Hired to Breed (The Hired Series Book 3)

by Leann Ryans

  The doctor patted her hand.

  “I’m going to run a couple tests then we’ll see where we’re at.”

  Annalise nodded, turning her attention to Liam. His face was drawn, shoulders tense as he stood against the wall farthest from them. He looked ready to bolt, and the idea of him leaving caused her chest to clench.

  As the doctor moved to check the monitors the nurse attached, Annalise held out her hand to Liam. He hesitated before coming to her side and wrapping his fingers around hers. He still looked tense, but the hand holding hers was gentle.

  The doctor took a blood sample from Annalise’s arm then moved to a cabinet and pulled something out.

  “I need you to change into a gown so I can examine you. I’ll be back in just a moment, and then we’ll decide what steps to take.”

  Liam helped her sit up and the doctor passed her the gown. The motion caused another cramp, but it passed quickly as both the nurse and doctor left.

  Annalise slid off the bed and stood, sighing as she looked down. Liam moved before she could, kneeling in front of her.

  “Hold my shoulders and lift your foot.”

  She’d been forced to get over her desire to do everything herself months ago, so she did as he directed. He removed her shoes before reaching for her waistband, warm fingers curling over the top and brushing her hips.

  With the feel of his muscles beneath her palms her body reacted, but the lust was doused by a harder cramp forcing her to lean more of her weight on him. It took a moment before she could lift her feet again so he could remove her pants and underwear.

  As many times as he’d stripped her and she’d been naked in front of him, a ripple of embarrassment coursed through her as he stood and gripped the hem of her shirt. There was no lust clouding her mind, no need driving her.

  It was different. More intimate.

  He dropped her shirt to the side as she unhooked her bra. His eyes raked over her, causing the burn to spread from her cheeks throughout her body as he held out the gown for her.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  Her heart clenched again, her body melting at his praise. It wasn’t only that he was an Alpha and her an omega. He was the man who’d entered her life and made it more. She hadn’t known what was missing before him.

  “Liam, I—”

  The door opened after a short knock, the doctor stepping in with the nurse trailing behind her.

  “If you could lie down for me, I’ll check you then we can decide what to do.”

  Her words were almost drowned out by Liam’s growl reverberating through the room. His hands were clenched at his sides, eyes locked on the other male.

  The beta stepped back, and the doctor’s eyes widened as they turned to Liam. Glancing from him to her assistant, she gave him a nod.

  “I can handle this alone.”

  The nurse fled, Liam’s growl fading as the door shut behind him. His chest was heaving, but he turned his attention back to Annalise when she laid a hand on his chest.

  “It’s okay,” she whispered.

  He sucked in a deep breath before nodding. She swallowed back the words she’d wanted to say before they were interrupted, and let Liam help her back onto the bed.

  The doctor was quick, but the exam was still uncomfortable. Liam let out another growl when she winced, but he cut it off, holding her hand as the doctor finished and lifted her tablet.

  “You are in labor. It’s a little earlier than I’d hoped, but you made it longer than expected, and the tests show the babies should be ready. They’ll be a little small but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed on the outside. We can try to delay labor, but I don’t think we would get more than a couple days at best, because they’re pretty much out of room in there.”

  The doctor paused, looking between the two of them.

  “I’ll leave it up to you, but I think you can let nature take its course with no worries.”

  Her eyes turned to Liam. She could see the worry written across his face, but the news helped her feel calmer. If the babies would be fine, there was no reason to delay.

  “You should call your mother,” she said when he looked down at her. “She’s welcome to be here if she can make it.”

  His eyes widened and his throat worked before he nodded. Turning her attention back to the doctor, Annalise gave her a smile, excitement growing at the prospect of meeting her babies.

  “It’s time. I’m ready.”

  54. Liam

  It couldn’t be time already. He was supposed to have three more weeks.

  Liam was rooted to the spot, so torn he didn’t know how to feel. The babies were coming, and though the doctor said the tests showed they’d be fine, there was still worry that it was too soon.

  Annalise was in danger.

  She’d be helpless while in labor, and the labor itself put her at risk. He didn’t care what century it was and how advanced they were, childbirth was dangerous. More so with multiples.

  The urge to carry her off and hide her somewhere safe was hard to ignore, and while he could tolerate the doctor, there was no way he was allowing a male in the room.

  He’d barely gotten himself under control when Annalise turned to him and told him to call his mother. If he hadn’t loved her before, that alone would have made him fall for her.

  He missed whatever the doctor said after Annalise announced she was ready until Annalise struggled to sit up. Shaking off the paralysis, he moved over and helped her up, unsure what she was doing until he noticed the doctor holding a wheelchair. He refused to let her go until she was securely seated.

  The doctor pushed Annalise out of the room and down the hall. He assumed she was being taken to the birthing suite she’d mentioned in the past, but he was surprised when they walked into the new room.

  It didn’t look anything like a hospital room besides the cabinets lining one wall. It was fairly small, the dark blue walls in the dim light giving the feeling of an enclosed space, and it was empty except for a depression in the center of the floor and pair of chairs in the front corner.

