Another One Bites the Dust

by Lani Lynn Vale

  As soon as he mentioned the power, the lights flickered twice before blinking on, blinding in their intensity. I surveyed the room, and then looked down to the little girl who was startled out of her crying. I reached over to the cradle, grabbed an infant nursette bottle, and started feeding the hungry baby. She attacked the nipple as if she was starving, making hungry sucking noises. Max chuckled at the little pig noises she was making.

  “What about the woman?” I asked while looking the baby over for any noticeable injuries.

  I felt his body go immobile, his breathing freeze, and then a cackling laugh came from behind Max. Max slowly turned and faced the woman who had laughed like a horror movie reject.

  I recognized her immediately, and saw red. This woman was paid to watch the young mother, and was very close to harming an innocent child with her careless disregard of her job. I was so upset that it took me a moment to realize that Max had his gun in his hand pointing straight at the aid.

  “What’s going on?” I asked with a deep foreboding.

  “Oh, not much.” The woman said with an evil smile on her face. It made her look all wrong. Where earlier I was just uneasy around her, now I felt downright disturbed.

  “Put your gun down, darling. Surprised to see me?” She asked.

  I turned and looked at Max. His face was set as hard as granite. He was working his jaw, as if he was afraid if he didn’t clinch it he would say something that would set the woman off. His eyes flicked down, and then just as quickly flicked back up.

  “Tell your dog to back off.” The woman said before bringing the backpack she had strapped to her back around to give it a good shake in front of her body. The sound of snuffling, and then a lusty cry reverberated through the quiet room, and I could no longer hold the throw up that had been stewing for the past few hours. I bent over and puked until all that was left was dry heaves.

  What is wrong with this women and hurting innocent babies. How were we going to get the baby away from her? What if the baby was hurt? Whose baby was it? All these thoughts continued swirling through my mind as Max said the command for Alpha to stand down. He stopped where he was, but didn’t stop the menacing growling.

  “I’m going to leave this floor, and if you don’t have anyone follow me, I’ll leave the baby on the elevator.” She said as she carefully placed the backpack back over her shoulder.

  “O’Hare, keep your word.” Max said as he lowered his weapon.

  O’Hare backed out of the room, and then disappeared into the chaos of the hallway. Nobody stopped her. The alarms that signal that a baby was leaving the authorized area flared to life, but were quickly extinguished as she found a way to override the locked elevator and shut them off. Bile threatened to rise again, but one look at Max’s face helped me persist through the nausea.

  He had his phone to his ear, and started speaking authoritatively to whoever was on the other end. I walked out into the hallway to see the rest of the nursing staff running towards the elevator.

  “Why did it unlock?” Tina cried as she watched the numbers flow down to the basement level.

  Max was there with me, gun tucked back into his holster. “Stay here, I’m going down to the basement as soon as I see that the baby is on the elevator.”

  We all watched with bated breath as the elevator returned back to the third floor. The doors swished open, and every last one of the nurses that were crowded around the elevator let out a loud cheer, and then started to cry. We all felt responsible for the fact that we lost a baby. It was our job to make sure that they were safe and protected, and we had all failed.

  Tina bent down to scoop the baby up. Dressed in the hospital attire of onesie and animal blanket, she looked oblivious to the world. Not even disturbed in the slightest to be lying on the floor. Thank God.

  Max left within the next minute, following the same route down to the basement. It was only then that I realized that he was by himself going after a psycho woman. Saying a small prayer, I went back to work. I checked over the small infant who was still strapped to my chest by the bed sheet. The doctor pronounced her fit as a fiddle, and then returned to the other babies to do his rounds.

  Cheyenne was propped up in a rolling desk chair at the nurses station with a white cold pack pressed to her bandaged forehead. “This is your entire fault.” She moaned.

  My stomach dropped and I closed my eyes tightly, but then snapped back open when she said, “I told you I needed that stun gun! Why didn’t you let me get it?”

  My mouth hung agape. “You’re seriously trying to blame this on me because I told you not to buy a stun gun from that homeless guy on the side of the hospital?”

