Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 90337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“I’m right behind you,” he promises. “Be there as soon as I change.”
I nod, pulling in a bracing breath as another contraction starts to build. I grab fistfuls of the sheets, hanging on for dear life as the nurses start to move, rolling me down the hall as my core starts to split in two.
Tension and urgency ripple through me, summoning a groan from low in my throat as we arrive in delivery.
“As soon as this one passes, let’s move her,” Dr. Saunders announces firmly. To me, she says in a softer voice, “You’re doing great, Elaina. Labor is progressing perfectly.”
“I’m going to poop, I don’t think I can stop it,” I gasp as soon as I can speak through the pain, past caring if I embarrass myself in a room full of people. I’m no longer in control of my body, and they need to know that before I soil the delivery room and we have to start this “cleaning up to have a baby” thing all over again.
Dr. Saunders has the nerve to chuckle at my traumatic announcement. “That’s the urge to push, lady,” she says. “Your body knows what to do. Trust it. I’ll check you again in a second to be sure, but I’m guessing you’re ready to start pushing on the next contraction.”
“And if you poop, it’s fine,” the blonde nurse says softly. “Nothing we haven’t seen before. And nothing we can’t handle. We’ve got you, honey.”
“I love you,” I say, making her laugh. “No really, I do. Thank you.”
“No, problem,” she says. “I’ll go check on Dad and get him down here ASAP.”
Before I can thank her again, Hunter is suddenly beside me, looking ridiculously foxy in dark blue scrubs and a surgical mask. Even fresh from agonizing pain directly caused by his sexiness, I can’t help but take a beat to appreciate the way his shoulders fill out that shirt.
I blink up at him. “Well, hello, hot doctor,” I murmur, loopy enough from the pain that I announce without thinking, “I think I have a new role-playing fantasy.”
His eyes crinkle as the nurses giggle around us. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he says, taking my hand. “I heard you’re about to start pushing. What can I do to help?”
I grip his hand tighter as the wave rises inside me again. “Just don’t let go.”
“Never,” he promises, and I know he means it. Not just tonight, but for the foreseeable future.
“All right, mama,” Dr. Saunders pipes up from the end of the bed. “You’re at ten centimeters. Fully effaced. And Baby A is head down and fully engaged.” She meets my gaze, her eyes warm and excited even though I know she’s done this a thousand times before. “Let the energy build, and when you feel that urge to push again, take a deep breath and bear down, okay?”
“Okay,” I say, my heart racing as I grip the bed rail with one hand and Hunter’s fingers with the other. The marrow-deep pain—hot and vibrating—comes again, rising higher and higher until—
“That’s right, good girl, here we go,” Dr. Saunders encourages. “And push, Elaina!”
I bear down, gripping Hunter’s hand as the pressure builds and my body takes over, demanding I push with everything I’ve got. Through the haze of effort and my blood rushing in my ears, I hear Hunter murmuring encouragement, telling me how incredible I am, how strong, his words helping more than he’ll probably ever know.
“So good,” Dr. Saunders says as the contraction finally fades, leaving me panting. “Rest, and we’ll go again with the next one.”
I collapse back against the pillows, already exhausted, and we’re just getting started. “Moms should rule the world, or at least have final say on whether countries go to war,” I murmur to Hunter. “If you don’t have to go through this kind of pain to bring a human being into this world, you shouldn’t get to send human beings off to die for oil or territory or whatever we’re fighting over right now.”
He nods. “Agreed. You’re right.”
“I’m always right,” I say, a smile tugging at my sweat-damp upper lip. “Tell me I’m always right, no take backs later.”
“You’re always right,” he says without a beat of hesitation. “No take backs.”
“I must be really pathetic, huh? If you’re willing to go full no take backs on something like that.”
He shakes his head. “No, you’re amazing. But this is way more intense than I thought it would be.”
“It’s violent, right?” I ask, wincing as the pain starts to rise again. “Are you scared?”
“I am,” he says. “But I’m so glad I’m here. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I murmur, words ending in a groan. I push even harder this time, until I feel a splitting, easing, opening sensation that makes my pulse spike all over again. “Is that?” I gasp.