CEO loves me with all his soul.
Chapter 42. Love among them.

Chapter 42: 42. Love among them.

Adrian sat comfortably on the couch, sipping a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. His belly, now three months pregnant, had started to show noticeably, and he absentmindedly placed a hand over his growing bump as he relaxed. Each sip of juice was slow and deliberate, savoring the taste while his thoughts drifted peacefully.

Ethan walked through the front door, his tie already loosened and his jacket slung over his shoulder. The day at the office had been long, but the sight of his beautiful husband sitting on the couch made every ounce of stress melt away. He paused for a moment, just taking in the sight of Adrian—his pale, glowing skin, his long black hair cascading over his shoulders, and the slight curve of his stomach that made Ethan’s heart swell with warmth.

"You’re home," Adrian said softly, glancing up with a smile.

Ethan couldn’t help but smile back. "I am. And look at you, looking all cute and radiant." He moved closer, bending down to kiss Adrian’s forehead. "How’s my gorgeous wife feeling today?"

Adrian rolled his eyes, though his smile never faded. "I’m fine. Just a little tired. And don’t call me ’cute’—I’m pregnant, not a kitten."

Ethan chuckled, sitting down beside him and leaning in closer. "Well, you are the cutest pregnant person I’ve ever seen." His eyes flicked to Adrian’s belly, and without hesitation, Ethan gently lifted Adrian’s shirt, revealing the soft, rounded bump. "Hey, little one," he whispered, leaning down and pressing a kiss to Adrian’s stomach. "It’s your dad. How are you in there?"

Adrian’s cheeks flushed, a combination of shyness and tenderness filling his heart. He placed a hand over Ethan’s, feeling the warmth of his touch against his belly. "You’re ridiculous," Adrian murmured, though the affection in his voice was unmistakable.

Ethan looked up, his silver eyes gleaming with playfulness. "I’m serious. I need to make sure our baby knows I’m around." He kissed Adrian’s stomach again, softer this time. "I love you, little one. Keep growing strong in there, okay?"

Adrian felt a surge of emotion, his heart brimming with love for both Ethan and the life growing inside him. "You’re going to be such a great dad," he whispered, his voice catching slightly.

Ethan smiled warmly and shifted his gaze to meet Adrian’s eyes. "And you’re going to be the best parent too. We’re in this together."

They sat in peaceful silence for a moment, Ethan’s hand gently resting on Adrian’s belly as they shared this quiet, intimate moment. Adrian’s heart felt full, and his body tingled with the warmth of Ethan’s love and affection.

Upstairs, in one of the guest rooms, Augustin stood by the window, looking down at the tender scene unfolding in the living room. His heart ached slightly as he watched Ethan kiss Adrian’s stomach, his expression soft and full of joy. Augustin’s hand drifted unconsciously to his own flat stomach, the reality settling heavily in his chest. He was also a man, but unlike Adrian, he couldn’t give Leclair children. No matter how much love he and Leclair shared, that one dream—of creating a family together—was out of reach for them.

A soft sigh escaped his lips, and before he could stop himself, two tears slipped down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them away, trying to steady his breathing. There was no use in dwelling on something he couldn’t change. He knew Leclair loved him, and that should be enough. But sometimes, the longing for what he could never have crept up on him when he least expected it.

Just as he wiped his face, the door to the room creaked open, and Leclair wheeled himself in. His sharp eyes immediately caught the remnants of Augustin’s tears, and his expression softened. "Augustin," he called softly, moving his wheelchair closer to where Augustin stood.

Augustin turned to face him, forcing a smile. "Leclair... you’re back early."

Leclair narrowed his eyes, his gaze full of understanding as he reached for Augustin’s hand. "Don’t do that. Don’t smile when you’re hurting," he murmured. He pulled Augustin closer, motioning for him to sit on his lap. "Come here."

Augustin hesitated for only a second before sliding into Leclair’s lap, his arms wrapping around his husband’s shoulders. The weight of his sadness seemed to ease just by being in Leclair’s arms, but the lingering pain still tugged at his heart.

Leclair cupped Augustin’s face, brushing his thumb gently over his cheek. "You’re not alone in this, you know," Leclair said softly, his voice steady and reassuring. "Whatever you’re feeling, we’ll get through it together."

Augustin nodded, though his eyes shimmered with fresh tears. "I know. It’s just... sometimes it hits me, the fact that I can’t..." His voice cracked, and he buried his face in Leclair’s shoulder, hiding the tears that refused to stop.

Leclair tightened his arms around Augustin, his touch gentle but firm. "We don’t need children to be a family, Augustin. You’re all I need." He leaned in and kissed the side of Augustin’s neck, his breath warm against his skin. "I love you, and that’s more than enough."

Augustin trembled slightly in Leclair’s embrace, his emotions swirling as he tried to hold himself together. "But I want to give you more," he whispered. "I want to give you everything."

Leclair pulled back just enough to look into Augustin’s eyes. "You’ve already given me everything, Augustin. You’re my heart, my life. Nothing else matters."

The sincerity in Leclair’s words caused Augustin’s heart to swell, and before he could stop himself, he leaned in to kiss Leclair softly on the lips. It was a slow, tender kiss, full of the love and devotion they shared.

Leclair responded immediately, his hands resting on Augustin’s waist as the kiss deepened. The two of them were completely lost in the moment, their surroundings fading away as they focused solely on each other. The soft sound of their kisses and quiet murmurs filled the room as Leclair continued to hold Augustin close, cherishing every second of their shared intimacy.

After a while, Augustin pulled away slightly, his face flushed and his lips tingling. He gave Leclair a small, shy smile. "Thank you," he whispered, his fingers lightly tracing the lines of Leclair’s jaw.

Leclair smiled in return, his thumb gently brushing over Augustin’s lower lip. "I love you," he repeated, his voice soft and full of emotion. "Always."

Augustin’s heart fluttered, and he nodded, feeling a deep sense of peace settle over him. "I love you too, Leclair."

Downstairs, the sound of laughter drifted through the house as Ethan and Adrian shared more tender moments on the couch. Ethan was now sitting with Adrian’s legs across his lap, playfully teasing him about how "round" he was getting, while Adrian retaliated with light-hearted jabs about Ethan’s fever making him delusional.

"I’m just saying," Ethan laughed, rubbing Adrian’s swollen belly, "our baby’s probably going to take after you and be all cute and squishy."

Adrian blushed, swatting at Ethan’s hand. "Don’t call our baby squishy!"

Ethan leaned in closer, pressing his forehead against Adrian’s. "I’m calling it like I see it, love."