Chapter Eight: Seven Months
The negligee Naya had bought the last time she had gone shopping was just a tad small. The bra cups dug into her breasts, and the sheer fabric parted on two sides over her large, pregnant belly. She turned to her side, looking in the full-length bathroom mirror as she cradled her stomach with one hand underneath and the other on top.
She had never had the confidence to wear negligees, not even before she was pregnant the first time, when she was at her lowest weight. Even now she was a little nervous–but Gabriel always insisted the lights be kept on while they made love. Knowing that he loved every jiggle and roll of her body made her feel sexy, and she wanted to look sexy for him.
Not to mention that she was seven months pregnant, and pretty soon she was going to be too big every which way to make love, but somehow her desire for the king had increased so much that he was now the one putting an end to their romps in bed, rather than the other way around. Perhaps it was because of Gabriel drinking her blood more often these days.
There was a compound in vampire saliva that rewrote human DNA and turned them into vampires as well. That compound was sucked out when Gabriel drank her blood, but enough was left inside of her to strengthen her body.
"Naya?" His voice came to her from the bedroom.
"I'll be out in a moment." She hadn't told him why she wanted to see him so early in the day but, even if he had only fifteen minutes to spend with her, it would be better than nothing at all. She fluffed her dark, wavy hair and touched up the devil-red lipstick that she wore.
"Where are Angel and Ivanna?"
"Ivanna wanted to go to the zoo, and so Angel took her. I thought it would give us a chance to have a little alone time." Naya spritzed a little lavender oil into the air and walked through it.
There was a brief moment of silence, and Naya knew that Gabriel was inhaling the scent and processing her words. A low, deep chuckle came from the other room, but he continued as though he didn't know what she was up to. "You'll never guess what I overheard her talking about with her lover yesterday."
Naya exited the bathroom. Gabriel sat on the edge of the bed, his suit jacket flung over the back of a chair. He worked on the buttons of his shirt, fingers moving deftly as he drank in the sight of her. Naya's body swirled with heat as her gaze trailed down the muscles of his torso. He was so delicious that she almost wished that their positions were reversed, that he was the human and she was the vampire so that she could drink from him.
"What did you hear?" she murmured huskily, eyes greedily roaming from his smooth chest down his chiseled abs to the well-defined V that disappeared into his pants.
"They were agreeing to become exclusive."
Naya's brows rose as Gabriel tore off his shirt. "I didn't even know she was seeing anybody in particular."
"She's been quiet about it. I hope that it works out for her. I've always cared for Angel–not the way I love you, my dear," he added quickly, making Naya smile appreciatively, "but she's been a good friend to me over the years. I hope she's found somebody who can be to her as you are to me."
Naya nodded. She wanted the same thing, having become fast friends with Angel. It was the female's forgiving, nurturing nature. Angel was always there to take care of both Ivanna and Naya, always a cheerful presence, and had frankly forgiven Naya for her cruel words to her after she found the female with Gabriel that time.
Gabriel started on his pants, and Naya felt like her skin had turned to fire. She shook her head, grinning as she moved forward.
"That's my job."
With a groan Gabriel nodded, moving his hands to the bedclothes. Naya knelt between his legs, shifting his thighs apart so she could rest her forearms on them. Gabriel's breathing was quick, pulsing, and she could see how ready he was already. No matter–she had something specific in mind for this time, and in this instance she was getting exactly what she wanted.
Her heartbeat fluttered as she unzipped his pants and pulled them to his knees. Her core tightened. Gabriel trembled as he stared down at her, his eyes dark with desire, lower lip clenched between his teeth. One long fang jutted out, digging into his skin. Naya smiled at him before taking him into her mouth.
They had not done this before; she never needed to prepare him, and everything was always focused on her. She loved that for sure, but after all these months she wanted to give back what she had been given. Gabriel went rigid, fingers digging into the bedclothes. A low, throaty groan escaped from him as she began to move, and his head fell back.
Naya moaned herself, his obvious pleasure building heat in her core, making her tighter. Another moan, and she found herself slipping a hand between her legs. It wasn't long before Gabriel gripped her arms, picking her up as he stood. One arm wrapped around her waist as he steadied her, turning to lay her down on the bed. Naya giggled but shook her head.
"Not yet. I'm not done with you."
"Yes, you are. I only have half an hour, and I want to be inside of you."
He pressed a searing kiss to her mouth, taking her breath away, and Naya could find no arguments against it. She twined her arms around his head, pulling him closer. Their bodies moved as one, not needing any prompting to get into their new favorite position, now that it was uncomfortable for Naya to lay on her back for any length of time.
As he positioned himself behind her, Naya's breath was hard and fast, her heart pounding. She loved this intimacy, the feeling of utter trust she had with her lover. She would never have believed it before, that a man could really, truly love every inch of the skin she was in. Even Ivanna's father, who she knew had loved her, had often given her dirty looks when she reached for a second cupcake or mentioned wanting something deep-fried to eat.
Gabriel never did anything like that. He only marveled over her beauty, and Naya knew that every word he said was the absolute, complete truth. She stroked the arms that circled around her as they became one, whispering his name over and over. Gabriel kissed the back of her neck, and they followed one another into bliss.
***
Naya didn't think anything of it when Angel and Ivanna didn't return for lunch. They were at the zoo, something that could take all day, especially considering Ivanna's love for animals. She wasn't worried at all.
Not until Angel returned alone.
Naya was in Gabriel's study, discussing plans for the nursery while Gabriel pressed a hand to Naya's belly, feeling their baby kick with the happiest, proudest expression she had ever seen on him. He suddenly stiffened, head snapping towards the door. Naya followed his gaze and found Angel standing there. Her clothes were torn, her hair in a mess around her face. A long, dark wound slashed across her face; it looked like a hot knife had sliced through her skin. Similar marks were on her arms. Wet, red stains covered her clothes.
It took a moment for Naya to recognize it as blood.
"They took her," Angel gasped. She stepped forward and fell to her knees. "They attacked us and killed the guards. They took her. They took her."
A hollow sort of sound rang in Naya's ears. Her hands trembled and bile rose up her throat. Her baby was kicking against her ribs, but she could hardly feel it. As if she was a ghost, she drifted forwards, her heart in her throat.
"Ivanna," she choked out.
Angel's shoulders shook. "I tried to stop them. I wasn't strong enough. They had silver. They only left me alive so I could tell you who they were."
Gabriel's arms circled Naya's waist. He lifted her off her feet, cradling her. Naya impatiently smacked his arm but, even as she did so, she knew that she would fall the moment he set her back on the floor. Her eyes were dry, but only because she couldn't believe this was happening–wouldn't believe this was happening. They were just playing a trick on her. Ivanna would come bouncing in in a second.
"Who was it?" Gabriel asked.
"Take Back the Planet. They said that they won't let her go unless… unless Naya terminates her pregnancy."
The words tumbled about in Naya's brain. She couldn’t think. She couldn't breathe. Her daughter… her baby…
What was she supposed to do now?