“H—how would you rate your pain?”
“How many times are you going to ask these damn questions?” I pound my fist on the overbed table, rattling Sophie’s oversized cup of ice. “Can’t you see that she’s in a lot of pain and you’re doing nothing to help her?”
“Cliff,” Sophie says sternly, but gently.
I look at her tired, but still breathtakingly beautiful face, and that all-too-familiar jolt of panic flares inside of me.
Damn, but I love this woman. More than I ever thought I could love another person.
Seeing her like this as she brings our children into the world…
If I could trade places with her and take all of the pain and discomfort, I’d do it. It wouldn’t even take a heartbeat.
But right now the love of my life is giving me a silent—but unmistakable—look saying I need to stop acting like an ogre and let the doctor finish the exam.
So I do. Only because it’s what she wants.
Still flustered as he finishes, the doctor checks in with the nurse, and promises to return shortly with the anesthesiologist. He practically makes the roadrunner sound as he disappears out of the room.
Sophie sighs and shakes her head. “You really have to stop doing that.”
“I know, I know.” I run a hand over my beard. “You can answer the questions yourself. You don’t need me to do it.”
“Very true.” She reaches for my free hand and gives it a squeeze. “But you also need to stop scaring the poor guy.”
My brow knits together. “I’m not doing anything to scare him.”
“Right, I’m sure scowling at him and practically growling every time he’s in the room is doing wonders to keep him calm, cool, and collected.” She rolls her eyes. “Need I remind you that he’s here to help bring our babies into the world? It might be good to have him in his best fighting condition.”
“Sorry.” I clamp my lips together and give her hand a squeeze. “I just want to make sure the three of you are getting the best care possible.”
“We are.” The smile she gives pierces through my fears and fills me with a bright warmth, like the way it feels when the sun shines down on you on a beach.
I raise our linked hands to my lips and kiss the back of her smooth skin. “Maybe, when the twins are a little bit older, we can take a family vacation somewhere warm.”
She blinks at me in confusion. “That’s random. But, I wouldn’t say no to a week or two on the beach.”
My lips curl against her skin. She probably wouldn’t think my suggestion was so random if she knew what other hopes and plans I have in store for us.
Still clutching her hand, I lean forward to capture her lips in a searing kiss. She gives a light gasp but returns the kiss with equal fervor.
We’re both more than a little breathless, and my heart is practically bursting when I end the kiss. Both of us are still panting, I rest my forehead against hers.
“Do you have any idea of how much I love you?”
She gives a light laugh. “I’d say your demonstration just now gave me a pretty good idea.”
“We barely tapped the surface there.” I rub my nose against hers, press a kiss to it, and lean back so I can look into her dark blue eyes. “If you weren’t in the process of having our babies, I’d be happy to give you a more thorough demonstration.”
She snorts. “I’m sure. With every part of my body from my nose to my toes swelling, I bet I look pretty sexy right about now.”
I cup her cheek tenderly. “You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do right now.”
The skepticism eases from her expression. The sultry look she’s giving is all too tempting to resist. So I lean forward for one more kiss.
My lips brush against hers and she yelps.
And not the good kind.
