Page 35 of The Single Father Upstairs

“Ouch.” Miles dropped the remote and leaned forward. “Okay, I didn’t like that. It was owie.”

There’ll be more owies to come, and they’ll be painful. My bear remembered some of Indigo’s birth.

I can’t say that. Though Miles was aware, as we’d attended birthing classes for shifters.

“Help me up, Stellan. I need to walk.”

We paced from the living room to our room, from there to the kitchen, and did another turn around the couch. The contractions were coming fast, and each one was more painful than the last.

Miles leaned on me between cramping. “This baby’s in a hurry.”

“Would you like a warm bath?”

He nodded, and when the tub was full of warm water, I helped Miles in and sat behind him.

“That feels a little better.”

With my hands on his bump, I felt his belly tighten as it contracted. We breathed together using the technique we’d been taught. But the water started to get cold, and Miles wanted out, but he didn’t know if he wanted to be on the bed or do more walking.

“What’s wrong with me?” He wept against my shoulder.

“Nothing. Your body is doing something momentous, but you’re in pain and the baby’s on their way, so your emotions are discombobulated.”

He managed a giggle. “I love that word.”

We paced, and Miles squatted, and I fed him ice chips. He moaned and wept through the contractions until he said, “Ohhh,” again.

What now?my bear wanted to know.

Miles tugged my shirt. “I want to push.”

The baby was closer than I thought, and I waited until he told me where he wanted to be.

“Maybe squatting. That gave me some relief earlier.”

I grabbed the bedding and plastic we’d prepared and placed it on the floor. With me behind him, I lowered us to a squatting position.

We breathed in tandem as he gave a gigantic push.

“Nothing happened? I know it takes more pushing, but somehow I thought one push and the baby would be here.”

“Soon, babe. You’re doing great.”

“How would you know? I need to get this baby out of me,” he yelped. “Oh, here’s another contraction.”

He pushed again and cried that his body was being split in two. “Is there any sign of the baby? Maybe I don’t really have a little one inside me.”

How I wished I could transfer some of his pain to me. My beast and I would bear it.

Using one hand, I felt for the baby’s head. Oh my gods, Miles was doing so well. Our little one was almost here, and they had a lot of hair.

“I felt the head. It won’t be long. You’re doing so well.”

“You said that already,” he grouched. “It’s annoying.”

He pushed again and again, and the baby’s head emerged. I knew once the shoulders were out, it would be very quick.

“Be there for our little one, Stellan.”