The Dragon King’s Baby

At a little after six, Addie received word that Seathan was headed to their suite. She jumped up and rushed to the elevator with a glass of wine in her hand for him. She would, of course, be abstaining from alcohol this evening and hoped he didn’t notice.

When the elevator doors eased open, Seathan glanced up and started a little at the sight of his wife. She wore a short, tight, purple dress, her hair flowed down her back, and her face was glowing. His heart skipped a beat and his stomach fluttered as he looked at her, frozen. She held a glass of wine out to him as she stepped forward.

“Hello, husband,” Addie purred, kissing him gently on the mouth. She held the wine up, and he took it without looking away from her face. “I’ve arranged a lovely dinner for us this evening, out on the balcony.”

Seathan smiled slowly as he finally released his hold on her eyes and looked her up and down. “Wow, baby. You look so beautiful. I’m a lucky man.”

Addie smiled beautifully. “Thank you. I’m a lucky woman who felt like her man needed a nice dinner. Would you like to freshen up before we eat?”

“I’d like to rip that dress off your body and ravish you,” he answered, pulling her against him with his free arm, holding her tightly. His kiss was demanding and filled with desire, but Addie shimmied out of his arms and wagged a finger at him.

“Ah ah ah, my handsome man. I’ve gone to a lot of trouble for you tonight. Dinner first, pleasure after,” Addie said with a seductive smile that promised an excellent dessert.

Seathan grinned wickedly. “Anything you say, my love. Let me change my shirt at least, then we’ll have dinner.” He handed her his wine glass.

As he walked to the bedroom, Addie felt some of her stress melt away. He did that when he was around, erased her stress. As she wandered over to the balcony doors, she mused over the fact that no one had ever been able to do that just by being in her presence. She sat down and waited for her husband to come out. One of the servants stepped forward.

“Princess, he’s going to notice you have no wine, so I’ve brought up some grape juice until you’ve told him the happy news.” He smiled at her and poured the juice into her wine glass.

Addie giggled. “You’re a genius, Finnian.” She lifted her glass in a salute to him and sipped it. “It’s tasty, too! Thank you!”

“Of course. When would you like the first course served?”

“As soon as he sits down. I heard his stomach growling when we kissed,” Addie laughed. “And I’m starved as well.”

“Eating for two, Princess,” Finnian said with a wink.

“You’re right!” Addie exclaimed, giggling again as Seathan appeared on the balcony.

“What are you two giggling at?” he asked as he patted Finnian on the back and kissed his wife on the cheek.

Addie was at a loss for words, but Finnian saved her. “Well, Your Highness, I was just telling her a bit of a ribald joke before you walked in. You saved her from the punchline.”

Seathan laughed. “She’s a bit of a joke teller herself, Finnian. She may even embarrass you.”

Addie slapped his arm playfully as he pulled his chair closer to hers. “Stop telling stories, Seathan. People will think I’m a bad person.”

“Well, Princess, you’d have to be a bit of a heathen to keep up with this scamp,” Finnian teased and they all laughed as he topped off Seathan’s wine. “Shall I have the first course brought out?”

“Yes, please,” Seathan answered through the last of his laughter.

The first three courses passed quickly. Seathan and Addie talked about their days, Addie letting him talk much more than she did since her day had consisted of baby news. She and Vada had discussed the Coronation a little, so she filled him in on the plans for that. By the fourth course, they were telling stories about their pasts and laughing together at the funny memories of their childhoods.

“Ok, for dessert I have something very special for you,” Addie announced as she rose to retrieve the cake. She had silently dismissed Finnian and his helper, winking at them conspiratorially.

“I certainly hope dessert includes the two of us licking chocolate sauce off of each other,” Seathan teased.

Addie laughed. “That’s the after-dessert.” She winked at him as she turned to get the dessert.

Seathan captured her hand and pulled her down into his lap before she could walk away. “Call Finnian to bring the dessert,” he said as he kissed her soundly on the mouth.

“Finnian and his helper already left, silly,” Addie said as she pushed herself up and off him. “I’ll get the dessert.” She bent at the waist and kissed him again before going inside.

When she returned, she held a cake box with his name written on top in her large, cursive handwriting. She placed it on the table in front of him and gestured for him to open it.

Seathan grinned widely. “Are we celebrating something? It’s not my birthday.” His eyes widened suddenly. “Is it yours?”

Addie laughed. “No, but you really should know it.”

“Do you know mine?”

Addie looked away playfully. “Of course I do!”

He snorted. “Sure you do.”

Addie rolled her eyes at him. “Just open the cake box.”

Rather than look at the cake, Addie watched his face as he lifted the box. He glanced inside and read the message, looked up at her with a confused expression, then back at the box to read the cake once more.

“What?” he asked. He looked at her again, a question on his face as a smile brightened it. When she nodded, he tossed the box on the table as he leapt up and crushed her in a bear hug. “Addie, this is fantastic! You’re pregnant?”

She groaned. “Seathan, you’re crushing me.” He released her and stepped back, bending at the waist to touch her belly. She put her hands over his and smiled down at him. “I’m pregnant. Just found out today.”

“Today? Have you seen the doctor? You have to see a doctor,” Seathan gushed as he rose to his full height to look her in the eyes. “How far along are you? Can’t be very.”

“Seathan, calm down,” Addie laughed. “I did see the doctor and he says everything is fine. He says I’m three weeks pregnant.”

“Three weeks. That’s fantastic,” Seathan mused. He held her hands and smiled lovingly at her, quiet as they looked at each other. Then a thought crossed his mind. “You must be freaking out a little.”

Addie laughed. She was surprised he would think of that. “A little. I’m the first human to give birth to a dragon shifter, as far as we know. But your mom helped me a little, and she’s going to bring in a human doctor and try to find a doctor who has helped birth a cross-species baby. That will make me feel much better.”