Chapter 430: Someday Became Now

Chapter 430: Chapter 430: Someday Became Now

The ether-fueled aircraft had been in the air for less than an hour when Liam realized Arik had stopped pretending to work.

Their section of the imperial cabin had been closed off from the rest of the delegation shortly after takeoff, leaving them alone behind a pair of soundproof doors while security, attendants, and the unfortunate staff responsible for transporting half of Rubis’s luggage requirements occupied the forward compartments.

Outside the wide windows, Nuria had already disappeared beneath layers of white cloud. Pale winter sunlight washed through the cabin, catching against the polished wood panels and the faint gold ether lines running along the floor, where the aircraft’s propulsion system produced a barely noticeable vibration beneath their feet.

Liam sat sideways on the long sofa with a tablet balanced over one knee.

Arik occupied the armchair opposite him.

Or had, originally.

For the last ten minutes, he had done nothing except look at Liam over the edge of a report he clearly was not reading.

Liam continued scrolling.

"You are staring."

"I know."

"That normally comes before an apology."

"I am not sorry."

Liam looked up.

Arik had dressed simply for the flight, in dark trousers and a soft pale shirt with the first button open at his throat. His black hair had been pushed back carelessly rather than styled for court, leaving several strands falling around his forehead whenever he moved.

Liam narrowed his eyes.

"You have work."

"So do you."

"I am doing mine."

"That is the problem."

Liam stared.

Arik put the report aside.

"Come here."

"No."

Arik stood.

Liam immediately knew how this was going to end.

"Arik."

His husband crossed the narrow space between them, took the tablet from Liam’s hands, placed it safely on the side table, then caught him around the waist before Liam could object.

"This is unnecessary."

"I disagree."

"You could sit beside me like a normal person."

"I could."

Arik did not.

He lifted Liam with insulting ease, turned, and dropped back onto the sofa with Liam sprawled across his lap.

Liam caught himself against Arik’s shoulders.

"You are impossible."

"You married me."

"That does not improve your argument."

"It improves my access."

Liam laughed despite himself.

Arik smiled and tightened both arms around his waist, pulling him closer until there was no comfortable way to pretend this was anything except deliberate affection.

Liam settled eventually.

He always did.

The movement had become familiar over the years, Arik rearranging him whenever private space permitted him, lifting him out of chairs, pulling him across sofas, keeping him on his lap while pretending this counted as an entirely ordinary seating arrangement.

It had bothered Liam once.

Now he simply shifted until his knees rested comfortably against the cushions and let his body relax into the warmth surrounding him.

Smoky caramel deepened faintly in the air.

Arik kissed him.

Slowly at first.

Then again when Liam leaned closer.

The third kiss lasted long enough that Liam forgot entirely about the report waiting on the side table.

Arik’s hand moved up his back, broad palm settling between his shoulder blades while the other remained firm around his waist. Liam caught the edge of his shirt and kissed him back until the aircraft, the wedding, Gerard, and every remaining item on Rubis’s schedule became temporarily irrelevant.

When they separated, Arik kept his forehead against Liam’s.

"Better."

Liam breathed out a laugh.

"You created the problem."

"I solved it too."

"That is not how solutions work."

"It worked."

Liam could not argue with that without lying.

He shifted closer instead, sliding one arm around Arik’s shoulders before resting his face against the side of his neck.

Arik went very still for half a second.

Liam smiled against his skin.

No matter how many years passed, Arik remained absurdly vulnerable to that particular gesture.

Liam nuzzled into the warm space beneath his jaw.

"There."

Arik’s hand tightened at his waist.

"You are dangerous."

"I am sitting."

"You know exactly what you are doing."

Liam breathed in smoky caramel and closed his eyes.

The aircraft cabin was warm, the engines almost silent, and the world beyond the windows had become nothing but sunlight over clouds. For once, there was nowhere either of them needed to be for several hours.

Alexandria waited ahead.

Rex’s wedding.

Enia, Henry, Mirelle.

Ayla and Samuel would arrive separately from the academy.

Agaron’s delegation would follow.

For several days, everyone they cared about would be in the same city.

The thought settled strangely inside Liam.

Arik’s fingers moved lazily along his back.

"You are thinking."

"I do that sometimes."

"Suspicious."

Liam smiled.

Then went quiet again.

He had imagined this conversation differently.

Probably in their bedroom after discussing schedules, medical appointments, contraception, and at least three practical concerns that would make Arik accuse him of turning parenthood into an engineering project.

Instead, he was sitting across Arik’s lap on an aircraft.

That felt unexpectedly right.

Liam lifted his head.

Arik looked at him immediately.

"I want a child."

Nothing happened.

For perhaps three full seconds, Arik simply stared.

Liam had seen him survive collapsing Gates, political coups, assassination attempts, ancient ether disasters, and encounters with people stupid enough to threaten either of them.

Apparently this was worse.

Liam’s mouth twitched.

"Arik?"

His husband blinked.

"You what?"

"I want a child."

Arik’s arms tightened around him so abruptly that Liam almost laughed.

"Now?"

Liam considered the word.

"Not this exact second."

Arik stared at him.

Liam laughed.

"You know what I mean."

"No, actually, I would appreciate clarification."

The speed of the response made Liam smile.

"I mean, I don’t want it to be someday anymore."

That silenced him.

Liam’s expression softened.

"We kept saying later. When things were calmer. When Nuria settled. When I was ready."

Arik watched him carefully now.

"And?"

"I think I am."

Liam rested one hand against Arik’s chest.

"I like our life. I like working. I like traveling with you and complaining about your security and having my own things that have nothing to do with being your mate."

Arik’s thumb moved once against his side.

"I know."

"I don’t want to lose any of that."

"You won’t."

"I know."

Liam looked down briefly before meeting his eyes again.

"But I want more."

Arik’s expression changed.

The shock remained, but something warmer moved beneath it, so open that Liam felt his own chest tighten.

"You want our child."

"Yes."

Arik kissed him before Liam could say anything else.

Not like before.

One hand slid into Liam’s hair while the other held him so securely that Liam could feel the tremor Arik was trying very hard not to show.

When the kiss ended, Liam rested his forehead against his again.

Arik breathed out slowly.

"You dropped that on me in an aircraft."

"It seemed peaceful."

"I was considering murder yesterday."

"You are usually considering murder."

"That is fair."

Liam smiled.

Arik looked at him for another long moment.

Then the smile appeared. It was dangerous enough that Liam immediately became suspicious.

"Oh no."

"What?"

"You are going to become unbearable."

"I am going to become a father."

"Potentially."

Arik’s grin widened.

Liam groaned and buried his face against his neck again.

He had made a terrible mistake.

A warm hand settled over his back.

Then Arik kissed his temple.

"I want one too."

Liam went still.

Arik held him closer.

And suddenly Alexandria felt very far away.