us. If she gets pregnant soon, she’ll end up giving birth on the ship.”
“Such was my concern.”
“There is a serum that can render our sperm inactive. Some of our bonded men opt to use it if their lifemates can become pregnant but always miscarry to spare the women that grief. I will speak to Lisa about using it.” Taelon extended his hand. “Thank you for informing me.”
Seth clasped his arm. “You’re welcome.”
Lisa sighed as warm water cascaded down over her. David’s house had the best showers. The only thing that would make it better would be if Taelon joined her.
A knock sounded on the door.
Heart leaping, she turned and wiped fog from the glass shower wall.
Taelon poked his head inside. “I asked Amiriska to purchase you some new clothes. I’ll leave them here.” He leaned in far enough to hang a clothing bag on a hook. After casting her bare body—exposed by the glass shower—a longing look, he started to back out of the room.
“Want to join me?” she asked.
“More than anything,” he replied, voice husky, “but the baby is fussing.”
“Oh. Okay.”
The longing look he tossed her before closing the door went a long way toward alleviating her disappointment.
Not wanting him to have to deal with a fussy newborn by himself—parenthood had been thrust upon them awfully quickly—she finished the shower, quickly dried off, and unzipped the garment bag to see what he’d brought her.
“Hmm.” It was a dress. Pretty yet casual. But she was more accustomed to wearing pants and was pretty sure the baby would find a way to stain the pristine white fabric.
Lisa shrugged. She’d worn leggings and long maternity tunics almost every day since she and Taelon had met. Maybe he just thought she was more comfortable in dresses.
She drew it out of the bag along with a lacy bra, matching bikini panties, and casual white shoes with low heels. The panties were pretty and perfect. The bra was pretty, too, but it barely concealed her breasts, which were uncomfortably large and heavy now that she was breastfeeding their little one.
She frowned. They were going to have to choose a name for the baby soon. They’d been so busy and distracted that they hadn’t had time to discuss it yet.
The dress ended up being a little longer than her maternity tunics and fit surprisingly well, hugging her breasts and slender torso before flaring into a loose skirt that reached her knees. The shoes were a tad loose but very comfy.
Eager to join Taelon, she dragged a brush through her wet hair, then headed into the bedroom.
She stopped two steps in and stared. The room was dimly lit with dozens of flickering white candles. A sweet fragrance arose from white rose petals sprinkled over the wood floor. Large potted roses trimmed into trees and bursting with blossoms bracketed the bed.
Across the room, Taelon faced her in a black suit and tie, so damn handsome she forgot to breathe. “Where’s the baby?”
“Amiriska is watching her.”
Her heart fluttered. “Why?” To give them time alone so they could finally make love? If so, he had really set the scene well.
Taelon slowly strode toward her, as gorgeous and graceful as a panther. “So I could do this.” He knelt before her.
Oh shit. Her pulse picked up with cautious excitement.
“I love you, Lisa.” He clasped her hands in his and pressed a kiss to the back of first one, then the other. “In the brief time we’ve known each other, you have come to affect me in the most profound of ways.” He squeezed her fingers. “You hold my heart in these small hands.”
Her own heart began to pound.
“I can no longer imagine you not being by my side. Nor can I imagine waking without you in my arms. I wish to spend the rest of my days with you. The rest of my nights as well. I want your face to be the last thing I see before I fall asleep at night and the first thing I see when I wake in the morning. I wish to love you and protect you, cherish you and laugh with you until I’m so old I can no longer draw breath. I wish to bind our lives together forever.”
Tears burned the backs of her eyes. “Taelon…”
He reached into a pants pocket and withdrew a velvety black box, then placed it in their clasped hands. “Will you marry me?”
She clutched the box. “You want to bond with me? You want me to be your