Aditya

She hadn’t said anything for a while, her fingers absently tracing patterns on my chest, but I knew her well enough to sense when something was weighing her down.

I placed a soft kiss on the top of her head, my hand gently rubbing her back. "What’s on your mind, Zoya?" I asked, my voice was soft but serious.

She stayed silent for a moment, and I could feel her hesitate before she finally spoke, her voice quiet but filled with tension.

"Adi... I don’t want to not keep the baby. I want this," she whispered, her fingers tightening slightly on my skin. "But my work... my career, it’s just not ready for something like this. I’m not ready."

I exhaled slowly, understanding where this was coming from. I had seen how much she’d poured into her work—every late night, every missed dinner.

She had built something important, something she was proud of, and this... this pregnancy wasn’t part of that carefully constructed plan.

"Talk to me," I said gently, shifting so I could look at her properly. Her eyes met mine, filled with uncertainty, and it made my chest tighten.

"I’ve worked so hard, Adi," she continued, her voice cracking. "I’ve fought for every opportunity, every deal. My company is just reaching a place where I can’t afford to step back, not even for a little while. I don’t know how to balance this." Her hand moved to her stomach, her palm resting gently against the small bump that was starting to form. "I don’t want to give up my work... but I don’t want to give up on our baby either....I want our baby Adi....I want our family...but.... I don’t know how to do both."

I reached out and took her hand, lacing my fingers with hers. "Zoya, you don’t have to give up anything. We’ll figure out a way to make this work."

She shook her head, her eyes filling with frustration. "It’s not that simple, Adi. You know how demanding this is. I can’t just disappear from the company for months. Everything I’ve built could start to fall apart. And then there’s the baby... the responsibility. I don’t even know if I’m ready for that kind of commitment. How do I give 100% to both? I can’t."

Her words hit me hard, and I could see the pain behind them. She felt torn, like she had to choose between the two parts of herself—the driven, ambitious woman who had worked so hard to build her business and the woman who always wanted to be a mother. It wasn’t fair, and I hated that she was feeling this way.

I squeezed her hand gently, pulling her closer so she could feel my support. "You’re right. It’s not simple. But Zoya, you’re not alone in this. You don’t have to do it all by yourself. We’ll figure out a balance together. You don’t have to choose between your career and our baby. There are ways to make both work."

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. "But what if I can’t handle it, Adi? What if I fail at both? What if I can’t be the mother this baby deserves because I’m too focused on work, or I lose everything I’ve worked for because I’m not present enough?"

I cupped her face gently, forcing her to hold my gaze. "Zoya, listen to me. You’re one of the strongest, most capable people I know. You’ve built your career from the ground up, and you’ve faced every challenge that’s come your way in your life.... This isn't just another challenge, but you don’t have to face it alone. I’m here, okay? We’ll make adjustments, we’ll figure out a plan. We can hire more help, delegate more at work, take things one step at a time. And if it feels like too much, we’ll deal with it together. You’re not alone."

She bit her lip, still unsure. "It’s just... so much, Adi. I don’t want to lose myself."

I held her face in both hands, my voice soft but firm. "You won’t lose yourself, Zoya. You’re evolving, you’re growing. This baby... our baby... doesn’t take anything away from you. It adds to who you are. You’ll still be Zoya, the amazing, fierce woman I fell in love with. And you’ll also be the mother of our child. Both can exist together."

"How'd we do all of it Adi?.... We haven't even had the time to be with each other enough..... And now..."

I interrupted and pulled her even closer, savoring the warmth of her body against mine, the familiar rhythm of her heartbeat soothing my racing thoughts.

"We’ll do it, na, baba. You focus on your work, and I’ll take care of you," I murmured, pressing soft kisses along her forehead and down to her temples.

Each kiss was meant to reassure her, to remind her that she didn’t have to carry this alone.

Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears, but there was a flicker of hope there too. "You’re too good for me," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I swear to God... I love you so much."

She chuckled lightly, a sound I hadn’t heard in a while. "I don’t know how you always manage to make me feel better, even when I’m drowning in worries," she said, her fingers playing with the fabric of my shirt, tracing little circles. "It’s like you have a magic power."

"Maybe....I do...?"

Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, a smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe.....a magic wand?" she teased, poking me lightly in the ribs.

I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief at her teasing. "Oh my God, Zoya... seriously?"

She grinned wider, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she leaned in closer, her fingers tracing the outline of my collarbone. "What? You started it," she teased, biting her lip, clearly enjoying her own joke.

"Yeah, but I wasn’t talking about that kind of magic," I said, still grinning but trying to play it off like I was the serious one here.

"Well, I am," she shot back, her voice sultry but playful, her hand now resting on my chest. "And I have to say, your magic wand works wonders."

I groaned, rolling my eyes as I laughed, leaning back into the pillows. "Zoya, please... this is not how I imagined this conversation would go."

