"A little." She sits on the edge of the bed, her hands twisting together. "The hot water helped."
A knock at the door announces the room service I'd ordered while she showered. I check through the peephole before opening it, then tip the kid who delivers our food generously enough that his eyes go wide. I set everything on the small table near the window and gesture for Lena to join me.
She picks at the soup, taking small sips and nibbling on crackers. I watch her avoid the vegetables, notice how she wrinkles her nose at the smell of my steak. Mental notes for later.
"You need to eat more than that," I say after ten minutes of watching her push food around.
"I'm trying." She sets down her spoon. "Everything smells wrong right now."
"What sounds good? I'll order something else."
"Nothing sounds good. That's the problem." She takes a sip of ginger ale. "This is the only thing that doesn't make me want to throw up."
I cut a piece of steak, chewing slowly while I study her face. The dark circles under her eyes. The pallor of her skin. The way her hand keeps drifting to her stomach before she catches herself and stops.
"How long have you known?" I ask quietly.
Her eyes meet mine, and I see the exact moment she realizes there's no point in pretending anymore. "A little over two weeks. I took a test at the estate."
"Two weeks." I set down my fork. "You've been carrying this alone for two weeks."
"I didn't know how to tell you." Her voice cracks. "Or if I should. We're not exactly in a normal relationship, Aleksandr."
The words hit harder than they should.
"You call me your fiancée, but that's just a cover story. You say you're protecting me, but I'm still a prisoner in your house. You touch me like you care, but I don't know if that's real or just convenient."
I'm out of my chair and by her side before I consciously decide to move, my hands on her shoulders, spinning her to face me. "You think this is convenient? You think any of this has been easy for me?"
"I don't know what to think anymore."
"Then let me make it clear." I pull her against my chest, one hand sliding into her hair. "I love you, Lena. I'm in love with you. Havebeen since Montana, probably before I even got my memories back. And finding out you're carrying my child is the best news I've had in my entire fucking life."
She goes very still in my arms. "You love me?"
"Yes." The admission feels like jumping off a cliff, terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. "I love you. And I know I've done everything wrong, and I know the circumstances of how we met are fucked up beyond belief. But I'm asking you now, give me a chance to do this right."
Tears stream down her face, and I wipe them away with my thumbs. "I'm scared."
"I know." I press my forehead against hers. "But you're not alone anymore. You have me. And I swear on everything I have, I will keep you and our baby safe."
She's quiet for a long moment, and then her arms wrap around my waist, holding me tight. "I love you too. Even though you're impossible and bossy, and you kidnapped me."
Despite everything, I laugh. "Those are my best qualities."
"They're really not." But she's smiling when she pulls back to look at me. "What are we going to do?"
"First, we're getting you proper medical care. The best doctors, regular checkups, whatever you need." I guide her back to the bed, sitting beside her. "Second, we're increasing your security."
"I already have guards."
"More guards." My hand finds her stomach, resting there gently. "You're carrying the future heir to the Romanov Bratva. That makes you the most valuable target in my world."
She covers my hand with hers. "That's a terrifying thought."
"Which is why we're taking every precaution." I lean down and kiss her, slow and thorough. "But right now, I just want to enjoy this moment. You, me, and the fact that we're going to be parents."
Her smile is genuine this time, reaching her eyes. "Parents. That's surreal."