His Promise

by Eddie Cleveland

  “I’ve literally been begging him to have sex about five times a day. I think he’s happy I came over here this morning so he could get a break.” Her eyes twinkle mischievously.

  “Really? How do you have the energy? Half the time I’m just counting down the hours until I can go back to bed.”

  “Yeah, it’s supposed to make the baby come if you have sex. He’s getting more nookie now than an NFL quarterback who just won the Super Bowl.”

  “Whoa, sounds like I walked in at the right time.” Colt laughs, walking back into the living room. “Football and sex? Is this what you ladies gossip about?” he ribs us.

  I can’t help but laugh at the horrified look on Julia’s face. She’s not one to tell anyone about her personal life except for me. Luckily our buzzer rings, saving Julia from her embarrassment. Colt answers and tells Parker to come up.

  “Don’t worry. With all the action you’ve been getting, it sounds like you’ll be giving birth before you know it,” I reassure her quietly.

  Julia smiles unconvincingly and rubs her hand over her huge belly.

  “I hope so. If not, Parker better be rested up ’cause it’s gonna be a long night.”

  “Well, desperate times call for desperate measures, right?” I tease her. I look down at my own belly and think about my own upcoming due date. Hmmm, I wonder…

  46

  Isabella

  Colt spreads the cocoa butter evenly over my baby bump, leaving a glistening sheen of warmth coating my belly. He’s careful not to stain my bra with the oil as he lovingly runs his fingers over my skin. I’m so lucky.

  “I feel for Julia. I can’t imagine being overdue. I’m tired of being pregnant now! I bet you’ll be happy when I get my old figure back. I know I will.” I wiggle my toes and stretch my neck to try to see them over my big hump. “Give it to me straight, do I still have toes?”

  Colt laughs and looks down at my feet. “Well, I’ve been wondering how to tell you this for a while now, but some of them have fallen off in the last couple weeks.”

  “I knew it! Are you still gonna love me when they’re all gone?” I look up at his hazel eyes, and my smile fades as I get drawn in by their magnetic pull.

  “Isabella, I would love you no matter what. It doesn’t matter how your figure looks, or how old you get, or even how many toes you have.” His voice is soft and reassuring. “As long as I have you and our children, I’ll be a happy man.”

  “Thank you.” I cast my eyes away, overwhelmed with the love I have for him. “You make me happy too, even when I’m as big as a house and about as sexy as a jar of whale blubber.”

  “Whale blubber, eh? That’s not how it looks from where I’m sitting. I see the glowing rosy skin and the glossy hair of the woman carrying my baby. With her perfect lips.” He leans over me and kisses me as soft as a whisper in a summer breeze. “And those perfect eyes.” Colt’s thumb grazes over my eyebrow and I look back up at him from under my eyelashes. “You look like a slice of heaven, not whale blubber.”

  I squirm as his eyes drift down over every inch of my body with the glint of longing blazing in them.

  “God, you’re sexy. Just looking at you makes me hard.”

  I look down between his legs. He isn’t lying. The unmistakable bulge pressing against his pajama pants confirms his story. Colt leans in and kisses the soft skin of my neck, but then stops abruptly.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You know, I overheard you and Julia talking about how sex can bring on labor. Maybe I should keep my hands to myself? I don’t want to make the baby show up early.”

  “Oh, that. Colt, that’s just an old wives’ tale!” I wave my hand. “Julia is just desperate. She’ll try anything at this point.”

  He doesn’t need much convincing. He accepts my answer readily and goes back to slowly tasting my lips as our tongues tease each other in a sweet dance. Colt drags his lips down over my chin and down to the hollow of my neck, the heat of his breath lingering on my skin. He kisses down over my breasts, but leaves my bra in place and continues trailing his lips down. I watch as he kisses a trail of quick kisses over my shiny belly, climbing up one side and disappearing down the other as his head ducks down to the fabric of my panties.

