Chapter Thirty
Thirty
Emma
The morning light seeped softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow around the room.
I slowly woke up, wrapped in the cozy blanket like a little burrito.
Memories of the chaos from the night before rushed back, but there was something comforting beside me—Hawk.
No, Ryan. Just thinking about him made my heart flutter.
I turned to look at him, still sleeping peacefully. His features were relaxed, a nice change from the usual tension I’d seen. His dark hair was a mess, and I couldn’t help but smile at how adorable he looked. The rise and fall of his chest was steady, grounding me in this moment of calm.
I reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. My fingers lingered on his skin, warm and inviting. Hawk—Ryan—was my anchor, my strength, and it felt good to have him here.
As if he sensed my gaze, he stirred, his eyes blinking open to meet mine. A sleepy smile spread across his face, and I felt my own lips lift in response. “Morning, Trouble,” he mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.
“Morning,” I replied softly, my voice a bit rough from last night.
He propped himself up on one elbow, studying me with a look that made my stomach flip. “How are you feeling?” His brow furrowed slightly, concern flickering in his eyes.
I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “Sore. My throat hurts. But…” I hesitated, gathering my thoughts. “I’m okay.”
He nodded, the seriousness returning to his expression. “That’s good to hear.”
There was a moment of silence between us, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. I shifted closer, feeling a rush of courage. “Hawk, can we talk about where we stand?”
His gaze met mine, intense and searching. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”
I took a deep breath, my heart racing. “I love you,” I said, the words spilling out before I could second-guess myself. “I get it if you don’t feel the same way.”
His expression softened, and I could see the emotions swirling in his eyes. “I can’t even describe my love for you,” he said, his voice low and steady. “You’re the air I breathe, the blood in my veins. I’d be nothing without you.”
A warmth spread through me at his words, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Hawk…” I started, but he stopped me, his eyes serious.
“My real name is Ryan,” he said, his voice firm yet gentle.
“Ryan,” I whispered, the name feeling both foreign and familiar on my tongue. Just saying it made my heart race, and he leaned in, capturing my lips with his in a soft, electrifying kiss.
When he pulled back, there was a seriousness in his gaze. “I have something important to tell you,” he said, his tone shifting.
“What is it?” I asked, my heart pounding with curiosity.
“Doc and Reaper had to do some blood tests while you were unconscious. They needed to know what kind of meds you could have.” He slid his hand over my belly, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. “Baby, you’re pregnant.”
I was speechless, my mouth hanging open in disbelief. Tears welled in my eyes, but they weren’t sad. “What?” I managed to stammer, trying to process what he just said.
“They think you’re about three weeks along. It’s still early,” he explained, his voice steady and reassuring.
“But… that’s impossible! I was told I couldn’t have kids,” I stuttered, panic creeping in.
“It’s possible, baby. We’re going to be parents,” he said, his eyes shining with hope.
A wave of emotion washed over me, and I felt a smile break through the panic. “You’re going to be the best father to our baby,” I said, my heart swelling with joy.
But then a thought struck me, and I started to panic. “Is the baby okay? After everything that happened?”
“Hush, Emma,” he soothed, his voice calm. “Doc said your numbers looked good, but they want to keep monitoring you since it’s early on.”
I couldn’t help it; I laughed, tears of happiness in my eyes. “I’m pregnant!”
Hawk grinned, leaning in to kiss me again, this time with more passion. “How are you feeling?” he asked, pulling back slightly to look at me.
“I’m sore, and my throat hurts, but I’m doing okay,” I replied, still riding the wave of shock and joy. “I think I might still be in shock.”
“I’ll be with you every step of the way,” he promised, his hand finding mine again.