I made my way through the foyer and had one foot on the bottom step when small arms wrapped around my waist, encircling me in a vice like a grip. I placed my hands over the tiny ones on my waist, halting my ascension on the stairs.
“You came home.” He voice sounded relieved.
My heart ached. I felt horrible that I had caused her any worry. She didn’t deserve it.
“Of course, I came home. Where else can I freely wrangle my anaconda into submission?”
The arms that encased me recoiled and I was met with repeated slaps to my back.
I spun around on my heels and gripped her hands in mine.
“Chill honey badger. Why are you so worked up?”
Katinka huffed and blew a strand of hair out of her face. Her eyes focused on my lips before climbing up to meet mine.
“Tosh won’t put out. He is afraid he will hurt the baby either physically or emotionally.” She sounded so distraught. I wanted to feel bad for her but I just couldn’t, just like I couldn’t fight the laughter that bubbled up from my chest and came out of my mouth.
“You’re mad at me, force me to be celibate and physically abuse me because your husband won’t bang you?” I asked in disbelief.
“NO! Well, okay, maybe, but the celibate part is for your own good. You have to stick with it. Please, promise me you will stick with it.” She begged. Her bottom lip protruding as she pouted.
“UGH,” I groaned, releasing her hands to scrub my own across my face. I buried the heels of my hands against my eyes and let out a deafening roar.
“Woman, you will be the death of me. TOSH, give your woman some dick. Quit being a pussy!” I shouted toward the den where I assumed he had taken up residence.
“He isn’t here. They all left to get food. The house had been restocked but no one felt like cooking.”
“They left you here alone?” I admonished.
“I’m a grown ass woman in case you haven’t noticed.” Her hands planted on her hips as she jutted out her chin in defiance. She looked absolutely adorable.
“I know you’re a ‘grown ass woman’ but you’re also a so preggo you could pop any day, woman. You shouldn’t be left alone.” I raised an eyebrow, challenging her to deny it.
“I didn’t want you to come home to an empty house.”
Her words hit me in the solar plexus. I nearly doubled over with the weight of the impact. Again, here I was causing this woman undue distress. How could I possibly enter into a relationship with a woman when I was constantly hurting the most important woman in my life? I grabbed her in a tight embrace.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered into her hair. Her arms went around me clutching me close to her.
“I knew you would be home. You love me too much to leave.” She mumbled into my chest. “Where did you go?”
I kissed the top of her head. “I went to see mom and dad and let them know we were home.”
She squeezed me even tighter in her arms, her body pressed against mine seamlessly.
I felt her stomach kick at me. Quickly I yanked her back, my hands on her shoulders as I inspected her from head to toe. Searching for the source of the movement and ensuring she wasn’t in any pain.
“What was that?” my eyes filled with fear.
Katinka nearly doubled over laughing. Breaking the heavy moment we had just shared.
“That was the baby,”
“What was she doing? Is she coming out? Do we need to go to the hospital?” I fired off the questions in rapid succession. My questions caused Katinka to laugh harder. Her legs crossed and she half squatted dragging me into an awkward hunched pretzel-like position. My 6’2 frame huddled over her 5’2 stature.
“Stop it… Oh My God… You’re going to make me pee myself.” She laughed harder, squeezing her legs together tighter.
“The baby was just kicking you idiot.” She said between bouts of laughter.
Stumped I straightened myself leaving her in an awkward pretzel-like position.
“Why would she do that? Does it hurt?”
“No you idiot. Help me up. She is just moving and getting comfortable. Maybe she does want to kick your ass though for making me worry.” I reached out my hand to her and helped her stand up straight, my other hand bracing her by the shoulder.
“So it doesn’t hurt?”
“No, the only thing that hurts is when she kicks my bladder like it’s a soccer ball. Then it takes everything in me not to pee my pants and make it to the bathroom.”
I scratched the back of my head confounded by the woman in front of me. How could she be so happy about a pregnancy when the result was a tiny human kicking her bladder and crawling around inside of her? It freaked me out if I was being honest with myself.
