"I know you could."
He smiled. "Your faith in me makes me feel ten feet tall."
She made a scoffing sound. "I'm glad you're not that tall. I would get a neck ache every time I did this." She rocked up on her toes and pulled his head down until his lips met hers in a kiss that quickly grew passionate.
"Mmm...I appreciate everyone's help today," he murmured against her lips, "but I'm glad they're gone now." His lips shifted to nuzzle her neck again. "I'm anxious to break in our new bed." Without waiting for a response, he swept her up in his arms.
A sharp pain sliced through her back, and instead of chewing himout for trying to carry her big-as-a-house pregnant body, she cried out in agony.
"A-ah." She pressed a hand to her back.
He set her down even faster than he'd picked her up. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"
Riley doubled over, struggling to breathe, as the pain spread to her stomach, sharp and stabbing.
"Riley, honey, talk to me." Daniel gently stroked her back. "Is it the baby?"
She did her best to focus on her breathing like she'd learned in the Lamaze classes but wasn't much more successful than she'd been with the breathing exercises Emily had given her to help with her anxiety attacks. She'd quickly learned after Collin's second attack, that she needed to move. To do something. That's why even though she initially froze when confronted, she ended up lashing out afterward.
Daniel had found that out the hard way when she came home after the first attack. But Riley had quickly learned to divert her anger when she got upset following her second attack.
She tried to walk off the pain but found she could barely move because of the intensity. Eventually, it subsided, and she slumped back against the counter, trying to catch her breath.
"Was that a contraction?" Daniel's concerned face ducked into her line of sight. "Are you in labor?"
"I think I might be." Riley rubbed her hands on either side of her rock-hard belly.
"You think?"
"Well, how am I supposed to know? I've never been in labor before." She rubbed at her achy back. "My back has been killing me all day, but I figured I was just overdoing it."
"So, you haven't had any other pains like this?" Daniel's strong hand took over rubbing her back.
"Well, yeah I've had a bunch, but they weren't as strong as this one."
"When was the last one?"
"Right before you came into the kitchen."
Alarm filled Daniel's face as he glanced at the clock on the stove. "That was only a few minutes ago."
"I'm fine." She pushed him away and headed toward the living room. "I just need to sit down and put my feet up for a bit. The only furniture I'm breaking in over the next hour is the couch."
She'd only taken five steps when a flood of warm liquid cascaded down her legs, soaking her leggings and leaving her standing in a puddle. She gasped and looked down at the floor.
"Did your water just break?" Daniel's voice rose in pitch.
She turned wide eyes on him and nodded.
He shoved both hands into his hair, then rubbed them over his face. "But you're not due for another ten days."
That was the only reason they'd decided to go ahead and move into their new house today. Well, that and the fact that today was the anniversary of little Isaac Russell's death. Riley hoped that moving would keep Daniel distracted enough to not dwell on events in the past that always triggered his cravings.
"I know, but I think this baby is done waiting."
"Okay, we need to get you to the hospital." He patted his pocket, making sure he had keys, and took several steps toward the door then stopped. "You haven't even packed a bag yet."
"No, but I think that's something we should worry about later." The last word came out as a groan as another contraction hit. She did her best to breathe and relax through the contraction then gave Daniel the most cheerful smile she could muster. "This baby is coming whether we're ready or not."
