“You stay. I’ll get him.” He pressed one more kiss to her forehead then rolled off the mattress. He found his joggers on the floor and slid them on. “Wait, do you need to feed him? I mean…are you okay if you don’t?”
She grinned up at him. “I’ll be fine. He might need a fresh diaper, and a few snuggles to get back to sleep. But if he’s hungry, he has bottles in the fridge I left for Suzy and Duke earlier.”
“Got it. I’d like to say I have this under control, but only time will tell.”
Chuckling, she swung her legs over the side of the mattress.
“What are you doing? I said I got this. I want you to have a break.”
She rested her hands on his shoulder. “I trust you can deal with this, but since it’s your first two o’clock daddy duty call and Parker’s in a new environment it might be best if we tag team this. You grab him and change his diaper, since you’re a proven pro at that.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes.
“And I,” she continued. “Will warm the bottle so you can still be the one to feed him.”
“Are you sure? I really wanted to step up here and let you lounge in bed.”
“That’s very sweet, but we have plenty of night feedings ahead of us. You can handle every single one if you want while I sleep under those soft, warm covers.”
He molded her against him, his ears tuned to the now quiet monitor. Maybe Parker had drifted back to sleep. “Good because I like that visual a hell of a lot. You all warm and naked under my sheets. In my bed. Waiting for me.”
“You can picture whatever you want, but the reality will be me sleeping with messy hair and maybe even a little drool on my chin.” Smirking, she touched the side of her mouth as if to show him where the drool could be. “Can you handle that?”
“Honey, I can handle anything you throw my way.” He kissed the spot on her chin.
“Anything?” The word came out on a moan.
“Any damn thing.”
Another wail sounded through the speaker, and he let his head fall to the crook of her neck.
“All right. Dad mode activated.”
He waited for her to slip on one of his t-shirts before linking their fingers and leading her into the hallway. He pulled her in close for one more kiss.
“Best midnight feeding I’ve had yet,” she teased. “Remember to duck if he starts peeing mid-change.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
He patted her ass when she turned and hurried down the stairs then peeled off into the room across the hall. Parker’s cries turned louder and more insistent, creating a deep cavernous ache in his soul.
Keeping the door open, he let the light from the hall splash inside and shine into the portable crib. “Hey there, little man. What’s all the fuss about?”
Parker thrashed his balled-up fists and kicked his legs. His pinched face was red, and tears streamed over his cheeks.
“I’m here now. I’ve got you.” Lane scooped Parker into his arms and held him close, wanting to show his son he was there. That he’d always be there. “Should we see if you’re wet?”
Parker whimpered, which was more pathetic than his earlier screams.
Lane found the diapers and wipes and made quick work of changing the wet diaper. When his son was rewrapped and dressed, Lane secured him against his chest and settled into the rocking chair he’d dragged into the room earlier that day. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Your mom should be here soon and we’ll top off that little tummy of yours and put you back to sleep.”
Parker stared up at him with wide eyes. His dark curls were matted to his chubby face.
A flood of joy washed over him, and every doubt he’d ever had about being the person this child needed vanished. This was why he was put on this earth. To be Parker’s father. To support him and love him and make this world a better place to grow up.
He was here to love Celine and the precious and unexpected gift she’d given him.
The blast of the doorbell sent spikes of trepidation through his veins. Frantic pounding echoed through the hall seconds before the alarm screeched to life.
