“You put it there,” she added, because apparently her mouth had decided to keep going.
He just stared at her. Nothing ever fazed Christian. Nothing. And now he looked like someone had pulled the ground out from under him.
She felt a nervous bubble rise in her throat and forced herself not to laugh. This was not the moment. “Are you okay?” she asked finally.
He swallowed hard and blinked once, like he was coming back into his body. “Yes. Yes.” He pushed off the door and crossed the space between them in two strides. His hands came up and wrapped around her arms before he pulled her into him. The contact was solid and warm and familiar. “You’ll be okay,” he murmured onto the top of her head before pressing a kiss there.
She couldn’t help it. She laughed softly against him. Leaning back enough to look up at him, she studied his face. Shock was still there, but another expression was pushing through it. Something wide and bright and almost boyish. “Women get pregnant all the time,” she said slowly, like she was explaining basic biology. “It’s not rare.”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She frowned. “I am. Are you? Did something just burst in your brain?”
He looked down at her, and warmth finally pushed past the shock in his gaze. “No. I’m just caught off guard.” He pulled her into him again, holding her tight but with a gentleness as if he was afraid he’d hurt her. “I promise I’ll take care of you.”
She laughed into his shirt and then shoved her face away so she could actually breathe. “I know, you always take good care of me.” Leaning back even more, she caught one of his hands in both of hers. His fingers were rough, callused, steady even when the rest of him wasn’t. “Christian, do you need to sit down?”
“Yeah.” He backed up until the bed hit behind his knees, then sat and pulled her with him. She landed on his lap, and he patted her shoulder in the most awkward, careful way she’d ever seen. Like she was suddenly made of glass.
She fought laughing with everything she had. “You’re happy about this, right?”
He looked down at her, his eyes wide. It was honestly kind of amazing. “Yes. This is wonderful. I want kids.” He kissed her quickly on the mouth. “I really, really do.” He pulled her closer again, his arms wrapping around her. “I just hadn’t thought about it happening so soon,” he admitted. “You’re going to need to lie down.”
“Oh no.” She planted a hand on his shoulder and pushed back, but he held her in place. “Let me go.”
He released her immediately. She slid off his lap and stood, but even then he reached out and tugged her so she stood between his knees. He looked up at her like she might tip over any second.
She cupped his chin and lifted his face, her palms scraping along his rough stubble. “You can’t lose your mind.”
“I’m not losing my mind.”
“You’re close.” She softened her voice. “I’m pregnant, and I’m absolutely fine. I don’t need to lie down. I can keep working, and you are absolutely going to that training in Sitka.”
“No, I’m not.” His jaw firmed. “I can’t leave you. You’re pregnant.”
She tried not to roll her eyes and failed. “Listen to me. People get pregnant all the time. This isn’t a crisis.”
“It’s new.”
“Yes, it’s new.” She squeezed his face lightly. “I’m not even going to be showing for a few months, probably. I promise I’ll take it easy. I’ll follow all of May’s instructions.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“But we both need you to get that certification so you can work as an AWT,” she continued, keeping firm. “It’s the job you’re meant to have, Christian. And we need you to have it.”
His hands slid to her hips, anchoring there, protective and possessive and a little panicked.
“We’re not rearranging our entire future because I’m six weeks pregnant,” she said gently. “We’re building it.”
He looked around the room. “Maybe you could come with me.”
“No.” She didn’t hesitate. “I have a business here. Several, actually, if you include the ones with Ace.”
Christian’s face brightened a little at that. “That’s right. Ace and Brock and Damian.”
“They’re all here,” she said.
“Yes. They’re all here.” His relief was palpable. “That matters.”
