Page 65 of I Replaced His Husband
"Okay, that’s a pretty easy step," he whispered. "And the second?"
My cheeks flushed. The request might have sounded a little strange, but I had to ask, "After the sex, I want the right to carry you to the shower, wash your whole body, and then dry and brush your hair."
Kay paused, blinked, and took a deeper breath, as if the request had surprised him immensely, but he nodded. "I don’tsee a problem with it. These are indeed… small steps." His lips twitched slightly, almost a smile.
A warm, somewhat mushy silence settled between us.
"I can feel the knot easing," I said softly. "Will you grant me that second wish once it’s gone?"
"I will."
For the next few minutes, I felt my dick slowly return to its normal size. Pulling out of his body was surprisingly unpleasant, like I’d lost some vital connection. I sat up and pushed the blanket aside. He lay there naked, his body smooth and slender. His belly still didn’t show; his pregnancy was too new for that.
I watched him for a moment, feeling like he could truly be mine if I played my cards right. I wanted him so badly. Even though I didn’t know him well yet, something in me felt certain.
Today he had shown me the first small opening, a tiny path leading to him.
"I’m glad the talking ban is gone," I said with a soft smile.
"Yeah," he whispered, his voice a little shy.
Slowly, very slowly, I let my hand travel over his hip and rest gently on his abdomen. He tensed immediately, his eyes fixed on my face, uneasy.
"Kay, I know it’s way too soon to say something like this. I was friends with Adam, not with you. You only know that my husband left me for his new mate. Maybe he had his reasons, beyond finding a better match. But I need to tell you the truth. One of the reasons Brian was looking for someone new was something I never told anyone. Not even Adam."
Tension was written all over Kay’s face. I could almost feel him fighting the urge to push my hand away from his belly. It clearly cost him a lot to keep still.
"We were trying for a baby, Kay."
Something flickered in his eyes. "Oh."
"Yeah. But it just didn’t work. We went to the doctor, and he said my sperm count was abnormally low because of an injury I had as a kid. I had a bicycle accident and severely bruised my testicles. It caused internal damage and scarring in the tubes, so I basically gave up on the idea of ever getting the chance to have a child."
I felt a shift in him then. The sharp tension in his body softened a little, but his eyes stayed almost glued to my face.
"Keep going. I know you have something important to say, Rain," he whispered.
My hand stroked lightly over his stomach, and this time he didn’t tense at all.
"It might sound crazy, and way too soon."
"But say it anyway."
With a deep sigh, I whispered, "I really want us to work, Kay. To be… together. Maybe… you’d let me claim your child then? Be a father to him? I know it’s a lot to ask, and I know it’s early, but I need you to know where I stand. Your child wouldneverbe a burden to me. It would be the opposite: a blessing. Truly, it would be a dream come true." I closed my eyes and exhaled. "So that’s it. And I’d be honored if you let me be there for the birth."
The tension in his body, especially around his stomach, melted away completely. There was still some tightness in his lips though, a shadow of sadness.
"Thank you for saying that, Rain. It means the world to me, and it really does put me at ease in so many ways. But there’s one problem. We’ve known each other for two and a half weeks. And yes, those weeks were very revealing, but because of that short time, I feel overwhelmed. I can’t even think straight right now, with everything that’s going on. I just want to be sure you’re the right person for me. I want to know you better, and that’s one reason I lifted that ridiculous no-talking rule. Please be patientwith me. I’m not saying no to anything you’ve suggested, but I need the freedom to step back if things don’t work between us."
I nodded seriously. "I understand, Kay. That’s completely fair. This is still very new for us."
He swallowed and suddenly placed his hand on mine, which was still resting on his stomach. The gesture made me flinch slightly.
"But just so you know, the thought of you accepting my child as your own makes me happy. Maybe it’s a kind of atonement from Fate? When Maurice died, I thought Fate was just cruel. But perhaps there’s a hidden blessing in this tragedy. You’ve always dreamed of being a father, and now it might actually happen for you, in an unexpected way. So not everything is lost. There is new life where old life ended, and new hope even in death."
His tone was very solemn. A single tear slipped down his cheek. I took a deep breath and wiped it away gently.
"So let’s hope for the best between us," I said with a rueful smile, giving his fingers a soft squeeze. "But for now, let me take care of you, Kay. I want to do this."
