can’t leave me now!” Her voice is desperate, and her eyes are pleading.
“You’ve got Cole, Anna. He’s not going anywhere,” I soothe, wiping her forehead with a cool cloth, trying to talk some sense into her, because she’s obviously out of her mind… I’m not staying in here. As much as I want a baby of my own, I don’t think I’m ready to watch one be born. Ignorance is bliss… right?
“Yeah, but he’s a jackass, and I need you! Please stay with me!” she begs, tears forming in her eyes.
Damn tears!
“OK, I’ll stay. I’ll stay.” I pat her arm and try to calm the full-on panic attack that’s going on inside me. Holy shit! No, no, no. Getting ice chips is one thing, but I can’t watch this! I can’t watch them pull a coconut through a hole the size of a pea!
As Anna starts to push, she squeezes the shit out of my hand. I look across at Cole. He’s so white he’s starting to blend into the wall behind him, and his eyes are glazed over.
I know this look. I saw it once in the woods when I cut my leg on a big stick. There was so much blood and he nearly passed out on me.
“He’s going down!” I yell out, just in time for the nurse to push a chair under him before he hits the ground.
“Cole! You big wuss! Ahhhhhhhh,” Anna screams as she pushes through a hard contraction. “I’m the one pushing a baby out of my vagina, and you’re passing out?”
“Thi—this is why I needed you to stay. I knew he wouldn’t be able to handle it,” Anna pants.
I can’t help but laugh at the chaos around me—Cole trying to stay with us, Anna screaming as she pushes—but the second she bears down for the final push, everything seems to stand still.
The wail of a baby fills the room and a nurse quickly wipes him off, swaddles him, and lays him on Anna’s chest.
I take this as my cue to make my exit. Cole gives me a confident smile when I look over at him before he takes the scissors from the nurse and cuts the umbilical cord. I lean over and kiss Anna’s head, telling her “congratulations” and get a good look at Cole, Jr. Well, his name is Matthew, but I can already tell he looks just like his daddy.
Walking out into the hall, I slowly slide down the wall and sit on the floor.
Damn, that was intense.
Looking at my phone, I see the time and it’s time for me to head to the bakery to make some muffins.
I’m thinking an espresso-infused triple chocolate with a cherry filling… Back in Baby’s Arms.
Chapter 16
Cage
The bell over the front door to the studio rings and my mouth instinctively begins to water. It’s not only because of the Pavlovian response I seem to have now when Tempest walks through the door but also, because of the delicious aroma that enters with her.
My payment.
My very own specially made muffins from the Duchess of Muffins herself.
I’m trying really hard to remain casual, so I glance at the entryway over my shoulder and try not to swallow my tongue.
Delicious. Both the muffins and their maker. I mean, I can only assume Tempest tastes as amazing as her muffins because I haven’t had the pleasure. Yet.
Shit. It’s getting harder and harder to keep my feelings platonic, but I know I have to try.
Her smile is bright and beautiful as she holds up the package of baked goods for me to see and I smile in return before turning back around and briefly adjusting my dick. When I’ve collected myself and feel somewhat in control of my body, I walk over to the set of chairs where she’s standing.
“What flavor do we have today?” I ask, opening the box to take a peek.
“These are called Hello, Darlins—salted caramel with white chocolate chips.” The way her green eyes grow with excitement makes me excited too. I love the passion she has for her baking. “Today is the first day I’ve made them, so you’re my guinea pig.”
I smirk, taking another look inside the box and practically drooling over the freshly-baked muffins. “I will gladly be your guinea pig, even if I have to add extra workouts to my regimen.” I allow myself a big whiff of the sweet scent coming from the box and moan. “Oh, yeah, these will be totally worth the extra gym time.”
She laughs and I