There was no erotic note in his voice. He wanted her to know he wasn’t playing around. Not with her safety. She needed to know there were certain lines she couldn’t cross with him. They were hard lines. And he would do something about it. She’d be uncomfortable and not laughing when he got through with her, and she’d never forget the lesson.

“Elijah, do you think I’m stupid? Brainless?” Her tone was ominous. She lifted herself up on one elbow. “Because I’m not. You don’t need to threaten me to get me to use good sense. I know you’re doing something dangerous. You wouldn’t be doing it if you didn’t have to. I know I brought this storm down on you. I want to keep our babies safe as much as you do.”

She had that tone. That attitude. The one that teased his cock into one hell of a hard-on. Painful even. Perfect. She looked pissed, but adorably pissed. How the hell did she think he could take her seriously when she was propped up naked next to him, one soft breast pressed deep into his side, the other resting on his abs?

“Sorry, baby. You going to have words with me over this?” He couldn’t resist, because seriously, who said that kind of thing? Words. He loved that.

“Yes we are,” she said. “More than words.” She leaned down and bit him. Hard. Right on his belly.

The bite of pain arrowed straight to his cock. He yanked on her braid, to bring her head up, but her tongue was already soothing the ache. He heard her muffled laughter.

“You do that again and you’ll make me late. Won’t like that, baby.”

She turned her head, her lips whispering against his belly, sending little flames dancing over his skin. “Yes, you will. I’ll make certain of it. But . . .” She pushed herself up into a sitting position. “I think, unfortunately, our babies have other ideas.”

With that, she flung back the covers and rushed into the bathroom. He lay there, one hand over his eyes, listening to her, wishing he could figure out how to stop her morning sickness. Hating it. Hating he couldn’t take it away for her. She didn’t complain. Didn’t blame him. Didn’t in any way act as if carrying his child—his children—was a burden. He loved her all the more for that.