Page 31

Chapter 31

Odik

FIVE WEEKS LATER

I held my hands over Eleri’s eyes.

“Can I see? Can I see?”

“Not yet,” I said, my grin making my face ache.

“I haven’t peeked. I promise.” Joy came through in her voice, and it made me feel amazing to know I’d put it there. “You’ve been working on the house for a while, and I want to know what you’re building.”

I’d kept it secret.

Our discovery on the beach worked so well, everyone was putting in pumps to bring fresh water to the island’s surface. I’d done the same of course, but I’d taken it even further. My mate had once expressed a wish, and I could do nothing else but fulfill her every desire.

We left the front of our house, and I guided her around to the side. I’d finish the doorway from the inside over the next few days, but my surprise would have more impact if we entered from this side.

“I’m going to fall,” she said with a laugh, stretching her legs out one at a time to feel the ground before stepping forward.

“I won’t allow that to happen.”

“You think you’ll be able to prevent it from happening?” She tripped, and I wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her snug against my chest.

At the same time, I shifted my other arm around to cover both of her eyes. “No peeking.”

“You’ve been banging and making all kinds of noise for weeks,” she huffed. “I swear, it’s making it hard for me to focus on my sewing.”

I proudly wore the pants and shirt she’d made me the first week, and she wore a lovely gown made of silky green fabric that hugged her generous curves. It was all I could do not to strip it off her the first time she modeled it for me. Maybe my upcoming surprise would help in that area.

I eased her to the right, taking the path I’d cleared to the detached building. At the door, I creaked it open and lifted her, placing her feet squarely on the newly laid wooden floorboards. Eventually, I’d build a breezeway between the two buildings, but for now, it stood alone, a testament to my dedication to my mate.

Inside, I brought her to a halt.

“Can I see?” she asked, laughter bubbling in her voice.

“You can.” I lowered my arm and moved up beside her, watching her as she took in my surprise.

“A tub. A real tub?”

I chuckled. “It’s not fake.”

“You built me a bathhouse. Odik.” She burst into tears.

I gulped and wasn’t sure what to do. She enjoyed hugs, so I tugged her into my arms and held her while she sobbed. “I thought you’d be happy about this. Instead, I’ve made you sad.”

“I am happy,” she cried. “Really.”

“Then why are you crying?”

“Because you did this for me, and I love you, and I think I’m pregnant.”

I sucked in her words, and my heart came to a grinding halt. “You think you’re pregnant?”

Nodding, she sniffed.

“Mate,” I groaned. I swept her up and spun her around, kissing her as if my very life depended on it—which it did. “Mate. We’re going to have an orcling together?”

“I hope so.”

“A boy or a girl?”

She frowned. “There’s no way to know that before it comes out.”

“Maybe one of each.”

“Twins?”

At her frown, I backtracked. “I’ll settle for one at a time.”

“Odik. I’m having one baby. One. Not two. At least not yet.” She gave me a watery smile. “Show me the tub?”

“When you were newly arrived on the island, you mentioned how wonderful it would be to have water piped into a tub. I decided cold water wouldn’t do, so I rigged a system that heats the water as it emerges from the ground. I’ll have to feed the heater with wood, but this way, you can take nice, warm baths whenever you want.”

“So much work and for me?” She slid down my front until her feet touched the floor.

“I’ll do anything for you, Eleri. You know that, don’t you?”

She glanced at the tub. “There’s one more thing you can do.”

“What’s that?”

“The tub looks large enough for two.” She lifted her dress up over her head and carefully laid it on a nearby chair.

By the fates, she wore nothing underneath. Was she trying to kill me with lust? Whenever she wore the dress next, I’d be wondering if that was the day she’d chosen to wear underthings or the day she’d gone without.

I’d never get the image of her looking so lush and alluring out of my mind.

“I crafted the tub large on purpose,” I gulped out.

She climbed the short steps and swung her legs over the side, sinking down into the steaming water I’d filled it with before I brought her out here. “Yes, there’s plenty of room.”

The smile she gave me made my heart ache with joy. This woman had brought light and color into my life, and there was no place I’d rather be than with her.

Curling her finger my way, she gave me a sultry smile. “Why don’t you join me for our very first bath in our new tub?”