Wheaton clenched and unclenched his hands while breathing inher scent. Leaning down with his fists on either side of her hips, he smiledsexily at Poppy.
“Little flower?” he rasped.
“Yes?” she said with a now-dry mouth.
“I am thirsty.”
That was her only warning before he pounced.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Poppy stretched in bed and groaned loudly as her backpopped. She felt the bed move next to her as Wheaton chuckled at her actions.
“What?” Poppy turned over with a smile.
“Nothing. I am just happy.” Wrapping one arm around hershoulders to pull her closer, he kneed her legs apart.
“I’m happy too. In fact, I can safely say I don’t think I’veever been happier than right now.”
The bedroom had simulated sunlight during the day and dimmedautomatically at night. Right now, the light was reflecting perfectly offWheaton’s sculpted face. Poppy stared at him for a moment and absorbed hishandsome visage. Brushing his long hair away from his eyes, she cupped hischeek.
“I love you, Wheaton.” Following the declaration with akiss, she nuzzled his cheek.
“I love you too, my little flower.”
Meeting his gaze head-on, Poppy had no choice but to believehe meant what he said. She’d had fears at first that Wheaton would not be ablefeel love to the same depths as she did. Those fears had been unfounded. He wascapable of love and she was the lucky girl he felt it for.
“And I love our little baby.” Moving down the bed, hestopped to nuzzle at her soft belly.
Poppy raised an eyebrow at him. “You realize I’m going toget fat, right?” she admitted. “Well, I guess it would technically be ‘fatter,’to be honest.”
Poppy was actually someone who believed being fat was okay.People came in all shapes and sizes. She just happened to be more padded thansome. She also didn’t mind the word fat, which surprised people. Sheloved her body. There was a time, around high school when she’d hated theteasing and would wear baggy shirts to hide what she thought were lumps of unattractivefat. At some point she’d started not caring and had embraced the word fat.It made the bullies realize that being called names didn’t bother her.Eventually, when they wouldn’t get the reaction they wanted, they left heralone. She would never be able to run a marathon and that was okay with her.And if it was okay with her, then anyone who it wasn’t okay with could go fuckthemselves.
Truthfully, there were some things she would change abouther body. She didn’t know one person who would say differently. Honestly, shewould love it if her arms didn’t resemble bat wings. Was she willing to orderthat stupid shake thing she saw on TV to make it go away? No. In her opinion,nobody should look that stupid exercising. Sweating was punishment enough. Shewould wear tank tops and let her arms jiggle with pride and give the skunk eyeto those who she saw judging her.
The extremely baggy jeans and tops had left her closet, andshe’d started wearing yoga pants and fitted T-shirts. The jeans she did havewere expensive and fit well, but she just hadn’t had a chance to really wearthem much since she spent so much time at home. Poppy tended to dress forcomfort but she had come to realize very quickly that there was a differencebetween dressing for comfort versus dressing to cover up what others viewed asflaws. She’d admit that when she’d first been naked around Wheaton it had takenevery ounce of courage she had. Being comfortable in your body was one thing.Hoping that your body sexually aroused a man who could be a body double for agod was another. He had shown her quickly that he didn’t have a problem withher form and in fact craved it. Generally as naked as he could get her.
“I love your body,” Wheaton said with a smile. He couldobviously read her face well enough to realize she wasn’t being disparaging toherself.
“Well, big guy, I’m glad you love my body, because afteryears in it, I have come to the realization that it’s not going to changemuch.” She grinned mischievously. “Now, on the other hand…if you lose any ofyour muscles, we may have a problem.”
Laughing out loud when he caught her grin, he nipped herbelly and tickled her sides. “Oh really?”
“Yes sir. I am going to be counting those ridges on yourabdomen daily to make sure you don’t start slacking on me.” Between laughs ashe tickled her, she was finally able to gasp out that he needed to stop beforeshe peed herself.
“Wheaton! I’m warning you. Seriously!” At her frantic tone,he literally rolled off her—and right onto the floor. Of course, this causedher to laugh even more as she hurried off to the bathroom.
Relieved she’d been able to hold off having an accident,Poppy laughed at herself. Well, that would have killed the romance quickly, shethought while washing her hands.
“I have a few meetings scheduled with the Council today butI should be able to come and join you for lunch in the med center,” Wheatonoffered as he finished his breakfast.
“Anything important I should know about?” Poppy asked,hoping he had news regarding their match that he would share with her.
“Just some minor items are scheduled for today’s talks. Ibelieve we have the majority of our negotiations with Earth complete. We haveonly a few more days before we reach Phaeton Major and then I can show youaround,” Wheaton said, sipping coffee.
“Hey, that reminds me. One of the guys explained thatwarriors live in barracks on your home planet,” she interrupted.
“Yes.” Raising an eyebrow in question, he waited for her toelaborate.
“How are these warriors supposed to have families if theylive in barracks? In fact, that brings up the question regarding our baby.Where are we going to live?” When he opened his mouth, she held up her hand.“And before you say it, if you even suggest that we let our innocent baby betaken away to a training house, I will literally kill you with my bare hands.”She was completely serious.
“I admit that we might not have thought the family aspectthrough very well when it comes to housing but this is easily
