Gone With the Witch (42 page)

Pepper winked.
"Sure thing."

"She's too smart for an eleven-year-old," Storm said as
they walked the short distance away, hand in hand.
"Let's teach her to be a kid again."

"She's got a lot of kid in her yet. I told her the elephant poop story when we first got on the Ferris wheel, and she nearly giggled us out of our seats"

Near the tree, they stepped into each other's arms. "Remember what I said about the link between water and land being significant for the purpose of reproduction?" Storm asked.

"I do," Aiden said.

Storm smiled. "Since you can't live without me, and the
island is home, can we stop sheathing the dragon?”

“Excuse me?"

She got all feline flirty on him, again. "You know, play
naked dragon games, and see what develops?"

"Hey, Morgan," Aiden called, his grin growing.
Morgan looked up from his work.

"Add a middle floor:' Aiden shouted
. "All bedrooms."
Morgan gave them a thumbs-up.

"So:' Aiden said, turning back to her, "Storm Cartwright,
will you marry me?"

"Only if you accept me in hail, thunder, lightning, hurri
canes, and storm surges"

"Rain gear and
all."

Storm kissed him. "I'll happily commit myself to you
and our family, but 'I will never lose who I really am “

“
Because you're too stubborn."

"I certainly am."

"I wouldn't have you any other way. Who you really are
is
who 'I love. I think I knew the first time I saw you that if anybody could tame my dragon, it would be you"

"Hey, you're not the knight," she said. "I am. I get to
slay the dragon over and over again."

Aiden pulled her into his arms. "I'm in love with a
dragon slayer."
          
-

She nipped at his ear. "I think I might just be able to work
up the telekinetic passion to make your dragon dance," she
whispered, and when she grinned, he kissed her with all
the emotions he'd felt when he thought he'd lost her, and with all the joy he felt now that she was his.

Becky threw herself against their legs with a giggle, and
Storm picked her up.

"Mama," their daughter said.

Aiden extended his free arm to include Pepper and
caught her up in his arms.

Pepper squealed in surprise. "I might be a little heavy for this"

"It's not every day you become part of a new family. We're celebrating."

Storm sighed.
“A family.
We
are a family."

"Is that a yes, Cartwright?"

"I'd rather be a McCloud, if you please."

"I most certainly do please.
Four McClouds coming
up."

"Four?
Really?
Me, too?"
Pepper asked.
"Of course, you," Aiden said.

"But it could be more than four," Pepper said, "if you have babies."

Storm gave him a cryptic look. "I'm partial to the sound
of babies."

"So am I," Aiden agreed. "It's the sound that brought
our family together."