Read NocC 020 - Michele Hauf - Wicked Games 03.75 - Moonspun - Harlequin 2012-08 for Free Online Page B

like the
taste of it, but I think I enjoyed it still. You know the whole sucking on him
and rubbing our bodies against one another. In the moment, I could relate to
what it was like for Creed when he takes blood.”
    “That’s either good or very bad.”
    “I know, right? And then I made Creed feel like some kind of
tick because I couldn’t get beyond the wrongness of drinking blood. And I
haven’t talked to him since.”
    “You needed time alone to process.”
    “I did. Though I’m not sure where I’m at with it now. Do you
think it’s a pregnancy thing? I mean, Creed has only bitten me half a dozen
times in the few years we’ve been married. I have not developed a blood
hunger.”
    “It could be the babies. Look, don’t worry about it too much.
It’s not like you’re turning longtooth.” Bree smoothed her palm over Blu’s
stomach. “I brought along a surprise. You want me to bless the babies?”
    “Oh, yeah.”
    She dumped out her purse and told Blu to pull up her shirt to
expose her belly. “You tell Creed about the bargain yet?”
    “No.”
    Bree cast her a sideways glance.
    “Soon.”
    “Like some time before the babies are born and some faery
warrior comes to whisk one of them away from Creed’s arms?”
    “Yes, Bree, like—hell. Some time this week?”
    “How about today?”
    Blu winced and looked aside.
    “I can’t believe you’re running away from this, Blu. You’re
always upfront about things. In your face and take me like I am. Fuck ‘em if
they don’t like you.”
    “Turned up to eleven, as Creed says.” Blu sighed.
    “He’ll understand.”
    “Do you think so?”
    Bree laughed, and rubbed a tube of glittery substance between
her palms. “Your husband loves you like crazy, Blu. Now, this is going to be
drippy, so hold still. You make pregnancy look so sexy.”
    “Thanks, I needed that. I feel like a porpoise. Which is
probably why I spend so much time in the pool. My skin itches, and my bones
ache. I want to shift so desperately. You know, shifting is like therapy. A good
shift realigns my whole body, tenders the aches and pains. It’s a
necessity.”
    Bree patted Blu’s growing belly. “You’re more than halfway
through this, sweetie. You can do it for the kids.”
    “The kids.” Blu sighed and lay back against the pile of
pillows, staring up at the ceiling tiled with rococo plaster. “But they’re not
both mine. Bree, I’m the worst mother in the world and I haven’t even given
birth to my children yet. What have I done?”
    “You will tell Creed about the deal, and he will support
you.”
    “He might. He might not. I’m afraid of his reaction. Even
though we’ll still get to keep a child, I don’t want him to hate me for having
the capability to actually give away one of his children. How awful am I?”
    “You were desperate. Mothers ransom things of value all the
time to conceive.”
    “Like what?”
    “Like money. Mortals spend untold amounts trying to
conceive.”
    “True. But I wasn’t guaranteed to have twins. Though we did
agree on children, so I knew I would have more than one. I should be thankful
for this small mercy.”
    “Faeries don’t do mercy, Blu.”
    “I know, and that’s what worries me. Fuck, I can’t do it.
There’s got to be a way around the deal.”
    “You don’t want to mess with a faery bargain.”
    “I know, but Bree…” She sniffed tears.
    “Oh, sweetie.” Bree laid her head on Blu’s shoulder. “I’ll look
into it. But I fear the only way to change the bargain is to offer something
more valuable in exchange.”
    “What’s more valuable than a child?”
    “I have no idea.”
    *
    An hour later Creed knocked and Blu cheerily called him
into the bedroom. Bree was finishing the design on her belly, and both women
nursed goblets of white wine.
    “Come in,” she repeated, sensing her husband’s reluctance. “I’m
feeling much better now. Not so cranky. Thank you for calling Bree. You always
know the right thing