18

Emily woke up covered in sweat. The sheets were wrapped around her legs Kian had all the blankets on him. From the looks of it, Emily figured she must have tossed her half on top of him. It was still dark outside. Only the streetlights illuminated the room. Emily looked back at Kian. He was sound asleep. His hair swept across his forehead. Emily couldn’t help but smile. He managed to do the one thing that Emily swore a man would never do — steal her heart.

Damn you, Kian, she mused. 

She sat up slowly and freed her legs from the sheets. Kian stirred. Emily sat still holding a breath waiting for him to fall back asleep. When she was sure he was soundly back to sleep, she slipped out of bed.  

Her clothes were scattered all over the room from the night before. Emily throbbed just thinking about the rough-tumbling wild sex she and Kian had had after dinner. They couldn’t take their hands off of one another. The passion grew more and more with each second that past. When they were both near their climaxes, Kian bit down on her neck. Emily’s eyes were filled with vivid blues, reds, and greens. She clung to him as her body went over the edge into bliss. When their orgasms finally faded, they laid in each other’s arms trying to catch their breath. Each time with Kian seemed to get better and better.

Emily grinned at the memory then slipped out the open bedroom door. She closed it behind her careful to not bother Kian. Then she tiptoed down the hallway towards the bathroom. As she was passing by the opening to the kitchen, the smell of spaghetti sauce filled her nostrils. Her stomach tightened and then churned. Emily felt like she was going to be sick. 

Spaghetti sauce was usually one of her favorite smells. However, at the moment, it was making her queasy. Placing a hand on the wall to steady herself, she took slow deep breaths. Her stomach eased briefly before the feeling of queasiness struck her like a hammer. Emily took off and into the bathroom. She made it just in time before she threw up into the porcelain god. Tears were flowing down her face. Her queasy feeling wouldn’t let up. Each time she thought she felt better, she’d end up getting sick again.

Knock. Knock. 

“Yes,” Emily sobbed.  

“Sweetheart, are you okay,” Kian asked softly.

“I’m fine. Thank you,” she replied calmly trying to not move her body too much.

“Sweetheart, let me take care of you.” 

“I’ll be fine...” She spoke too soon. Her stomach had decided otherwise and had her leaning over the toilet again.

“I’m coming in,” Kian said opening the door. “Sweetheart,” he rushed to her side and dropped to his knees.

“Please,” she sobbed and flushed the toilet. Kian rubbed her back.

“Sweetheart, I’m here for you always. Not just during the good times.” Emily was emotional from his sweet touching words. She began to cry hysterically. Her stomach was still holding a grudge against her and Kian was telling her sweet words that she couldn‘t enjoy.

“Let’s get you in bed. I’ll put a trash can next to you.” Kian helped her up.

“I’ll throw up all over the house,” she said crying hysterically. 

“Sweetheart. It’s okay. I can clean it up. You need to be comfortable not sitting on the cold floor with your head in the toilet.” The thought of him seeing her like that made her cry even harder. She was an emotional wreck. One that seemed to have no end. 

“Kian,” she sobbed and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” he assured her helping her up off the floor. “Let’s get you in bed. Then I’ll make you some soup.”

“That’s okay. I don’t think I could eat,” she whispered. 

“Well, I’ll make it in case you change your mind.” They stepped out of the bathroom. Kian bent down and slowly picked her up. Fear ran through Emily. She didn’t want to throw up again, especially not all over Kian. “Relax, sweetheart.” 

“I don’t want to...”

“Shh. Save your energy.” He slowly carried her to the bedroom and set her down on the bed. He adjusted the pillows under her then moved the trash can beside the bed. 

“I am so...” 

“Sweetheart. Relax. You don’t need to be sorry,” he gave her a smile. “I will always be here for you. In this lifetime and the next.” 

“Oh. Kian,” Emily sobbed. The more he talked, the sweeter his words were. A lifetime with him sounded heavenly. 

“Want me to get you a glass of water?” She wasn’t fond of putting anything in her stomach; however, her mouth was dry and her throat was sore. 

“Yes. Please?” He swiftly kissed her forehead. 

“I’ll be right back.” 

She watched him make his way out the door. Even sick, she couldn’t help but stare as he walked away. He was wearing flannel pajama bottoms and no shirt. His back muscles were sculpted to perfection. 

I could get used to seeing this every day, she thought to herself. 

With a heavy sigh, she placed her hand on her bare stomach. The queasiness almost instantly disappeared. Emily placed her other hand on her stomach. Her stomach seemed to warm under her touch. A calming sensation washed over her. It left her with the feeling she could drift off to sleep and sleep like a baby.

Baby, Emily screamed in her head. Her heartbeat pounded like a drum. She gasped for air to fill her tightened lungs. Her stomach churned at her rampaging emotions. 

“It’s okay,” she cooed rubbing her stomach. Both her stomach and her emotions settled. “Oh god,” she breathed.

“Oh God, what,” Kian asked walking into the room with a glass of water. 

“Nothing,” Emily stated as she moved her hands from her stomach and reached for the glass that Kian held. He helped her sit up. 

“Nothing? Sure sounded like something,” he chuckled. “Keeping your own secrets from me now,” he teased. Oh. God. 

“No,” she whispered. Kian gave her a weird look before holding the cup up to her lips.

“I find that answer to be unconvincing. I’ll give you twenty-four hours,” he winked and watched Emily drink the water. She did her best to avoid looking at him. She wasn’t sure there was even a secret to keep yet. 

How long has it been since my period? How could I be having morning sickness this soon? I wouldn’t even be more than a week pregnant? Wouldn’t I? Was I unconscious longer than they said? What if I am pregnant? 

All of these questions rambled through her mind as she took slow sips of water. She didn’t have a clue how she would get a pregnancy test without the entire town knowing and Kian finding out. Hell, Emily didn’t have a clue how to get to the store on her own without Kian coming with her. Camden had just become a lot more than just a passing by point if she was.

“Talk to me. What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Kian asked taking the empty glass and setting it down. 

“Nothing. I was just caught off guard by getting sick,” she replied.

“I’m starting to think it’s my cooking,” Kian said weakly. Emily looked at him and slapped his arm. 

“It isn’t your cooking,” she assured him sternly. He smiled then kissed her on her forehead.

“Good because I plan on cooking for you for the rest of our lives,” he stated taking hold of her hand. Rest of our lives? What if there is more than just me in this equation? Her stomach was churning but this time from nerves. 

“For the rest of our lives?” Emily asked in a trembling voice. Kian kissed the top of her head. 

“Yes. The rest of our lives,” he teased on the ‘our’. 

“Guess time will tell,” she whispered. 

“You’re right, sweetheart. Time will tell.” His words were cheerful. The smile on his face was big. And there was a twinkle of happiness in his eyes. “I don’t think a lifetime for us is long enough.” 

“Let’s hope you feel that way after you...” Emily brought her words to a screeching halt. Kian was looking at her with a raised eyebrow. “Let’s hope you feel that way down the road.” She smiled to cover up her previous sentence. He picked up her hand, looked her in the eyes then kissed the top of her hand.

“I will always feel this way, Emily. Trust me.”