Then his big hands were cradling her face. “Tell me.”

“I’m pregnant.”

He blinked. Frowned. Knox shook his head as if he’d misheard her. “Say that again.”

“I’m pregnant. That’s why I continued to be sick even after the accident.”

Shock distorted his features. His mouth opened and then snapped shut. “But we . . .”

“Used condoms every time. Except for that first time.” Shiori closed her eyes. “I took the morning-after pill like I told you I would. But it didn’t work for some reason.”

He said nothing.

Finally she said, “I’m sorry.”

“For?”

“Not telling you first. For making you chase me here.”

“Is that what you came over to tell me the night I was a drunken asshole? That you were pregnant?”

She nodded.

“Look at me.”

Shiori lifted her lashes despite the weight of tears on them.

“Are you sorry you’re pregnant?”

“No.”

Knox crushed her to his chest. “Thank god.” His big body shuddered as he kissed the top of her head.

She felt like she was the only thing holding him up. “Let me go.”

“Never gonna let go of you again.”

She tried to squirm out of his hold, but he was having none of it. So she had to bring out the Domme voice. “Knox. Let go. If you faint, you’ll take me down with you.”

“I’m not gonna faint.” Then he lowered to his knees again. This time his focus was entirely on her abdomen. “Show me.”

“There’s not much to see.” She pulled her T-shirt over her head.

Immediately Knox tugged down her yoga pants. Gently holding her hips, he dragged his mouth all over her belly. “A baby. Jesus. Our baby is in here.”

She hadn’t been sure how he’d react, but she hadn’t expected this. “You aren’t upset?”

“Surprised? Yes. Upset? Not on your fucking life.”

“Why not?”

“Because I love you.” Soft kisses around her belly button. “Because this baby is meant to be.” More soft kisses. “Think of what this sprout survived in the past eleven weeks.” Knox looked up at her. His eyes were wet, heavy with emotion.

And her love for him grew even more. She shivered when his lips teased her stomach. “I’m relieved you asked me to marry you before you found out about the baby.”

“I want you for you, Nushi. Little sprout is just sprinkles on the cupcake.” He stroked the hard lump above her pubic bone with his thumbs. “You felt any movement?”

“No. But I do have pictures, and I got to hear the heartbeat.” She ran her hand through his hair. “I wanted you there beside me so badly at that point I cried.”

“I will be beside you for every damn thing from here on out. No matter what happens at Black Arts or Okada. No matter if we live in the States or in Japan.”

“You’d move here for me?”

“Woman, I’d do anything for you.”

His blue eyes held so much love and heat and respect it was hard to speak around the lump in her throat. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

That roiling sensation started pushing past her sternum. “I’m about to test that theory. Oh god.”

Even before she clapped a hand over her mouth, Knox was on his feet and leading her to the bathroom.

She had little in her stomach, so she mostly dry heaved.

Knox stayed beside her, rubbing her back.

After she flushed the toilet and stood, she rinsed her mouth. “Ack. I’m so tired of barfing.”

He lifted her into his arms. “I’m putting you in bed.” He slipped her between the sheets as though she were made of crystal, then covered her up. “Want some water?”

She nodded.

Knox stroked her cheek. “Be right back.”

Everything that’d been spinning around and around in her head quieted.

He returned and held the bottle of water to her lips.

She swallowed two sips and hoped it didn’t immediately come back up.

Knox crawled into bed beside her and wrapped himself around her as much as he could without moving her. He placed a soft kiss on her temple and one hand over hers on her belly. “Sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

*   *   *

THE room was completely dark when Shiori woke up. For a minute she was disoriented.

“Hey, how you feeling?”