Lena kicked off her sneakers at the door and dropped onto the couch like she owned the place which, in best-friend terms, she basically did. She handed Fiona one of the iced lattes, then pulled the small pink and white box from the pharmacy bag with exaggerated ceremony.
"Moment of truth, babe," Lena said, voice half-teasing, half-serious. "You ready to find out if Mystery Dick left you a permanent souvenir?"
Fiona stared at the box like it might bite her. Her stomach was still churning, but the nausea had settled into a low, persistent hum like her body was already whispering secrets she wasn't ready to hear.
"I'm not ready," Fiona admitted, voice small. "But I also can't not know."
Lena nodded, no judgment. "Then let's do this together. Bathroom. Now. I'll hold your hair if you puke again."
They crammed into the tiny bathroom. Fiona ripped open the box with shaking fingers. Two tests. She took one, handed the other to Lena like a talisman.
"Pee first, pray later," Lena said, trying to lighten it. "I'll stand guard."
Fiona sat on the toilet, heart hammering so loud she could hear it in her ears. The stream came fast too fast, like her body was eager to confess. She capped the stick, set it on the sink counter next to Lena's identical one (just in case), and washed her hands while staring at the wall.
They waited.
Two minutes felt like two years.
Lena leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You gonna tell me more about him while we wait? Because 'tall, dark, and ruined me' is not enough detail."
Fiona exhaled a shaky laugh. "He… God, Lena. He was everywhere. Hands like he knew exactly what I needed before I did. He went down on me like it was his religion. Tongue everywhere, fingers curling just right, sucking my clit until I was begging. Then he flipped me over, took me from behind so deep I felt him in my throat. And when he came…" She trailed off, cheeks burning. "He filled me up. Completely. No pulling out. No nothing. Just raw, hot, pulsing inside me like he wanted to mark me."
Lena whistled low. "Damn. That's not a one-night stand. That's a claiming."
"Yeah," Fiona whispered. "And I let him. I wanted it. Needed it. After Marcus… I just wanted to feel wanted."
The timer on Lena's phone beeped.
They both froze.
Fiona reached first slow, like the stick might explode.
Two pink lines.
Clear. Dark. Unmistakable.
Positive.
Lena grabbed hers next. Same thing. Two lines.
They stared at each other in the mirror.
"Fuck," Fiona breathed.
Lena set the test down gently, then pulled Fiona into a fierce hug. "Okay. Okay. Breathe. You're pregnant. With a hot stranger's baby. This is… insane. But also kind of legendary?"
Fiona laughed wet, half-sob. "Legendary? I don't even know his name. I don't know where he lives. I don't know if he's married, or a serial killer, or—"
"Or just some rich asshole who goes to Eclipse Lounge to blow off steam," Lena finished, trying to joke. "We'll figure it out. First things first: doctor. Blood test to confirm. Prenatal vitamins. And maybe… try to track him down?"
"How?" Fiona pulled back, wiping her eyes. "I left without a word. No number. No name. Just… sex. Really, really good sex."
Lena smirked. "You remember what he looked like?"
"Every inch," Fiona said without hesitation. "Tall, maybe six-three. Dark hair, a little long on top. Gray eyes like a storm. Jaw that could cut glass. Small scar on his left eyebrow silver, barely there. Tattoo peeking out on his collarbone something black and sharp, like wings or a blade. And his voice… low, commanding. Like he's used to getting what he wants."
Lena pulled out her phone, thumbs flying. "Okay, let's see if we can find him. Eclipse Lounge is full of loaded guys. Maybe he's on some society page or something."
She scrolled through Aurelia Bay nightlife Instagram accounts, club tags, random gala photos from the last few weeks.
After a minute she shook her head. "Nothing obvious. Too many dark-haired suits in this city. But that scar and tattoo combo? That's distinctive. If he's anyone important, he'll show up eventually."
Fiona exhaled, shoulders dropping. "I don't even know if I want to find him. What would I say? 'Hey, remember the girl you fucked senseless in the VIP suite? Surprise, I'm pregnant.' Yeah, that'll go over great."
Lena crouched in front of her, serious now. "Listen. Right now, you don't have to decide anything about him. You decide about you. And the baby. Doctor tomorrow confirm everything. Then we make a plan. Prenatals, job hunt, whatever it takes. If Mystery Man ever crosses your path again… you'll know what to do. But until then? This is your story. Your bump. Your rules."
Fiona touched her stomach still flat, but suddenly sacred.
"I'm keeping it," she said quietly. "I don't know how I'm going to do it alone, but I'm keeping it."
Lena grinned, fierce and proud. "Damn right you are. And you're not alone you've got me, and soon you'll have a tiny human who's half you and half pure sex-god energy. That kid's gonna be fire."
Fiona managed a real laugh this time.
They left the bathroom, tests carefully wrapped in tissue and tucked away. Fiona sank onto the couch, ginger tea in hand, staring out at the cove.
Somewhere across Aurelia Bay, in a private suite still smelling faintly of jasmine and sweat, a man woke up hard and restless.
He ran a hand over the empty side of the bed.
Traced the faint lipstick mark on his shoulder.
He had no idea the woman who'd burned through his night was already carrying his child.
And Fiona had no idea the stranger whose touch still lingered on her skin ruled half the city she lived in.
For now, the secret stayed buried.
Safe.
Waiting.
---