Still. After all these days. After the way she dropped her wedding ring on my lap.
It’s hope renewed.
Maybe she’ll stay.
I almost laugh. One good nut isn’t going to make her stick around.
But itwillremind her of what we have together. Our connection supersedes the physical, blasting us into the reality of the unknown. Of all the relationships I’ve had through the years, this one has brought me to my knees—in more ways than one.
I can’t lose that.
I can’t loseher.
She mumbles what sounds like a complaint as I roll her onto her back. I open her legs and gently wipe my cum from her pussy. Her smooth skin glistens with remnants of cum and sweat when I toss the towel aside.
She’s still here.I glance at her face.Then that’s all that matters for now.
While caressing the soft flesh of her inner thighs, I glance toward the door, listening to the sounds of the rest of the house. No one is awake right now. I can easily slip away.
She’ll never notice.
Once I’m cleaned up, I tuck Liya under the sheets, making sure to double the layers around her shoulders just the way she likes it. I kiss her forehead. I stroke her cheek. A smile dances across her lips, twitches, and then disappears. But it’s there for a split second.
It’s there because of me.
Another touch invites her to sigh. I’m trying not to kiss her, but I’m bending forward before I can stop myself. Her lips are too soft to ignore. And the way she shivers under me has me convinced.
There’s so much that can make her stay. I just have to find all the parts and put them together.
I slip on a pair of joggers and head to the door. One more glance over my shoulder shows me that Liya is asleep. As I step into the hallway, my heart jolts in my chest. I stop just on the other side of the doorway.
She’s safe. Nothing can touch her here. Stepan will slit someone’s throat before anybody can even make it two steps into the foyer. Yet my body pivots to check on her.
She’s fine. Everything is fine.
After a deep breath, I walk to the other side of the hallway. A smaller door reveals a set of wooden steps leading into the attic. Each one of them creaks as I ascend, frustrating me as I reach for the dangling bulb.
Yellow light dimly bathes the attic. A massive box sits near the circular window, white cardboard sporting a giant image of what’s hiding inside. I wander toward the box and rest my hand on top of it.
“I never liked building things,” I say to no one in particular.
It’s not necessarily true. I enjoy building my empire. I like building relationships with my brigadiers. I find it beneficial to build bridges with other organizations.
But this is different. This is a future. This cements the fact that I’m going to become a father.
My knees wobble slightly as I lower myself to the ground and grab a box cutter from nearby. With a single slice, the box falls apart and I carefully remove the pieces of a crib. The wood is pale tan with a glossy finish. A few cushions sit inside plastic, along with some bonus toy items.
“Our son will love it.”
The directions flutter from the box and into my lap. I stare at them, rolling that word over in my mouth.
Son.
I have no idea what we’re having. Liya hasn’t indicated a preference. I don’t think I’ve truly discussed it with anyone else to the extent I have with Liya.
Yet my heart is sure. We’re having a boy.
I can’t explain how I know. I just know it feels right.