  “He wasn’t homeless! He was a legitimate business man. He even had business cards.” She laughed and then groaned clutching her head.

  “Cheyenne, those cards weren’t even in his name!” I guffawed.

  She glared at me, but then there was commotion at the elevators drawing everyone’s attention.

  “Back away.” A deadly calm voice told the rookie cop at the elevator.

  The cop’s hand found its way to the butt of his gun, but then another more experienced officer told him to let him pass.

  “God, that man makes my ovaries sing,” she said. “And he’s phat.”

  “He’s not got an inch of fat on his enormous body. Are you sure you don’t need to see a doctor?” I asked pulling the pen light out of my pocket and shining it into her eyes.

  She flinched away and said, “No, I mean he’s pretty hot and tempting, phat.”

  “Cheyenne?” I asked her.

  “What?” She asked as her eyes followed Sam as he weaved through the crowd of police, nurses, doctors, and concerned parents.

  “The 90’s called, they want their saying back.” I snickered.

  Sam made it to her and stalled her comeback. He dropped down to his knees in front of her and gathered her so sweetly against his chest that it made tears gather in my eyes. Alpha came up to my side and leaned against me, letting me know that he was there.

  I was just about to give them some privacy when a wave of nausea hit me out of nowhere, sending me to the trashcan that was under the nurses station desk. I made it just in time to throw up the Snickers bar and Dr. Pepper I’d consumed not two minutes before. Unfortunately, I was wedged in between Sam’s torso and Cheyenne’s knees, with Sam’s arms above me that were framing Cheyenne’s face as he kissed her.

  Once I was finished, I stayed still for a few moments before slowly backing back the way I came. Both of their bodies were frozen on either side of me, and my face was absolutely flaming. If I had a mirror right now, I knew it would be as red as a fire engine. Once I was free of their bodies, I kept backing up with my head down until I was blocked from their view by the nurse’s station. My butt knocked into something solid, and I stopped and looked up. Max’s eyes were sparkling and his lips were twitching at either ends.

  “What are you doing?” Max asked me.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” I said just as I finally noticed the various officers and nurses laughing their asses off. My face flamed once again and I buried face in between Max’s shins wishing the floor would swallow me whole.

  Max’s hands slipped underneath my arms and he bodily hauled me to my feet. I didn’t help him in the slightest. Then I started to mourn my lost candy bar. I wasted two and a half dollars on those two things, and I was seriously thinking I needed to go raid my locker stash before I came up with a bright idea. Looking up into Max’s eyes, I smiled my most radiating smiled.

  “Will you go get me a hamburger from the cafeteria?” I asked sweetly.

  Cheyenne lost her battle with her laughter and finally gave in, throwing herself into Sam’s arms.

  “I don’t know what you’re laughing about. That was disgusting.” Sam grumbled.

  “It can’t be any worse than when Ember’s water broke all over your legs.” Cheyenne said wiping tears from her eyes.

  Max’s chest was s
haking so hard beneath me that I feared he might fall over. I looked up at his face and was rewarded with a laughing Max, who lit the room with his happiness. I loved this man with all my heart; nothing compares to this. Tonight could have been truly awful, we were all lucky we were here experiencing this when it could have just as easily gone the other way.

  “Hate to break up this love fest, but Max, I need your statement. Ladies.” Luke said as he left, expecting Max to follow him.

  “I’ll head down to the cafeteria and get you something to eat; maybe you can make it to the bathroom when you need to throw up next time.” He teased before walking in the direction Luke disappeared.

  ɸ

  “All right, since this you’re only fourteen weeks, I think the best shot you’ll have to see the sex is if we do an internal sonogram. So lose your pants and get situated on the table, I’ll be back as soon as you’re settled.” Dr. Schmidt said.

  “What does he mean by lose the pants? When Ember had her thingy done, she just lifted her damn shirt.” Max growled from across the room.

