"It's Daddy," he whispered, his voice thick. "And I want you to know that you're so loved. You have the most wonderful mother, and I love her to distraction." He raised himself up and went behind her, slipping into her with the ease of familiarity. It still gave him a jolt when she sheathed him, pulling him in.
He had to take a beat; his hands wrapped possessively around her bulge. Sweeping the hair from her neck, he kissed her there slowly. "My love," he whispered thickly. "My heart, my life, my world." He moved slowly at first and then had no choice but to increase the pace when she moved with him. It was over in a flash, his body driving into hers as he spilled his seed. She came too, her hands clutching his as she exploded.
*****
Their son Seth Blake was born on an icy-cold day in the middle of January, after a twelve-hour labor during which the anxious father tried to quell his crippling fear.
Now standing next to his wife's bed, he cradled his son, an expression of wonder and awe on his face as he gazed down at what he believed was the most beautiful baby in the world.
"I think he's going to have your dimples," he murmured to his wife, who was looking as pleased as punch and unlike a woman who had been laboring for half a day.
"It's too soon to tell."
"The evidence is there." Brant studied the large unblinking golden eyes in fascination. The baby's hair was sparse, of course, but it was black and his complexion was a creamy pale gold. He was perfect.
"All ten toes and ten fingers." Cradling him carefully, Brant touched the tight fist.
"Are you going to get your mom?"
"What?" He looked up, a little dazed. "Oh! Yes. I should probably... you should keep him in here." He turned to the nurse, who was waiting to take the baby.
"No," his wife said firmly before she could respond.
"What if someone takes him?"
"Now who's being paranoid?" Indigo smiled at the nurse. "This very nice and professional Nurse Baker is in charge of him, and this happens to be a private clinic."
"That's right." John Wynter strode in, smiling at the new parents. "And I need to check on my patient."
Brant handed his son over reluctantly and stood there watching as the nurse carried him out.
"I was wondering when you were going to notice that I'm right here," his wife said dryly when he came to sit on the chair by her bedside.
"You're hard to ignore," he said with a grin, a tender expression on his face. "How's she, John?"
"Vitals are stable, and she's demanding to be released."
"I want to go home."
"That can happen as soon as tomorrow. As long as your son is doing fine. And he is," John assured them quickly. "A few more hours, and you're good to go."
"Thanks, John," Brant said.
"Congratulations," John told him and left.
Kicking off his shoes, he joined her on the bed. "I told the nurse to let Mother know she can get to see her grandson in the nursery." He wrapped an arm around her neck. "How's my beautiful wife doing?"
She snuggled, loving the scent of him. "Much better now."
"Have I told you lately that I'm head over heels in love with you?"
She pretended to consider. "Not since you were urging me to push and telling me how brave and wonderful I am. I think thatwas said to cover the fact that you were scared." Tilting her head back, she smiled, dimples flashing.
"I wasn't scared at all."
Her tapered brows lifted and had him grinning. "All right, I concede. Just a little bit." He bent to kiss her on the lips. "It was going on too long, and even though you weren't in pain because of the epidural-" He cocked an arrogant brow at her.
"Which I had to insist on because you wanted a natural birth. That would have driven me clear out of my mind."