Page 52 of Ruby Menace

“He. Of course you would think that.” She presses her lips together in a shy smile and keeps stroking her belly. I fix my eyes on the movement, imagining how it will soon be swelling as our child grows.

“Undress, Tiana,” I remind her, then stand back and watch as she removes her clothing. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing her naked. It’s a pity when she slips the robe on. But the doctor is tapping discreetly at the door, and I want to get on with it.

“Ready, my dear?” He smiles at Tiana. She gives a tight nod, then sits on the bed when he tilts his head toward it. I watch and force myself to wait patiently as he runs through a series of tests, examining her from head to toe.

The doctor tuts and frowns as I give him a brief overview of what Tiana has lived through today. It’s the sort of thing our doctors have to deal with often, but I suspect that as an OB-GYN, Kuznetsov doesn’t have too many patients who’ve just survived torture.

“Good news, Miss Avants,” he says when, at last, he’s finished. “Aside from some superficial injuries, you’re in good health.”

Tiana beams. “Thank you, doctor,” she says. I feel a flood of relief.

“But now for the most important part.” He indicates a machine standing beside the bed. “While I’m confident that your pregnancy hasn’t been compromised, we’ll confirm it with an ultrasound scan.”

Tiana’s throat works nervously, and she reaches for my hand. I take her fingers in mine and hold them firmly, feeling the slight clamminess of her skin.

“Okay,” she husks out.

“If you’ll lie back?” The doctor glances at me briefly as he opens her robe. I realize that I’ve made a low threatening sound in the back of my throat. I take in a breath and straighten.

Calm yourself, dolboyob.

I watch as Dr. Kuznetsov applies the cold gel to Tiana’s belly, my heart pounding in my chest. I can feel her tension, her nerves, as she lies back on the examination table. I squeeze her hand gently, watching as the doctor moves the ultrasound device over her skin. The image on the screen is blurry. It’s hard to make out anything, but the doctor seems to know what he’s looking for.

After watching the screen for a minute, he points to a blob. “There’s your baby.”

I stare at the shape.

“It’s hard to see much now, but that there is the head, and here you can see the legs.” He continues pointing. “Everything looks in order,” he says, a smile on his face. “You’re about six weeks along.”

Tiana and I exchange a glance, and I can see the relief in her eyes. I feel it too, a weight lifting off my shoulders.

The doctor continues to move the device over her belly, and then he adjusts the sound. Suddenly, we can hear a rapid beeping noise.

It’s the sound of our baby’s heartbeat.

My fucking heart leaps. I feel a surge of emotion, a mix of pride and awe and tenderness. I’ve never heard anything so incredible in my life.

But then the doctor pauses, his brow creasing. I feel a twinge of concern. “Is something wrong?” I ask, my voice gruff. If he tells me something is wrong…

The doctor adjusts the sound again, and then I hear it.

A second heartbeat.

“There are two babies,” he says. “You’re having twins.”

What the fuck?

Did he say twins?

Tiana gasps, her eyes wide. I can see the shock and disbelief on her face, but there’s something else too. Something that makes my heart swell with pride. It’s elation. She just lived through torture, and still, she can feel this joy.

“Twins?” she says, her mouth dropping open. “We’re having twins, Kirill!”

I feel a grin spreading across my face. “Of course there are two. My seed is strong.”

I can see the amusement in Tiana’s eyes, even as she rolls them at my arrogance. But I can also see the love, the softening in her when she looks at me.

The doctor continues to scan my woman’s belly, and I watch as the two tiny shapes flicker on the screen. I can’t fucking believe it. She is carrying my babies. Twice over.

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