“Now help me to the bathroom. You will need to carry me. If I try and walk I will wet myself.”
I shook my head and chuckled. Sweeping her up in my arms I carried her to the closest bathroom just off the foyer. I set her on the ground in front of the toilet and turned to leave.
“Call me if you need me, I’ll be just outside the door,” I called over my shoulder.
“I’m sure I can pee by myself, but thank you.”
I shut the door behind me. I leaned my back against the wall as I waited for her to finish.
The front door opening caught my attention. Tosha walked in with his hands full of bags from Katinka’s favorite Italian restaurant. The smell of buttery garlic bread and thick red marinara sauce assaulted my nostrils causing my stomach to growl loudly.
“Let me help you with those,” I offered walking up to Tosha. Instead of relieving his full hands I punched him in the dick. Tosha took a sharp inhale before hitting the marbled covered foyer with his knees. His body slumped over to its side. The bags of food fell from his arms and crashed to the floor.
“What the fuck?” His words were just above a whisper as he cupped his dick in his hands and practiced relearning how to breathe.
“Celibacy,” That one word spoke volumes.
A knowing look crossed his face followed by a grimace of a smile.
“Sucks to be you, doesn’t it?” he croaked out, his hands still cupping his cock and balls.
“Dude, I don’t know what you’re so excited about. You won’t bang your wife and after that baby comes out you won’t be able to for a couple of months. Looks like I won’t be the only one going without.” I smirked down at him and offered a hand to help him up.
Tosha’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. “Seriously?”
“Dude, you are a dumb ass. Did you think you could just go back to pound town after she pops out a kid?”
The look on his face said everything. He thought things would just go back to normal. I couldn’t hide the laughter that spilled from my lips.
“Looks like both of us will be shaking hands with the unemployed.”
Tosha’s brows furrowed in confusion, “What?”
“You know, badgering the witness?”
Tosha’s face remained blank.
“Punching the clown? Whitewater writing? Playing a little five on one?”
Still, his face continued to be blank.
“What he is trying to say is jerking off. He’s just being an idiot about it.” Nikolia said bending down to gather up the bags of food that were still lying on the floor and walked them into the kitchen.
Realization dawned on Tosha’s face. “So, no more goodie-goodie?” His eyes grew wide and his jaw slack.
I laughed and slapped him on the back pushing him toward the kitchen. “Nope, no more goodie-goodie.”
Ivan and Kiev walked in the door and followed the dazed Tosha into the kitchen. I waited for Katinka to finish in the bathroom.
“You about done? They are back with food.” I knocked gently on the bathroom door.
The door cracked just enough for me to see one of her eyes.
“Please tell me I did not just hear what I thought I heard.” She whispered through the crack of the door.
&nbs
p; I stayed silent but gave a curt nod. Her forehead hit the door with a thump.
“Maybe he will give it to me now.” Her voice was laced with hope.
“Ya know it’s impolite to brag when others have none.” Katinka winced. “Sorry,”
“Come on out so we can eat.” She nodded. Opening the door and wrapping her hand around my bicep. I flexed and shot her a wink.
The six of us sat around the large kitchen island enjoying the saucy pasta and crisp garlic bread. Several beers had been downed already and we were all a bit buzzed with the exception of Katinka. It felt good to be home enjoying a meal with my friends. We spent every single day together while we were on tour but nothing was like being at home sharing a meal and some beers in the comfort of our own home. It held a special place in my heart.
“Baby, can you get me some Tums. I have heartburn.” Katinka batted her eyes at Tosha. I saw him shoot her a heated look before getting up. She was going to be in for a long night. It’s amazing what happens to a man when he finds out he won’t be getting laid for a while. It like you brain instantly reboots and sex is all you can think of. Tosha was clearly focused on one thing. He was just going through the motions until he could get her upstairs.
“Ooh,” Katinka squealed out, her hand shooting to her lower stomach.
