All Chapters of Surrogate for the CEO Alpha: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Maya Brian's ended the kiss, his lips hovered over mine, close enough that I could feel his breath, but instead of closing the distance again, he stopped.For a long second, neither of us moved.The cool night breeze drifted in from the lake, carrying the scent of pine and fresh water between us, but it did nothing to calm the warmth spreading beneath my skin. Every part of me leaned toward him, waiting, hoping, aching for the kiss to continue.A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as though he could read every thought racing through my head."Easy," he murmured, his voice low enough to disappear into the quiet night.His thumb brushed lightly across my cheek before he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was so gentle, so unexpectedly tender, that it made my heart pound harder than the kiss itself ever could.This felt nothing like that night at the gala. Back then, everything had happened in a blur of fear, confusion, and emotions neither of us had und

MayaThe drive to Silver Moon Medical Center felt longer than it actually was.I sat beside Brian in the back of the SUV, my fingers twisting together in my lap no matter how many times I told myself to stop. Outside, New York bustled with its usual energy, but inside the vehicle, my thoughts were far too loud.Everything could change today.I stared out the window, watching familiar streets blur together.What if it hadn't worked?What if all those tests, all Dr. Hayes' confidence, all our hope had been for nothing?A warm hand settled over mine.I looked down before lifting my eyes to Brian.He hadn't said a word. He simply intertwined his fingers with mine and gave my hand a gentle squeeze."You don't have to be nervous," he said quietly.I let out a nervous laugh."I think that's impossible."He smiled, his thumb brushing lightly across the back of my hand."Whatever happens, we deal with it together."His word settled somewhere deep inside me.I nodded, unable to trust my voice.

MayaThe examination room suddenly felt small. When Dr. Hayes confirmed the pregnancy, my heart had swelled with a joy I'd never experienced before. I was going to be a mother, and Brian was going to be a father. For one beautiful moment, nothing else in the world had mattered. Then she uttered four simple words."There is a problem."Those words stole every bit of happiness from the room, replacing it with a knot of anxiety that settled heavily in my stomach. I could barely hear the quiet hum of the ultrasound machine over the sound of my own heartbeat. This wasn't how I wanted today to unfold. I wanted us to celebrate, to laugh, to stare at the blurry ultrasound pictures and wonder which one of us our baby would resemble. Instead, we were sitting in silence, waiting for an explanation that none of us wanted to hear.I looked at Dr. Olivia Hayes and drew in a slow, shaky breath. "Doctor," I said quietly, forcing the words past the lump in my throat, "would you mind giving us a few mi

BrianFor one terrifying second, I thought I was too late.One moment Maya was sitting behind her desk, pale and exhausted, and the next her body went limp."Maya!"I was across the room before the chair had even finished tipping backward.I caught her against my chest just before she hit the floor.Her head lolled onto my shoulder, her hair brushing against my jaw as though she were only sleeping.She wasn't."Maya."I cupped her face gently."Open your eyes," I said, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Come on, sweetheart. Look at me."She didn't respond, not even the smallest flutter. A cold knot settled in the pit of my stomach.We have to protect them. Knox's growl thundered through my head. She's burning through everything she has."I know."I could feel it.Even without a doctor's explanation, my instincts screamed that something was wrong.Her breathing was steady but shallow. Her skin felt cool beneath my palm, and when I brushed the back of my fingers over her ch

BrianI woke before the sun.For a few quiet moments, I simply sat beside Maya's bed, watching the steady rise and fall of her breathing. The first light of dawn filtered through the tall windows of the medical suite, casting pale gold across the blankets. My fingers remained wrapped around hers.At some point during the night, she'd tightened her grip in her sleep and never let go. Even now, despite the IV running into the back of her hand and the exhaustion written across her face, she refused to release me.I wasn't complaining. If holding my hand gave her even a little comfort, then I'd stay in that chair for as long as she needed.Knox stirred quietly inside me.She's doing better.I looked down at Maya."I can see that."His presence still felt unfamiliar after years of silence. Every time he spoke, I caught myself wondering if I had imagined it, but the warmth settling in my chest told me otherwise.He came back.Not because of me but for me but for them. For the family we hadn