Luka was attentive and sweet, but I felt more and more an impostor.He’d shown me nothing but love, and I didn’t know what to do.Most of the time I wanted to throw myself into his arms, but I worried Luka didn’t truly want me.The others hadn’t.
We were getting ready for bed about a week later, and my mind chased itself around in circles.But as much as I wanted to talk to Luka about these worries, I couldn’t.
Rather, I didn’t know how.
“Millie?”he asked as he settled next to me.
“Hmm?”
“If I were to, say…want to make our team more permanent.What would you think?”
I turned so I could look at his face, my brow puckering.“What?”
He cleared his throat.“I, er, I…well, marriage,” Luka blurted.
“Marriage.”I blinked up at him, mouth fallen open in an O.“You want…you thinkmarriage?”I squeaked.
“So that’s a no,” he said.
I could feel him withdrawing, emotionally, but also literally.Luka rose to his feet and moved away from the bed.
“Is this because of the money?”I asked.My voice cracked.
“What money?”
“My father’s money,” I said.
“I don’t give a single flying fuck about that money.In fact, far as I’m concerned, your shit bag of a father can keep it.Hope he chokes on it,” Luka spat.
I struggled out of the bed.
“Why are you getting out of bed?”Luka asked.“You just got in…”
“Because I can’t lie there and worry and not see your expression.”I stood, my hands on my belly, my eyes growing wider and wider.“Oh…”
“What?”Luka turned and his gaze slid over me, still annoyed until he came to the puddle at my feet.
I wiggled my toes and scrunched my nose at the mess.“Um…”
“Labor,” Luka breathed.He flapped his hands as if trying to calm himself, making a hell of a sight in his boxer briefs and bare chest.But his eyes were wide and his mouth slack, and shit!Shit!He wasn’t breathing.
Then I wasn’t breathing because the pain in my torso had begun; I wanted to pass out.Before I toppled over in a moaning, sobbing heap, Luka’s arms were around me, sheltering me.Holding me.
He wasalwaysholding me.And I loved that.So, so much.
Dammit.I wanted to finish our conversation about marriage, but I also couldn’t breathe.Licks of flame seemed to shoot out of my torso and straight up to my scalp.
Luka murmured into my hair.I had no clue what he said, but the kindness in his deep voice was enough.I latched on to that.
“Okay, sweetheart.You’re doing great.Breathe.That’s it.Breathe just like we learned.In slow, out slow.”
I collapsed against his chest as the last of the tension ebbed from my body.Holy hell.This was labor?It fuckingsucked.
“I’m going to pick you up—”
“I’m too heavy.Just, just help me to the shower.”
“Millie…”
