What an end to a wedding day. It was finally here and Kimber had her head stuck down the toilet bowl. Victor held her hair back and asked again, “Are you sure you’re all right? I can have a doctor here in five minutes, darling.”

“I’m fine, really. Just give me a minute.” She breathed heavily and finally rose unsteadily in her wedding gown, a vision of beauty that he was sure would be imprinted in his brain for eternity. “I don’t think I’ll be eating any cake though.”

“Are you ill?” he asked for the hundredth time. The day had arrived after weeks of waiting and he’d been like a cat on a hot tin roof for days. Now the ceremony was over and the party was getting started, mainly a few friends, and at Kimber’s insistence every guard who’d been involved in keeping her safe while they were at the lake house, were waiting on them to cut the huge cake she’d had made.

“No, not ill.” She peeked up at him, a rosy blush on her cheeks.

“Nerves, that’s it, isn’t it? You don’t need to be nervous, darling. It’s just friends waiting for us and you look gorgeous. We can have a drink here to settle your nerves and—”

“No, nope, no alcohol for me.” Kimber shook her head. “Not for a while anyway.”

Victor canted his head, not understanding. “What? Why? You don’t drink a lot. Are you on a health kick? If so, I’m sure it can wait until after our honeymoon.”

“I don’t think it can. Not this kind anyway.” Kimber smirked up at him, her hand landing on his chest as she shook her head. “You’re not very observant, are you?”

“What? Of course I am. What are you talking about?” He looked at her more thoroughly. What had he missed? Was she wearing a different perfume? No. Different earrings to what she’d planned? No. What the blazes was she referring to?

He’d been so wrapped up in planning the wedding, not to mention his own damn nerves that maybe he had been a little out of sorts, but he still didn’t have a clue what . . . wait a goddamn minute. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her and used every one of his Vampire senses. Her breathing was a little erratic, that was normal in the circumstances. They were just married and she’d just been throwing up. Her heart rate was slightly elevated, again that wasn’t out of the ordinary right now . . . but when he listened more intently there was another sound, something faster whooshing inside her. It was . . . no, it wasn’t, yet it was.

“Kimber? Am I hearing what I think I am?” he whispered, his throat constricting tightly as his own heart thudded out of control at the mere thought of what he imagined.

“I don’t know . . . what do you think you’re hearing, darling?” Her hand dropped between them, landing on her belly and his chest tightened, his heart soaring with the possibility that he’d heard what he’d thought.

“Are you? Are you . . . are we?”

“Yes!” Kimber beamed up at him. “We’re going to have a baby. I’m shocked you didn’t notice sooner. I kept expecting you to and you didn’t, Victor. I knew almost straight away, it’s a Dragon thing, but I wanted you to find out by yourself, you know, with your Vampire senses.”

His head spun and for the first time in his long life he felt as if he was going to pass out. His legs shook and he looked around, plopping down on the toilet seat. “Holy shit. Really? I’m not dreaming? This is real?”

“Yes, it’s real. The stories about Vampires and their Bloodmates are all true, Victor. We’re going to have a family.” Kimber looked down at him, her face suddenly filled with worry. “Are you happy? I’ve just realized you might not want this. We didn’t discuss it and, shoot, you look scared and oh dear, maybe we should’ve taken precautions. I’m sorry, I didn’t think about that.”

Victor grabbed hold of her hand tugging her onto his lap. “Of course I’m scared. Aren’t you? Parenthood is one of the scariest things in the world, Kimber. Hell, we’re going to have a child but, yes, I’m happy. I’m over the fucking moon. I’m a Vampire, baby, I never thought this would happen, that I’d ever have the luxury of holding my own child in my arms. It’s a miracle and to have that, with you, I don’t even have the words to tell you how happy it makes me.”

Her hands cupped his face, smiling as she kissed him quickly. “Good, ‘cause it’s done now and I can’t undo it. And by the way, Dragon pregnancies aren’t as long as humans, they’re usually seven months, but I’ve no idea about a Dragon and Vampire one so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Okay, well first thing tomorrow we’ll get you an appointment with the best doctor there is.”

“No,” she replied, shaking her head. “After we get back from our honeymoon. That’s soon enough, and I feel better so cake is back on the menu. Let’s go.”

“All right . . . can I announce it? Please?” He stood with her in his arms, knowing his voice was pleading but damn, this was amazing news and he couldn’t possibly keep it to himself.

“Really, Victor? You can’t wait until we get back?”

“No, definitely can’t wait that long.” He shrugged. “Sorry.”

“All right, but can you at least wait until I’ve had cake?”

“Sure, cake first, baby announcement after.” He chuckled. “That’s the plan then, and after that I’m whisking you away to the bridal suite for a night filled with passion, love, and a few presents I’ve got hidden away.”

“More presents?”

“Of course.” He kissed the side of her mouth as they walked into the room where their guests waited, a huge cheer greeting them. “If I remember right . . . you did agree to allow me to indulge myself every now and then.”

And in Victor Strong’s books every now and then could be as often as he damn well pleased. He just hoped she didn’t object to his spoiling their child as much as he was going to spoil her for eternity. But that was an argument for another day. Tonight was for her and their love for each other and that’s exactly what he planned on showing her, over and over again.

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Continue the next adventure in Bella Roccaforte’s A Vampire’s Thirst: Grey !