All eyes turned and focused on her.
“You okay?” Ivan asked, instantly by her side.
Katinka nodded her head. Her brows drawn together in concentration and her lips pursed into an ‘oh’ as she inhaled deeply. She held onto the table with one hand, her knuckles white, the other hand held her lower stomach.
“Tink, what is it? What’s going on?”
The questions flew at her as we circled her like vultures. Her face was growing paler with every wince. She let out several more squeals of pain.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong with my wife?” Tosha bellowed out, shoving everyone out of the way.
Katinka’s eyes met mine. In that moment I knew. My heart beat rapidly in my chest and sweat began to gather at my temples. I ran from the room, taking the steps three at a time I rushed into Katinka’s room and grabbed her hospital bags, slinging them over my shoulder. I was glad that she had kept them packed and easily accessible by the door. I ran back into the kitchen and began barking orders.
“Kiev, get the Escalade and pull up to the door, Ivan take the bags to the car. Nik, help me get her to the car. Tosha, grab her shoes and her purse and get in the car. The baby is coming.” Wide eyes met mine with shock. “Go!” I shouted. Everyone took off in a mad dash. The reality of the situation finally setting in.
“Nik, you take the right side and I’ll take the left. Let’s get her to the car and put her in the middle seat.” I ordered. My body was driven by fear and adrenalin.
“But I want to sit up front. I never get to sit up front.” Katinka protested weakly.
“Next time, Tink, I promise.”
We half walked half carried her to the car. Just before we were able to get her in the car door her water broke. The warm wet fluid splashing our shoes. I fought the urge to vomit. My stomach protested and threatened to upheave its contents several times before Katinka was finally secured in the middle seat of the SUV. I swallowed down the threatening bile and shut the car door.
I climbed into the front seat leaving Nik and Tosha to take care of Katinka. Kiev drove and Ivan sat in the third-row seat with a damp cloth held to Katinka’s head. How one man was expected to do all of this I had no clue. It was taking the five of us to get her to the hospital and more hands could be used to care for her.
I called the hospital and Katinka’s doctor’s letting them know we were on our way. It was faster for us to drive than to wait around for an ambulance. Next, I placed a call to Kevin letting him know to meet us at the hospital. Thankfully he was still with Shep, G, Evan, and Ryan. I then called Ivan and Kiev’s parents letting them know that we were on our way to the hospital. Having placed all of the calls I was freed up to assist with Katinka.
“Tosh, keep her comfortable. Nik, keep track of the contractions.”
“How the hell do I keep track of them?” He asked his voice strained with worry.
“Time them. Like how long between each one and how long do they last.”
“How will I know when she is having one?”
“See that look of pain on her face?”
“Yes,”
“That’s a contraction. Time how long it last and the time between them.”
“Kiev, make a right up here, it will be faster. Downtown is going to be a traffic nightmare.”
Following my directions, we made it to the hospital in record time.
The Nurses were waiting for us at labor and delivery and were able to get Katinka loaded into a wheelchair and to a room within a matter of minutes. Tosha was right by her side leaving the rest of us to fill out forms and drive ourselves crazy waiting in the family waiting room.
Kevin, Shep, and the guys came busting in the room their faces a mask of worry.
“Anything?” Shep asked. I shook my head.
“We’re still waiting,”
Six hours, six grueling hours of pacing. Six hours of no word, not a peep. Six hours of worrying and feeling helpless. That’s how long we waited. Six hours of the unknown before Tosha busted in the waiting room doors. His face was red and covered in sweat but he was smiling like a damn idiot. His clothes were wrinkled and disheveled. He looked as though he had just weathered the storm of the century. I read somewhere that childbirth could be like that. He strutted into the room full of cocky arrogance.
“Tink is doing great. She is resting. The baby is doing great. They have her in the nursery now. She is getting cleaned up and checked out.”
“Well, tell us about the baby.” Kiev’s mom encouraged, her thin frail arms wrapping around Tosha’s neck in a tight embrace.