She burst into laughter, her face lighting up in that way that always made my heart skip a beat. "Oh come on, you walked right into that one!" she giggled, poking my side.

I caught her hand in mine, pulling her closer until she was lying half on top of me, her laughter dying down into soft chuckles.

Her warm, bare skin against mine sent a shiver down my spine, and I wrapped my arm around her, holding her as close as possible. No way I wasn’t aching for her right now, feeling her like this.

I looked down at her, smirking as I recalled something from earlier in the day. "By the way" I started casually, "you're so hot when you get jealous."

Her eyes narrowed, and she gave me a playful glare, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Jealous? Me?" She scoffed, pretending to brush it off, but her fingers were already tracing circles on my chest, slowly moving up to my shoulder. "I was just... protecting my property. Making sure people know who you belong to."

"Oh, so now I'm your property, am I?" I teased, arching a brow, enjoying how flustered she was getting as she tried to keep up the pretense. "Funny, because the way you marched over to me today was, well... a bit intense."

She rolled her eyes, but I didn’t miss the hint of a blush on her cheeks. "Oh, stop it. She was clearly staring at you, making googly eyes like I wasn't even there." Her hand moved up to cup my face, her thumb brushing over my cheekbone. "Besides," she whispered, leaning in, her lips inches from mine, "if you’re mine... I have every right to remind people of that."

Before I could come up with a witty comeback, she kissed me, firm and possessive, like she was staking her claim. I let out a soft groan, my hands tangling in her hair as I pulled her even closer. She wasn’t holding back, her fingers gripping my shoulders as her lips moved against mine.

Her soft skin, her intoxicating scent, the way she fit perfectly against me—it was all too much, too perfect to resist.

"Are you... sure we can?" I murmured against her lips, my voice low and uncertain, feeling a tug of concern in the back of my mind even as my hands roamed her body, craving more of her touch.

She paused for a second, her lips still brushing against mine as she smiled, her breath warm and teasing. "Of course..." she whispered, kissing me again, her fingers sliding through my hair. "Why... are you scared?"

She let out a soft laugh, her hands resting on my chest as she looked at me, her eyes sparkling with both affection and mischief. "Adi..." she whispered, leaning in to kiss me again, slow and deliberate, as if she was trying to ease my worry with every kiss. "Come here," she murmured, her voice soft but full of certainty. "The baby might get angry... because their mom isn't being kissed properly right now."

I couldn’t help but laugh at that, my tension easing a little as her words sank in. "You think the baby would get mad, huh?" I asked, kissing her again, my hands moving to her waist, pulling her flush against me as I kissed her deeply, letting her laughter melt into the kiss.

"Definitely," she whispered between kisses, her arms wrapping around my neck, pulling me closer still. "They'll understand," she added, her voice teasing, playful, but with a softness that reassured me.

Her pregnancy was definitely making her... different. Not that I was complaining. In fact, it was hard not to notice how much more she wanted me lately, how her touches were lingering, how her kisses came with an urgency that wasn’t there before. It was as if she craved me, craved the closeness, and I couldn’t lie—it was driving me crazy in the best possible way.

But now, with her body changing, with the baby growing inside her, I was finding myself caught between wanting to give her everything and not knowing if I should.

I swallowed hard as she kissed me again, her lips soft and demanding at the same time. "Zoya..." I muttered, my hand on her waist, feeling her press against me. "Are you sure? I mean... with everything, the baby and all, I don't know how to... deal with this."

She pulled back slightly, looking at me with that knowing smile, the one that told me she understood everything running through my mind. "Adi," she said softly, her fingers tracing the line of my jaw, calming and teasing me all at once. "I'm fine. We're fine. I want you, okay?"

I nodded, but my hesitation was still there. "Yeah, but..." I sighed, running a hand through my hair, trying to articulate what I was feeling. "I don’t want to hurt you. I mean, I know it’s probably okay, but... it’s different now. I’m scared to... I don’t know, do something wrong."

Her smile softened, and she leaned in, pressing her forehead against mine. "You won’t hurt me, Adi. You’d never hurt us. You don’t have to be scared." She paused, her fingers sliding down my chest. "And... I can't help it. It's like I can't get enough of you lately. It’s these hormones, I swear... I just want you so much, all the time."

I let out a breathy laugh, my hands moving to her hips instinctively, feeling the heat of her body against mine. "Yeah, I’ve noticed," I murmured, half-joking, but my pulse quickened again at her words. It was hard not to respond to the way she was touching me, how her body pressed into mine. "And trust me, I want you too...."

Zoya chuckled softly, her hand moving up to tangle in my hair, pulling me down for another kiss, this one slower, deeper, leaving me breathless. "Don’t overthink it," she whispered, her lips brushing mine as she spoke.

Her knee shifted, grazing against me, sending a jolt through me. My hands moved instinctively, holding her close as she swung a leg over my thigh, settling even closer, our breathing growing ragged.

I let my hand trace the line of her back, feeling her warmth, grounding myself in this moment. Her skin was so soft, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the way she fit so perfectly against me.