  I moan and roll my hips forward as his fingers slip beneath the sheer fabric, and he slides them down my legs, letting them fall from his fingertips to the floor without taking his eyes off my wet pussy. His hazel eyes burn with desire as I watch him dip down out of sight again. Colt slowly pushes his tongue in past my lips, opening me like a flower, and savors my nectar.

  I throw my head back into the pillow and relish in the delight as he kisses me softly, his tongue flattening against my sensitive nub. Pure electric heat rushes over my skin as he laps at me again and again until I’m covering my mouth with both of my hands to keep myself from screaming with ecstasy. I laugh when his head reappears over my belly. It’s so absurd that he can hide behind my bump.

  I shimmy up on my pillow, using my elbows to prop myself up and watch as he pulls the waistband of his pajama pants over his hard member. A smile spreads over my lips as it sways a little when he throws them to the floor. Settling between my legs, he kneels in front of me and guides his thick member to my entrance. He slides just the tip inside my mound and slips it up and down the length of my pussy, coating his cock with my juices. Colt’s eyes lock with mine and beyond the desire I can see something else shining through—love. We keep our gaze steady as he slowly slides his shaft into me, making me full inside.

  Since I’ve met Colt, we’ve had some of the hottest sex I’ve ever experienced. The way he dominates in the bedroom is like no man I’ve ever met, but tonight as he makes love to me, I see a different side to him. The tenderness in his touch is strangely erotic in a way I’ve never experienced before. Just being able to feel how much he loves me through his skin, in his kisses, and in his touch brings me close to the edge.

  As we climax, I feel like we are the only two people in the world. When he pulls out, he drops down on the pillow beside me and cups my cheek, guiding my face to his. His kiss is like honey, sweet and simple. I nuzzle into his chest as he wraps his arms around me, so the only sound I can hear in the world is his beating heart.

  “I love you, Isabella. That won’t change until the day I die.”

  “I love you too, Colt,” I murmur against his chest, breathing in his masculine scent. With the heat of his body pressed against me and his heartbeat playing a lullaby, it isn’t long until my eyelids grow heavy and I drift off into a deep, relaxing sleep.

  47

  Colt

  “Colt?”

  I squint my eyes under the harsh bedroom light. Christ, what time is it? I glance over at the clock on the nightstand. It laughs in my face with its 3:00 a.m. readout. What the hell?

  “Colt! I need you to get up, please.” Isabella is standing at the foot of our bed with panic painted on her face. Instantly my mind reacts like I’ve been mainlined a dose of caffeine.

  “What’s wrong? What’s going on?” In two seconds, my mind has already started throwing out worse-case scenarios about Isabella, the baby, and Madison.

  “I think I’m in labor. Like my water just broke and…” As if to prove her point, she crumples forward, squeezing her eyes shut tight as she leans on the bed for support. I join her, putting my arms around her, and a shudder of tension runs down through every muscle in her body. “We… need… hospital,” she spits out her words like each one is its own sentence.

  “Okay, just hang tight. I’m going to get everything ready.” I push down the part of my mind screaming at me to panic and listen to the rational part that instructs me to go grab the overnight bag we’ve already packed. Throwing the bag over my shoulder, I check in with Isabella before leaving the room to call a cab. Dropping the bag by the door, I go find the little backpack we have prepared for Madison and toss it down beside the overnight bag.

  “Isabella, did you maybe want to put on some clo
thes? Or a robe or something? I’ll give you a hand.” I look around the room for the least difficult thing to dress her in.

  “I can get myself dressed, don’t worry. Just get everything else done.” She smiles weakly but manages to walk over to the closet without any struggle. I throw on some jeans and a T-shirt before popping into Madison’s room.

  “Madison? Baby?” I softly call out. However, speaking softly isn’t going to cut it when the kid sleeps like a damned rock.

  I pick her up from her little bed, making her eyes flutter open in surprise.

  “Colt?”

  “We need to get ready to go to the hospital, okay? The baby is on the way. You’re gonna be a big sister soon.”

  A huge smile bursts out across her face and as soon as her feet hit the floor she races over to her dresser. Pulling out the large bottom drawer, she tugs on a shirt until it comes free and holds it up proudly. “I want this one, please!” She waves the ‘Awesome Big Sister’ shirt like a national flag.

