Up in Smoke - Katie MacAlister [22]
The hand on my shoulder slid away. “Did I frighten you?” Gabriel asked, his voice quieter, filled with emotion.
I turned my head to look at him. “Yes,” I answered.
Pain was visible in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I would not frighten you for the world, but I cannot control the shifting—”
“No,” I interrupted, sitting up. “It wasn’t that. You meant it, didn’t you?”
He was silent for a moment, no doubt reading my thoughts. “Yes, I meant it. You are life to me, May.”
“But you told me you were born in the seventeen hundreds. How could you live for three hundred years without me?”
He examined my face for a moment before leaning forward, his kiss so sweet it made me want to melt. “Before you, I merely existed. Now I will truly begin to live.”
Chapter Five
“Weh-hell, look what the cat dragged in.”
I entered the dining room, determined to keep my face placid despite the fact that everyone in the house had probably heard Gabriel and me the night before. “Good morning.”
Jim, demon in Newfoundland dog form, looked up from where it lay on the floor with a copy of a Paris newspaper, cocking one furry eyebrow at me as it examined me from toes to nose. “Wow. I would have thought you’d at least be walking funny or something after all that boink—”
“Jim!” Aisling snapped, grabbing up a magazine and leaning over to whap the demon. She gasped instead, dropping the magazine and grabbing at her belly. Instantly, Drake, who was seated at the other end of the table, was at her side, kneeling next to her.
“Kincsem, are you all right?”
“I’m fine; it’s just a muscle twinge.”
Gabriel, who had been standing behind me, his hand warm on my back, moved around me to Aisling’s other side. He put a hand on her belly. “What did it feel like? Have you had any other pain this morning?”
A completely irrational desire to yank him away from her washed over me, a desire I stomped upon as firmly as possible. I may still be struggling with the depth of feelings I felt for Gabriel, but I was not going to let jealousy get the better of me.
“Stop touching my mate!” Drake demanded, scowling at Gabriel’s hand on Aisling’s very pregnant stomach.
I wholly approved of Drake’s demand.
“I am a healer,” Gabriel answered, squatting next to Aisling. He pressed gently on different parts of her belly. “If she is in labor, I can help her with the pain.”
I moved over to stand directly behind him, nudging him with my knee.
“Guys, I’m not in labor. I just moved too quickly, OK?” Aisling said.
“Take your hands off her,” Drake said in a low voice that sounded very much like a growl.
Jim sucked in its breath, sitting up to watch.
“I’m not hurting her,” Gabriel answered, bending over her belly as he continued to gently prod her. “I’m simply trying to ascertain if she’s in labor or not. Aisling, is the pain sharp or dull?”
The door opened, and Gabriel’s two bodyguards, Tipene and Maata, entered. Behind them came one of Drake’s men, a thick-necked, redheaded man named István. The latter picked up on Gabriel’s question.
“Aisling is in pain? She is having the baby?”
“I should examine you more fully,” Gabriel said, smiling at Aisling as he took her hand. “Do not worry, Aisling. I have delivered many dragons over the centuries. My mother is a very good midwife and has taught me well.”
Drake snatched up her other hand. “You will not examine my mate any further! We have an excellent green-dragon midwife who is attending her. Now, get away from her before I have you removed!”
Aisling looked perfectly fine to me. She rolled her eyes, casting a pleading look skyward. I might not have experience in this area, but it was clear to me that she was not in labor. I shot a glare at Gabriel, grinding my teeth just a little at the stupidity of what was normally such a bright man, my fingers itching to pry his hand from Aisling’s.
“I will tell you once more—remove your hands from her!” Drake’s voice got even more menacing.
“Gabriel, I think she would know if she was in labor,” I said, nudging the dragon