"You mean like if you talked to your dad?" I asked without thinking.
He sighed. A tired look came over his face as he glanced off to the side. "That would require a miracle," he said in a resigned tone, then took a long pull of his beer.
"Sorry," I apologized, wishing I hadn't brought it up. I didn't know the details, but I knew things between Ford and his father had been strained for several years. Even Natalie didn't really know what happened between them. One thing I knew for certain though, was that it bothered Ford a lot more than Natalie knew. I think he was protecting her from it, and didn't want to cause problems between Natalie and their father as well.
"Don't worry about it," he replied with a shrug and pensive expression. "It is what it is."
Neither of us mentioned it again as we headed back to the nursery.
Several hours later, the crib and changing table were finished. I hoped like hell that Ford's theory about the profanity wearing off onto my son wasn't true, because we were all cussing like sailors by the time the furniture was put together. I know Ford was definitely entertained as he listened to us while working on the mural. He was the only one of us that was enjoying himself, if the amused glances he kept giving us were any indication.
We dragged in the new upholstered rocking chair I bought today, and we decorated the room. Then Jensen, Ben, and I gathered up the empty cardboard boxes from the furniture, and took it out to the trash. When we walked back into the nursery, Ford was finished and was cleaning up his supplies.
"What do you think?" he asked us with a proud smile.
"Holy fuck," Jensen blurted out. "That's the shit."
"That is bad ass, Ford," Ben added in an incredulous voice.
"Wow," was all I could get out as I stared in awe at the wall in my son's room. On most of one entire wall, Ford had painted a view from above of Metropolis' skyscrapers in shades of gray. In the center of the mural was Superman in full color, flying up out of the city with an arm outstretched and his cape billowing out behind him. The detail was amazing with every muscle under his super suit and every shadow perfectly shaded and defined. It looked like he was flying right out of the wall.
"Do you think Natie will like it?" Ford asked with a hint of doubt in his voice.
"I guarantee you that she'll love it," I reassured him with a wide grin. "Just like I do." He practically beamed with pleasure at my words.
We were interrupted by the sound of a phone chirping an incoming text. Jensen pulled his phone out and glanced at the screen.
"Time to fucking clear out," he announced. "Sydney says that Natalie just left the spa, and we have about twenty minutes until she gets back."
"Alright, let's get the hell out of here," Ben said as he and Jensen turned to leave the room.
I grabbed Ford's arm as he walked past me. "Thank you, Ford," I said vehemently. "You have no idea how much this means to me, to Natalie. I'm lucky to have you as part of my new family."
"You're welcome, David," he said with a lopsided smile as he gave me a quick one-armed hug. "That's what family is for after all. Not to mention this makes me the coolest uncle ever." He gave me a wink and headed out of the room. I followed him, smiling like an idiot.
After the guys took off, I ended up pacing around the living room and glancing out the front window repeatedly until Natalie finally pulled into the driveway. I hurried to the couch and grabbed my graphic novel off the coffee table, and began paging through it until the front door opened. I looked over to see Natalie waddling in, wearing a strapless pink maxi dress and holding her belly with one hand. She looked so beautiful with her huge belly and big breasts. Part of me was going to miss her being pregnant.
"Can't talk! Gotta pee!" she announced as she waddled right past me, hurrying along pretty well considering her extra cargo. I rose and followed her out of the room to our bedroom, admiring the view all the way. I still couldn't get over how much her being pregnant turned me on. I was just happy that she was more than willing to have sex through her whole pregnancy, otherwise I'd be a blue balled mess. She made her way into our bathroom, and I sat on the bed, so I could talk to her.
"How was the spa, sweetheart?" I asked her. "Are you feeling all pampered and relaxed?"
"It was fabulous," she answered. "I had a massage, and a facial. Then they did my fingers and toes. I feel like a new woman. I really needed it."
"Good." I smiled even though she couldn't see me. "I'm glad you liked it."
