Cadence whimpered as the pain receded. “I’m sorry, I don’t hate you,” she said, gripping my hand.
“I think I might hate myself,” I murmured, not sure who I was talking to.
“I definitely hate you,” Riordan said as he flopped down into a chair. “Next time, keep your cock in your pants because I am not doing this again.”
“We’re just getting to the good bit.” Callum clapped my brother on the shoulder, and he let out a sound that was both a groan and a whine.
Before he could respond, the door crashed open, and Cadence’s parents rushed in. “We’re here,” her mother said as she caught her breath.
“Take the boys out and keep the noise down.” She pointed at her husband, who promptly followed her instructions, herding Callum and Riordan into the adjoining room.
Then she turned to face me. “Ryker, help me get her in the tub.” Her tone brooked no argument, and honestly, I was so out of my depth I was happy to follow her lead.
I lifted my wife into my arms and strode toward the bathing chamber. Just as I settled her into the warm water, a faint tightening began in my lower abdomen. Sweat beaded my brow, and I swallowed roughly, not at all eager for what came next. Pressure built, and Cadence reached for me, her grip hard enough to break bones.
“Your —” I closed my mouth, fighting back the urge to vomit. But one look from Cadence’s mother had me releasing a controlled breath. “Doing… so well.”
As the seconds ticked by, the pressure increased, drawing all my muscles inward. The intensity spread across my stomach, stronger, tighter, deeper, until I was certain my body was about to be torn in two. Riordan yelled from the other room, and I could hardly blame him.
I was going to die. No one could withstand such torture.
The pain reached an unholy peak, and Cadence gritted her teeth until the urge to scream took over. I did what I could to offer support, wiping her forehead and smoothing her hair, butI was barely hanging on myself. Then, the gods themselves must have heard my plea because the pressure ebbed, and my muscles relaxed, granting blessed relief.
“Ryker. Ryker.”
My head whipped up, and narrowed brown eyes glared back at me. “Huh?”
“I asked you to get in behind Cadence and lift her hips. I need to check if she’s ready to push.”
“Get in, as in, naked?”
Cadence’s mother paused, raising her gaze to meet mine. My throat bobbed without my permission, and I opened my mouth to say something,anything, but words failed me.
“Why would you be naked when Cadence is dressed?” she asked, her tone too calm to be genuine.
I glanced down at my wife. Her black nightgown was soaked through, but very much still covering her body.
“Right. Of course.” My wife’s mother muttered under her breath as I got into the tub.
“I don’t think I can do this,” Cadence said, her voice hoarse.
“That means you’re close,” her mother told her as she carried on with… whatever it was she was doing. I wasn’t brave enough to ask.
“Shh, Temptress, just rest.” I stroked her hair and rubbed her shoulders, but all too soon, that godsforsaken tightening started up again.
Cadence’s mother must have spotted my grimace because she said, “What you’re feeling is a muted version of what your wife is experiencing. You need to suck it up and be ready to support her. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
Worse! How the fuck could it get any worse?
I wasn’t stupid enough to voice that out loud, however. Instead, I gave her a curt nod and clenched my jaw.
“My darling girl, you’re going to push now, all right.” Her mother shifted her gaze to me. “Take her hands. She’ll need something to hold on to.”
I did as I was instructed, the pressure already building to a fever pitch. Cadence released an animalistic growl, and I barely held my own at bay.
I heard Riordan in the other room, but the pain tearing through my body drowned him out. All the while, I tried to soothe my wife as she fought to bring our child into the world.
As the torture receded, I sucked in a lungful of air, thankful for the reprieve.
