Kenji chuckled. “I didn’t want to have to spell it out to you why I was here. Not when my belly could say it for me.” And he’d wanted a raw reaction from Qylar. Would he be terrified or would he be happy?
He’d sensed both, but seemed to lean towards happy, considering how many times Qylar had lovingly stroked his belly through the night.
“It’s not really all that big yet, you know.”
Yet.
They were leaving for Nefyria to have them removed. They’d get no bigger than they already were. Terrified would’ve been easier.Then they’d have been of like mind. Ending a pregnancy Qylar showed increasing signs of wanting was going to be a lot harder. After their night and the intimacy they’d just shared, how did he tell Qylar nothing had changed in his mind?
He wasn’t ready to become a father.
He’d just learned he was of mixed species, with parentage from another whole ass planet, and his most recent lover was an alien. That was all he had space to handle. Adding in an unwanted pregnancy with a man he didn’t yet fully trust, and it was simply too much.
But… he didn’t want to lose Qylar, either. He was the one person he’d ever felt connected to and relatively safe with. The only other person who understood. The only person he could fully be himself with.
If he told Qylar he still didn’t want the pregnancy, would he lose him?
“I know it’s not big, but with that t-shirt on, it might draw some attention,” Kenji said.
“I’m sure Alex would allow me to borrow one of his shirts for you to use. He’s a few inches taller than you, but slim. His stuff would fit you better and still give you room to hide under.”
“Do I finally get to meet the infamous Cryss and Alex today?”
“Unfortunately not. They left for Nefyria a month ago for an extended stay.”
“And they just left you behind?”
Qylar’s jaw tightened. “I’ve told you I don’t go to Nefyria. Not unless I’m forced to.”
“Right,” Kenji said.
“They invited me,” Qylar said. “They didn’t want to leave me behind.”
That made Kenji feel better. Qylar chose to be alone… although, that was almost sadder. “When will they be back?”
“After the baby’s born,” Qylar said. “They hope to return by Christmas.”
“I wasn’t aware Alex was pregnant. I assume it’s Alex, or is it Cryss?”
“Alex is the egg-bearer,” Qylar replied. “He’s due in December—which is why they had to go. He wasn’t safe here so close to giving birth.”
“With you not wishing to return to Nefyria, where will your egg-bearer go to give birth? If they’re not safe here.”
Qylar’s gaze whipped to his. “Your life—and the lives of our children—are more important than mineormy comfort. I would take you where you were safest.”
Kenji saw pain in Qylar’s eyes, but there was also a fierceness in them.
Qylar pressed a kiss to Kenji’s forehead. “I’ll go rummage up a shirt next door and then we can shower.”
“I’ll clean up the mess while you’re gone.”
“Don’t you dare,” Qylar said. “I’ll take care of it once we get back from breakfast.”
As soon as Qylar disappeared behind a door, Kenji put the juice back in the refrigerator, tossed the ruined food into the trash,and put the pans into the sink to soak. When Qylar returned, he sighed.
“I told you not to bother with that.”
“Tough,” Kenji said. “It’s done now.”