"I loved it," she said just before she waddled out of the bathroom. "Look at my toes, they're pink." She smiled as she wiggled her toes in her sandals. "And my fingers match." She showed me those too. I held my hands out to her, and she stepped closer to me, standing between my knees with her great big belly pressing against my chest. I slid my hands up under her dress and grabbed her ass. I nuzzled my face gently against her swollen breasts. God, she was gorgeous and I felt myself getting turned on.
"Have I told you how beautiful you are?" I whispered as Natalie started running her fingers through my hair. I sighed in contentment.
"Only every day for the last eight months," she replied with a laugh. I laid my cheek on her abdomen. I started to slide my hands into her panties, then paused as I remembered the baby's room and her surprise. Sometimes I couldn't believe how she affected me. She made me forget everything but her.
"I have a surprise for you." I looked up adoringly at her.
"You do?" Her face lit up like the sun. The woman loved surprises.
"Come on," I said as I stood. "I'll show you." I took her hand and led her from the room. I crossed to the nursery, opened the door, and led her in without a word. I watched as she looked around the room with her mouth hanging open.
"It's perfect," she whispered as her smile lit up her face. I watched her eyes widen, and she gasped when she noticed Ford's mural.
"Ford did that."
"He's the coolest uncle ever," she whispered in awe.
I let out a laugh. "He said the exact same thing."
She turned to face me with happy tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. "Thank you," she whispered. "I love it, and I love you."
"I love you too, sweetheart." I cradled her face in my hands and leaned forward to kiss her, my lips moving with hers in a familiar dance that I would never tire of, and would never get old. She moaned into my mouth, and my already half erect cock, stood at attention. I let out a shuddering breath as my body began to ache for her.
"Let me make love to you, Natalie," I panted out against her lips. "I need you."
"Please," she mewled as her hands clenched in the soft cotton of my T-shirt.
I took her hand and led her back to our room. I stopped next to the bed and began pulling her dress up, baring her beautiful pregnant body to me. She started pushing up my shirt with frantic fingers, and I paused to let her take my shirt off. Her hands skated across my skin making me shiver. Somehow I managed to get her dress off of her, then reached around to unclasp her strapless bra. I tossed it aside and cupped her breasts gently in my hands. They felt so full and perfect in my hands. I wished they weren't so tender so I could sink my teeth into them.
"My eyes are up here," she murmured in amusement as her fingers started working on unbuckling my belt. I pushed her hands aside and made quick work of taking the rest of my clothes off, feeling impatient to be inside her. I pulled her panties down and helped her step out of them.
She crawled up onto the bed, and I followed right behind her. She laid on her side, and I plastered my body against the back of hers. I thrust my cock against her ass as I slid my fingers down through her soft curls. I buried my face into her neck, breathing in the intoxicating scent of pears and my Natalie.
I reached down and found her sweet little nub with my index finger, rolling and rubbing it firmly until she started writhing and moaning. When her body ignited, she arched her back and keened out her pleasure. I moved my fingers to her opening and felt her get even wetter from her release.
"You
're so wet, sweetheart," I groaned out. "I need you now. I can't wait."
"Yes," she panted out. "Need you inside me."
I lifted her left leg up over mine and lined my cock up with her sex, then pushed into her slowly. She was so tight and warm around me as I slid into her. I was shaking all over as I hit the end of her and had to pause to hold back my threatening climax.
"Feel me, sweetheart," I whispered raggedly as I fought for control. "Feel all of me. Feel how much I love you." My words set her off, and the walls inside her rippled and squeezed down on me as she came. She shuddered against me, as a long moan pouring from her lips. It took everything I had not to come on the spot.
When she finally settled, I started moving in long languid thrusts building up another climax for her slowly and methodically. I'd learned this far into her pregnancy that anything rough was uncomfortable for her. However, learning to make love to her this slowly had been a joy. There was something to be said for a slow burn that built up to unbelievable pleasure. It was just another way to show her how much I loved her.
