Conditional Love

7. Disrupted Desires

The dim afternoon sunlight outside cast a faint glow into the room, revealing Ajaya's peaceful form as she slept soundly in the bed. Spade stood in the doorway, his gaze fixed on her, a mixture of emotions swirling within him.

As he watched her, a wave of affection and protectiveness washed over him. He couldn't help but admire the way that her curls were sprawled out over the pillow. The way her chest rose and fell with each steady breath filled him with a sense of peace he had rarely known. Yet, beneath that tranquility, a storm of uncertainty raged.

The truth was, Spade had never anticipated becoming a father so soon, and certainly not under these circumstances. The fact that he and Ajaya barely knew each other was a weighty thought that lingered in the back of his mind. Their relationship had developed fast, propelled by an unexpected pregnancy that had thrown their lives into a whirlwind of change.

Spade had built his life in the gritty, unforgiving streets of the city. His world was one of calculated risks, sharp instincts, and a relentless pursuit of power and wealth. Now, here he was, staring at a woman he was beginning to care deeply for, carrying his child, and it left him with a profound sense of vulnerability.

He had always been a man who kept his emotions guarded, his secrets locked away behind a hardened image. But Ajaya had cracked through those defenses, and now, with the imminent arrival of their child, he found himself grappling with the reality of his own emotions.

In their short time together, he had glimpsed the strength, resilience, and determination that defined her character. But he knew there was much more beneath the surface, layers of her past and personality that remained shrouded in mystery. Likewise, she had only scratched the surface of who he was beneath the alias of Spade.

As he kneeled beside her, resting his hand on her rounding belly, he couldn't help but wonder how they would navigate this uncharted territory. They had shared intimate moments and secrets, but there was still so much they didn't know about each other. The uncertainty gnawed at him, raising questions about their compatibility, their future, and the kind of parents they would be.

But as he felt their child's presence beneath his touch, he knew one thing for certain—he was willing to take the risk, to venture into the unknown with Ajaya by his side. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, forging a bond that would be tested and tempered in the fires of adversity.

Ajaya's sleepy gaze met Spade's, and her lips curled into a soft, drowsy smile as she shifted slightly in the bed. The warmth of his hand on her belly, a contrast to the coolness of the room, sent a shiver of sensation through her.

Her eyes, still hazy with sleep, widened as they met his dark, penetrating stare. The mixture of emotions she saw in his eyes left her momentarily speechless. There was a raw vulnerability in his expression, a stark contrast to the hardened exterior he often wore.

In that moment, as she lay there beneath his gaze, Ajaya felt as though she was seeing a different side of Spade. It was a side that made her heart skip a beat, a side that hinted at depths of emotion and complexity she had yet to fully understand.

Their silence hung in the air, heavy with unspoken words and uncharted territory. Ajaya's hand reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against his cheek. She could feel the warmth of his skin beneath her touch, and it grounded her in the reality of the moment.

"Kazier?" she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper, filled with sleep and a hint of wonder.

He didn't respond with words. Instead, he leaned in closer, his eyes never leaving hers, and Ajaya felt her breath catch as his lips met hers in a tender and meaningful kiss. It was a kiss that spoke volumes, a kiss that conveyed the depth of his feelings and his desire to bridge the gap between them.