Jennifer Cole - A Delicious Taboo Two.

by Jennifer Cole

  Dallas Weston stood proud, leaning comfortably against one dresser.

  “Dallas,” Melanie croaked. “It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s perfect. I don’t know what else to say.”

  The older burly man closed the distance between them and pulled her in a warm, comforting embrace. “Doll, the expression on your face was thanks enough.”

  “I was so upset you left the party and I didn’t have a chance to say good-bye,” Mel chastised him in play. “Adam and Derrick disappeared, too.”

  “Well, somebody had to help this old guy move all this in here.” Adam chuckled from behind.

  Turning, Mel noticed Adam and Derrick standing beside the door. “Oh, God, I didn’t even see you there,” Mel giggled wiping away her tears. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s all right, hon,” Derrick said, placing a light peck on Mel’s forehead. “Okay, furniture is in. You got your truck cleaned out?” He asked her four lovers.

  Van nodded.

  “Good, well I’m going home,” he announced. “This baby shower stuff really takes a lot out of a guy.”

  “Give me a ride,” Adam said and the two left the room. “Catch you guys tomorrow.”

  Chapter Ten

  Philip crossed his arms over the broad expanse of his chest and rested his head against the door jam.

  Calen’s fingers gripped in his own hair, as if keeping his head from shooting off the top of his shoulders.

  Jake’s expression was tense, hesitant.

  The four stood in the doorway leading from the kitchen watching Melanie have a meltdown in the middle of the living room floor. Tonight marked the fourth Wednesday in a row they’d come home from football to find their woman in tears.

  As much joy and excitement as they gained during the times spent watching her, whether in tears or in happiness, the teary occasions were wearing heavily on them.

  Van shoved his hands in the pouch of his filthy hoodie. “Just a little under a month, guys,” he whispered. “A little under a month.”

  “Thank God,” Calen uttered. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

  As Mel’s due date drew closer, the men each took turns staying home more often as the thought of her being alone set their nerves on edge. However, Melanie demanded Wednesday nights be hers. Considering it was only one night, how could they deny her simple request? For over two years now, football night had remained theirs to do their “barbarian male bonding” as she’d dubbed it, allowing Melanie some time to herself.

  The men realized once the initial shock of their impending parenthood had settled, Melanie began to cherish the alone time with their babies in utero. A couple of months earlier during one such protest on Van’s part to stay home with her, Mel filled them in on her little secret. Informing the quartet that she spent the time getting to know the babies’ likes and dislikes by reading to them, and singing to them so they learned her voice. She told them she savored every movement as they shifted positions, battling one another for a little more space inside her crowded womb.

  Deciding it would in their best interest to honor her request, the men reluctantly conceded to leave her alone on Wednesday nights.

  “Just a few more weeks,” they each echoed.

  Pushing himself from the door frame, Philip sauntered into the room. The other three followed his lead.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” he said softly, “we’re home.”

  Mel sniffed and glanced up. Her tear-streaked face tore at their guts. Their limits were being tested to the max.

  “What’s wrong tonight, honey?” Van crouched at her feet.

  Jake knelt beside him and Calen peered over Van’s right shoulder.

  Philip crouched behind her, offering his body as support.

  “Same old shit, boys.” Using the sleeve of the pastel yellow top she wore, Mel wiped her nose. “Just a different day.”

  Philip pulled her matted curls from her face and rewrapped the scrunchie at the back of her head.

  “Look at me!” she hollered.

  The four did and remained silent. Their keeping quiet would be best for all of them.

  “I’m so fat. I can’t get my shoes on ’cause my feet are so swollen. The babies won’t settle tonight; they’ve been flopping around in here since you guys left.” She choked out around her sobs while rubbing her belly. “I don’t think they like me… I’ve tried singing to them…and reading to them… I even sat in the hot tub for a while.” Again she used her sleeve to wipe her nose and eyes. “And now I’m leaking,” she cried out.

  “What?” With raised brows, they questioned in unison.