I found her clit with my fingers again, mimicking the slow deep thrusts of my cock. I started kissing and nipping at her shoulder, worrying at her skin with low growls. I couldn't completely ignore the dark animalistic parts of myself. She wailed as another orgasm hit her. I could hear her nails clawing into the sheets as she came apart. This time her pussy clamped down on me so hard that I couldn't hold myself together any longer. I felt my climax burst free, and I pressed firmly on her clit, making her scream as my seed pumped into her, my body shuddering and shaking against her.
"Natalie," I groaned out as the deep pleasure began to ebb. "I love you."
"And I love you, David," she replied in a breathless moan.
I buried my face into her neck again, my hand sliding up to cradle our unborn son. I had everything I ever wanted, right here, right now. I held them close, knowing that I'd never let them go. Never.
***********
"David!"
I immediately hit the stop button on my treadmill at the sound of Natalie calling for me. I jumped off the machine before it had even stopped all the way, and ran out of the room and down the hall. I rushed into our room breathing hard.
"Natalie?" I saw her curled in a ball on her side with her enormous belly cradled in her hands.
"I think I'm having contractions," she said with a terrified glint in her eyes.
"How far apart are they?" I asked as I crawled up to sit behind her on the bed.
"I'm not sure," she whimpered as I placed a gentle hand on her hip.
"Let's find out," I said in a voice that was a lot calmer than I felt inside, but I needed her to stay calm. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and opened the timer app. I wasn't surprised by this development. She had been complaining of her back hurting off and on all night, and I figured it was early contractions, but I didn't tell her that because I didn't want her freaking out. The closer we got to her due date, which happened to be today, the more terrified she became. So I kept my suspicions to myself and kept a close eye on her all night.
It was Sunday, July third, and when I woke up around seven this morning, she was sound asleep, but I was restless from worrying most of the night. I decided to go for a run to work off my excess energy. I only ran a couple of miles before she called for me.
"It's over now," she said with a deep sigh, and I started the timer. I started rubbing her back as we waited for the next one, murmuring to her comfortingly as much for myself as for her. I had to keep my shit together for her, no matter what.
Fifteen minutes later, she started whimpering. "Here comes another one," she said in a wavering voice. "I'm scared, David." Tears started pouring from her eyes, and it made my chest ache for her.
"It's okay to be scared, sweetheart," I told her as I caressed her cheek. "So am I." I added in a whisper. Scared wasn't even the right word right now. Terrified was a more accurate description. I'd been looking forward to this for so long, but now I just wanted it to stop. I started rubbing at my beard as fear swamped me. What if something went wrong? What if something happened to Daniel? What would I do if something happened to Natalie? Fuck. Panic streaked through me in a massive wave that took my breath away.
"David?" she asked, breaking me out of my freak out. "Are you okay?" Shit, I couldn't have her worrying about me. I let out the breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding.
"I'm fine, sweetheart," I told her, calling on all my skills as a psych nurse to hold myself together for her. "Does it still hurt?" I asked, trying to pull the focus away from myself.
"Yeah," she whispered as she took my hand and held on to me tightly.
We waited through four or five contractions that were all a good fifteen minutes apart. It was too soon to go to the hospital, and I told her as much.
"Are you sure?" she asked. "It hurts really bad."
"Sweetheart," I said reassuringly. "If we go in too soon, they'll just send us back home again to wait. Wouldn't you rather be here at home than driving all over the place for no reason?"
"I guess," she murmured unconvincingly.
"We'll time them again in a bit to see if they're getting any closer. Okay?"
"Alright," she said with obvious resignation.
I leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Trust me, Natalie. I'll take care of you. Don't worry. I'm a nurse, remember?"
"Yeah, for crazy people," she grumbled out, making me laugh. That earned me a glare that quickly morphed into a wan smile. "I trust you. We'll wait."
