Alternate Worlds: The Fallen by Kaitlyn O'Connor Page A

been happier with myself if I could have just been
nonchalant about the whole thing, though, maybe invited him in for
a quick fuck, or two or three rounds to keep him around a little
longer. I wasn’t happy to discover I’d been lying to myself about
him ever since we’d parted company, maybe even for a while
before—like from the first. Taking a deep breath to gather my
courage, I stiffened my spine, and my resolve, and said what I knew
I had to. “I don’t think I can do this anymore, Gideon. I was just
starting to get used to not having you around. I really do love
fucking you, but ….”
    Something that looked suspiciously like pain
flickered in his eyes, and more doubt, but his face hardened with
resolve. “I love everything about you. I don’t want you to get used
to not having me around.”
    Floored, certain I hadn’t heard him right, I
blinked in surprise. “What did you say?”
    He hooked a hand behind my head and jerked
me tightly up against him, smiling down at me when I made no
attempt to resist, plastering myself against him gratefully. “I
could not go back, Nicole. I’ve no heart for the war anymore, and I
could not survive long anyway when I can think of nothing but being
with you. I will stay with you and our child.”
    “Here?” I didn’t realize until much later
that he’d spoken of my pregnancy as if it was something he’d known
all along—but then, perhaps he had. The Elumi were bound to be
aware that they were potent breeders, on human females, anyway.
    He looked around the house. “Yes. Here.
Wherever you are.”
    I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I did
a little of both. “You sure you’re cut out for this world? You’re
not going to change your mind? I love you, too, but I don’t think I
could stand ….”
    He kissed me. I think it was just to shut me
up, but it still felt absolutely divine!
    The End