"How are you different? Would another Unseelie have taken me already?"
"Of course. We're faeries, not moral compasses. Fair Folk take children as well, for whatever they desire." Kailan shifts above me, grinding his hips against mine. We both tense, his eyes flaring with an emotion I haven't seen. My belly tightens in response, clearly knowing something my brain doesn't. He stares down at me, eyes skittering over my face, lingering on my lips before coming back to my eyes.
"Kailan," I whisper, my fingers splaying over his chest. I don't know if I want to push him away or pull him closer. We've almost kissed but haven't managed that deed yet. My breathing shallows as I study him back. His sharp cheek bones, plump lips, and sharp silver eyes. He really is a handsome man, by Fae and human standards. How is he still single?
Wait. Did Fae get into relationships similar to humans? Or did they just float around from one partner to the next?
In an attempt to remind myself of why I'm here, I ask, "So what are you going to do with my baby when you collect it, if you save all the children who come into court?"
He frowns. "I haven't thought about it. I never expected you to agree to such an outlandish suggestion." He laughs and shakes his head, his hair falling around my face like a curtain. "And then you asked when we were going to start, surprising me further."
"It shocked me too," I admit, avoiding his gaze by looking at my hands on his chest. All at once, my head becomes fuzzy as the wine fully kicks in. My left hand moves to his hard abdomen and my right hand slides around to his back, down to his butt, and grabs the hem of his tunic.
"Cara, are you drunk?"
"Nooo," I slur, giggling. "You're really handsome. I know why I want to have your babies."
"Babies?" he repeats, enunciating the plural with a rueful grin. I stare at those lips, wondering more than ever what it would feel like to kiss them.
"Of course. You'll want to keep seeing me, won't you?"
He laughs without humor. "I nearly forced myself on you and now you're discussing courtship?"
"Why not?" I pout, clenching my fists in his shirt to pull him closer. He's so close, almost as close as he was the night his sister interrupted us. I purse my lips in anticipation.
Kailan pushes up effortlessly, breaking free of my clumsy hold. "You need to sleep. And while you're sleeping, I'm going to deal with Gaelish for letting you drink that wine."
"Wait! Don't go!" I stand and the room twirls on an axis, my stomach heaving from the motion.
Kailan catches me, pulls back the covers, and tucks me inside. The scent of lavender mixed with sage assaults my nose, but I burrow my face into the pillow. It feels heavenly.
"Go to sleep, Cara. You'll be safe here, in my room."
Kailan's room. I'm in Kailan's room, passing out quickly, and it has nothing to do with the wine. I hear the sound of a tree groaning in the wind after the bedroom door shuts behind him and then I succumb to slumber.