His Ring Her Rules

I must have fallen asleep while watching the film.

I was half-listening to the sound of snow tapping the windows while cuddled up on the couch with my feet tucked under me. The next time, the screen was silent, the room was dark, and I could feel the day's weight gently weighing on my bones.

The blanket had been pulled up around my shoulders when I fluttered awake, and the faint aroma of spice and cedar was still present.

Ethan.

He remained by my side, but something had changed.

He wasn't skimming through a finance report or checking emails as he usually does. Rather, he was observing me.

Simply observing.

It wasn't as though I was an issue to be resolved or a circumstance to control. However, he found me to be something delicate that was attractive.

My voice was raspy from sleep as I cleared my throat. "Blackwood, staring is weird."

The slightest smile flickered across his lips. "You speak while you're asleep."

"Oh no." I buried my face in the pillow and moaned. "What did I say? Again, please tell me it had nothing to do with cheese fries.

He gave a quiet laugh. "You mentioned my name."

I paused at that.

"I did?"

A rhythm. "Yeah." There was something heavy beneath his voice, which had become softer. "As if it had some significance."

I brushed my hair back and tried not to flush as I carefully pulled myself to my feet. It wasn't helped by the heat in his eyes. It wasn't in the overt, skin-on-skin kind of lust. It was more profound. Curious. Perhaps troubled. However, there was also longing there.

"Are you alright?" Silence was far too heavy, so I asked.

He didn't turn his head. I've been constructing barriers for years. Control. Structure. Everything is orderly and predictable.

I jokingly said, "I'm none of those things. Let me guess."

He remarked, "You look like a hurricane in lipstick."

That made my heart tighten, but it also made me giggle.

"Is that a poetic way of stating that I've broken your peace?"

"No," he replied. "Just the fact that you made me feel that way."

My heart thumped. Even while we were dancing around each other like strangers wearing wedding rings, the fire between us had always been simmering beneath the surface of the contract.

However, this?

This seemed risky.

His newfound interest in me, as if I were more important than the transaction, the controversy, or the reputation I was meant to uphold.

I took a swallow. "This relationship between us wasn't intended."

"I understand," he answered softly. However, I'm beginning to question whether that's what makes it genuine.

His hand made a small movement as if he wanted to touch me, but he refrained. or was unable to.

We had a close relationship. Near enough to share a kiss. Near enough to tumble.

And for a long, gasping moment, I believed that we might.

However, I leaned back and let my eyes drop.

"Ethan, I'm pregnant."

A pause.

"I understand."

"Half the time, I'm confused, afraid, and hormonal."

"I understand," he repeated, his voice lower now. But, Grace, I still see you. All of you.

And for some reason, that was more frightening than a kiss.

Because the contract didn't include feelings, not real ones anyway.

However, it's possible that they were already beginning to write themselves.