  The bottom of the depression was covered in a white sheet and Liam assumed it was padded as well. There was an open door to the right showing a bathroom with a large tub, but even it lacked the glaring whiteness usually found in hospitals, done in shades of lighter blue.

  “I will have nesting materials brought to the room. I’ll keep any eye on you through the monitors, but otherwise I’ll let you be unless there’s an issue. If you need anything, press the com next to the door,” the doctor said, pointing to the screen built into the wall.

  Liam helped Annalise stand and the doctor turned to leave.

  “Make yourself comfortable and rest while you can,” she called before the door shut behind her.

  Annalise looked at the depression before turning to the chairs. She only took a step before she paused and let out a huff as her body went stiff. If anyone was going to make it in time, they’d have to hurry.

  Once she settled in the seat he dug her phone from the bag he still carried. He knew she’d want to call her sister, so he stepped into the bathroom to give her a semblance of privacy while he pulled out his phone as well.

  He stared at the screen for a moment, still trying to wrap his head around what had happened in the past hour. It was hard to think everything was normal when he started fixing lunch, and now his time was up.

  According to his contract, he shouldn’t even be at the hospital. Definitely not in the room with Annalise. He was supposed to contact Ms. Haranne as soon as labor began, pack his things, and turn himself in at the Admin Building for housing until they could arrange transportation back to The Haven.

  Fuck that.

  He dialed his mother, the words sticking in his throat when she answered.

  “Is everything okay Liam?” she asked when he didn’t respond to her greeting.

  “Annalise is in labor. Doctor says the babies look good so they’re not going to stop it.”

 
There was a pause before he heard his mother repeating what he’d told her, letting his father know. He focused again when she asked him questions, not knowing half of the answers.

  “She said you’re welcome if you can make it.”

  The other end went dead for a moment and he worried something happened before he heard a sniffle.

  “Of course. We’re on the way.”

  His mother hung up before he could say goodbye. He shook his head, chuckling to himself as he imagined the whirlwind she’d become. He felt sorry for his dad for a moment before taking a deep breath and heading out of the bathroom.

  Annalise was still on the phone, but she hung up by the time he got to her. Heaving a sigh, she sat back, holding her belly. Crouching in front of her, her cupped her stomach, rubbing it to help ease the strain.

  “Is your sister coming?”

  She sighed again.

  “She’s trying. She has to call a sitter and wait for them, then take a Speeder. It’ll be a few hours.”

  He could tell she was upset, so he reached up to push her hair back from her face.

  “I’ll be with you. Mother’s on the way, but it’ll be a while for them too.”

  She nodded, giving him a small smile before it turned into a grimace. The flesh under his hand grew hard, her entire abdomen moving as the muscles contracted.

  She was gasping for breath when it passed, and he worried how fast the labor seemed to be going. Austin made it sound like Sandra was in labor for days before delivering their son.

  Once she caught her breath Annalise grabbed his hand, her eyes staring into his.

  “I’m staying here in Eden, Liam. Permanently. I’ve been trying to find a time to tell you since I made the decision, but I was waiting to hear from Ms. Haranne.”

  He froze, his entire focus zeroing in on Annalise. He wasn’t sure what she was saying, and his heart gave a painful thump as hope tried to take hold.

  “We didn’t bond so I had to ask her permission. I offered to buy out your contract, but she hasn’t responded. I want you to stay. I want you to be with our babies. With me.”

  He crushed his lips to hers. His entire body trembled at the emotions swirling inside him, and it was the only response he could make. She’d become his world. Her and the babies preparing to come out and meet them, were more important than anything else.

  He’d been terrified he was going to lose them all, but once again she surprised him. She was strong and capable, and had built a life for herself that many envied, but she trusted him enough to share the most precious thing she had.

  Her heart.

  55. Annalise

  It felt like days though it had only been hours since the contractions began.

  The nesting materials had been delivered and the moment she saw them she’d had no choice but to move. Her babies needed a safe space to enter the world.

  Annalise had no idea how long she’d spent on her knees in the middle of the depression in the floor, adding padding around the edges and layering blankets. The materials weren’t as nice as the nest she had at home, and it was all white, but a part of her mind remembered it was for safety.

  The gown kept getting in her way, so she stripped it off, tossing it in the corner. The monitors on her belly made her skin itch, but each time she scratched at them Liam pulled her hand away.

  The doctor stayed out, though Annalise heard her voice in the background a few times. She was too focused on her task to pay attention to what was being said, but Liam’s low rumble followed it, so Annalise assumed all was fine.

  The contractions came closer together, building in intensity. She would rock on her hands and knees, Liam rubbing her back until it passed, and she’d start working again. She fell deeper into instincts, her consciousness taking a backseat.

  It took forever to get it right. The nest had to be perfect.

  Lying in the middle of it, satisfied with the placement of everything, it still felt like something was missing. She moaned and rolled to her side, wrapping her arms around her belly. Tears leaked from her eyes.

