Page 40 of Alpha's Absolution
“Love you, too, baby.”
I closed my eyes. Might as well catch a few more winks until my knot deflated and I was able to make my way into the office to deal with the jokes and catcalls from my jealous coworkers.
Ari
I knew Roger was going to be mad at me. Very, very mad. I didn’t let that stop me from ignoring the contraction that had woken me up and urging him over onto his back so we could make one more perfect memory before having to go weeks without sex.
Well, withoutpenetration, as my doctor had put it. Mouths and hands were still on the table, as was frotting and various other activities that Roger had introduced me to, but nothing was better than the feeling of our complete selves being locked together.
So, even though I knew I’d hear about it later, I’d taken that last opportunity for us to indulge and then, after he left for work, I’d called the doctor. He’d confirmed my suspicion that I likely had hours before needing to go to the birthing center, and I’d spent the morning puttering around, taking one last look around the beautiful nursery Roger had created to make sure we were as ready to welcome our baby as we could be.
When the contractions were five minutes apart – the point at which the doctor had told me I needed to get to the center- I’d texted Jeremy, called a cab, and walked out to the curb with my bag to wait.
~*~
“Where is he? Where is my mate?”
Roger’s voice roared through the relative quiet of the birthing center and my wince had nothing to do with contractions. There was arguing and the sounds of a struggle, so I raised my voice and called out to him.
“In here, Roger. I’m fine, Alpha.”
My Alpha burst through the curtained barrier in full were shift, a bulky security guard hanging off each arm. “Ari!”
He shook the guards off, turning to square off with them and I hurried to intervene before things could get worse.
“Please, he’s my husband,” I said quickly. “We’re fine, I want him here!”
The guards looked from me to the angry werewolf in front of them and made the smart choice to leave the room, the second one casting one last annoyed look on his way.
“Ari, baby,” Roger’s face was already morphing back to his human appearance as he knelt beside my bed. “I am so, so sorry.” He pressed my palm to his cheek and it was damp. Oh, hell, my big, strong werewolf was crying. “How bad is it?”
It took me a minute to wrap my brain around his words. “Bad?”
“This morning..” Roger trailed off, his voice tight.
Oh, double hell.
“No!” I said quickly. “It’s not..nothing’swrong,Alpha,” I assured him. “I’m in labor.” I pulled his hand to my face and kissed his palm. “We’re having a baby.”
“You’re not..” he trailed off again. “I didn’t hurt you?”
My heart twinged at the pain in his words. “God, no, love.” I reached for his other hand and pulled him close. “Didn’t Jeremy tell you I was in labor? You didn’t hurt me, not at all.” At least, not in any way I didn’t want but I certainly wasn’t going there in his current state of mind.
Roger breathed out a deep, harsh breath. “You’re sure?”
I nodded but another contraction came on, leaving me unable to answer for a moment. “They’re coming closer,” I gritted out through my teeth. “Can you call the nurse? I didn’t want to take the pain meds until you arrived.”
Roger’s face tightened but he squeezed my hand and stood. “One minute, baby.”
Roger returned promptly with the nurse who’d been attending to me since I’d arrived and after that, everything seemed to move very quickly.
Roger was back by my head, his hands clasping mine as he whispered words of love and encouragement, telling me I was brave and beautiful and adored as I struggled to follow the doctor’s instructions on when to push and when to rest.
When there was finally a tiny cry, I collapsed back onto the pillows stacked behind me, panting for breath. Roger leaned over me, kissing me gently.
“You’re amazing. You did so good, baby.”
Behind him, the nurse cleared her throat. “I have someone here who would like to meet you.”
Roger stepped aside so the nurse could lay the blanket-wrapped bundle in my arms and our eyes met over the tiny, squashed face all bundled in pink.
Our surprise pregnancy was over but our story was just beginning.
The End
