The orgasm tears through me, whiting out everything except him—his body against mine, his cock pulsing inside me, his groan muffled against my throat as he follows me over. I feel him flood me with warmth, and I hold him tighter, wanting all of it.
We stay like that for a long moment, tangled together, both of us shaking.
"Best wedding night ever," I manage.
He laughs weakly against my neck. "We're just getting started."
***
The sun is rising when we finally stop. We lie tangled in the sheets, sweaty and satisfied.
Leonid shifts down, presses his lips to my bump, and murmurs something in Russian.
"What are you saying?" I ask softly.
"Telling her about her mother." He kisses the small swell again. "How brave she is. How beautiful. How much I love her."
"Her?"
"I told you. It's a girl." He grins up at me. "I'm always right."
"Arrogant."
"Confident." He moves back up, pulls me against his chest. His hand finds my stomach again, splaying across the bump. "I'm going to spoil you both. You know that, right? I'm going to give you everything you've ever wanted."
"You already have." I snuggle into him, our baby safe between us. "You gave me a family. That's all I ever wanted."
"You have one now." He kisses the top of my head. "Forever."
I fall asleep in my husband's arms, wearing his ring and his pendant, carrying his child.
Forever sounds perfect.
Epilogue
Leonid
Her water breaks at 3 AM.
One moment I'm asleep, Lily tucked against my chest where she belongs. The next, she's sitting up, grabbing my arm, saying words that turn my blood to ice.
"Leonid. It's time."
I've killed men without my pulse rising. I've faced down rival Bratva leaders, corrupt politicians, federal agents. I've walked into rooms knowing I might not walk out.
None of it prepared me for this.
"Are you sure?" My voice comes out steady, which is a miracle. "It could be—"
"My water just broke all over our sheets." She's already swinging her legs out of bed. "I'm sure."
I'm on my feet before she finishes speaking. The hospital bag has been packed for three weeks, because I made her do it early, couldn't stand the thought of being unprepared. I grab it, grab my phone, grab her hand.
"Can you walk?"
"I'm pregnant, not dying." But she squeezes my fingers hard. "Okay. Maybe help me a little."
The drive to the hospital is the longest twenty minutes of my life. Lily breathes through contractions in the passenger seat, her hand crushing mine on the center console. I run two red lights. Don't care.
