Ethan didn't rush.
He took his time, as if every inch of her skin held a secret he wanted to memorize. His fingers teased, circled, and dipped—never quite giving her all of it, until she was trembling and begging under him.
"You're so sensitive," he murmured, kissing the underside of her breast, tongue flicking against her skin. "Pregnancy makes you this soft already?"
Lena gasped, her hips bucking into his hand. "You're not helping…"
"Oh, I plan to help," he growled, finally sliding a finger inside her, curling expertly.
Her breath caught, hands flying to his shoulders. "Ethan—"
"I want to feel you," he whispered, kissing her jaw, "but not like this."
He pulled back and unbuttoned his shirt slowly, his eyes locked on hers the entire time. Then his belt came undone with a soft clink, his slacks falling just enough to free the tension straining against them. Lena's gaze dropped, pupils dilating at the sight of him.
"Turn over," he instructed gently, voice low and dark.
Lena obeyed, her pulse thudding in her ears as she leaned forward on her elbows. He pushed her skirt up, kissed the curve of her back, then the swell of her ass, his hands kneading as he lined himself up behind her.
"I'll go slow," he promised.
And he did—at first. The first thrust was deep, slow, and intentional. She cried out softly, her hand flying to cover her mouth.
"Don't," he said, gripping her wrist and guiding it away. "Let me hear you."
The next thrust was harder. Deeper. And Lena shattered around him almost too fast, body gripping him tight as she whimpered his name.
"Fuck—Lena," Ethan groaned, losing control as he held onto her hips and moved faster. "You feel even tighter now…"
Every stroke hit the right spot. Her body pulsed with raw sensation, her moans echoing softly in the room. He leaned forward, wrapping his arm around her waist and reaching down to rub slow circles over her sensitive clit while he kept driving into her from behind.
"I love you," he murmured suddenly, the words catching her off guard.
Her body tensed—not in fear, but in overwhelming emotion.
"I love you," he repeated, pressing kisses down her spine. "And I already love our baby."
Tears burned behind her eyes as he brought her over the edge again, her body pulsing, falling, unraveling under his touch and words.
He followed seconds later with a guttural moan, emptying inside her with one final deep thrust, clinging to her like she was the only real thing in his world.
They stayed there, tangled together on the couch, sweaty and breathless.
"I wasn't expecting that," Lena whispered after a while, turning around to face him.
"I wasn't expecting you," Ethan replied, brushing a strand of damp hair from her face. "But now that I have you… I don't ever want to let you go."
She smiled, teary-eyed. "Even with the crazy cravings and mood swings coming?"
"Especially with those," he chuckled, kissing her forehead. "Bring it all on."
Ethan pulled her close, her bare skin pressing against the warmth of his chest as they lay entangled on the couch, the soft fabric beneath them forgotten. His arm wrapped securely around her waist, his other hand gently stroking her back. Lena rested her head over his heart, listening to its steady beat as his fingers moved to brush over her tummy with the kind of reverence that made her eyes sting with unshed tears.
For once, all was quiet.
For once, Ethan wasn't thinking about the company, or the leaks, or Vivian. For once, the war that constantly waged in his mind fell silent.
He held her tighter, like he was afraid she might slip away. His lips grazed her hairline before he whispered, voice raw and barely steady, "You know… I never told you this, but I wanted to give everything up."
Lena slowly lifted her head, looking into his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"There were days I'd get into my car, turn on the engine, and just sit there," he confessed. "I thought about running away. Disappearing. Shutting everything down and letting the company burn."
"Ethan…"
"But you," he said, his thumb tracing lazy circles on her hip, "you kept me going, Lena. Even before I understood what I felt… it was you. I wanted to wake up every day to your face. I wanted you beside me—not just in bed, but in life. In every room, every decision, every storm."
She didn't say a word, didn't interrupt him. Just listened, letting him speak in his own pace.
"There were days I wanted to tell my team to rest. Let me go down with everything I built. I didn't care anymore. But now…" His hand found her stomach again. He caressed it, tenderly. "Now I have two reasons to never say never."
Lena's hand covered his. Her heart was pounding.
"You're not alone," she said softly. "You've never been. And you won't be. Not now. Not ever."
He pressed his lips to her temple, his eyes closed as though grounding himself in her presence.
Then, in a softer tone, he asked, "Have you been to the hospital yet?"
Lena shook her head gently, still resting in his arms. "No, not yet. I planned to go tomorrow after classes."
"I want to come with you," he said, smiling against her skin. "I don't want to miss anything… not even a heartbeat."
Lena tilted her head and smirked teasingly. "Anything you say, Daddy."
Ethan chuckled, a genuine, rare laugh rumbling from his chest. "Don't say that unless you're prepared to be kissed endlessly."
He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to each knuckle, then to her wrist, moving slowly, deliberately, reverently. She giggled but didn't pull away. She just stared at him—at this man who had once been so unreachable—and now looked at her like she was his entire world.
They lay there, tangled in silence again. The quiet wasn't empty—it was full of the future taking shape between them.