Page 59 of The Surrender (Arlington Hall #2)

“Oh no,” I gasp, feeling another one coming. “No, no, no.” I slam my eyes shut and circle my belly with my arms, riding the excruciating pain. “I need to push!” I strain the words as I bear down, the urge overcoming me. “Arhhhhhhhh!”

“Fuck.” Jude rips his shirt open.

“What are you doing?” I pant.

“Yes, what the hell are you doing?” Abbie asks, as he kicks his shoes off and dips to tug his feet out of his socks before wriggling out of his trousers.

“I’m getting in.” He’s in the pool before I can protest, not that I can anyway, another awful contraction claiming me and bending my body, ballooning my cheeks.

“Oh God, this is horrific,” I wail, pushing down through the pain, feeling things moving down below. “I need to move.”

“Move?” Jude asks. “To where?”

“I don’t know, but I need to move.” I start scrambling to my knees and fall onto my palms, rocking my hips from side to side. “Oh, that’s good,” I mumble. “Rub my back.”

“Yes, princess,” he says sardonically, but kneels behind me, both his hands rubbing wonderful circles on my lower back.

I fall into a bit of a trance. In fact, I’m pretty sure I doze off as Jude massages me and I sway.

“I never thought I’d ever have you on your hands and knees in front of me and not get a hard-on. ”

“Okay, I’ll leave you two to it,” Abbie says, as Jude laughs her out. “Call me if you need me.”

“Your arse looks fucking amazing, baby.”

I groan, rocking some more, my head swinging. “I need to move again.” I’m restless, constantly anticipating and dreading the next wave of pain.

“Where to?”

“I don’t know.” I cling to him as he helps my upper body lift until I’m on my knees.

“Like this,” I say, flexing my neck as Jude gets in front of me, mirroring me.

I blink my tired eyes and take a moment to look at him.

All of him. His eyes, his nose, his gorgeous mouth, his wide shoulders, his perfectly formed chest and stomach.

And I feel him, dragging my fingertips across his flesh, from his lower tummy, up to his nose.

“Are you trying to turn me on?” he asks softly, holding my waist.

“Are you turned on?”

“You always turn me on.” Lowering his mouth to mine, he kisses me gently, and I sigh around it, content amid my pain.

“Does your leg hurt?”

He blinks twice.

“I love you,” I mumble, feeling another coming. He must too, perhaps because I become rigid.

“Love you more,” he whispers. “Are you happy here?”

I shake my head, and somehow he translates that to me telling him I want to be on my back. He clenches my hand, his eyes on my belly as it undulates. His wonder is such a sight.

“It’s coming,” I gasp, tensing, taking in air, getting ready for a push.

My wide eyes meet Jude’s, and he nods his encouragement.

“I’ve got you,” he whispers, and with that it hits me, and I yell at the ceiling, feeling everything in my body push down.

“Come on, Amelia,” he says, calm but loud. “Push, baby, push.”

The heat, the pressure. It feels like my head is going to pop off my shoulders.

Jude moves to between my spread legs, his arms extended so I can still hold his hands. “Go on, Amelia,” he cheers. “Keep going. I can see a head.”

“What?”

“Push!”

I listen and keep going, pushing so hard, every muscle yelling. And I push more, and some more, all the while watching as Jude cheers me on, my breathing laboured, my shouts loud. But I keep going. And suddenly the pressure subsides, my lungs scream, and I drag in air. And then there’s silence.

I gasp.

“Fuck, she’s here,” Jude whispers, moving calmly and efficiently, handling our baby like he’s done this a million times.

“She?” I breathe, all pain gone and complete wonder finding me.

“She.” He brushes his hand over her face, prompting the crying to start.

“Oh, my darling girl,” he whispers, dipping and kissing her forehead.

And I’m a fucking goner, emotion joining my wonder, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Go to Mummy,” he says, putting her on my chest before reaching for a towel and laying it over her back.

She settles, and I stare down at her. Amazed. And instantly in love. “Well, hi,” I whisper, stroking the top of her head softly with a fingertip as Jude comes and sits next to me, hooking an arm around my shoulder, kissing my temple.

“Well done, baby,” he says, his other hand across her back. “You did great.”

He’s a laugh. I don’t know what I expected, but he just breezed through that like a bloody pro. Another milder wave of pain travels through me, and I hold my breath, feeling the placenta come away. “Oh God,” I whisper, grimacing. “I can’t believe you’re in here with me.”

He hushes me and sighs, and we both just sit in silence for a time, staring at her.

The three of us.

“It’s a girl,” I say, looking up at him. “We agreed if it was a boy, I’d name him. If it’s a girl, you would.”

Jude nods, eyes still on our baby. But he doesn’t speak, not for a while.

So I do instead.

“Evelyn,” I whisper.

