Page 25 of Daigo

"Not hungry."

"You're going to waste away if you continue this way."

He smirked at her, feeling his mood getting lighter. "As if that would ever happen. Now, I just want to hold my wife and feel the beat of her heart against mine."

"Done." She knew he didn't want anything sexual, and for a fleeting moment, she worried about it. But they had scaled an obstacle, and she was going to settle for that much. Putting her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes.

It took him longer to follow her into sleep.

*****

She insisted on having his mother over for Christmas. She knew that she was going to regret the gesture but decided it was time to heal the breach. She knew he loved his mother and, more importantly, that his mother was devoted to him. She wasn't willing to go to the woman's home, but at least she could invite her to come to theirs. She was going to be a parent and realized that loving a child meant loving them for the rest of their lives, even when they were grown.

"Are you sure?" He looked over at her as he fed more wood into the dying embers. They were home early for a change. He had gone with her yesterday to do her checkup, and everything was fine for now. The pregnancy was still in its preliminary stages, and apart from a slight queasiness, she was feeling great. She had also invited Tammy to spend the day with them and stay over. She didn't want her friend to be by herself on Christmas Day.

They were in the living room, curled on the sofa, the fire blazing in the hearth. The tree was a bright splash of colors against the ivory of the walls. Presents were piled high under the tree and inside the huge red-and-white stockings. Before she came into his life, his walls and living room had been bare and unadorned. She had brought color and life into his life, and for that, he was grateful.

It was Christmas Eve, and he wanted this time alone with her. Their housekeeper had gone to Florida to spend time with her sister but had left a mountain of food for the time she wasn't going to be here. The cooking for Christmas was already done; the only thing she had to do was to shove things in the warmer and make the salads.

"No," she answered his question. "But it's the right thing to do."

He joined her on the soft, supple sofa and brought her under his arms. A snifter of brandy was in his hand, and his wife was right beside him. Contentment folded over him like a warm cloak.

"She's your mother." Tilting her head, she looked up at him. She loved the look in his eyes, that warm possessiveness that clearly stated that she was his. She knew he had gotten her a hell of a lot of gifts, despite her telling him not to. One of them he had given her at supper: a lovely gold chain with a pear-shaped diamond pendant. She was wearing it even now, the diamond, flashing fire, nestled between her breasts. "Have you spoken to her at all?"

"No, aside from business matters." He sipped brandy and quirked a brow at her. He loved that about her, her generosity of spirit and the quickness to forgive a slight. She had moved from group home to group home, lived in her car and in crappy apartments with little to no heat, and still found it in her heart to be generous with her love and affection. No wonder he was so head over heels in love with her.

He couldn't help it any more than he could help the breath coming from his lungs. She was the most beautiful soul he had ever encountered. It made him want to protect her against everything, including his own mother.

"What?"

Lifting her hand, she cupped his cheek. "Forgiveness lightens the load."

His brows lifted, and he laughed softly. "Is that an original quote?"

"It is." Her lips curved. "And I believe in it. She said yes, by the way. When I called and she realized it was me, there was this pause for several minutes. Then, when I greeted her all friendly and all, she paused again, as if she didn't know what to make of it. When I invited her over for supper, she went silent for so long I thought she had hung up, only I heard her breathing."

Tilting her chin up, he kissed her lips. "She doesn't know you the way I do." He shook his head. "Your capacity for caring is beyond the normal range. One of the things I love about you."

"Go on, tell me more," she urged.

"Fishing for compliments, Mrs. Nakano?"

It thrilled her to hear him call her by her married name. "Absolutely."

"Well-" He trailed a long finger down her pert nose. "You're great in bed-" He grinned at her expression.

"Is that so?"

"Hmm." He continued to explore the shape of her lips. "Only because you were taught by the best."

She rolled her eyes and had him laughing. "Your ego is astounding."

"Not ego, just facts. Let's see-" He pretended to consider. "You're exquisite, of course, and you're of above-average intelligence." He winced when she poked him in the ribs. "And you cook. I love to see you stirring up something in the kitchen."

"Fortunately for you, I'm not in the least bit offended by that last part."

"Good." He kissed her roughly. "I think that's enough ego stroking for tonight. We have strawberry soufflé."