EPILOGUE
Nine months later
– QUINN –
There are still so many things to do and the line, “I’m not ready,” is going through my mind more than a few times a day.
Strange, because I’m way ahead when it comes to my final year in college, all thanks to my amazing guidance counselor.
She’s been extremely valuable, helping me with extending deadlines and a modified attendance policy.
This pregnancy has not been all roses and sunshine. My ankles are killing me right now, my back too, but at least that comes and goes. I still get to be able to enjoy the sight before me. It gives me the ultimate distraction, and with it creating a new craving.
My amazing husband is riding Lumos, a white stallion. The sight always makes my belly flutter. When we were finally able to return home nine months ago, Fiero made it a daily routine to take me with him whenever he wanted to ride his horses.
I’ve never ridden one, but I sure love to watch Fiero when he’s with those noble animals. They each have their own quirks, and I really love the white stallion he’s riding now. Lumos is sweet and I can’t wait to ride on his back the way Fiero promised me.
Well, he promised to teach me how to ride after I’ve given birth.
Pain shoots through my back again and I keep rubbing while pacing the fence.
I abruptly come to a stop when I feel wetness between my legs.
With wide eyes I stare down at my soaked yoga pants.
Shit. My water just broke. I glance to my left and wave Benny over.
“Everything okay?” Benny asks and looks concerned when I wince from the new level of pain flaring from my back.
“Dandy, Benny.” I grimace. “Could you please tell Fiero my water just broke and take Lumos so my husband can drive me to the hospital?”
His eyes go wide, and he doesn’t say a word but simply jumps the fence and rushes to Fiero. I watch my husband jump off Lumos while Benny takes the reins. He’s standing in front of me with my next breath and is guiding us toward the car.
I dig my heels in. “You have to change.”
Fiero frowns. “No. We already put the bag and stuff you and the baby need in the car. Everything is ready, come on, we can’t waste time.”
“I’m not getting into the car until you’ve changed.”
He stares down and the corner of his mouth twitches. “It’s not the horse smell or the boots, right?”
I roll my eyes and he chuckles. Chuckles. I’m biting away pain and he’s laughing at me.
“Floris,” Fiero bellows. “Grab me a pair of jeans and meet me at the car.”
His brother rushes off while Fiero helps me shuffle to the car. The pain is getting worse and I’m guessing the contractions are coming closer together. I grit my teeth and have my eyes closed when Fiero stops.
I hear him open the door and he puts his hands on my hips to guide me into the car.
I’m huffing out a breath when I hear Floris and open my eyes to see Fiero dropping his pants in the middle of the driveway.
I might be insane because seeing him changing his pants is totally hot.
Dammit. Not the thoughts I need right now.
Another contraction takes my breath away.
“Call Bri,” I tell Floris. “I want her at the hospital.”
“On it,” he rumbles while Fiero gets behind the wheel.
I close my eyes once more and try to breathe through the pain.
Pain that’s getting worse and worse, and once we’re at the hospital they ask if I want an epidural.
This is something I’ve given a lot of thought over the past few months and it’s why I tell them I want a natural birth.
Hours pass and I might doubt my own sanity until it’s finally time to push.
Fiero is at my side, whispering words while I can’t pay attention.
Everything is too overwhelming when I’m trying to push a tiny person out of my body.
The moment it happens? Everything else falls away.
Nothing matters except how this tiny person came into the world when our son is placed on my chest.
I can’t even remember the pain as I stare down at the tiny goo-covered person. In the back of my head, I know it’s not something I’d do anytime soon again, but oh my sweet heavens our boy is perfect.
“He’s perfect,” Fiero croaks.
It takes effort to drag my gaze away to look at Fiero. His eyes are brimming with tears and there’s so much love staring back at me, at our son, it makes my heart overflow with happiness.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Our gaze connects and he leans in to murmur against my lips, “I love you more because you give me so much more every damn day.”
A smile overtakes my face as I stare down at our son. “You, little man, are loved.”
“Finley Reaux, you are more than loved,” Fiero agrees.
“Adding more to everything doesn’t work the way glitter does.” It takes effort not to laugh when I look at Fiero.
“Glitter is terrible, it sticks to everything,” he mutters.
“There will be glitter in your future if we ever have a girl. Well, boys can like glitter just as much too.”
Fiero releases a frustrating breath. “I guess I’ll have to endure.”
I giggle and keep my gaze on Finley. “Do you hear that, Finley? We’re all going to endure glitter. It’s gonna get messy, but we’ll deal.”
Fiero presses a kiss on the top of my head and leans in to do the same to our son.
My heart is overflowing. Even the orders from the people around me to push for the placenta don’t distract me from the monumental change that happened today.
My husband is now holding our baby. I’m so damn tired and I know I need to sleep, but I can’t stop staring.
Time is moving at a fast-forward speed when Micah comes to visit. Then Bri is suddenly in the room, gushing over how gorgeous my son is. Tate, who apparently drove her, gives me a chin lift and stays near the door.
“Do babies freak him out?” I ask Fiero.
My husband snickers. “Who knows, but the man sure likes the way babies are made.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Not something I like to hear.”
A yawn escapes me and my eyelids are heavy.
Knowing our little boy is safely sleeping in his father’s arms allows me to drift off.
Until sleep evaporates due to the thought of my baby being outside of my body.
Meaning he’s unprotected and by himself.
We need to protect him, teach, raise, and let him fail and learn from mistakes, and oh my shits I’m hyperventilating.
Fiero fills my vision. “Breathe, darlin’.”
“I can’t,” I wheeze. “It’s up to us now to keep him safe.”
Fiero frowns and glances over his shoulder at the little crib Finley is sleeping in. “He’s okay, everyone’s okay.”
“You don’t know that. Bad things happen all the time. Look at what happened to us, the why and how we found out I was pregnant.”
My husband caresses my cheek. “We’ve slayed the monsters in our past, there’s no reason to worry about things that haven’t happened yet.
You know I’ve already signed off on the official papers for Floris to take over the fantasy aspect of the company.
It leaves me to fully focus on the business side, freeing up time for us as a family.
Besides, whatever is thrown at our feet we will handle it.
If it makes you feel any better, I’ll buy our son a horse instead of a pony.
Ponies are vicious. Some think you need to be careful around the big ones but the ponies are the ones to watch. ”
All I want to do is hold Finley and protect him from everything and Fiero is talking about putting him on a horse? Breathe. I need to remember to freaking breathe.
“They talk about baby steps for a reason, petite storm. One day at a time.” He brushes his lips against mine.
His touch is soothing the storm within me. This man was there at a time when my life was shattered into pieces. He picked them up and didn’t use glue to put them back together...no, he fused them to make everything whole again.
He made me whole while feeling loved, cherished, respected, and most importantly wanted. For a man who used to give orders involving fantasies it’s a special treat to be the sole recipient. Floris is now the one having all the fun while we stick to our own playtime.
“I love you,” I tell Fiero on another yawn.
“And I love you more, little tempest.” His voice drifts off as I close my eyes.
I fall asleep with a smile on my face knowing we’re a team who will keep loving and living life at a baby step pace to make sure we enjoy every damn second of it.