As I kissed her, I noticed how her breath hitched, and the way she pressed against me, a hint of her own desire reflecting mine.

Gently, my fingers moved up, caressing her shoulder, down her arm, until they rested on her waist, holding her with a tenderness that I hoped spoke for the depth of what I felt.

She leaned in, her fingers tracing a soft line down my jaw before resting against my chest, her eyes locked on mine, almost challenging. “I want you, so bad... Adi,” she whispered, a smile playing on her lips, half teasing, half serious.

As our kisses deepened, I pulled back just enough to catch her gaze, my heart racing with a mix of urgency and desire. “Promise me we’ll go to the gynac tomorrow,” I murmured, my forehead resting against hers, trying to ground ourselves in this whirlwind of emotion.

Zoya smiled, a playful glint in her eyes, even amidst the seriousness of our conversation. “You’re such a worrywart,” she teased, her fingers dancing along my collarbone. “But fine, I promise."

I held her close, my lips exploring the places that made her melt, that drew quiet whimpers from her, each sound pulling me deeper, wanting to give her every bit of gentleness and passion she deserved.

“Adi…” she whispered, her voice barely a breath, her eyes closing as her head tilted back slightly, giving in to the moment. T

he softness of her skin, the warmth of her against me, the way she sighed with each kiss—all of it filled me with an ache I could only express in touch and in the quiet reverence of my words.

The next day, we were at the gynecologist’s office, and while Zoya was in the examination room, I paced the waiting area, my anxiety bubbling over.

We'd already taken three pregnancy tests, all positive, but until I heard it from the doctor, it felt like I was still holding my breath.

The walls around me were painted in calm pastels, obviously meant to soothe, but they only made me feel trapped.

I ran a hand through my hair, glancing at my watch for what had to be the hundredth time in the past few minutes.

The gynecologist entered the room, offering us a warm smile as she flipped through Zoya’s chart. "Alright," she said, "we’ll have the full results tomorrow. Everything looks good so far."

I felt a mix of excitement and nerves tighten in my chest. Tomorrow would bring answers.

Zoya squeezed my hand tightly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She’d always wanted this—motherhood, a family.

I could feel the weight of that dream in her gaze as she looked up at me, her lips trembling with the words she was trying to say.

“Hey, Shortcake!” I whispered, brushing a thumb gently over her cheek. “You okay?”

She nodded, her voice a soft, shaky laugh. "Mhmm..."

I glanced over at Zoya, who looked a little nervous and slightly flushed, her hand gripping mine.

I cleared my throat, hesitating for a moment before looking at the doctor. "So, um… since Zoya’s pregnant… is it… okay for us to, you know, be… physical?"

The doctor looked at me with a knowing smile, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. "Yes, Aditya, it's generally safe for couples to be intimate during pregnancy, as long as there are no complications. But," she added with a raised eyebrow, "you’ll want to be gentle and listen to Zoya's comfort levels....It’s her body leading the way."

Zoya’s cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, and she let out an embarrassed laugh, nudging my arm with hers. "Adi, really? You had to ask that?"

"Well," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly, "I don’t want to take any risks. I mean… this is new territory."

The doctor chuckled, her amusement evident. "It’s actually a common question. You’d be surprised how often soon-to-be dads ask about it with that same worried expression. Just remember...Zoya will know what feels right."

I nodded, glancing back at Zoya, who was biting her lip, looking anywhere but at me. Her embarrassment only made me smile. "See?" I murmured to her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I told you I’d ask all the practical questions."

She laughed softly, squeezing back. "Trust you to be a dumbo in front of my doctor." Zoya’s hand found mine, her fingers intertwining with mine as she rested her head on my shoulder.

As soon as we left the cabin, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. The joy, the excitement—it all burst out of me as I scooped her up into my arms, lifting her right off the ground.

“Adi!” she squealed, laughing as she wrapped her arms around my neck, her cheeks pink with embarrassment but her smile wide and beautiful. “Put me down! People are watching..."

I grinned, unbothered by the glances we were getting. “Let them look! We’re going to have a baby, Zoya! A little you… or a little me....you could use your lifter a bit.” I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped, giddy and full of wonder.

Her laughter softened, and she brushed a hand over my cheek.

I set her down gently beside the car, not letting her go. “You have no idea how much I already love our little one. And I love you even more,” I murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Now let’s get you home. There’s no way I’m letting you lift a finger.”

Zoya rolled her eyes, pretending to sigh. “Great. Now I have to deal with an overprotective boyfriend and father all in one.”

I smirked, opening the car door for her. “Yep. And you’re stuck with me.”

She slid into the car, still smiling as she leaned her head back, her hand resting lightly on her stomach. I felt a pang of warmth, seeing her like that—so peaceful, so happy.

And as I joined her in the driver’s seat, I couldn’t stop smiling myself, already imagining every part of our future, our family, our everything.

~~~
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