“You don’t think, at their age, Kane, that the babies could already be telepathic and communicating with one another, do you?” Rose murmured speculatively against his chest.
At once, all four boys turned their heads toward her, as if they’d heard her, their eyes bright and interested. Her breath caught in her throat. “Kane, I think they can hear and understand me.”
He turned his head to study the expressions on each of the babies’ faces. Each of the boys was watching them intently. There was no doubt that they looked more intelligent than blank, but he didn’t know yet the developmental process with babies. He glanced at the mothers of each of the boys. Briony was whispering to her husband, Jack Norton, as Kane swept Rose past them. Both parents turned to look with that same speculation they were feeling at their twins and then at the other two boys. Ken and Mari Norton immediately followed their lead when they’d been cuddling together in a corner, which meant Jack or Briony had alerted them to the difference in the babies.
“It stands to reason that all of them would be strong telepaths, Rose,” Kane said gently, turning her hand against his heart.
His steps directed her easily around the dance floor, so that she felt as if she was floating. She felt like she could do anything when she was with him. The intricate steps were easy with his strong direction.
“Jack and Ken, as well as Ryland and I, are all natural telepaths. Briony and Mari probably are as well. Lily is. And you have talent as well.”
“Not strong,” she denied. “I can tap into your talent.”
“Nevertheless, it follows that our children are going to be very adept and strong in that area. Don’t be afraid for them, Rose. Everyone in this room will stand for those children. We’ll love them and guide them and provide everything they need to grow strong and healthy. They’ll know they’re loved. If anything, the very child Whitney was looking to create might be his downfall. They’re bound to inherit strong loyalty genes, to us and to one another.
The way our teams work will only reinforce that. All of us scored high in the protection area, so my guess is, so will they. This is going to work, Rose.”
Rose snuggled closer, nuzzling his throat, her heart contracting. The room was filled with so many GhostWalkers, it made her feel as if she wasn’t so different from normal. Her child would grow up with them, with all these men and woman who would understand if he—and the other children born—were strong telepaths.
“I’m so happy,” she murmured as they danced past Ryland and Lily.
Lily caught her whispered confession, and she nodded her head, flashing a beaming smile.
“You look so incredibly beautiful, Rose,” Kane said, pulling her closer. “I’ll never forget the way you looked walking toward me. I never thought that I’d have a woman like you in my life. It’s all there etched in my brain. And now, the way the light pours over your hair, the way all that silk shines, so black it’s nearly blue. The world disappears when I’m holding you.” He brushed a kiss over the top of her head.
“You make me feel like a princess, Kane,” she admitted. “In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined this moment.”
He stopped her in the shadows and found her mouth almost blindly, pouring his love into her. A tremor ran through her body. Love was such an overwhelming emotion. She could barely think straight when she was kissing Kane, so she gave it up, wrapping her arms around his neck and dragging him closer, giving herself to him.
He’d given her everything she could possibly want for her wedding day. The room was transformed into an amazing glittering world of laughter and camaraderie. There was definitely magic permeating the air, surrounding her. Each time he kissed her or smiled at her, her heart fluttered and her body reacted. Time slowed while they talked to the members of the various GhostWalker teams, as she renewed her acquaintances with the women she’d shared the first few years of her childhood with.
Tears of happiness and of memories turned to laughter, and all the while, Kane was there. His arm steadied her. His smile made her feel as if her entire world was right. His strength steadied her. She looked up at his face, so familiar now. So loved. Every line. Every expression. Those vivid green eyes. She could look at him forever and never tire of it.
“Javier said word filtered down that Lopez was canceling the contract on you, that it was a mistake, but we’re still alert for any news,” Kane informed her.
“That’s what Jaimie said. No chatter on me, which is a good thing.”
The good thing was really standing in front of her. How different her life was now. Why had she ever thought she might be exchanging one prison for another? She reached for him, suddenly aching inside. His arms tightened, and once more, they were circling the dance floor, only this time, the heat of his body encompassed her until she could hear his heart hammering beneath her ear. She felt his hands glide down her back to her hips, pulling her closer so that his heavy erection ground into her telling need.
It didn’t take much contact between them to ignite a fire. He bent his head, nuzzling her neck and then teasing with small licks that turned almost abruptly into desperate nips. Each stinging bite sent an electrical current rushing through her veins. Her womb contracted as she shivered beneath the assault of his tongue and teeth. Hidden in the shadows, she suddenly wished they were alone. She needed her husband desperately.
The fairy-tale world dropped away. The music. The dancing. The murmur of conversations. All the good-looking men and women who had come from great distances to celebrate with them. Everything disappeared until she was alone with Kane—her Kane. Solid. Real. A man—a soldier—the one person in the world she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. The man who set her blood on fire and could bring her more pleasure than anything she could have imagined.
“Do you think we could slip away? I could change my clothes,” she suggested.
His eyes blazed down at her, going dark. Going hungry. So Kane. For an answer, he practically dragged her over to Jaimie. “Rose is going to change,” he informed her. “Can you keep an eye on Sebastian until we get back?”
Mack snorted. “Change? You haven’t even cut the cake.”
“We cut the cake when you and Jaimie had a sudden need to visit the stairwell,” Kane retorted.
Rose and Jaimie burst out laughing. Mack shrugged. “Well then, go change.”
Kane didn’t waste time, his gaze hot as he caught Rose’s wrist and nearly ran with her in a most undignified manner for the princess and prince, exiting their own wedding.