  “Sure, no problem.” I can’t help but smile despite my nervousness. “Let’s get it on quick, though. We have to get moving.”

  Within fifteen minutes, I’ve somehow managed to get my two-year-old, her annoying car seat, and my fiancée, whose body is being wracked by contractions into the car. If that isn’t some kind of miracle, I don’t know what is.

  “How are you holding up?” I rub Isabella’s shoulder, but she smacks my hand away as the pain of another contraction assaults her.

  “Colt, what wrong with Isabella?” Madison’s eyes are wide with wonder.

  “Don’t worry, Madison. This is just how babies are born. Everything is gonna be just fine.” I smile at her and then look back at Isabella, hoping my words aren’t lies.

  The driver barely hits the brakes in front of the hospital when I fling the car door open. I quickly spot some wheelchairs just inside the doors of the building and wheel one to the car. I race around to the other door and yank it open, holding Isabella’s hand to steady her as she makes her way out of the vehicle. Once she’s seated, I unstrap Madison and manage to carry her in one arm while I push the chair with the other.

  The hospital is eerily quiet at this time of night. The only soul up right now seems to be the janitor. He appears to be in his own world as he buffs the floor back and forth. Once we’re in the elevator I put Madison down and offer a hand to each of my girls. As soon as the doors open with a mechanical beep, a sense of relief takes over me. We made it. No emergency, backseat births for this family.

  Thank you, Lord.

  Isabella grits her teeth and scrunches her face as she clings onto the arms of the chair while another contraction attacks her. Picking up Madison, I step up my pace and get us to the maternity desk to check us in.

  Even though I’m relieved that everything is working out so far, I also have a sense of dread for what’s about to come. I know shit is about to get real, and I need to do whatever I can to help Isabella through it.

  48

  Isabella

  I must have been outta my damned mind if I thought I was gonna have a drug-free birth.

  The triage nurse looks me over, pursing her lips in annoyance. “You’re only dilated four inches, dear. You have quite a ways to go yet.”

  You've gotta be kidding me. I walk back out of the exam room in an attempt to keep some sort of dignity and look around the waiting room for Colt and Madison. Instead, I have to give my head a shake when I see Parker pacing back and forth like he’s trying to put a hole in the floor. “Parker? Where’s Colt? What are you doing here?”

  He looks up at me like I startled him. “Colt? I, uh, I’m not sure. Julia’s in labor. Well, she was in labor.”

  I smile at him, delighted by the news. “That’s wonderful! We’re gonna have our babies at the same time.” Something about the serious look on his face makes my smile slide off my face and a cold fear grip at my heart. “Wait, why aren’t you with her right now?”

  “They just took her in for an emergency C-section. The baby’s breech.” He looks down at his hands like he’s disappointed they can’t do anything to change it. Colt practically jogs into the room with Madison resting on his hip.

  “Okay, sorry. I had to step out to use my cell. They don’t let you use them in here.” He points to the warning on the wall. “Your parents are on their way, and your room is ready, so let’s get you settled in.”

  I nod, knowing it won’t be long before another contraction hits me. Colt’s right. I need to move now. However, I can’t stop worrying about Julia. “Julia’s getting a cesarean,” I inform Colt, even though he doesn’t seem the least bit curious about why Parker is here.

  “Really? Is everything okay?” He glances over at Parker.

  “I think so. The baby is breech. They just rolled her into the OR. Anyway, get going, Isabella. You don’t want to deal with labor in here.” He flips his hand at the waiting room. “Once all this drama has passed we’ll let you know what’s what.”

  “Okay.” My feet follow Colt to another wheelchair, but my heart and my mind are on Julia. She’s had such a perfect pregnancy this whole time. I never dreamed her birth story would go any different.

  A flash of white-hot burning twists through my belly, reminding me of why I’m here. I slump forward, unprepared for the intensity of the contraction, and struggle to breathe normally. The walls of the hospital evaporate as my entire world becomes pain. Just horrible, shuddering pain.

