Chapter 44 Nikolai
Ani’s body is soft and warm against mine, her head tucked under my chin and breath feathering across my chest. The sheets are twisted around us, with her leg lazily draped over mine. I run my hand slowly up and down her thigh, savoring the quiet of the morning.
She fits perfectly here.
My little pet.
I press my lips to her hair and murmur, “As much as I love you naked and tangled in me, we should get dressed.” My palm slides to the small of her hip, giving a tender squeeze. “We need to tell my brothers… and your brother.”
Her head snaps up slightly, hazel eyes wide, lips parting in protest. “It’s far too soon to be telling anyone.”
I catch her chin gently between my fingers, forcing her to meet my gaze.
“Ani, my little pet, I don’t keep secrets from my family.
” My voice is low, firm. This isn’t something I’ll bend on.
Our child growing inside of her needs to be protected as fiercely as she does, and my brothers can’t do that if they don’t know she is pregnant.
“You’re impossible.”
“We can argue about this, but know, I will win.” She chews on her lip, her shoulders tightening like she wants to fight me on this, but I see the moment she caves.
A tiny sigh, accompanied by a reluctant nod and eye roll she thinks I don’t see.
I press a kiss to her forehead, unable to fight the smug smile pulling at my lips.
I grab my phone from the nightstand and type out a group text to Enzo, Cillian, and Alek.
Kings Temptation. Two hours.
That is all I send. It is all I need to.
Ani pushes onto her elbows, narrowing her eyes at me. “Two hours? Nik, it’s no more than twenty minutes from here.”
Smirking, I roll out of bed, dragging her with me until she squeals and swats at my shoulder. “You need to eat for two now, little pet. We’ve been in bed all morning, and I plan to get some food in you before we go anywhere.”
I drag on sweats, and then tug one of my shirts over her head.
Oversized on her frame, it swallows her whole.
And I fucking love it. She grumbles at me, but the corners of her lips twitch.
She secretly loves my clothes more than her closet full of designer dresses.
I lead her to the kitchen, lifting her onto a stool at the island.
“Sit. Don’t move.” She crosses her arms but watches me with that soft gaze I would kill to see every day.
I pull ingredients from the cabinet and start mixing batter, whisking until it’s smooth.
When the pan is hot, I pour it onto the skillet, and the smell of pancakes fills the kitchen.
Ani props her chin on her hand, watching me with an expression halfway between amusement and disbelief.
“You know, for someone who carves his enemies open for sport, you make a decent house-husband.”
Glancing over my shoulder at her, I smile. “Careful, little pet, or I’ll remind you exactly what kind of husband I am.”
Her laughter echoes around the apartment, and it’s a sound I want etched into my memory forever.
After sliding a plate of pancakes in front of her, I add butter and syrup. “Eat.”
She gives me an exaggerated eye roll but digs in—humming at the first bite—and satisfaction warms my chest.
Hawk and Gunnar follow behind us in a Suburban, like shadows as we drive toward Kings Temptation. By the time we pull up to the club, Ani is less anxious about sharing our news, though her hand is still gripping mine tightly.
When we walk inside the club, we find Enzo and Eavan already snuggled close together in the owners’ booth. Cillian and Madison are across from them, and Alek is returning from the bar with a drink in hand.
Ani’s fingers squeeze mine more firmly. I brush my thumb over her knuckles before leading her forward.
Enzo raises a brow. “This better be good, Nik. Eavan and I were clear across town.”
I glance at Ani, give her the smallest nod of reassurance, then turn back toward my family. “It’s good. Better than good.” I place my hand over Ani’s stomach, instinctively protective. “Ani’s pregnant.”
The following silence is thick, stretching long enough for Ani to shift uncomfortably beside me.
“What the fuck?” Cillian blurts with genuine surprise, his eyes snapping wide.
Madison leans back in her chair with a snicker, her lips curling into a smirk.
“Apparently, not all babies are made when two people love each other very, very much.” Cillian cuts her a sharp, playful glare—the kind that promises retribution later—and Madison only smiles wider, completely unrepentant. Such a brat.
Enzo stands, coming around the table to clap me on the shoulder. “Well, shit. I guess congratulations are in order.” His grin is real and wide.
Eavan’s eyes light up as she presses her hands to her own rapidly growing bump. “Oh, Ani!” She hurries over, pulling Ani into a hug. “This is amazing. We’ll have kids so close in age. They can grow up together.”
Ani’s face softens, some of her nerves easing under Eavan’s warmth. There is something about her. Even I feel it. She has a genuineness that somehow puts people at ease. Seeing Ani more comfortable makes me breathe easier, too.
All eyes swing toward Madison. She throws her hands up, shaking her head vehemently.
“Nope. Don’t even look at me like that. Absolutely not.
” Cillian’s brow arches, his expression darkening in a devious way that makes Madison squirm.
She jabs a finger at him. “Try all you want, King, but I will be the only person calling you Daddy for quite some time.”
The table erupts around us—Enzo choking on his drink, and Alek laughing so hard he nearly spills his vodka.
Cillian takes it in stride, and I’m left uncertain if he is in agreement with her or a little disappointed that she is so adamantly against it.
Although it’s not like Enzo isn’t planning to put enough babies in Eavan to build an entirely new generation of Kings on his own.