  “I’m leaking! I can’t stop crying…my nose keeps running…my boobs are oozing stuff…” Lifting her shirt, she spread her legs and sobbed. “And now look.”

  All four glanced between her splayed thighs and took in her wet crotch.

  “When did that happen, baby?” Calen asked.

  “When I heard the truck pull into the driveway.”

  Jake reached over and cupped the wet apex of her thighs. “It’s not urine.” He looked at the others after smelling his fingers.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? Well, of course I didn’t piss myself! Gawd! Thanks a lot, you asses!”

  Philip leaned forward, close to her ear and whispered. “I think your water broke, honey.”

  In an instant, the tears dried up. Mel glanced over her shoulder at a grinning Philip, and then at Calen, Van, and Jake, who were smiling at her as well.

  “But, I’m not ready,” she said with dead seriousness.

  Van chuckled and stroked the inside of her thigh. “Well, I guess the babies think they are.”

  Silence dropped around them as she continued to gawk in surprise at the four of them.

  Without warning, Melanie burst into tears again. “But they’re not done yet… They’ve got another month to go. They can’t be ready.”

  Laughter filled the living room.

  Van stood and walked toward the bedroom. “I’ll go get you a change of clothes, sweetheart.”

  “I’ll grab the bags from the nursery,” Jake called.

  “And I’ll go fire up the SUV and put a call into Varian,” Philip said against her cheek and kissed her softly. “Be right back.”

  Beside her, Calen pulled her shirt over her head and helped her wiggle out of her soiled pants and undies.

  “It’s going to be just fine, babe.” His gentle voice calmed her. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for, huh?”

  Recognition registered once Mel processed Calen’s words. Van approached with clean dry clothes, and together they helped get Mel to a standing position.

  Once again, her tears stopped flowing near instantaneously and a stern look crossed her face. “Well, then, will the four of you stop fucking around?” She growled. “Our babies are ready to meet us, dammit!”

  Chapter Eleven

  As the contraction subsided, Melanie opened her eyes and gazed out the window across from the bed. In the heavens, stars twinkled bright against the black of the night sky. Following the contraction, Mel expelled a deep cleansing breath.

  Glancing around the room, a peaceful calm surrounded her. The birthing room Reanne suggested was perfect. The buttercup yellow on the walls complimented the variety of pastel hues that accented the room. Pictures of green pastures adorned the walls, a plush fabric couch sat opposite her bed under the single window, and two wingback chairs were placed in either corner. Atop a stand in the furthest corner sat a tabletop fountain, which created the illusion of the sound of a waterfall in the distance. Classical music hummed softly through a couple of speakers mounted on the walls close to the ceiling.

  The room was large enough to accommodate an audience of twenty or so, should a family desire it. Silently, Mel was relieved none of her extended family had expressed a desire to sit in on the actual birth of their babies.

  Although they were in Madison General Hospital and the room was equipped with all the necessary medical para
phernalia, the atmosphere within was homey, comfortable, and incredibly relaxing. The Obstetrics department at Madison General took great pride in being the only medical facility to offer the most stress-free labor and delivery environment in the state.

  To her right, Calen and Van stood, Calen holding her hand.

  On her left sat Jake rubbing her thigh, and Philip watched her from the foot of the bed.

  “How you doing, hon?” Willow, the nurse who had been at her side since they arrived, asked as she read the printout from the fetal monitor beeping beside the bed.

  “I’m good,” Mel chirped between short panting breaths.

  “How’s the pain level?” She asked for the umpteenth time in the past twenty minutes.

  Mel chuckled to herself. Hell, surviving her violent childhood at the hands of her evil parents -- pain? -- this was a walk in the park. “Piece of cake,” she sighed, offering the young woman a contented smile.

  Calen leaned over placing a kiss on her brow. “Jesus, you are so beautiful, Melanie,” he whispered against her damp flesh. “I am so in love with you.”

  “I love you, too, Calen, with all my heart,” she whispered back.

