Eden scowled at me. She still didn’t like to hear that Dane hit the hardest. That was love for you—no logic what so ever.
“Hey, even Seth doesn’t hit as hard as Dane and he’s a couple of weight classes above Xan. I’ve sparred with them all and I can tell you, Dane hits harder than is even imaginable.”
Arianne grinned from beside me but didn’t say anything. Ari wasn’t the fight fan that we were. She was very happy to be sitting this one out and watching from the sidelines without her man in the ring doing the job. Dane’s one and only pro fight was enough for both of them.
“I’m sure you’re confused. I’ve heard pregnancy will do that to you,” Eden jibed at me. There was no way she’d argue with anyone else like she argued with me. But that was sisters for you.
“Does it matter? Xander’s an awesome fighter and about to be World Champion. As women, we all like to think our guy’s the best. Goes with the territory. We’d be letting them down if we didn’t support them”
Eden’s mouth was open and about to argue again.
“Would you two girls quit it. Bell’s about to go and I hope to Christ the boy can hit harder than he’s ever hit before,” Len said with a glare and we both giggled at the absurdity of our conversation. That was what nerves did to you.
Just as Len predicted, the bell rang and it was on again. This time, the initial exchange in the middle swiftly led to them both rolling around on the canvas before they broke apart, neither fighter getting the edge in the ground control. Then, The Avenger came advancing with a heavy punch combination and caught Xander on the hop a little. He was off balance and twisting. He looked as if he was about to go to the ground. Somehow, he managed to use the rotational momentum and got the sweetest roundhouse kick away. It caught the Irishman completely by surprise on the side of the head.
A split second later, the Irishman hit the canvas—knock out.
Elation crossed Xander’s face then worry until he saw the prone body move a second later.
The crowd roared their approval and the referee was over raising his hand in the air.
Eden was hugging me and I was hugging her. Actually, everyone was hugging everyone. He’d done it. Xander was the new World Champion.
Two Days Later—Seth
Sophia was always beautiful to me but never had she looked as radiant as she did walking down the aisle of the same Vegas chapel Eden and Xander had got married in less than a year ago. I’d been there for that, Sophia hadn’t. This time, the bride walked down the aisle on the arm of her father, who looked a tad uncomfortable in his suit. I’d gotten to know Noel a little more over the last few weeks and Noel definitely wasn’t a suit and tie kind of guy.
Xander was standing by my side with Dane and a statue-like figure in Isaac. Just moments ago, I’d watched Dane lean over and whisper something in his ear. I guessed it was something to do with handing me the rings in a few minutes. Isaac would do a great job. He took responsibility very seriously. He was becoming much more confident with Dane and us guys in his life.
Then, I realized something else…it was so fitting for Isaac to be passing us the rings. I’d come full circle and he was a big part of the reason Sophia and I were here today. If I hadn’t been so overwhelmed with everything at his party…well, then maybe I wouldn’t have pushed at Soph then and there to leave with me. Something told me we would have got together, regardless. What was between us couldn’t be denied.
Eden and Tori had already made their way down the aisle and were standing beside me. Only the two front rows of the chapel were filled with Carol, Len and Arianne on one side. Mark, Reed, Carmen and Jarryd the other. It was small and intimate, just as we had wanted.
These were the most important people in our lives now. One night, we’d discussed it and agreed what our wedding meant to us. For us, it was about confirming and celebrating the creation of a new family within the greater family we’d created of blood and friends—the people closest to us.
When I’d said to Sophia she had a wedding to plan and to get on with it a few weeks ago—this is what she’d decided on. My ever practical girl decided that since we were all going to be here, why not throw the wedding in too. Once I’d made up my mind, I was sure. I said I would marry her then and there. That was true. Everything else didn’t matter. As long as I had Sophia and she was happy—I was happy with whatever she wanted.
This was what she wanted. I was all good with that.
Sophia had chosen a long dress that emphasized her beautiful toned shoulders and more rounded breasts due to pregnancy. It floated and swirled around her long, lean frame as she took one confident step after another closer to me. The light, off-white colour seemed to make her skin glow in contrast to the fabric of the dress.
Apparently, the colour was champagne. That’s all I’d been told and, truthfully, all I wanted to know. I couldn’t have cared less what she wore. The fact that she went to all this trouble to look amazing for me, well, that just made it all the more special.
The straps of the dress crossed over her breasts and seemed to wrap around her neck. It looked intricate and feminine. It also had me intrigued as to how I was going to get that off her later. There was always scissors as a last resort, I decided. Although, I doubted it would come to that.
I’d take her dressed or naked. It didn’t matter. She mattered. My best friend, my lover, the soon to be mother of my child—my woman. Mine, only mine.
I never ever expected to feel this way. I’d never felt possessive towards a woman before. Sophia was different. I knew emphatically, I’d kill to protect her and our child. That told me a lot.
