Page 42 of Whole in His Arms

River shook his head. “I don’t even think there’s time to get Ryder.” He cradled his belly and winced. “The contractions are coming very close together already.”

Nix stared back at him, trying to process what he’d just been told. “Are you serious?”Fuck. Shit. Fuck, this wasn’t the plan.

River nodded. “This baby is coming … and it’s coming now.” His mate’s voice turned into a growl, and Nix headed for the door. “Wait right there. Don’t move.”

“Where would I go?” River laughed. “Uhh, babe, aren’t you forgetting something?”

Nix stopped before opening the door, realizing he was naked. “Shit.” He walked over to the large chair by the window and grabbed lounge pants and threw them on, then ran out of the room. He went to Cal and baby Cameron’s room and hurried over to the bed. “Cal. Cal.” He shook his brother, making sure to keep his voice low. “Wake up.”

Jacobi was in the nursery next door. They’d set it up so that all three babies could share it.

“What’s going on?” Cal sat up sleepily. Nix dialed the phone and handed it to Cal. “Tell Ryder to get his ass over here, then unlock the door so he can get in. River is in labor. The contractions are coming fast—hurry!” Cal jumped out of bed as Nix ran back out of the room.

He went back to their bedroom and River was breathing harder. “This is it.” He breathed in once and out twice like the video Ryder had given them to watch. “I can’t hold back any longer. Ooohhhhhhh …” River’s eyes were wide as saucers.

“Hang on, babe.” Nix rushed over to the bed and pulled back the covers, before going over to River and helping him into position, stuffing pillows behind him for support. Nix then grabbed onto his hand. “It’s going to be okay.” He kissed River’s forehead before moving into position and helping him with his pants. “Let me know if you need to push.”

River was doing his breathing exercises, but his face was scrunched up in pain. He looked at Nix. “I need to push now. It hurts so bad.” He let out an anguished cry.

“You can do it, baby,” Nix said as he looked down at River’s opening.

“Okay, so remember the video?” Nix asked. “Push when you feel a contraction,” he instructed his mate, even as he prayed Ryder would show up any minute now. “Don’t forget you have to try and catch your breath in between contractions.”

River cried out and he pushed.

“That’s it, my love,” Nix praised. “You can do this. Goddess, you’re so beautiful, baby.”

Where the fuck was Ryder?Nix tried to hide the fear he was feeling. Ryder would be there soon. River was strong. He wasn’t his Papa. His mate would be fine.

“Ooo, here it goes again.” River bore down on another contraction.

“Shit, that’s a head.” Nix was holding his baby’s head. He was actually touching their baby’s head. “You’re doing so good, love.”

In response, River screamed and pushed down hard, and all Nix could do was support their little one and watch. Fear clawed at him, but he refused to give in. Instead, he focused on how in awe he was at his mate. And the fact that any second now, their baby would be there.

“Rest, baby,” Nix said. He tried to remember every bit of the video Ryder had shown them.

“Oh, here comes another one.” River strained.

“Gently, baby, deep breath, then push when you feel it,” Nix instructed. He hoped he sounded more confident than he felt.

“Ahhh ooooohhhhhh …” River screamed, bearing down. Their baby slowly came through the birth canal, his mate screamed and pushed once more, and the rest of their baby was in Nix’s hands, crying as Nix helped him out.

River fell onto his back. A tear ran down his face. His mate looked exhausted but so beautiful. He looked at Nix and Nix stared back at River in wonder. “It’s a boy,” Nix whispered. “We have a boy.”

River closed his eyes, and Nix heard his breathing start to slow down. “Ryder’s on his way,” Cal said as he entered the room, his eyes dropping to the baby in Nix’s arms. “Wow!” he breathed.

Nix laughed and looked up at Cal. “We gotta get some girls in the house,” Nix said. “Because looks like we have a son too.”

Cal came and stood by him; he looked down at the baby and then rushed over to River. “Congratulations.” He leaned over the bed and hugged River. Nix watched the tender scene, never wanting to forget this moment. In less than three months, their family had grown far bigger than he could ever have imagined. He smiled and Cal hurried over to hug him as well. “Congratulations, brother mine!”

“Thank you!” Nix sighed, a wide grin on his face. “I can’t believe this is our life.”

Cal stepped back and Nix looked over at River. “We might need to get that extension on the house after all.”

Nix laughed. He put the baby on River’s belly and pulled the covers up and back over his mate and son. River looked down at him, eyes filled with love. “He’s amazing,” Nix sighed. “Isn’t he?”

River smiled and then looked up at Nix. “How could he not be, with a papa like you?”