Page 22 of Echos and Empires (After #3)
Bash spoke up, his voice low and gruff. “And in the meantime, we keep Emma safe. She’s our priority, above all else.”
The others nodded in agreement, their expressions fierce and determined. Bash felt a surge of pride, knowing that these men would lay down their lives for Emma without hesitation. She was the glue that held them together, the light that guided them through the darkness.
Emma sat back down beside him, her hand finding his once more. She leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder as she let out a shaky breath. Bash pressed a kiss to her temple, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the TV.
“For always being there for me.” She cleared her throat.
“I wasn’t done!” She shouted over the noise again as the others returned to their conversation, and this time, Bash was the one to go still. It wasn’t like Emma to shout at anyone.
Emma took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach. She wished Ranger was here, his warm presence always a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. But he was likely out back, chasing a butterfly or reveling in the warm sunshine.
She would have to face this moment alone.
It shouldn’t be terrifying to tell the men she loved that they were going to be a real family, but she couldn’t help but suddenly worry that their desire to share her would snap with a child in the mix. Something she’d worried about when she was up late at night, but never dared to voice out loud.
“I went to the doctor last with Alex. They thought they knew what was wrong, but I decided not to do anything until the tests were run because I didn’t want to rock the boat if something wasn’t real.”
She looked around at the five men who had become her entire world, their faces etched with concern and anticipation. How could she even begin to put into words the news that would change all of their lives forever?
“Are you okay?” Liam’s fury vanished in an instant, his eyes going soft with worry. “What’s going on?” He turned to Alex. “Did you know? I thought it was a UTI?”
“I didn’t know a fucking thing. I was asked to leave.” Alex’s usual charm was not present.
Come on, Emma. You’re making this worse. They probably will only be excited. Stop stalling.
Bash’s arm tightened around her, his solid strength a comforting anchor in the midst of her turbulent emotions.
She leaned into him, drawing courage from his unwavering support even if he didn’t know what he was supporting.
Chris stood before her, his intense gaze locked on hers, silently urging her to speak.
Liam, Alex, and William all watched her with bated breath, their postures tense and alert.
Emma licked her dry lips, her heart hammering against her ribcage. “I... I went to see the doctor this morning for a follow up,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “They ran some tests and... and they confirmed something.”
“Emma now is not the time to decide you’re afraid to tell us something,” Chris urged, the worry so damn thick in his voice she couldn’t help but drown in a wave of guilt.
She paused, taking a shuddering breath. The room was so silent, she could hear the soft ticking of the clock on the mantel. Five pairs of eyes bore into hers, the air thick with a mixture of worry and anticipation.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered, the words feeling both foreign and exhilarating on her tongue.
For a moment, no one moved, and the weight of her announcement hung heavy in the air. Then, as if a dam had burst, the room erupted into a flurry of motion and sound similar to the shouting earlier, but no longer laced with anger.
Bash pulled away from her and in a second, his lips crashed against hers, his kiss fierce and possessive, filled with a joy so intense it stole her breath.
Emma melted into Bash’s embrace, her heart soaring with the knowledge that he shared her joy. His strong arms enveloped her, holding her close as if he never wanted to let go. She could feel the pounding of his heart against her chest, a rhythmic beat that matched her own.
But before she could fully lose herself in Bash’s fervor, another pair of arms encircled her waist, gently but firmly pulling her away.
Emma found herself spun around, coming face to face with Chris’s intense gaze.
His blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a raw vulnerability she rarely saw in the stoic leader.
“Emma,” he breathed, his voice rough with emotion. “I swear to you, on my life, that I will protect this child—our child—no matter what. You and this baby are my entire world now.”
He captured her lips in a searing kiss, so similar to Bash’s but so unique to him.
Emma clung to him, her fingers tangling in the short hairs at the nape of his neck as she lost herself in the intoxicating taste and feel of him.
Chris’s hands roamed over her body, caressing her curves with a reverence that made her shiver.
