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When Liam slipped in the room and smiled at them entwined, dropping a kiss on Raine’s still-flushed cheek, Macen shared a smile with his best friend. And for the first time in his life, he felt well and truly whole.
Tuesday, February 19
Hammer hadn’t been this anxious since his first day of boarding school. Sitting in the waiting room in the office of Raine’s ob-gyn, surrounded by women—some who already looked forty weeks pregnant—Macen wanted to climb the walls. Raine skimmed her thumb over his knuckles, trying to soothe him. Would he be a nervous wreck when Raine was ready to deliver? Hell, would he even be there when that time came? The thought of missing out on the birth of their child sent him spiraling downward.
Don’t go there, fucker.
After the evening he and Raine had spent making love, he’d succeeded in shoving down his fears—until now. He’d also held tight to the feeling of completeness he’d discovered then. From the moment he’d awakened this morning, he’d done his best to focus on appreciating every second of his freedom with the two people he loved. And now he’d be hearing their baby’s heartbeat.
Later, he knew he’d have decisions to make.
But no way would he let dread or what-ifs spoil this moment.
Two chairs down, Liam leaned in to kiss Raine’s cheek. Foreheads pressed together, they shared a hopeful, intimate glance. And when she turned to him in silent question, he couldn’t leave her wondering whether he was excited to hear the first signs of their growing child’s life. He caressed her belly and smiled.
Around the room, he could feel gaping stares, even outright hostility from other expectant mothers. He ignored them. No one was ruining this for them.
“Raine?” An older woman clutching a chart and wearing bright blue scrubs called as she held open a wide door.
Both he and Liam leapt to their feet and extended their hands to Raine. She placed her fingers in each of their palms and stood, excitement evident in her exhalation. “It’s time.”
“Wow,” a woman murmured as they passed.
“Maybe one is a friend and the other is the father,” another woman speculated in a whisper that carried around the room.
Raine turned back to the busybodies. “No, they’re both my men and the fathers of our baby, not that it’s any of your business.”
Hammer couldn’t help but chuckle as Raine clutched his and Liam’s arms proudly and sashayed toward the nurse. She didn’t even look back to see the jaws dropped in shock. The stunned gasps from the two judgmental twits said it all.
“You go, girl,” another expectant mother cheered her on as they passed.
A wide grin speared Liam’s face.
Once they passed the nurse waiting for them at the portal, Hammer leaned in to murmur in her ear. “You’re bad. I like it.”
“I can’t take you two anywhere,” Liam teased.
“Me? What the fu—heck did I do?” Hammer amended his language in the mostly female-inhabited, baby-friendly office.
The nurse laughed and motioned Raine to step on the scales. After she slipped off her shoes, they watched the number appear on the digital display.
“Are you having trouble with morning sickness?” asked the nurse. “You’ve lost four pounds.”
Hammer and Liam exchanged a glance. The stress and chaos in their lives right now had impacted her and their baby. He wished like fuck he could put a stop to it—for all their sakes.
“No,” Raine replied. “I just don’t seem to have much of an appetite.”
Hammer sent her a scowl for lying.
“We’ll start force-feeding her if we have to,” Liam assured.
“I have no doubt.” The nurse shot Raine a knowing grin. “You’re lucky. Some women don’t have one man, let alone two, helping through their pregnancies.”
“I bet it’s really quiet at their house,” Raine joked with a saucy grin. “And they do less laundry.”
“That comment is going to cost you… later,” Hammer whispered in her ear.
The nurse pretended not to hear as she took Raine’s blood pressure and temperature, then led them to an examination room. Hammer’s replacement phone—the feds had seized his—vibrated in his pocket. He ignored the call and helped Raine onto the table.
Hammer had never been in an ob-gyn’s office, but he knew exactly what sort of apparatus this was. Toying with one of the stirrups, he glanced at Liam. “One of these would be great for the dungeon at home, wouldn’t it?”
His buddy nodded. “Think of the possibilities.”
Sidling to the foot of the table, Liam extended the stirrups.
Raine swatted at his shoulder. “What are you doing? Stop. The doctor is going to walk in here any second. Retract those.”
“Not so fast. Lie back, love.” Liam stroked her thigh. “Prop your pretty little feet in these stirrups. Doctor Hammer and I will cure what ails you.”
Raine’s face turned bright red. Macen couldn’t help but laugh.
“Liam Sean O’Neill, you are out of your ever-loving Irish mind if you think—”