She took the final step and, at last, was before me. Noel placed her hands in my outstretched ones and my fingers closed around hers. There were no sweaty palms or trembling nerves, just the immediate little jolt I got every time I touched her.
The little jolt that had started out as pure unadulterated heat but now was so deep in layers I wondered if I’d ever find the bottom of what she could make me feel.
The demons that used to gnaw at my gut torturing me with feelings and emotions I didn’t want, had been silenced by our love. Love that I knew had banished them forever.
Like our hands, our eyes met and held. A soft smile graced her lips. I was not just looking into the face of the woman I loved more than anything. I was a man looking into his future and knowing I’d made the right choice. There were no doubts, no niggling concerns.
It was perfect.
Sophia was perfect.
We were perfect together.
The ceremony flew by…our hands joined and our eyes linked. Everyone and everything else dimmed into the background today.
It was our day.
“I now pronounce you man and wife.”
Before, that had been a sentence I’d never expected to hear, and now, one that felt more right than I could ever have expected.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Oh yeah…it just got better, if that was even possible.
An amused twinkle flashed in her eyes and she tilted her lips up to me in invitation.
One I’d never been able to refuse.
My lips met hers and I ran my hands up her arms and over her bare shoulders. One hand fisted in her long, thick hair, the other wrapped around her shoulders and held her in place against me. Her hands had wrapped around my waist and she was clinging to me tightly.
Our kiss started out hot and got hotter—much hotter.
What was meant to be a gentle press of lips, a traditional sealing of a union, fast became more. Our mouths, sought, connected, and celebrated. It was hardly surprising, really. We were far from chaste in our need and desires for each other.
Cheers went up and, reluctantly, we parted.
“Congratulations,” became a chorus.
“If Sophia wasn’t already pregnant, then that kiss would just about have done it,” Mark joked and everyone laughed. It wasn’t the first time something like that had been said.
&n
bsp; Sophia was grinning with happiness and laughter. “I think it was one just like it that did the job. Only difference was alcohol!”
We both gave each other a knowing grin. Yeah, it was a wild night. I had another night planned for my bride, sans alcohol this time. Maybe it would be wild, maybe it would be, tender? Most likely it would be both.
One thing I was sure of though, this time lots of “I love you’s” were going to feature in the proceedings and definitely no chaotic scrambles from her arms. After all, from here on out, her arms were the only place I wanted to be—home.
It was time to start right now. I leaned over and whispered into her ear, “I love you, Sophia Louise Harris.”
A shiver ran through her body at my breath on her ear and neck. She turned in my arms and whispered right back, “I love you too Seth Justin Harris.” Then, the little witch nipped me on the ear lobe and breathed, “How long before we can start the honeymoon?”
I didn’t even need to think about it. “It’s our day. Right now, if you want.”
She didn’t hesitate, just wriggled closer.
“Perfect. I noticed a little room off the side of the ladies room. You game?”
A chuckle slipped from my throat and my dick flinched in my trousers. Was I game? What a question.
“Lead on, babe.”
I didn’t have to encourage her twice. She took my hand and tugged me from the chapel.
To our gathered family and friends, she called, “talk amongst yourselves. Pregnancy emergency.”
I noticed a few shocked and concerned faces as we rushed past.
“Not to worry everyone, just the sort of emergency only I’m equipped to deal with.”
Laughter and groans chased us out into the foyer.
Four Months Later—Sophia
“That’s it, Sophia. You can push on the next contraction.” Dr Collins looked up at me from between my legs.
This was it. The last fight to bring our son into the world.
Would he be fine?
Perfect like babies are supposed to be—full of promise and possibility?
My body was covered in more sweat than any workout and pain was an ocean surrounding me.
“Why didn’t I call for an epidural earlier?” I gritted out between clenched teeth.
“Because…”
“Shut up, Seth,” both myself and Nancy chimed in. Logic had disappeared right about the time the pain became one big, endless leaden blanket. Now, I’d do anything for a few seconds of reprieve.
Our little man had grown rapidly in the last few weeks and now my belly was large and distended with his form. In fact, he’d got to the stage where the doctor had decided a planned c-section would be the best option due to his size. Only problem was, the planned arrival was next week.
My little guy was having other ideas. He’d decided next week was too long to wait and decided to make an appearance on his own. Why was I not surprised? I just knew he was going to be as headstrong and determined as his father.
The savage and intense pain started to rip through my back and radiated around my front again. There was no retreat and no surrender from it’s grips.
“Push, Sophia,” Dr. Collins instructed.
I did my best to fill what little room in my abdomen was left with a big breath, locked my jaw, and pushed downwards with everything I had.
“Keep pushing, right through, hold it.”
I was no stranger to pain or hard work. “Just another rep, Soph,” I told myself.
I pushed and held to the point of exhaustion, my body trembling from the exertion.
“Rest.”
The pain rolled back and I sucked in shallow, panting breaths.
