Page 35

Sloan pressed a kiss against her stomach before gently wiping the amniotic fluid from her legs. Becky rested a hand on his shoulder, watching as he took his time, making sure she was comfortable.

“What the fuck?” Sloan suddenly stopped, staring at the washcloth before looking up at her. “Becky, you're bleeding.”

Becky glanced down, noticing the faint pink streak mixed with the clear fluid on the cloth. “Sloan, it's just a little blood. That can happen during labor.”

“Can happen?” Sloan's eyes narrowed as he looked at the cloth again. “Or is supposed to happen?”

“It's normal to have a little spotting when you're in labor.” Becky sighed, knowing exactly where this was going. “It's part of having a baby. Now please help me into bed because I'm really uncomfortable right now.”

Sloan carefully lifted her into bed just as another contraction started. Becky immediately reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly as she closed her eyes and tried to breathe through the pain.

Leaning down, Sloan pressed his lips against her temple. “If I could take this pain from you, I would,” he whispered against her skin.

Becky swallowed hard, turning her head to look at him. The worry in his eyes and the helplessness she knew he was feeling made her heart ache. God, how she loved this man. “I know you would,” she whispered back. “Now please get Angelina. I have a feeling our baby boy is going to be making an appearance soon, because I'm really starting to feel like I need to push.”

Sloan straightened so fast Becky almost laughed. The tender moment between them was gone as he released her hand and headed for the door, bellowing for Angelina in that voice every Warrior in the compound knew better than to ignore.

Becky smiled despite herself, but another contraction quickly wiped it away.

“Impatient, just like your father,” she whispered to her unborn son before a moan escaped her as the pain intensified, the pressure bearing down on her lower half almost unbearable.

Damn, maybe she should have said yes to that epidural.

CHAPTER 16

Sid sat beside Lana on the bed, rubbing her lower back as she knelt with her upper body resting against a pile of pillows. Dawn had suggested the position to help ease some of the pressure, and although Lana seemed a little more comfortable, Sid wasn't convinced anything about this whole giving-birth shit was comfortable.

He was so far out of his league it wasn't even funny. Every time another contraction hit, he felt her body tense beneath his hands, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do other than rub her back and tell her how good she was doing.

And that pissed him off.

“Harder,” Lana demanded, shifting against the pillows.

Sid immediately pressed harder against her lower back, relieved when she released a small sigh. At least he was doing something right. He'd asked Dawn so many questions she'd finally told him to concentrate on Lana and let her worry about delivering the baby. Easy for her to say. She wasn't the one watching the woman he loved hurting like hell.

“Guess wearing a rubber doesn't sound too bad after all, huh?” Lana’s muffled question reached his ears.

Sid's hands stopped moving as he stared at the back of Lana's head. For a second, he honestly wondered if he'd heard her correctly. Then he remembered that damn conversation in the kitchen when they'd first found out about Becky.

“Damn Katrina,” he muttered.

Lana laughed, although it ended with a groan as she shifted against the pillows. “Wasn't Katrina who told me about your little rant.”

Sid frowned. “Then who the hell told you?”

“Caroline.” Lana glanced over her shoulder, giving him a grin. “Apparently Jax told her.”

“Of course he fucking did.” Sid shook his head, making a mental note to have a little chat with Jax. “Can't a guy say stupid shit without someone running their mouth about it?”

“Not when that guy is you.” Lana chuckled before another contraction started, her smile disappearing as she leaned harder into the pillows. “Oh, God. Sid, harder.”

Sid immediately put more pressure against her lower back, wishing like hell he could do more. He waited until she relaxed before leaning down to kiss her shoulder.

“For the record, babe, I wouldn't change a damn thing.”

“I know.” Lana reached back and briefly squeezed his hand. “Neither would I.”

“Sooo, you’re not mad at me?” Sid asked, then winced, waiting for her answer.