Mr. Big Jerk: A Forbidden Second Chance Romance (Kinda Cocky Series Book 3), стр. 46
My head snapped up. “Who are you? You aren’t my doctor? Where’s my doctor!”
Clint pressed his lips to my ear again. “Our baby’s coming, and he’s coming quickly. This is the on-call doctor. Just listen to him, okay? I promise you’re in great hands.”
Tears streaked my cheeks. “But, he’s not my doctor.”
The nameless doctor pulled up a chair. “I know you’re scared right now, but I need you to lean back. Dad, you want to come hold--.”
Clint shot back at the doctor. “We need to get her out of this bed and let gravity do the work. She doesn’t need to be lying down.”
The doctor shook his head. “I’m afraid we can’t do that, sir.”
Clint worked me back out of bed. “I don’t give a shit what you think. Come on, Roxy. Move with me.”
“Aaaaahhhhh, Clint! It hurts!”
“I know it does. Lean against me. That’s it. Let me hold you up.”
“Fuck! Why the fuck is this happening!?”
He kissed the back of my head. “Let gravity do its work. You just push when your body feels ready.”
The doctor tried to butt in. “Sir, we really need to get her back into--.”
I snapped at him. “Shut up, or help. But, I’m not lying in that bed. I know it’s bad for delivery. That’s what my lam-aaaaaaaah!”
Clint’s arms held me up tightly. “You’re doing great. When you feel the need, push again. And I’m going to be right here.”
Sweat dripped down the nape of my neck. I watched nurses get onto the floor as they started piling sheets and towels beneath me. I felt tired. I felt sore. I felt angry, and I felt pain. I tried to fight against it with each contraction that washed over me like an ocean trying to swallow me whole.
Then, Clint whispered in my ear.
“Let it take you under, beautiful. Pain isn’t your enemy. Not in a situation like this.”
My eyes rolled back as the doctor’s voice finally sounded. Though, it sounded far off. I let the pain wash over me just like Clint told me, and for some reason, that made things more bearable. It felt like my insides were trying to claw their way out. I’d never felt pressure or pain like this before. The ugly euphoria made me sick to my stomach, but it also made me feel fierce. Proud. Strong.
Just like Clint had always seen me.
“There you go. There it is. Just like that, Roxy. You're doing great,” he whispered.
The doctor called up from the floor. “One more push and the baby’s here. You’re doing fantastic, Mama.”
“Do this for our boy, beautiful. Do it for him.”
And as I gritted my teeth, I heard Kelly and Karina squealing with delight at the doorway as the pressure finally relieved itself.
Everything went silent as I collapsed into Clint’s arms. I felt nurses helping me back into bed as my head fell off to the side. I could barely keep my eyes open. I felt someone taking my hands as my eyes fluttered open. I gazed up into the face of the man I loved, watching him while he watched the doctors handling our baby.
And when I heard that ear-splitting cry for the very first time, all sound came whooshing back into place.
“Congratulations, Mom and Dad,” the doctor said.
I kept watching Clint’s face as his jaw dropped open, and his eyes watered with tears.
“What, honey? What is it?” I asked weakly.
But, when I saw the doctor offer Clint a rolled-up blue blanket, I knew. In my heart of hearts, I knew I’d been right.
It’s a boy.
Clint laughed with delight. “He’s beautiful, Roxy. My God, you’re perfect. You and he are absolutely perfect.”
I held up my arms. “Let me see him. Please.”
I felt someone opening my gown. “Skin to skin is best. Clint, unwrap him and settle him against Roxy’s chest.”
I felt someone cleaning between my legs before a sheet was ripped from beneath me. I didn’t care, though. The only thing I focused on was that naked baby boy being settled against my chest.
And when I gazed into his beautiful blue eyes he had inherited from his father, tears rolled down my cheeks.
“I love you so much,” I whispered.
Then, I heard machines beeping out of control before my world faded into darkness.
24
Clint
“Roxy?” I asked.
I heard the machines beeping erratically as her arms went limp.
“Roxy!” I roared.
The baby started crying as Kelly rushed to her side.
“Roxy, what’s going on? Roxy, can you hear me!?”
Karina scooped up our son. “Doctor!”
Nurses pushed me off to the side as they gathered around Roxy. I watched her body go limp as her face paled before I heard something splashing against the floor. My head whipped over toward the sound, and I saw red fluid gushing all over the floor. Right from between Roxy’s legs.
My entire world froze.
No. Not again.
“Roxy!” I roared.
“Sir, you have to calm down,” the nurse said.
“Roxy! Wake up, damn it!”
I felt hands against my chest. “Sir, you have to stay here. You can’t go with her. Sir!”
“Clint!” Karina shrieked.
I felt something soft settle into my arms before I looked down at my sweet baby boy.
Then, I heard Karina’s voice again. “Let’s get him his first bath.”
I slowly rose my gaze. “What just happened? What happened to my Roxy?”
Her eyes watered. “Trust the doctors to do what they do best. But, in the meantime? Your son needs you.”
My eyes slowly lifted to the doorway, and I saw Zane and Brenden standing there. They rushed to my side and ushered me over to the washing trough where all of us stood around, taking turns washing up my son. My son, who still didn’t have a name because I’d left that to Roxy. My son, who had already been robbed of his mother’s touch because I was forever cursed to lose those I loved around me.
“Have faith, Clint,” Zane said.
Brenden nodded. “You’re in the best hospital this city has to offer. Whatever’s wrong, they’ll