“You’re doing great, sweetheart,” Seth soothed in my ear and wiped a cold wet cloth over my face and neck. It felt wonderful.
Everyone hovered—waiting for the inevitable.
And here it came again…
“Again, Sophia, push. Keep pushing.”
I tried to do as the doctor asked but had no idea if I was or not. The world became black and hazy and my abdomen was filled with more pressure than I could ever imagine possible.
I was being ripped apart by this monster child.
Time and time again, I pushed. It was like an endless set of mores, exhaustion dogged me, and only shear will and pride alone were holding me in the fight.
“Good job, Sophia. His head is crowning, but we need to move this along,” Dr. Collins said. Something in his voice told me it was becoming more dire.
Seth dropped a kiss on my head. “You can do this.”
“I’m so tired.” Never once had I ever complained in training. Never had I been so exhausted before.
I just wanted it to be over.
“I need you to give me a couple more strong pushes, Sophia, this baby needs to be born.” His voice was definite, no room for quibbling. Something was wrong.
Nancy was beside the doctor and a frown crossed her face, before she nodded about whatever they were whispering.
Did I hear right? Was the cord around his neck?
Fear engulfed me as well as exhaustion and pain.
What was wrong?
I didn’t know if I had another two rounds of that in me, nor did I know if my son did either. This needed to be over, it was time to go for the knock out—now.
“Focus, Sophia.” I willed myself as I pulled together what fragments of energy and strength I had left in my listless body.
This was it. I could do this. I had to do this.
It started again…the intense radiating pain.
I held tight, letting it build and build until I couldn’t resist pushing anymore.
Now!
I summoned every last ounce of strength and fight I had and pushed against the pain. It was the enemy of myself and my child, it had to be defeated.
The pressure was too intense to describe as it resisted my barrage.
“Ahhhhhhh,” the most primitive battle cry of the birthing suite ripped from my lungs.
Then, I felt it start to crumble and I knew this was it. I was going to close it out this round. The pressure started to ease and movement flowed through me, pain was toppling, falling.
“Well done, Sophia. That’s it. Rest. Get down here, Seth, and cut the cord.”
The doctor placed my son on my belly, slipping the cord from around his perfect neck as he raised him up. My son was beautiful, the type of beautiful that you never understood before you experienced it. Even traces of blood and white vernix couldn’t detract from the beauty of our son.
I reached down and cupped my hand over the back of his head momentarily before Seth and the doctor cut the cord that had tethered us together during his creation—the tether that had somehow held strong and produced the miracle he was.
Perfect. He looked it, surely he had to be?
Before I had time to think on it further, he was passed from one doctor to another.
Moments later, a lusty cry split the delivery room and a dozen or more medical staff breathed a sigh of relief.
A wave of relief washed over me and I collapsed back on the bed, exhausted.
Seth was back at my head and pulled me into his arms.
“So proud of you, babe. You did it. You brought our son into the world. I love you, Soph.”
Words wouldn’t form for me. I was overwhelmed with exhaustion and emotion.
He pressed his lips to me.
“It’s time to say hello to your mum and dad, little man,” Nancy chortled as she passed me our son, looking a little more together and wrapped in a stripy baby blanket.
I cradled him in my arms and kissed his forehead.
My baby, our baby.
He was really here.
I moved back slightly to let Seth take a look at our son. His arm came around me and he perched on the edge of the bed.
“Welcome to the world, little man.”
Seth kissed his forehead, just as I did before him.
“We
did good, Soph,” Seth said proudly. I couldn’t have agreed more.
The three of us stayed like that for a few moments. Me cradling our son in our arms, Seth with his arms around me. All of us together, a new family.
“I’m really sorry to break this up, kids, but the doctors want to get started with the tests they discussed before his birth.”
We’d expected this. And I can’t say I was happy about it but I knew.
It was a formality. My baby was fine.
Nancy moved over closer and I dropped a kiss to his forehead once more before moving to pass him over to her.
She shook her head no.
“Seth, you take your son. You go with the doctors. I’m going to get this pretty mum all tidied up for her men..”
I smiled up at Nancy gratefully before placing our baby in Seth arms—a father who I knew would protect our child with his life.
Seth dropped a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll look after him, babe.” And I knew he would. Knowing that was the only thing that kept me sane as I watched them walk out the door, feeling a huge sense of loss at their departure.
“They’ll be back soon. It’s normal to feel like you are.” It was as if Nancy could read my mind. “The little man is a fighter, just like his mum and dad.”
“You’re right, Nancy, he is. They were both worth fighting for.”
“The love of your life always is.”
A couple of hours later—Seth
“Well, I think there’s nothing more to do than get this little lad back to his mother for a feed. Now we know everything is good, best thing to do is get him nursing,” the pediatrician announced. I held my son closer to my chest and he snuggled in tighter just like his mother always did.
Challenge: A Contemporary MMA Romance: Oni Fighters Book 3 Page 40
