Page 30 of Echos and Empires
She paused, taking a shuddering breath. The room was so silent, she could hear the soft ticking of the clock on the mantel. Five pairs of eyes bore into hers, the air thick with a mixture of worry and anticipation.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered, the words feeling both foreign and exhilarating on her tongue.
For a moment, no one moved, and the weight of her announcement hung heavy in the air. Then, as if a dam had burst, the room erupted into a flurry of motion and sound similar to the shouting earlier, but no longer laced with anger.
Bash pulled away from her and in a second, his lips crashed against hers, his kiss fierce and possessive, filled with a joy so intense it stole her breath.
Emma melted into Bash’s embrace, her heart soaring with the knowledge that he shared her joy. His strong arms envelopedher, holding her close as if he never wanted to let go. She could feel the pounding of his heart against her chest, a rhythmic beat that matched her own.
But before she could fully lose herself in Bash’s fervor, another pair of arms encircled her waist, gently but firmly pulling her away. Emma found herself spun around, coming face to face with Chris’s intense gaze. His blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a raw vulnerability she rarely saw in the stoic leader.
“Emma,” he breathed, his voice rough with emotion. “I swear to you, on my life, that I will protect this child—our child—no matter what. You and this baby are my entire world now.”
He captured her lips in a searing kiss, so similar to Bash’s but so unique to him. Emma clung to him, her fingers tangling in the short hairs at the nape of his neck as she lost herself in the intoxicating taste and feel of him. Chris’s hands roamed over her body, caressing her curves with a reverence that made her shiver.
The rest of the world seemed to fade away, narrowing down to just the two of them, wrapped in a cocoon of love and promise. Emma felt cherished, treasured, as if she were the most precious thing in Chris’s universe.
A gentle hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present. William stood beside them, his youthful face alight with wonder and awe. “Emma, this child is going to be the most loved little one in the history of the world. With the six of us as parents, they will never know a moment without absolute adoration and support.”
Tears pricked at the corners of Emma’s eyes at William’s heartfelt declaration. Before she could respond, Alex swooped in, twirling her away from Chris and into his arms with a playful grin.
“And you know I’m going to be right there with you every step of the way, Em,” he proclaimed, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief and sincerity. “Since they probably won’t let all of us hover over you twenty-four seven, I graciously volunteer to be your personal pregnancy buddy. Midnight cravings, foot rubs, you name it—I’m your man!”
Emma couldn’t help but laugh at Alex’s enthusiastic offer, her heart swelling with affection for the charming rogue. Trust Alex to bring levity to even the most emotionally charged moments.
Liam approached then, his handsome face softened by a tender smile. He reached out, cupping Emma’s face in his warm palms as he gazed down at her with adoration. “My beautiful Emma, you have made me the happiest man alive today. I cannot wait to welcome this new little life we’ve created together.”
“And none of you care who the father is?”
“I sure as fuck don’t. I’d be honored to raise any of their babies.” Liam gestured at the unit now behind him.
Emma watched as they all nodded their heads in agreement.
“I’m certain one day we’ll be able to see who the child belongs to,” Chris added. “But that baby will be all of ours for as long as we love. We’re a unit. And that baby will be the most important part of it.”
An overwhelming surge of love and gratitude surged through her as she gazed at the five incredible men surrounding her. Their unwavering support and excitement about the new life growing inside her washed away all her previous fears and doubts. In this moment, she knew with absolute certainty that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, as a family.
Liam’s gentle touch on her cheek sent a shiver down her spine, his calloused fingers tracing the delicate lines of her facewith reverence. His blue eyes, usually alight with mischief, now shone with a depth of emotion that took her breath away. Emma leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth and comfort of his presence.
“I love you, Liam,” she whispered, her voice thick with feeling as she looked at each one of them. “I love all of you, more than I ever thought possible.”
Liam’s lips curved into a soft smile, his gaze never leaving hers. “And we love you, Emma. You’ve given us the greatest gift imaginable—the chance to be fathers, to raise a child together in a world where love and family are the most precious commodities.”
His words struck a chord deep within her, resonating with the profound truth of their unconventional bond. In a broken world where survival often meant sacrificing one’s humanity, they had found solace and purpose in each other’s arms. And now, with the promise of new life blossoming within her, their love had taken on an even greater meaning.
As if drawn by an invisible force, Emma found herself gravitating closer to Liam, her body craving his touch like a parched flower seeking the rain. She pressed herself against him, relishing the solid strength of his muscular frame as his arms encircled her waist, holding her close.
Liam’s lips found hers in a searing kiss, his passion igniting a fire deep within her core. Emma surrendered to the sensations, her fingers tangling in his thick hair as she pulled him even closer. The world around them faded away, leaving only the intoxicating dance of their tongues and the electric current of desire coursing through their veins.
Lost in the intoxicating haze of arousal, Emma barely registered the soft rustling of fabric and the hushed murmurings of adoration from the others. It wasn’t until she felt the cool whisper of air caressing her heated skin that she realized Liamhad expertly slipped her shirt from her shoulders, his skilled hands now exploring the freshly revealed terrain with reverent, tender caresses.
“You are all going to have to be a lot gentler when we celebrate,” she murmured, her fingers deftly working their way to Liam’s belt buckle, the cool metal contrasting with the warmth of her touch.
Somewhere in the dimly lit room, a playful scoff echoed, but Emma was already lost to the symphony of sensations as another lover stepped forward, their hand pressing gently between her legs, igniting the beginning of a celebration that promised to be as tender as it was passionate.
TWELVE
William staredat the dark ceiling, his mind a churning sea of thoughts refusing to grant him peace. Emma’s pregnancy announcement consumed him, filling him with a swirling mix of emotions he couldn’t quite untangle. Joy, fierce and bright, pulsed through him at the thought of new life growing inside her. A child born of their love, a symbol of hope in this broken world.
