He was in shock. That was the only explanation. He couldn’t think properly. His brain was fuzzy, and all he could focus on was that one thought: I’m going to be a dad. Eli wasn’t ready to be a dad. He hadn’t planned to be a dad, and he certainly wasn’t cut out for it. He was too similar to his parents. His child would be doomed to a lifetime without fatherly affection.

Eli’s gaze rested on her stomach. It was still flat, but his child was growing inside her. “Can I...?”

Aria nodded. He crossed to her and pressed his hands to her stomach.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “We’re having a baby.”

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, looking utterly miserable. “I should have been more careful. I was so stupid.”

“It’s not your fault,” Eli told her, running his hands over her warm skin. “I should have used a condom, just to be safe.”

Aria finally met his eyes. “You’re not mad?”

“I wouldn’t have wanted this to happen, but I’m not mad at you,” he said honestly. “Don’t blame yourself. You’re no more responsible for this than I am. I’ll support you completely. Anything you need, just ask. I’ll contribute my share.”

“Your share? This isn’t a cake, Eli. It’s a baby. We need to work together to do the best we can.”

He frowned. “I’m happy to support you and the baby, but I can’t be part of its life. I can’t be an active parent. You have no idea what my childhood was like. I’m not deluded enough to think I could do a better job than my parents did.”

Drawing away from him, Aria raised her chin defiantly and sniffled, tears glistening in her eyes. “You would rather your child not know its father? A loving family is important. Our son or daughter needs both parents.”

She was so caring, his Aria. So warm and loving. Their child would never lack affection with her as a mother. “I have every faith in you, sweetheart. You’ll be a wonderful mother. The baby won’t need me. In fact, it will be better off without me around to complicate things.”

She swayed on her feet, and he wrapped his arms around her, resisting her attempts to shake him off. Finally, she settled against his chest and let the tears fall, wetting his shirt.

“I’m so scared,” she whispered.

It felt right to have her back in his arms, no matter what the circumstances. If that made him messed up, then so be it. They were bound to each other now. Possessiveness surged through him so strongly that it frightened him. He had no right to Aria. No right to her body. But he wanted to hold her close and give her what little comfort he could.