  Liam leaned over the side, running a warm hand down her spine. Digging his fingers into the flesh above her hips, he let out a deep purr, the sound washing over her body and leaving a wave of comfort.

  That was what was missing.

  Annalise sat up when the contraction passed and the purr ended, pushing the blankets back to glare at the Alpha sitting outside her nest.

  “Strip!”

  Liam raised a brow, and when he failed to comply immediately, she growled at him. His eyes narrowed but his hands moved to his shirt, tugging it over his head. Standing, he removed his pants.

  The sight of his body didn’t stir the usual heat, but her eyes still ran over his muscled frame. The Alpha was worthy. He’d bred her and cared for her through her pregnancy, and now he was here to protect her and their babies.

  When he hooked his fingers in his underwear she growled again. There was no need for that.

  “Get in.”

  He sucked in a deep breath before moving to the edge of her nest. Carefully stepping over the edge, he worked his way in beside her.

  She put a hand to his chest, pushing him down so she could lean over to adjust the blankets around him. Once she was satisfied it was right, she pulled him onto his side and snuggled down facing him, so her belly was framed between them.

  Pulling the covers up, she tucked them into their own little bubble.

  “Purr.”

  It was too dark beneath their coverings to see his expression, but his deep purr thrummed into their space moments later. She pressed her stomach to his, the vibrations rippling into her and easing the pain of the contractions.

  Annalise closed her eyes, relaxing into the comfort he provided. His scent and purr allowed her to rest until a gush of fluid from between her legs snapped her back to awareness.

  The next contraction stole her breath, a whine escaping as her body tried to expel her first child. Liam moved to place both hands on her belly, rubbing and increasing his purr.

  The door opening had both of them snarling, Liam sitting up to see who was invading their space. The doctor stood against the wall, hands raised to show she was no threat, but Annalise growled again when she moved toward the nest.

  “It’s me, Annalise. You know me. I need to check you again. We need to be sure the babies are safe.”

  She swallowed her growl, but her body was still tense. It was hard to fight the instinct to drive off the other female, and she didn’t want her nest sullied by the scent of another.

  “Not here.”

  She forced the words between clenched teeth as another contraction ripped through her middle. When it passed she tried to stand but her legs were shaking, and she fell against Liam’s chest.

  He scooped her up, lifting her from the blankets. There was no bed for him to lay her in, so he sat on the chair near the doctor, arranging her in his lap so her legs were spread over his.

  Annalise snarled again when the doctor moved toward them, but Liam pinned her to his chest, purr fighting her instincts to warn the female away.

  The fingers invading her were uncomfortable, but the doctor was quick. After pressing on her belly a few times, she backed to the door again as she spoke.

  “The twins are in a good position and A is crowning. They still look good on the monitor, but I need to stay to be sure B doesn’t turn.”

  Annalise grumbled but was cut off by another breath-stealing contraction. Clinging to Liam’s arms, she whined as more fluid splattered the floor.

  “Nest. Now!” she gasped.

  It didn’t matter if the doctor remained, her babies were coming, and she needed to be in the nest she created for them.

  Liam turned her and stood, tucking her back into the pocket they’d left. It no longer mattered that the blankets were crumpled and not covering her, she couldn’t move to fix them.

  “Hold her against your chest like you did in the chair. I’ll stay here unles
s there’s need for me,” the doctor instructed Liam.

  Annalise didn’t care what was said or how Liam moved her as long as he was there. Her entire body was screaming for her to push, and she had no choice but to comply.

  56. Liam

  He stared in wonder at the two little bodies cradled in Annalise’s arms. Each was attached to a breast, safe and content in their mother’s arms.

  The birth had been thankfully quick and uncomplicated.

  Once the first baby was delivered the doctor moved forward, Annalise too preoccupied with her son to care about the invasion. Liam’s eyes were glued to the tiny thing wailing his anger to the world, and his chest swelled to the point of bursting at the healthy cries.

  His daughter followed shortly, Annalise snarling at the doctor who backed away until the little girl joined her brother in their mother’s arms. After doing what was necessary for Annalise, the doctor slipped from the room, leaving them to greet their new babies.

  “Aiden and Aniston.”

  He’d been holding the names in, waiting for the right time.

  Annalise’s eyes lifted to his, the deep blues shining with tears of joy. She was so beautiful it hurt. Her slow smile stopped his heart as he waited for her response.

  “Finally.”

  She looked down at the babies again, kissing each tiny head.

  “Aiden and Aniston. I’ve waited so long for you.”

  Alphas didn’t cry, so the moisture on his cheeks had to be sweat. He wiped it away, doubling his purr. The doctor had informed him that their families were waiting outside, but they’d taken this time for themselves. This was their moment.

  Epilogue - Liam

  Liam kissed Aniston on the head before turning to his father who held Aiden. Giving his son the same treatment, he took a step back. Annalise sniffled, wiping her eyes.

  “They’ll be fine. Sandra and Penny are bringing their littles over to play tomorrow, and Jenni will be coming by as well,” his mother assured her.