Page 118 of The Pawn

“Aren’t you?” I ask, suddenly realizing I might get what I’m asking for, which makes me more nervous than I imagined it could.

“There’s a little more,” he says, setting his empty custard cup in the sand and taking my face in his hands to kiss me fully on the mouth. His tongue is cold from the frozen custard, his mouth warm, lips soft.

“Mmm…” I say as he draws away. “You have a little custard too, just there…” I kiss him. We draw apart, but just an inch.

“So, you want to have a baby with me?”

“Is there an option to have one with anyone else?” I ask and although I’m playing around his grip tightens just a little. “Kidding. Just kidding.”

“Smartass.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, you’re a smartass?”

“That and yes, I want to have your baby, Cassian. Our baby. I want that very much.” My eyes fill up because, well, I don’t know, but the playfulness is momentarily gone. “I love you so much and I want a family with you.”

He’s serious too now. No playing. “Good. Because I want a family too, with you. But I don’t want just one, Allegra. I want half a dozen. At least.”

I laugh even as a tear drops from my eye. “Half a dozen sounds about right.”

He pulls my face to his, kisses my mouth again before whispering in my ear. “What do you say we get out of here and start working on making those babies?”

“I say yes.”

The end