Tosha clung to her like a life raft. Ivan’s mother wrapped her arms around the both of them. I couldn’t help but to pull out my phone and snap a picture of the scene in front of me. Memories were being created and I wanted to have souvenirs to show my niece one day. I knew first hand that forever wasn’t guaranteed and that we wouldn’t always be here.
Tosha’s embrace with the pseudo mothers ended and we all waited eagerly to hear details about the baby.
“She is 7lbs 10 ounces and 23 inches long. She had a head full of brown hair, just like her momma.”
The mothers cooed and awed the dads gave hearty slaps on the back to Tosha. Hugs went around the room. It was moments like these that I missed my parents and their loss was felt the worse. All of the emotions had my skin itching. I had to get away.
I watched the room waiting for the right moment to slip out. Ivan’s dad had opened his jacket and began to pass out cigars. I took the distraction as my opening to leave. Without a second look back I slipped out of the room.
I had been sitting in the same room for so long I had gotten disoriented and ended up stumbling down hall after hall. Seeing a nurse up ahead I picked up my pace. “Excuse me,” I called out to her, hoping to get her attention. I needed to catch her to get directions out of here. She turned and waited for me. Just as soon as I had caught up with her the view to the right caught my eyes.
It was a large glass window, the nursery. Rows and rows of babies lay swaddled in tiny blankets. Little pink and blue striped caps covered their heads. My hands instinctively went to the glass as I tried to locate the little girl that would own me for life.
“Can I help you, sir?” The nurse I had been trying to catch up to was standing beside me expectantly. I shook my head.
“No, my niece is in there.”
The nurse gave me a knowing smile. “Do you know which one she is?”
I shook my head again.
“Well, what’s the last name? Maybe I can point her out to you.”
A smile spread across my lips.
“Mikhailov”
“Ah, yes, the princess wit
h the head full of hair. She is in the third row the second bassinet from the left.”
I followed her finger. There right where the nurse had said was the most adorable baby I had ever laid eyes on. I was instantly in love. I no longer felt the need to escape the hospital instead, I wanted to be here with my family and my niece.
“She is going to be a heartbreaker, isn’t she?” Kevin’s hand rested on my shoulder. I gave him a knowing smirk over my shoulder. I didn’t want to take my eyes off my niece a moment longer than I had to. “It’s time to get the shotgun out.”
Kevin laughed and nodded his head. I knew he felt the same way I did. We all talked a big game, but when it came to Katinka or the baby, we meant business.
“Do you or your husband know what the parents named her?” The nurse asked drawing a puzzled look from both me and Kevin.
She tried again, “The baby, do either of you know what that baby’s name is?”
“Did you just refer to him as my husband?” Kevin asked confused.
The nurse blushed. “Yes, I’m sorry, should I have said partner?”
Kevin laughed. “I know he is a sexy hunk of a man. All of his tattoos really give him a bad boy vibe that contradicts his pretty boy face, doesn’t it?”
Heat flushed the nurse’s face as she bit her lower lip and gave a short nod of her head in agreement.
Kevin leaned into her and whispered in her ear, “He isn’t mine. He is single and straight and I heard he has a cock the size of an anaconda.” Kevin shot her a wink.
The nurses head jerked up, her lips forming an ‘oh’ as she made eye contact with me. I gave her a cocky smirk. I could have her in a matter of minutes, bent over, grabbing her ankles.
“But, he has taken a vow of celibacy, unfortunately.” Kevin finished. The nurse’s face fell. Kevin stood back up and patted me on the back. “Don’t forget your promise to Tink.” He turned and walked back toward the waiting room where our family was currently taking up residence.
“Sorry about him.” I tried to apologize. She shook her head and turned to leave. Calling over her shoulder, “If you change your mind give me a call, the name’s Mary.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and stifled a groan rocking back on my heels, damn-it.
Rocking Away: A Heavy Metal Romance (Slava Pasha Book 3) Page 4