Page 96 of The Possessive Alpha’s Reborn Luna

"No!" Irritation flared from nowhere. "Get out! I want to sleep alone! I can't sleep with you here!"

Cedric's hand froze mid-air. He looked like he'd been punched.

"Okay." He swallowed hard, each word careful. "I'll be...right outside. Call if you need me."

He walked out quietly and closed the door.

When I woke, it was dark. Emptiness gnawed at my chest—like someone had hollowed me out. I couldn't sit still. I needed him. His presence. His arms.

I threw open the door to find Cedric still there, sitting in a chair with sour fruit and sweets beside him, ready at a moment's notice.

"Why didn't you come back in?" Guilt pricked at me, but the moment I saw him, that emptiness vanished.

"You told me to get out." His voice was cautious, like a dog who'd been locked outside. "I didn't want to wake you. Didn't want you mad."

My nose stung. Tears came instantly. Damn pregnancy hormones.

"I'm sorry. I was awful earlier."

"It's fine." He jumped up and wrapped me in his arms. "The healer said pregnant women get emotional. It's normal. You can lose your temper all you want. I'll listen."

"But I keep torturing you..."

"That's not torture." He kissed my forehead over and over. "That's happiness. You know what? I never dared imagine this—taking care of you like this, having our child...This is the happiest I've ever been."

Damn it. That made me cry harder.

Sixth month. My belly was obvious now.

"I look awful." I stared at my reflection, dejected. Round belly, puffy face, even my ankles were swollen.

"What are you talking about?" Cedric wrapped his arms around me from behind, chin on my shoulder. "You're more beautiful than ever, baby."

"Don't lie." I rolled my eyes, feeling miserable. "My waist is thick, my face is round, my breasts are huge, my ass is—mmph!"

His hands started wandering.

"Your waist is soft," he murmured in my ear, voice dangerously sexy. "Your face is adorable. Your breasts...yeah, I really like those. And here..." His hand slid to my rear. "This is incredible."

"Cedric!" My face burned. "Stop it!"

"I'm not stopping." He turned me to face him, cupping my face. "Alice, do you know how happy it makes me to see you carrying our child? That's our baby. The product of our love. You're pregnant with my child, suffering for me—how could I possibly think you're anything but beautiful?"

His hand rested on my belly. "No matter what you look like, you'll always be the most beautiful woman in the world to me. You're my Queen, my mate, the mother of my child...You're everything."

My eyes filled again.

"When did you get so good at this?"

"Because I want you to know," he said seriously, golden eyes full of devotion, "how much I love you. If you like hearing it, I'll say it every day. Every moment."

"Did something happen today?"

"No!" Panic flashed across his face. Even his ears turned red. "Nothing happened!"

"Then why all the sweet talk?"

"Because...because I wanted to," he mumbled. "Is that not okay?"