“Liam,” she says sounding exhausted. “I love you and I’m scared.”

“Why?”

“What if something goes wrong?”

“I’m right here. I’ll be by your side the whole time. You can do this,” I try to reassure her, but she’s been having dreams that there will be something wrong with the baby or the birth. I can’t really argue her insanity because they’re dreams and she threatens to kill me quite often.

I do like to drive her nuts. I’ll give her that.

“I don’t want anything to be wrong.” Her lower lip trembles.

My hands hold her face and I press my forehead to hers. “If something is wrong, we’ll handle it. Don’t worry until there’s something to worry about. I’ve got you.”

I don’t know how to help her and it kills me, but I know I have to keep it together.

She nods and sucks in a deep breath.

“Are we ready, Mrs. Dempsey?” A small thrill runs through me each time I hear someone call her that. It reminds me that this woman is mine now. That she chose me, and I somehow convinced her to marry me.

“If he’s ready to come out, then I guess we are.” I squeeze her hand and then she adds on. “With no drugs.”

“Drugs are overrated.” Her eyes flash with hostility, and I put my hands up in mock surrender. “Of course, I don’t know this . . .”

“Hate.”

“You love me.”

Natalie grunts and the doctor gives me a sympathetic look. Dr. Contreras checks her for what I don’t know. I mean, is it like a turkey that the little plastic thing pops? This whole checking her thing baffles me.

“Okay, Natalie. I need you to give me a push.”

She looks at me and they lift her legs. I don’t comment because I know it’ll end with me getting punched in the balls, so I just stay by her side. She groans and sweat breaks across her face, and I’m pretty sure my hand is now detached from my body. Where the hell does this hundred and twenty-five pound woman have this strength?

“Hand, hand, hand,” I say as it starts to turn purple.

Fucking hell.

“My vagina is on fire as I push your giant kid out. Suck it up,” Natalie says with a little too much happiness at my pain.

“Again,” the doctor orders.

I don’t even have a second before my fingers mash together as she squeezes them and pops a few out of joint. Well, not really, but it feels like it.

“The baby is crowning,” the doctor says.

“Crowning?” I ask.

“Come see.”

I head down as Natalie breathes and lays her head on the pillow. There are some things I can’t unsee, and this is one. I’m not queasy by nature, but I never can look at her pussy again and not think of this image. A giant, bald, nasty looking thing is stretching her, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to hurl.

Instead of freaking her out, I head back to her side. I’ll take the broken fingers before that shit.

“Is he coming?” Lee asks.

Still unable to form words, I nod and offer her my hand.

“Liam?”

How the hell do I explain how disturbed I am? I know I need to say something, so I just let it out. “Yup, it’s coming all right.”

“Just a few more pushes, Lee, and you’re right there.” The doctor saves my ass this time because I don’t know what I would’ve said if I had to go further than that. “Another contraction is coming.”

“Okay,” Lee says and then she pushes again. Her whole body is tight as she lets out a long cry.

“Do you want to see him?” the doctor asks. Is she high?

“No. I’m good.”

She smiles knowingly. “Okay. One more, Lee. One more push and he’ll be out,” Dr. Contreras tells her and I look at Lee once more.

This is the woman who’s going to bring my son into the world. The woman who gave me a family I could only dream of. We were meant to be and now we’ll have another child. A son who will bear my name. This perfect, gorgeous woman who I hope to knock up at least ten more times.

“I love you, Natalie.”

She huffs and puts her hand on my face. “I love you.”

“Push!” the doctor yells and sheer determination covers Natalie’s face.

She does what she’s told and then I hear the most remarkable sound ever.

My son’s first cry.

I look down as the doctors and nurses start to clean him and then they place him on my wife’s chest. I stare at him in wonder. My son. A boy. Natalie cries as she holds him and touches his hands, feet, and face.

She looks up at me with tears and a smile. “He’s perfect.”

“He came from you; of course he would be,” I reply and press my lips to hers. Then I touch my son’s fingers. He’s here and has all his fingers and toes. He’s got the most important part too.

The doctor comes over and cuts the cord after I refuse. No, thank you. They weigh him and clean him up as I watch over him. I don’t think my eyes leave him for even a moment.

Once he’s wrapped in a blanket, the nurse extends her hands and places him in my arms.

I look at Natalie and then back to him. Tears fill my eyes as I hold my son for the first time. My heart just grew twice the size as I look at him, half me, half Natalie. I walk over and sit next to Lee as her hand touches his arm.

“Hi, Shane. I’m your dad.”

THE END

Beloved (Book One in the Belonging Duet)

Purchase Beloved from Amazon

Not enough.

Catherine Pope has never been enough.

She repeatedly lets men in—only to be left broken.

Then Catherine met Jackson Cole.

Jackson makes her feel alive, desirable, and consumes her with a fierceness she’s never known.

But Jackson struggles with his own past. His training as a Navy SEAL never prepared him for the battle to win her heart. He’s different, honorable, and worth the chance…but he must prove it.

If she gives him what’s left of her heart—will he protect it? Will she get the one thing that has always evaded her – to finally be someone’s beloved?

Beholden (Book Two in the Belonging Duet)

Purchase Beholden from Amazon

Catherine Pope got a second chance at love, only to have it ripped away—again. She should’ve known better.

But she dared to hope.

She refuses to let fate take the reins this time. Catherine decides she’s going to fight.

Jackson Cole risked it all.

He thought this time would be different.

With his loyalties pulling him in two directions—it’s time to make a choice…his past or his future.

Will they be beholden to their fears or will they both fight against their demons and finally find the love they both long for?

Consolation (Book One in the Consolation Duet)

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Liam wasn’t supposed to be my happily ever after.

He wasn’t even on my radar.

He was my husband’s best friend—forbidden.

But my husband is dead and I’m alone. I ache for him and I reach for Liam.