Leo placed a hand on her shoulder. "I always cook at least triple the amount for Ari."
"He's a growing boy," his mother added.
Brie looked his way, and her eyes raked him up and down. "Yum."
Ari winked at her and continued to eat his fish.
"Mayhap we should expect another grandchild sooner rather than later," his mother said, sounding excited.
Brie shook her head. "Not anytime soon."
Ari couldn't help but agree. "As much as I love kids, I want to enjoy getting to know my mate more. Maybe after the initial mating heat dies down in a century or two, we can try for one."
Catherine arched a brow. "What makes you think it dies down?" She looked at Jedrek, who winked back at her.
Ari stared. "I knew that there would always be a pull, but you're telling me that this clawing need never goes away? That it's not some 'honeymoon' period?"
Rex, Jedrek, Leo, and Catherine shook their heads.
Brie turned to him. "We need some sort of birth control. If this heat or whatever doesn't die down, I'll be pregnant for the next century." She looked up and down his body. "Because I'll probably be jumping you every chance I get," she admitted.
Rex and Jedrek dropped their forks, and Catherine raised her napkin to hide her smile.
Ari simply stared into her chocolate-brown eyes. She wanted him that badly? "I'm yours Brie, mind, body, and soul. Just let me know when and where, and I'm there," he promised.
Leo came up behind them and ladled extra-large portions of pasta on to both of their plates. "For energy," he said, winking.
She pointed her fork at him. "See what I mean! We need some sort of contraceptive; I only have so many eggs."
Catherine smiled openly. "I'll arrange for an amulet to be delivered tomorrow. It will halt your ovulation so that you will be able to have children centuries from now."
Brie exhaled. "Good." She perked up. "Does that mean no cycles while I'm wearing it?"
His mother nodded. Brie smiled wide. "That's amazing." She wiggled happily in her chair.
"You have to keep it on for it to work," he reminded her.
She gave him a flat expression. "If that amulet keeps cramps away, I'll have it welded to my arm."
Ari stared. "Are human female cycles that bad?"
She nodded emphatically. "Medical science has yet to accurately gauge how painful women's cramps can be. Some women say that their monthly cramps were worse than childbirth."
His mother shuddered. "I cannot imagine."
Jedrek rubbed his chin. "No wonder little Meryn is able to keep up with her mate. She must be extraordinarily strong."
"She is half-fae," Rex reminded him.
Jedrek nodded at him. "Yes, but I think that the reproductive side of things must be human, since she became pregnant out of season."
Catherine turned to her mate. "She's not some sort of robot made of specific parts, Jedrek, honestly."
His father had the grace to blush. "We had three sons, my dear. I'm lucky I know the very little I do regarding cycles."
Catherine sipped her wine. "You might want to pick up a book or two. We have daughters now and a possible grand-daughter on the way. You wouldn't want to be ignorant of any pain they may experience would you?"
Jedrek scowled. "I won't allow them to be in pain."