Promises (The Kings of Guardian #14) - Kris Michaels Page 0,19

to have kids. I told her I didn’t understand the way they are programmed, but everyone said that they just wing it and hope for the best. Even Joy wants to have a baby.”

Zane blinked and snapped his mouth shut. Moriah wanted kids. Holy fucking hell. Stop the presses. That was a headline that would stun the Shadow world. He’d try to process that bit of information later. “Oh, okay. Well, first, I’d love to have children. I thought you were against it. We’ve had this conversation, remember?”

“Yeah, and you said it was up to me and that you wouldn’t pressure me.” Jewell nodded. “You’re not pressuring me.”

Zane blew out a lungful of air. “Okay. You realize you’d have to put in shorter hours if we started a family.”

Jewell jumped up from the bed and started pacing. “Yeah, I get that. That’s okay. You have the right people in the right places in the section. I mean, we wouldn’t be able to leave for two weeks for an unscheduled vacation if you didn’t, right?”

He nodded and let her continue.

“As I see it, we have several cons. Children would require one of us to stay at home at all times or take them with us if we go to the ranch like Tori and Jacob do. Traveling together would be impossible, and I’m not sure I’m happy with that. However, I can do my job from my office and I don’t really need to travel; others can go in my place. But I don’t want to give up my job. Tori still works part-time, but I want to work full-time. I like what I do.”

He nodded when she looked at him. She didn’t need his input right now. She was working through the scenario she had in her head, and if he interrupted her, it could take weeks or months before the topic could come up again. He was very interested in knowing her thoughts on a family.

“The biggest con is that I would make a horrible mother.” She linked her fingers behind her neck and stared at him.

“I don’t believe that for a second.”

She spread her hands out. “I forget to eat.”

“You take excellent care of me,” he countered.

“Huh?” She blinked at him.

“You take excellent care of me.” He stood and walked to her so she was looking up at him.

She narrowed her eyes and asked, “How?”

“Babe, you schedule everything for me. I know what to do and when to do it because you make sure I know. I wouldn’t be able to accomplish half of what I do if you didn’t prep me for it and clear most of the obstacles before I even know they’re there.” He placed his hands on her waist.

“But that’s work. That makes sense to me.” She dropped her hands. “I don’t know how to take care of a baby.” She dropped her eyes and whispered, “But I want to hold our child in my arms.”

Zane blinked at the honest, raw emotion. He tipped her chin up so he could see her eyes. “There are classes, all kinds of classes, and books where you can get information. Your mother raised eight children; she wouldn’t let you fail. Tori lives on the other side of town, Faith is even closer. Sweetheart, you will be a fantastic mother, but there is help if we need it.”

She dropped her eyes and nodded. He could imagine the gears in her mind making a shift to accept the additional information. “What are you thinking about?”

She shook herself slightly. “Ahh… we’ll go to the classes and read the books. When I have enough information and I understand more, maybe then we can try to have a baby?”

“Absolutely. But for now, how about we just practice?”

Jewell flashed a fabulous smile at him. “We want a perfect baby, right?”

Zane slapped a serious expression on his face. “Of course. Absolutely perfect.”

“Then we must practice.” Jewell placed her hands on his shoulders and jumped up.

He caught her legs and bounced her higher, grabbing her under her ass. He strode into the bathroom and dropped her in the middle of the double vanity. Their kiss lasted until they were both breathless. Recovery comprised the time it took to open the shower door and turn on the water. Turning back to her, he unwrapped the layers of clothing from his woman. Somewhere under the hoodie, the sweater, t-shirt, leggings, and two pair of socks was the sexy body he wanted to touch. “How in the hell