He opens his eyes, staring down at me, and I see the love in his gaze.“I love you too, Ruby,” he says, his voice filled with sincerity.
He leans forward, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me back against him.I can feel his heart beating against my back, our bodies still connected in the most intimate way.
“Don’t leave this time,” he orders me, and I smile.
“I won’t.I’m done running from you, from this,” I promise him.
“Good.”
“So…can we do that again?”I whisper to him, my body rubbing against his, and he groans in my ear.
“Always, Ruby.I’m yours always, and whatever you want, that’s what you’ll get.”
I smile to myself.I’m certain he means it.
ELEVEN
Ransom
Five Years Later…
“I can’t believethat we’re doing this all over again,” my wife cries as I wheel her into the hospital.
“I know, love, but you’re doing so good.You’re amazing, incredible,” I reassure her, and she glares up at me, fire in her green eyes.
“That’s easy for you to say!You’re not about to push a big baby out of your vagina!”
“You’re right, love,” I try to soothe her, and she just glares at me.
I decide to keep my mouth shut for a while.
“Who is going to pick up Rollins?”Ruby asks me as I get her checked in.
“I texted Cameron and Ford.One of them will pick him up when they grab Alma.”
She nods, panting as another contraction hits her.I give her my hand, and she squeezes it so hard that I’m sure I feel a few bones break.
“Ow,” she cries, and I start to remember how much I hate this part too.
To be fair, I hate anything that has my wife in pain or upsets her.
Ruby and I got married five years ago and had our son, Rollins, exactly nine months later.I know that moving fast kind of scared Ruby, but I’ve worked hard to make sure that she never regretted that decision.I’ve done everything I can to put her fears to rest while showing her that I’m the right person for her.
“Right this way, Mr.and Mrs.Mitchell,” one of the nurses says as she leads us down to our room.
Ruby groans as another contraction hits, and I hurry to get her into the room and settled.
“I want the drugs,” she tells the nurse, and the woman smiles.
“I’ll get the doctor for you.We’ll get you settled and as comfortable as we can soon,” she promises.
I help Ruby stand and get her into the hospital bed.
“I hate these things.The mattress is too thin,” she says as she shifts on the bed.
“We’ll be home and in our bed soon enough, love.What can I do to make it better?You want a foot rub?Some ice chips?”
“Just get this baby out of me.”