  When the feeling finally dissolves, I suck the oxygen deep into my lungs and realize there are tears streaming down my cheeks. As soon as I wipe them away, sweat from my forehead trickles down and replaces them. God, I’m a mess. I’ve never been one of those women who thought they’d give birth in the bathtub or anything, but I did think I could get through it without an epidural.

  Nope. No damned way.

  49

  Colt

  “Mom, you’ve gotta start giving it your all here!” the doctor scolds Isabella as she lies in a puddle of sweat and tears.

  I know she’s getting distracted because of Julia. I feel for them, but I really wish Isabella hadn’t run into Parker in the waiting room. Ever since, her mind just hasn’t been focused. Luckily, now that Isabella’s parents showed up, they’ve taken Madison to go get some food so I can give all of my attention to my fiancée.

  I squeeze Isabella’s hand and look down at her anguished face. Her eyes are closed, and she’s rolling her head back and forth on the pillow as she cries. She looks absolutely defeated. “Isabella, look at me.”

  She ignores me, keeping her eyes shut tight.

  “Isabella! Look at me right now!” My voice is stern, making her eyes fly open wide.

  One of the nurses gives me the side-eye, but I don’t care. Being the quiet, supportive type hasn’t been helping as far as I can see.

  “What?” She whines like Madison does when she misses a nap.

  “Isabella, you need to focus. You can’t be thinking about anything except right here and right now. Okay?” I try to make her see some reason before we end up with our own emergency C-section situation.

  “I just can’t. I can’t do it. I can’t!” She sobs, her chin quivering as she cries.

  “You can and you will. Listen to me. I know you. I know who you are inside, and you’re not a quitter. You’re a damned fighter. You’ve fought for everything your entire life. Now isn’t the time to walk away.” I lean down and kiss her cheek. “Please, just fight.”

  “Okay, Mom, get ready to push.” Doctor O’Brien looks at the machine monitoring Isabella’s contractions. Sure enough, there’s a huge mountain on the printout just as Isabella starts to grunt in pain.

  “Fight, Isabella, give it everything!” I hold her hand as she crunches forward and twists her face.

  “Push, push, push,” the doctor barks at her, but I’m not sure she can hear either of us. “Okay! That was a good one, Mom. You’re almost there. Take some deep breaths and get ready to meet your baby. This nex
t push we’re gonna get the head out.” Dr. O’Brien gives her the game plan, and Isabella nods solemnly.

  I’m only moments away from meeting my child.

  I can hardly believe it. I mean, obviously during the pregnancy you always know you’re getting a baby at the end, but it never quite feels real. “Isabella, you’ve got this. I’m so proud of you. You’re the strongest woman I know. I love you.”

  Her eyes are reflecting pure agony along with her fears, and a tiny glimmer of something else shining through.

  Hope.

  “This time, I’m going to count you down. Okay, Mom? Don’t stop pushing until you hear me hit one. Get ready… Push!”

  Isabella growls a deep, guttural sound I’ve never heard come out of any human being before. Her teeth are on edge as she snarls, pushing with all her might.

  “Four…” Dr. O'Brien counts down. Isabella’s face contorts as she lifts her shoulders off the bed like she’s doing a sit-up. “Three, two…”

  “Wahhhhh!” The cries fill the room, and I forget to breathe.

  Our baby! There’s a flurry of hands between the stirrups as the nurses grab the baby from the doctor and take it over to the machines by the side of the room.

  “You did it, Mom. Congratulations! Isabella, Colt, meet your daughter.” He takes my girl from the nurse and gently lays her on Isabella’s chest.

  Isabella sobs almost as loudly as our newborn as I watch with pure amazement.

  Our daughter.

  I can’t believe she’s here. “I love you so much, Isabella.” Tears roll down my cheeks as I wrap my arms around my baby and the mother of my child, all three of us crying together. “I told you you’re a fighter. You’re amazing, Mom!”

  I look down at our little girl, screaming her lungs out angrily. She’s already got her mother’s temper. I smile. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.