The rest of the world seemed to fade away, narrowing down to just the two of them, wrapped in a cocoon of love and promise. Emma felt cherished, treasured, as if she were the most precious thing in Chris’s universe.
A gentle hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present.
William stood beside them, his youthful face alight with wonder and awe.
“Emma, this child is going to be the most loved little one in the history of the world. With the six of us as parents, they will never know a moment without absolute adoration and support.”
Tears pricked at the corners of Emma’s eyes at William’s heartfelt declaration. Before she could respond, Alex swooped in, twirling her away from Chris and into his arms with a playful grin.
“And you know I’m going to be right there with you every step of the way, Em,” he proclaimed, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief and sincerity.
“Since they probably won’t let all of us hover over you twenty-four seven, I graciously volunteer to be your personal pregnancy buddy.
Midnight cravings, foot rubs, you name it—I’m your man! ”
Emma couldn’t help but laugh at Alex’s enthusiastic offer, her heart swelling with affection for the charming rogue. Trust Alex to bring levity to even the most emotionally charged moments.
Liam approached then, his handsome face softened by a tender smile. He reached out, cupping Emma’s face in his warm palms as he gazed down at her with adoration. “My beautiful Emma, you have made me the happiest man alive today. I cannot wait to welcome this new little life we’ve created together.”
“And none of you care who the father is?”
“I sure as fuck don’t. I’d be honored to raise any of their babies.” Liam gestured at the unit now behind him.
Emma watched as they all nodded their heads in agreement.
“I’m certain one day we’ll be able to see who the child belongs to,” Chris added. “But that baby will be all of ours for as long as we love. We’re a unit. And that baby will be the most important part of it.”
An overwhelming surge of love and gratitude surged through her as she gazed at the five incredible men surrounding her.
Their unwavering support and excitement about the new life growing inside her washed away all her previous fears and doubts.
In this moment, she knew with absolute certainty that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, as a family.
Liam’s gentle touch on her cheek sent a shiver down her spine, his calloused fingers tracing the delicate lines of her face with reverence.
His blue eyes, usually alight with mischief, now shone with a depth of emotion that took her breath away.
Emma leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth and comfort of his presence.
“I love you, Liam,” she whispered, her voice thick with feeling as she looked at each one of them. “I love all of you, more than I ever thought possible.”
Liam’s lips curved into a soft smile, his gaze never leaving hers. “And we love you, Emma. You’ve given us the greatest gift imaginable—the chance to be fathers, to raise a child together in a world where love and family are the most precious commodities.”
His words struck a chord deep within her, resonating with the profound truth of their unconventional bond.
In a broken world where survival often meant sacrificing one’s humanity, they had found solace and purpose in each other’s arms. And now, with the promise of new life blossoming within her, their love had taken on an even greater meaning.
As if drawn by an invisible force, Emma found herself gravitating closer to Liam, her body craving his touch like a parched flower seeking the rain. She pressed herself against him, relishing the solid strength of his muscular frame as his arms encircled her waist, holding her close.
Liam’s lips found hers in a searing kiss, his passion igniting a fire deep within her core.
Emma surrendered to the sensations, her fingers tangling in his thick hair as she pulled him even closer.
The world around them faded away, leaving only the intoxicating dance of their tongues and the electric current of desire coursing through their veins.
Lost in the intoxicating haze of arousal, Emma barely registered the soft rustling of fabric and the hushed murmurings of adoration from the others.
It wasn’t until she felt the cool whisper of air caressing her heated skin that she realized Liam had expertly slipped her shirt from her shoulders, his skilled hands now exploring the freshly revealed terrain with reverent, tender caresses.
“You are all going to have to be a lot gentler when we celebrate,” she murmured, her fingers deftly working their way to Liam’s belt buckle, the cool metal contrasting with the warmth of her touch.
Somewhere in the dimly lit room, a playful scoff echoed, but Emma was already lost to the symphony of sensations as another lover stepped forward, their hand pressing gently between her legs, igniting the beginning of a celebration that promised to be as tender as it was passionate.