.”
He laughed, and her knees went weak. He was so damned handsome, and his rare moments of genuine amusement only made him that much more scrumptious. Like a carrot cupcake with extra frosting.
Oh, how she’d missed that when she was away all those months.
“I told you,” he said as he led her up the path toward the building that housed the Memitim community center. “It’s a surprise.”
As they drew closer, the sound of laughter and the drone of voices grew louder.
“What’s going on?”
He cocked a dark eyebrow. “You’re not grasping the concept of a surprise, are you?”
“Really?” She pinched his ass playfully, loving how Mr. Cool and Collected jumped. “See? I get it.” A sudden wave of nausea came out of nowhere, and she wobbled. Azagoth’s arm shot out to steady her. “It’s okay,” she assured him, swallowing sickly until the sensation passed. “I get woozy sometimes.”
“I don’t like it. Maybe we should call Eidolon.”
She blew him off. He’d call Eidolon for a burp. “Just open the door.”
He threw open the door, and a chorus of “Congratulations,” poured through the entryway. Dozens of Memitim and fallen angels dressed in their party finest surrounded them, their hands full of food and drink. Pop music drummed from the speakers on either side of a table laden with cake, a chocolate fountain, and elegantly wrapped gifts. Sparkling gold, green, and silver balloons, and streamers in the traditional color scheme of Heavenly birth celebrations decorated every available space.
Overwhelmed by love and happiness, she wrapped her arm around Azagoth’s waist and held tight. This was not what she’d expected out of life in the underworld.
This was so much better.
Chapter 3
Lilliana woke to someone tap dancing on her bladder.
Groaning, she rolled over and bumped into Azagoth. Pleasantly surprised that he was still in bed, she ignored her need to pee and curled up against him.
She’d missed this so much while she was gone.
“Good morning,” he murmured, his husky voice even more gravelly than usual.
“Morning.” She snuggled into his shoulder. “I’m surprised you’re not working.”
He yawned. “You wore me out last night.”
Smiling against his skin, she trailed her fingers along the hard ridges and deep valleys of his abs.
“I wanted to show you how grateful I was that you threw me a baby shower.” And she’d done it without getting too active. Eidolon couldn’t begrudge her one orgasm, right?
“Mmm.” He pressed a kiss into her hair. “You must have been very grateful.”
She slid her hand under the sheet and meandered her way to the curve of his hip. She might be a million months into her pregnancy, but her sex drive didn’t care in the least.
“I’m still grateful.”
He hissed as her knuckles brushed his shaft. “Not complaining.”
It truly had been sweet of him to gather together the denizens of Sheoul-gra for a big celebration of food, drink, and games in the traditions of people from the human, demon, and angelic cultures. She’d suffered two more bouts of intense nausea and some cramps, but they’d passed quickly. What hadn’t passed was Azagoth’s concern.
Which was probably why he was still in bed with her.
It was cute the way he hovered. Annoying at times, but cute.
“I just want you to know that you’re my life,” he said. “Without you, I’m a monster.”
“And what are you with me?”
He gave her a rare, boyish grin, made even more playful by his mop of bedhead. “A happy monster.”
“I’m very happy about the happy.” She rubbed her eyes and yawned.
“Things are good, Lil,” he said. “I never thought much about being a partner, let alone a parent, but I want to do these things with you.” He settled his hand on her belly and smiled with wonder. “This will be my first child born without a predetermined future. He or she can be anything. Do anything.”