“Better.” Darius smiles as he looks over at me. “So much better than that. Would you like to try to guess?”
“Nothing can top that, son. Stop toying with me.”
“I’ll let Ingrid tell you.” Darius turns the phone so she can see me, as his palm spreads warm and protectively across my stomach.
“I can’t wait.” Geneva’s voice grows irritated. “Please, do tell. I’m on pins and needles.”
“First, you should know we didn’t plan this.” I clear my throat, trying not to squirm under his touch. “I’m not really even sure how it happened.”
His lips brush my ear, his whisper wicked. “I’ll be happy to jog your memory later. In detail.”
I choke out a laugh that melts into a soft moan when his cock swells against my hip. “But we’re thrilled about it, aren’t we, dear?”
“Beyond words.” Darius slips his hand under my shirt and reaches for the snap of my dress pants. “Which is why we called you. We wanted you to be the first to know.”
Geneva inhales sharply, her face pales before she snaps. “Oh, no. Not that. Anything but that.”
I smile for the first time since watching the test turn pink. “Oh, yes. We’re having a baby.”
“If luck is on our side, it will be a girl.” She mumbles into the phone.
Her words push me to lie and I hope I’m right. “It’s a boy. No doubt. Darius promised when he gave me a baby he’d give me a boy first. Isn’t that great.”
“Not really.”
“Mom, don’t be like that,” Darius scoffs. “You should be happy. You don’t have a grandson yet. Don’t you want a grandson? A boy to carry on the Falcon name?”
The screen goes black, and when I lean forward to look at his phone, I can’t help but laugh. “She hung up.”
“Should we call her back?” He picks up the phone and is about to, but I stop him.
“No. Let it fester for a few days.”
He tosses the phone aside and lifts me fully onto his lap, so I’m facing him. “A boy?”
I shrug. “Maybe. Don’t know yet. But I knew the thought would drive her mad.”
His gaze drops to my stomach, awe softening his features. “We’re having a baby?”
“We are.” My hands cup his face, my chest aching with joy. “We’re having a baby.”
He looks up at me, and I get lost in the tears that make his silver eyes sparkle. “I love you. And I can’t wait.”
Eight months later
Across the room, my husband cradles our newborn, his silver eyes locked on the tiny life we created. For now, it’s just us. No family. No press. No interruptions. We wanted this moment untouched. No one knows we gave birth yet—let’s be honest, I gave birth, but Darius was a rockstar, so he gets some credit. Our chance to revel in the rush of becoming parents. This was our time. No one else’s. A chance for us to soak in all the joys before letting the outside world in.
“How are you feeling?” he asks softly, his smile full of pride. “You did so well. I’m so proud of you.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you. Literally.” I motion for him to join me.
He stands, and the little person in his arms squirms and fusses, not exactly thrilled Daddy’s moving. “Shh. It’s okay. Mommy’s awake. I bet you’re hungry.”
“I don’t know,” I sigh. “We already tried; it didn’t work, remember? Maybe we should just call the nurse and ask for a bottle.”
“Not yet.” Darius takes the spot next to me, his voice steady, reassuring. “That was earlier. You were both stressed. Now it’s quiet. Just us. Let’s try it one more time.”
“Fine.” I tug my nightgown down, still unsure but willing. I cradle the baby against me, heart pounding. “He still doesn’t have a name.”