  I shucked my pants and tossed panties and all at his head. He caught them with a flick of his wrist and settled them down into his lap. My ass hit the table and I covered up with the crappy paper sheet that was made to make myself decent. He looked stressed. His easy laugh was lost when he got back to me without the hamburger. I decided to let it slide because the look on his face was one of a man who was holding on by a shred. Therefore, I let him be, starved, and waited anxiously until I was off shift before heading to the maternity wing. Max’s hand solidly in mine.

  “An internal ultrasound is when they shove this,” I said holding up a wand that was covered in a lubricated condom and waving it back and forth. “Up my love tunnel and wiggle it around.”

  Max was on his feet and trying to get my scrubs back on me while keeping me covered when Dr. Schmidt walked in and took in the scene. “I swear to God I’m a happily married man. Although, even if I did, I don’t want any more kids, hell I even don’t even want the ones I’ve got!”

  Max sighed and leaned his head against my knees before giving in and standing, making his way to my side. “Why’d you wait so long to have an ultrasound, again?” Dr. Schmidt asked.

  “Well, I’ve just been busy. I’m healthy, and well, my insurance just kicked in, so that was a good reason, right?” I asked and then saw the incredulous look on his face. “Okay, if I ignored it, it wasn’t real. I didn’t want confirmation of my dumbassness.” I rushed out.

  The doctor got the wand lubed and inside of me in the next second. “So how many kids did you want?” He asked cryptically.

  Max looked at the screen, to me, and then to the doctor. “I want a house full.”

  “So how man does a house full consist of?” He continued with his mysterious line of questioning.

  “I don’t know, four or five I guess.” He said warily.

  I had a sick feeling I knew where this was going. I really sick feeling. “Dr. Schmidt, for the love of all that’s holy, spit it out.” I said glancing from the screen to his face.

  “I was just kidding. There is only one from what I can see. Congratulations.” He remarked.

  I was so very relieved that I nearly wept in release. “You suck.”

  “There’s the head, and the hands right up next to the face. Oh my, would you look at that? He or she has your attitude already!” Dr. Schmidt chortled.

  The printer printed off two shots and handed one to each of us laughing. In the picture, you could see a close up of the baby’s alien face and hand, middle finger extended perfectly precise mini version of flipping someone the bird. Hell it even looked like the baby was extending it in front of the face so you didn’t get a clear shot. If I wanted to be honest, that was more Max’s style. I don’t think I have one picture that he’s smiling. Most of the time he’s flipping the camera off so I can’t put them on Facebook.

  “Uh, no that would be the father,” I said gesturing to Max with my thumb. “He doesn’t like taking pictures and goes out of his way to avoid them. Sneaking up on him would be easier, and if you knew him, that feat’s impossible.”

  I glanced at Max’s face again and found his eyes glued to the screen, eyes alight with astonishment. Who knew that this big strong man would want kids as bad as he does? He’s like a big old teddy bear. It was good to see him in a better mood. Whatever Luke had had to say, it wasn’t good, and I wasn’t sure I even wanted to hear it.

  “Do you want to know what the gender is?” Dr. Schmidt asked.

  Just as I opened my mouth to say yes, Max blurted, “No!”

  “How could you?” I said drastically.

  It wasn’t that big of a deal, if you didn’t think about the fact that this was my first baby and couldn’t plan anything. I was a planner to the extreme. My spice drawer is in order from A to Z. I fold my socks in neat piles, and have them separated in colors. The clothes in my closet are arranged in colors as well. I wrote a grocery list every week, and if it wasn’t on the list, it wasn’t bought. How does one buy stuff for an unknown gender? My baby would come home in a diaper and that’s it! I was working myself up into a full-blown hissy by the time Max grabbed my face and made me look at him.

  “Breathe.” He said in that deep voice that calmed me down rapidly. “Please?”

  I let sweet blissful air enter my lungs, and I watched his eyes while I came down from my panic. “Why?” I whined.

  My mind was pulled back to the present when the hideous wand was pulled from the depths of my body. I scrunched up my nose and sat up, covering myself a little better so I wasn’t feeling cool air on my goodies.