I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon like that, timing her contractions off and on, and rubbing her back to try to help. They kept getting stronger and more frequent, until they were finally about five minutes apart.
"Time to go to the hospital, sweetheart." I announced as I crouched next to the bed in front of her.
"Okay, but I need to go to the bathroom before we go."
I nodded and helped her up. I walked with her halfway across the room, until she abruptly stopped and looked down.
"Oh shit," she blurted out. I looked down to see clear fluid coursing down the inside of her legs.
"I think your water just broke," I fought to keep the panic from my voice. "Now it's definitely time to go to the hospital."
I helped her get cleaned up and dressed before changing out of my running clothes. I grabbed her already packed bag, and we were out the door and on our way to the hospital in short order. Her contractions continued in the car, and she was completely miserable the whole time. It was the longest car ride of my life. She held my hand in a painful grip as each contraction hit her hard. Watching her hurting was killing me, and I felt helpless and terrified. I wanted so badly to take her pain away.
When we got to the hospital, I took her in through the ER entrance, and we were swiftly escorted up to OB. This was another time that I was glad I worked here. It always seemed to help smooth things along.
When we got to our birthing room, we met our nurse, Emily, whom I'd seen around the hospital before. She was a middle-aged brunette with a no-nonsense and competent demeanor that seemed to calm Natalie down. To be honest it helped calmed me a little too.
Emily let me help Natalie change into a gown and get her urine sample in the bathroom since I was a nurse too. After that, Emily got Natalie's vitals and hooked her up to the fetal monitor. I was relieved to hear our baby's heart rate was steady and strong. She monitored the contractions and determined that Natalie seemed to be in active labor now. I was glad that I insisted we wait to come in.
Eventually, Dr. Evans came in and did a pelvic exam. She determined that Natalie's cervix was only dilated four centimeters, and I realized that we had a long way to go before we got to the ten centimeters needed to have the baby. This was turning into the longest day of my life. In fact, she was in active labor throughout the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.
By that time, I called our families, and they were all out in the waiting room. I went
out periodically to check in with them. Everyone was fairly calm, except for Natalie's mother, who kept insisting that Natalie needed her. Natalie had been clear from the very beginning that I was the only person allowed in the room during her labor. I kept denying Victoria over and over again, and when Natalie's father stepped in and ended up starting an argument with his ex-wife, I finally had enough. I was just about snap on them both, when Baba stepped in to distract Natalie's mother. I was relieved and thankful for my grandmother. I didn't have the energy or brain power left to focus on anything other than Natalie and our baby right now.
Natalie suffered contraction after contraction, and it was well after eleven o'clock, before her cervix finally dilated to ten centimeters, and it was time to start pushing. The next hour was a blur of Natalie pushing with each contraction, and me trying to encourage her and keep her calm and focused. I didn't have an ounce of energy left to freak out anymore. My sole focus was Natalie.
She started losing stamina and the will to fight as we got close to the finish line. She looked so tired and miserable, but I knew she was so close to the end.
"Come on, sweetheart," I murmured as I reached up to caress her sweat dampened cheek. "We're almost there. We just need to push a few more times."
She turned to lay a baleful look on me that was frightening. "What do you mean by we?" she snarled in a voice that was practically demonic. "I'm doing all the fucking work here."
"If I could take your pain away I would," I said sternly trying to stifle my anger. "You know that. This is our baby, our family. That's what I mean by we, so let's keep going so we can finally meet our son."
Her eyes softened a little. "Okay," she whispered as a look of determination came over her face. Natalie took my hand in a death grip when she had to push again, and when it was over, I heard Dr. Evans announce that the baby was crowning. I took a peek down below and when I saw my son's wet fuzzy little head starting to poke out of Natalie, I decided that I had seen enough. Nursing school was one thing, but seeing someone I loved going through this was almost too much. I started to feel a little woozy.
You Are My Life: Breathless Book 3 Page 26