“Hi, little one,” he whispered.

“Oh,” Caro moaned as their child reacted to her father’s voice and touch. “I think she likes you.”

“Of course she does,” Sethios murmured, his finger reverently stroking her stomach. “I convinced her mother to indulge in chocolate and other more gratifying activities.” He waggled his brows up at her while she rolled her eyes.

“Somehow I doubt she’ll be all that enthused by the latter.”

“It’s what created her.” He fixed her dress as he stood and slid his palm to her lower back. “It pleases her mother too.” His lips whispered over hers. “And it convinced her mother to feel.”

She grinned against his mouth. “I still don’t think she’ll want all the details.”

“Certainly not,” he agreed softly. “How are you feeling, love?”

“Heavy, hungry, and hot.”

“Alliteration, hmm?” He chuckled. “Give me five minutes to shower, and I’ll fix you something to eat.” He kissed her far too gently and wandered off, losing his shorts and socks in the process.

She leaned against their shared bed. Misting to the kitchen would take a lot out of her, and she needed her strength. If Osiris found them now, it would be hard enough to mist herself and the baby out, and she refused to leave Sethios behind.

Blood bond, her soul whispered.

The urge intensified every day, but she continued to repress it. The chances Sethios would agree to an eternal bond were slim anyway. He might be besotted with her now, but they’d barely known each other two months. That was a blip in time for two immortals. He also mentioned not being the monogamous type. They agreed on here and now; the future would be determined as they went.

Caro’s soul might be on board with keeping him forever, but her heart and mind remained unconvinced.

Liar, her soul chastised.

“Enough,” she muttered, pushing off the bed and right into Gabriel’s appearing form. She bounced right back into the mattress with a grunt and shook her head. “Ow.” Her body throbbed from the unexpected impact as her heart kick-started in alarm. “I didn’t sense you.”

“I didn’t give a warning,” Gabriel murmured. “Sorry. I finally have all the information I need and returned as quickly as possible.”

“Still haven’t learned to knock, I see,” Sethios commented as he wandered in with a towel slung loosely around his hips. Water trickled down from his hair to his shoulders, shimmering in the low light of their bedroom. Again the urge to lick water from his abs hit her in the gut—something he knew, because he winked at her.

Arrogant man.

“Have you made all the arrangements to stay here?” Gabriel asked, ignoring Sethios.

“For now, yes,” Caro replied, rubbing her belly. She wasn’t exactly sitting on the bed so much as leaning heavily against it. “Sethios assembled the nursery and ordered everything we need for an infant, including several additional items. We haven’t planned for the long term, though.”

“Start planning,” Gabriel replied. “At least seven years.”