  “All right, Payton. I want you to make an appointment with the office. I’ll see you in a month. You’re measuring right on time, and there is always time to change your mind about knowing the gender next time. Have a good day.” He said before exiting the room.

  I got dressed in silence, allowing Max to quiver in his boots thinking that I was mad at him. I wasn’t really, but it was a disappointment. I’d make do though, because I wanted him to be happy; I’d do anything for him.

  We walked arm and arm out to his bike, and I hopped on, donning my helmet in the process. Sam and Cheyenne took Alpha home for us since we wouldn’t be going straight home as soon as my shift ended.

  He started the bike with a roar, and I had just enough time to pull my scarf securely around my neck and get my gloves on before he was easing out of the parking lot. Five minutes into the drive, I was officially a Popsicle. Regardless of the gloves, hat, scarf, large leather jacket that Max insisted I wear, and Max’s body blocking most of the wind, I was still frozen to the bone. I was shaking uncontrollably when we pulled up in front of his place.

  Since my legs were unable to move from their frozen position, I waited with my arms up for Max to lift me off his bike. Which he did, laughing softly. He didn’t put me down, instead carrying me past Alpha’s welcome home dance, and straight to the bathroom. He set me on the counter, and then went to the shower and turned it on full blast.

  He stripped me of my clothes and shoes, yanked the ponytail from my hair, and sat me on the shower seat that took up the back wall of the shower. The water sprayed down on my Popsicle like body. I moaned as my legs and arms started to tingle as blood rushed back to them. I was lifted, placed into Max’s lap with my back to Max’s front. He methodically washed my hair with shampoo and conditioner. His hands meticulously rubbed the bar of soap down my legs, arms and torso.

  He skipped all the good areas, and I found myself disappointed. It wasn’t until he finished with me and placed the bar of soap down beside him on the seat that I tried to stand up. He pulled me immediately back down and I realized that maybe he wasn’t planning to skip over the good parts after all.

  His erection dug into the crease of my backside, and I looked down between our legs to see his penis sticking out beneath me, full, hard, and pulsing with each beat of his heart. The head of his cock was a ruddy, mean re
d, and my mouth watered. I let my hand ease down past my clit, over my entrance, and finally seeking his cock in a firm grip.

  He groaned and started rotating beneath me, working himself in the cleft of my ass. I looked up and saw the fogged over mirror, and had a brilliant idea. Counting the tiles up from the bottom of the shower, I stood up from his lap and worked my fingernail under the suction of his shaving mirror, and then suctioned it back to the wall where I guessed would be the best height.

  Backing up slowly, I hit the junction of his thighs. His cock pointed at the ceiling, and he grabbed it with one hand, and my hip in the other, urging me to lower myself down on top of him. Biting my lip, I lowered myself slowly, filling myself so completely with him that I never wanted this moment to end.

  “Oh, God. That’s so good.” Max rumbled.

  I could feel the vibration in his chest when said it, and that only made me work harder. Max leaned back against the tiles, taking me with him, which consequently made me not be able to touch any longer. He guided first one leg, and then the next over either of his thighs, and rested my feet on the bench beside them.

  This new position made him deeper, and it was very close to the type of pleasure that might soon resemble pain if he wasn’t careful. Not that I should have worried. The man controlled his cock the way he controlled his body. Seamlessly precise, each and every movement filled me up to perfection.

  “Look at us.” He said huskily.

  My eyes opened, and I caught the reflection of our connected bodies in the mirror. Max’s hand had moved down and his fingers framed my labia, but still gave me a clear view of all the action. His cock was curved slightly as it entered me; my entrance looked like it was stretched to the limits as he plunged in and out of me. After just two rough thrusts from him, I lost it. Pure and simple, my mind was blown. Shocks raced through my veins, radiating out from my core. My nipples puckered even harder than they already were. My head connected with Max’s collarbone, and I felt the rumble of his growl underneath me, but didn’t hear it beyond the roaring of blood in my ears.