  Approaching the side of the bed, Philip stroked a gentle hand over her belly. “Do you still want to go through this naturally, sweetheart?” He asked dipping his head, brushing his lips along hers.

  “Yes.” She assured him. “I want to experience every sensation, every twinge of pain and discomfort as I bring our babies into our lives,” her voice was soft and even.

  Over the next hour, the four friends took turns wiping the sweat from Mel’s brow. The contractions continued to progress, growing more intense, and despite the discomfort, Mel passed on the use of an epidural.

  Through the barrage of activities within the room, Mel barely made out Varian’s deep voice following the strongest contraction yet.

  “Hello, all,” Varian called out as he walked into the room. Leaning over the bed, he placed a kiss on Mel’s forehead. “How you making out?”

  “Christ, that was the toughest one yet,” Mel groaned and continued rubbing her belly. “They’re coming faster and more furious.”

  Tucking a strand of curls behind her ear, Varian said, “Reanne and Morgan send their love and support. Reanne wanted to be here for you, but Morgan was called in for an emergency and since it’s almost eleven, we thought it a little late to call over the girl next door. Now, if you had of held on until morning…” He began to tease as another contraction crept up on her.

  “It’s okay.” Mel moaned and squirmed on the bed as the contraction struck. “I’ll make her pay with babysitting.” She chuckled and exhaled a breath.

  “She’s counting on it, hon,” he told her, following another peck.

  Varian wandered around the bed to check the reading on the fetal monitor and pulled on a pair of latex gloves. “Excellent. Things are looking good.” He said as he sat on the side of the bed. “And how are our dads holding up?”

  “Anxious,” Jake admitted.

  “I wish I could do it for her, man,” Calen said.

  “I know.” Varian smiled. “It’s painful to watch the woman you love going through this. You feel helpless.”

  “That’s an understatement,” Van said.

  “I have a whole new appreciation for you, baby.” Philip leaned over and kissed Mel’s forehead.

  “Yeah, the miracle of birth is a beautiful thing, guys,” Varian told them. Pushing the blanket covering her lower half out of the way, he winked at Mel. “Try and relax; I need to check your dilation status.”

  Taking several deep breaths, Mel willed herself to relax as two of Varian’s fingers entered her.

  “Good job, honey, you’re almost ready,” he announced, pulling his fingers free. “Now, we just wait for one of them to drop into the birth canal, and in no time we’ll have ourselves a baby.”

  “Judging by the steady progression and intensity of those contractions, it shouldn’t take very long at all,” Willow commented with a grin.

  Before Mel had the opportunity to return her smile, a contraction racked her body.

  * * * * *

  Less than an hour later, it was go time and Melanie was fit to be tied.

  “I want drugs now,” Mel begged as her legs were lifted into the supports on either side of the bed, opening her body for delivery.

  Varian looked up from the end of the bed. “I’m really sorry, hon, it’s too late for that.”

  Mel moaned and whimpered, thrashing her head from side to side.

  “I need you to push for me, Mel,” Varian announced softly. “We’re ready to go.”

  “Yeah,” she growled back. “Well, I want drugs, Varian. Strong drugs…and lots of ’em.”

  “Varian,” Philip said with deep concern. “Come on, she’s in pain. Isn’t there anything you can do for her?”

  Varian shook his head. “It’s too late to administer anything. She couldn’t possibly relax long enough to sit through the epidural injection and there isn’t enough time for the anesthetic to take effect. I’m not going to lie to you guys, Mel’s in extreme discomfort, but contrary to how she feels at the moment, her body was designed to do this. And I promise you, once she delivers these babies, she’ll forget all about the pain.”

  With reluctance, the four men nodded.

  “Give me drugs!”

  “Women are so beautiful during this stage of delivery.” Varian gave a wry chuckle. “I’ll make you a deal, honey. You give me a few good pushes and I’ll give you a couple of babies.”

