Saved by the Outlaw(209)

That’s not her only accomplishment in the past few months, either. Just before Ivan and I left for France, Natalie and Ashton took a day off to move into their new apartment together, and from what I hear, it’s about twice the size of either of their old places.

I’m snapped out of my reminiscing by Ivan’s voice.

“A carriage, I think.”

“Hm?” I look up at him and tilt my head. He peers back down at me and smiles.

“That little cafe in the city I told you about this morning, I think it would be nice to take a carriage ride into town to enjoy the sights. Wouldn’t want you tiring yourself out,” he adds, extending his hand to rub my swollen stomach affectionately.

In fact, it’s been about six months since Ivan and I shared a night together without protection, and to say I’m showing is putting it lightly. Ivan has been supporting me the whole time we’ve been on our walk.

An hour or so later, our carriage is rattling down the old stone roads towards Marseille, and I’m snuggled up against Ivan lovingly. His strong arms, hard and defined even through his autumn coat in what’s turning out to be a chilly winter for France, make me feel as loved and protected as they did the first night I went home with him, when he was a total stranger I slept with before even knowing his name. It’s so strange to think back to when I thought Ivan would just be a one-night fling, but I couldn't be happier for what it’s become.

We sit in loving silence together, taking in the sights, sounds, and aromas of the fields around us when I finally break it with the news that’s been in the back of my mind all morning.

“I think it’s a boy, Ivan.”

I feel him tense up in surprise at the sudden news, and it’s followed by a tight squeeze closer to him as he beams down at me with adoration.

“Wh- are you sure? How do you know?”

“I just know,” I say, cuddling tighter into his embrace. “And he’ll be every bit as strong as you, I can feel it.”

I feel his heart beat faster and his lips press against my forehead. He slips his hand around mine, and after a few moments adds, “I know you weren’t so sure about a name before, have you…?”

“Henry,” I say after a pause, “I think I want to name him Henry, after my dad.” I’ve been conflicted about it over the past few days, thinking about names of any gender, but when I say it out loud, it feels right.

Ivan smiles warmly at me, and I know he feels the same. “Henry it is.”

Now it’s my turn to stretch myself up to kiss him, but he has to bend down a little to help me reach, and I end up giggling into his neck as we come closer, our lips pressing together and tongues delving into each other’s mouths.

“Ivan,” I finally say as we break the kiss, “It’s been such a long year, and when this first started, there was nothing I wanted more for it to all be over. But now, it’s like all the memories I really want to hold onto are the ones that happened after we met. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here with you, right now.”

There’s a tear in my eye at my own outpouring of emotion, and as Ivan looks down at me, he wipes them away with a finger.

“I feel the same, mishka. To tell you the truth,” he twiddles the thumbs of those powerful, deadly hands, “I...I never realized it until sometime into our arrangement, but looking back on it,” he looks up at me again with those eyes that hold so much tenderness in reserve for me alone, “I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you.”

We move in simultaneously to press our lips together, and after we break, I bring my ruby-red lips to his ear and whisper, even as a smile tugs at my face.

“I think I’d like to renew our year together, my love. Make it a lifetime.”