Jude swallows, his eyes darting to mine. They’re full of tears. “Really?”

“What else would it be?”

He coughs a little over a light sob, reaching for her cheek and stroking softly. “I didn’t think love at first sight was a thing. And now it’s happened to me twice,” he says quietly. “Shit, she’s just so fucking beautiful.”

“She is.” Like the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

And neither of us can stop staring at her.

This little girl who’s changed everything.

Jude works his big finger into her hand, and watching her wrap her little fingers around it hits me hard in my heart.

I look at Jude as he stares down at Evelyn. Wonder. That’s beautiful on him too.

“Oh, we have a baby!” Glenda bursts in, killing the moment.

“A girl,” I say calmly.

“Oh, how wonderful. Well done, Mum and Dad.”

Mum? Weird. Dad? I look at Jude and grin.

“So fucking weird,” he admits, shaking his head.

“Do you want to cut the cord, Dad?” Glenda asks, snipping the scissors.

Jude moves in, and I smile when I see him wince as he chops down. “Send the placenta to the kitchen.”

“What?” I blurt.

Chuckling, he comes back to us and dots kisses between our heads. “I better go let everyone know.” He rises, leaving us with Glenda as he dries off and secures a towel around his waist.

She wraps our girl up and helps me out of the pool, handing her back to me when I’m in a robe and comfortable on the couch.

Then everyone piles in. Literally, everyone.

There are swoons coming at me from all directions.

Abbie’s awkward as hell, as is Casey, both of them at opposite ends of the room to each other.

When Abbie catches my eye, she shakes her head in despair, while Hightower throws her constant questioning looks. Jesus, what a shock.

“I want another,” Charley declares.

Lloyd snorts, gathering up Elijah and Ena. “Two works for me.”

“Oh my, look at her.” Mum swoops in, hearts in her eyes. “Oh, Dennis, look, just look at her.”

I smile up at my dad. I’ve never seen him look so smitten. “Perfect.” He goes to Jude and shakes his hand. “Congratulations. You’ve made me a very happy man.”

“A happy granddad,” Jude says.

“My God, I’m a granddad.”

Jude comes to us, dipping. “Let me.” He takes Evelyn from my arms. “I’ll get her dressed. She’s getting all embarrassed being naked in front of everyone.”

I smile as I watch him wander off to the bedroom, our tiny girl held to his big naked chest. A natural.

“How was it?” Rach lowers down next to me, her own belly causing her mobility issues.

“Like hell and heaven wrapped up in one confusing mix of fucking agony and complete bliss.”

“Cup of tea?” Grandma asks.

“I’d kill for one.” I exhale, resting back. “Sorry for ruining the family dinner.” I spot Abbie heading for the kitchen after Grandma.

“She’s gone for wine,” Charley says. We both watch as Casey follows her, both of us throwing curious looks at each other. I find Hightower. He’s talking to Rhys. Being distracted?

“Go listen,” I order on a whisper hiss, nudging Charley. “I want to know what’s said.”

“Stop it.”

“Oh, please.”

“No.”

“What’s going on?” Rach asks, looking between us.

“Nothing,” we sing in unison.

“Spoilsport,” I mutter, but my indignance is forgotten when Jude comes round the back of the couch, bringing his arms over me and lowering Evelyn back onto my lap.

“Oh, she’s dre—” I gasp, pushing my back into the couch, trying to get away from my brand-new daughter, like she’s just turned into a monster.

“What the hell?” I breathe, staring at her cute little romper.

Jude appears in front of me. On his knees. He smiles. “Well?” he asks. “Will you?”

My eyes drop back down to our baby girl, who has a question emblazoned across her romper.

Will you marry Daddy?

“Oh God.”

Jude produces a ring.

“Oh God!” I pick Evelyn up and cradle her to my chest, the tears brimming in my eyes. Everyone is smiling, all attention pointed this way. “You all knew?”

“Yes, they knew,” Jude confirms. “I was going to take you to see Mum and Dad, but little missy here decided to come early. So here we are.” He takes my chin, directing my face to his. “On my mother’s memorial. And now our daughter’s birthday.”

“Jude,” I whisper, tears trickling down my cheeks.

“That’s not an answer.” He shuffles closer, holding the ring out, his face so gorgeous and perfect and hopeful. “I dare you to say yes, Amelia Gracie Lazenby.” His voice drops to a murmur. “I fucking dare you.”

I choke over a sob, and he smiles, slipping the ring onto my finger before crowding me and kissing my tears away, moving down to my mouth.

“I fucking dare,” I whisper against his lips, breathing every bit of him into me, wondering how we went from staying the night to staying forever. With a baby girl too.

It’s a stupid question.

Jude Harrison is how.

And accepting his indecent invitation, surrendering to him, was the best decision I’ve ever made.