Chapter 9

        Ice pressed his face into Aaron’s shirt and breathed in deeply, seeking the elusive change to a person’s scent when they became pregnant. Pressed this close to Aaron’s body, he could tell the Aaron was definitely enjoying the closeness. Ice could feel himself responding to Aaron’s growing arousal. His fangs lengthened while his body hardened. He wondered what it would feel like to have Aaron push himself deep into Ice’s body. Ice's Maker had been female. She had been his first and had taught him everything he knew about sex. She liked seducing young men and then watching their faces when Ice raped them while they were having sex with her. She had liked it for a time, but she grew bored easily and when she demanded Ice submit to her latest 'pet', he fled. As a vampire, he was strong enough not to submit to human men. For the first time, Ice wanted to submit to another. He wanted to feel his belly swell with his lover’s child. Vampires could father children on humans fairly easily, but only love would cause a vampire’s womb to bear fruit. Breathing in Aaron’s scent, Ice felt his womb quicken.

        Ice concentrated on the scent and detected that subtle change that he was looking for. He closed his eyes and leaned against Aaron’s body. “You are pregnant,” he whispered. “We are going to have a child. I am going to be a father.”

        Aaron’s hand tightened painfully in Ice’s hair. “A baby? I’m too young to have a baby.”

        “You do not have to do it alone,” Ice whispered, “I am more than willing to help.”

        Aaron released his grip on Ice’s hair and gently stroked his head. “I can’t have a baby out of wedlock. I wasn’t raised that way.” He turned away from Ice.

        Ice was silent for a moment. “I do not want to cause you pain. I know we do not know each other very well, but will you marry me, Aaron?”