“I’m not anymore, baby. But we can talk about that later. When you’re less stressed.” Nickolas said.
“No,” Jai said moving out of Nickolas’ reach, and Nickolas put his hands back in his pockets. “Now… let’s talk about it now.”
“Okay,” Nickolas replied, “What would you like to know?”
“Are you engaged?” Jai asked.
“No,” Nickolas said.
Jai was biting his lips, giving Nickolas a considering look, but Nickolas couldn’t help but stare at Jai’s lips caught between his teeth.
“Were you ever engaged?” Jai asked.
Nickolas replied, a pained look on his face, “I was, but not in the way you think.”
“What other way is there?” Jai asked.
Nickolas sighed, “Well, there’s my family’s way.”
“What does that even mean?” Jai asked, looking confused, but the forlorn look was now gone.
“Well, my mother would tell you that Ricci people marry the‘right people’. And to her, that means other wealthy people. It was an arranged match, Jai. Asa’s and my engagement was arranged by our families. His parents don’t have an alpha heir, and well, my mother is all about gaining more wealth. Not that we need it.” Nickolas scoffed.
“Did you love him?” Jai asked in a low voice, and Nickolas could swear he was holding his breath.
“No, not even close. I don’t think I even liked him.” Nickolas replied looking into Jai eyes, making sure he saw the truth in them.
Jai nodded after a moment, but Nickolas could see another question lurking in his gaze.
“You can ask me anything baby.”
Jai met held his gaze for second before looking away. He looked up at the ceiling for a moment as though he was debating with himself, before turning around once more and meeting Nickolas’ eyes again, “Did you sleep with him?” Jai asked, making Nickolas flinch.
“Not since I met you,” he replied, “It’s only been you since the first time Jai.”
Before they could chat further, the doctor and nurse came in, pulling a machine behind them. “Well Mr. Knox, let’s see how you and the babies are doing today.” The doctor said cheerily.
“If you could just step outside for a moment, sir, we’ll call you in when we’re done,” the nurse said to Nickolas.
Nickolas was about to reply, but Jai got in first, “He’s the other father. I want him to stay… I mean he can stay.”
Nickolas grinned at being called a father. He had yet to tell Jai just how excited he was to become a dad. He was surprised by that fact, because he had never cared about having kids before. He guessed he had just never cared about having kids because he hadn’t met Jai.
Nickolas’ need to stamp Jai as his was at an all-time high. The combination of Jai being gone for so long and finding out he was pregnant, well, it was making Nicholas feel very caveman.
Until Jai had said, “I want him to stay,” Nickolas had never been so tense in his life. Maybe he was reading more into it, but he saw it as hope that he and Jai would get their second chance. That his omega would forgive him.
Now all he had to do was find a way to get them back together, get Jai to come home with him, and get a ring on his finger. Somehow he knew it wouldn’t be as easy as it sounded, and even though he could never make up for those weeks when they weren’t together, he could still make sure he never gave the omega another reason to regret having Nickolas in his life.
Nickolas listened as the gynecologist asked Jai a bunch of questions while, checking his blood pressure, heart rate, and a few other things.
He was also able to see Jai’s bump for the first time as he was out of bed and getting weighed. He listened to Jai tell the doctor about his all day nausea and occasional dizziness.
Jai was led back to the bed and he lay down once more, this time leaving his bump exposed, and Nickolas sucked in a breath. After hearing all Jai had gone through, Nickolas felt bad for the omega’s suffering, but there was another part of him, and Jai would probably punch his teeth out for it, but somewhere deep within, there was a primitive glow of satisfaction finding out he’d gotten Jai pregnant. His alpha was pounding his chest at being fertile, and Jai was carrying his seed in his belly.
A twinge of sadness and more than a little anger passed through him at missing the first months of Jai’s pregnancy. As much as he hated to admit it, he was mad at Jai. He had a right to be informed about the pregnancy from the moment Jai found out he was pregnant, but he guessed he hadn’t made Jai feel secure enough to approach him. Andthatwas on him and no one else.
From the minute the doctor urged them to watch the monitor, however, Nickolas was entranced by the astonishingly clear 3D image which the ultrasound equipment showed.