  “What kind of fucking deal is that, huh?” she snarled. “You expect me to do all the giving? Do all the work? Make all the sacrifices? Men…you’re all alike!” Once the snickering in the room died down, Mel crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to do this anymore,” she said shaking her head for emphasis. “I’m done. Finished.”

  “Baby,” Calen whispered against her head, his hand rubbing her belly. “You don’t have a choice.”

  “I want drugs,” Mel cried out as another contraction pierced her senses.

  “One…two…three, deep breath, hon, and give me a push,” Varian demanded.

  Melanie sucked in air and bore down.

  “One, two, three, four.” She heard Willow chant above her head.

  “Ahhhhh,” Mel expelled a cleansing breath when the count reached ten.

  “All right, hon, give me some pants and here comes another contraction,” Willow said and handed Jake a cloth to wipe Mel’s brow.

  “Hee, hee, hee…whoo, whoo, whoo.”

  “Good job, ready,” Varian said. “Deep breath and drop your chin, Melanie…”

  Again, Mel did as instructed.

  “…Seven…eight…nine…ten…” She heard the count followed with, “And a deep cleansing breath.”

  The oxygen mask was placed over her nose again and Mel took several deep breaths. Although knowing the pain would come to an end once the babies were delivered, Mel wasn’t sure she’d be able to go through with it. The pain wracking her body was like nothing she ever experienced. The fine hairs all over her body stood on end. The hair on the top of her head hurt. Her skin itched. Mel suddenly felt a hint of relief at the prospect of having twins because she wasn’t sure she was interested in going through labor and delivery a second time.

  “I just want you to know that the four of you are never touching me again -- never,” she growled and glared at her four lovers. “I am moving into my own room and locking the door, and you’ll never touch me again!!”

  “This might not be the best time to break this to you, sweetheart” -- Philip chuckled, rubbing her foot -- “but you don’t have your own room anymore.”

  “That’s right, honey,” Van said, caressing her calf on the other side of her bed. “You wanted to turn your room into the nursery for our babies.”

  “Yeah? Well, fuck the four of you, I’ve changed my mind,” Mel snapped. “I want my room back, because I’m never letting a
ny of you come near me again!”

  “But, love,” Calen pleaded. “Where’s the fun in that?”

  “I want it back, now!”

  “Deep breath and push.” From between her legs, Varian’s voice commanded. “Have a look guys, one of their heads are crowning.”

  Pushing for all she was worth, Mel didn’t even bother to restrain the cry that burst from her lips. After a cleansing breath, she began growling and mewling, and slinging obscenities at her lovers and doctor.

  “Ahh, and the colorful language that comes from their mouths is like poetry…it’s magical,” Varian quipped. “Don’t you think so?” He grinned, looking at the men standing on either side of him.

  “Hey, you think her head will spin right around?” Jake asked with amusement in his voice.

  “Yup, I think it’s quite possible.” Calen replied.

  “I heard that,” Mel snarled, glaring at each one of them.

  “All right, that was a great push, honey,” Varian praised and grinned warmly at her. “Give me another one just like that and the head should be out, and that’s the hardest part.”

  Melanie whimpered and panted and growled.

  “Here comes another contraction, sweetie,” Willow said beside her, as her lovers had taken up positions at the foot of the bed to watch their baby’s delivery. “Deep breath, Melanie, let’s get that baby out.”

  “…Seven…eight…nine…ten.” She heard everyone count.

  “Ugh!!” She sobbed.

  “Relax, Mel, the head is out,” Varian told her. “Quick pants and then a cleansing breath, honey, and these linebacker shoulders are next.”

  The nurse wiped her brow and continued to praise her. The voices of her lovers carried to her ears, however their words made no sense.

  Following a loud squish sound and immediate relief in her vagina, she heard, “We’ve got a boy.”

  A bloody gooey blob was plunked on her bare belly and instinctively Mel reached for it.

  She watched as Varian stuck a hand-held aspirator in his mouth and up his tiny nostrils to suck out the mucous. After seconds of silence, a cry burst from the beautiful gooey baby.