Chapter 19

19

Akai

" C ome on, under the covers now." Danon had let the fire go low until it was a hazy orange.

For the past two nights, we'd slept under the Christmas tree like two kids waiting for Santa to come down the chimney. Danon had made up the bed with lots of pillows and fluffy blankets. I got in with him and curled up as I usually did with my head on his shoulder.

Slave or not, I couldn't remember ever being more content.

I woke abruptly, the Christmas tree lights glittering in my eyes. I managed to turn over without waking Danon. Now I faced the nest. I stared at it for a while, then slid out of bed and entered it. Like our bed, it also had lots of pillows and blankets. I wouldn't be cold.

My body had changed during the pregnancy. Now my stomach bulged. I always felt full. But right now, I was fuller than usual, a little sick.

The bubble wrap beneath me rustled every time I moved. I put my arms around the basket which, at the moment, held a cute purple teddy bear. I dozed off for a few minutes but woke uncomfortable.

I put my hand to my rounded belly and gently rubbed. I thought maybe I had to use the bathroom and was just about to get up when the contraction hit. Deep inside, my muscles cramped up until I couldn't breathe. A few seconds later, it was over. I lay gasping.

That's when I knew. I didn't have to use the bathroom. I was about to lay a dragon egg.

I turned onto my back, wincing and smiling at the same time. The tree lights looked like dancing fairies arriving to give their magical blessings.

"Danon," I called.

No answer.

"Danon." I hit the side of the mattress where he was lightly snoring.

"Huh?"

"Danon, wake up."

"What is it?"

"I'm in labor."

I saw his silhouette sit up so fast that pillows went flying. He crawled out of the bed and knelt by the nest. He began to pepper me with questions.

"When did you get out of bed? Are you okay? How long?"

"It just started."

"What should I do? What do you need? Should I call Dr. Crane?"

"I'm fine. He assured us we can do this ourselves. Just hold my hand right now," I said.

"First, let me turn on some lights."

"No, not right now. I love it like this with just the tree lights."

Danon reached into the nest and grasped my hand. I continued to lie on my back but bent my knees. That relieved some pressure.

Another contraction hit me about ten minutes later. Danon petted me through it.

"That was about minute long," he said.

"Ugh. It felt longer."

Danon sat with me for hours until the dawn light shone through the curtains.

"How long is it going to be?" I asked. "It's taking forever."

"Not long now. Your contractions are five minutes apart. Can you feel the egg moving yet?"

"I'm not sure." I rubbed my belly again.

"When it starts moving, it will only be minutes."

"I hope it moves soon. This is harder than I thought it would be. Not that I'm complaining. I'll do anything for our baby."

Danon leaned over and hugged me. "I know you will."

He had been such a great alpha through all of it. Protective and prepared. Now, he brought in lots of towels and kept me stocked on ice water. He had also turned on soft music, which I thought might annoy me. But Danon knew me well. It was the most soothing music ever.

While we waited for the egg, we talked and laughed together, bonding even deeper.

"How many children do you think we'll want?" I asked.

He smiled. "One's enough for now."

"I like the idea of two."

"We'll get a bigger house down the line."

"I like this house. It's become a home for me."

"Huh. Well, maybe we could add on. And I could buy the empty lot next door, expand the yard."

I clapped my hands. "I love that idea."

Another contraction hit. I braced for it. This one was different. Stronger. Something deep inside me shifted.

"Danon, I felt it. The egg. It moved."

"We're having an egg soon, then." He leaned down and kissed me.

"Should I turn onto my side or what?" I asked.

"Whatever's most comfortable for you."

"I think I'll just lie here for a while longer."

Minutes later, the powerful contraction returned.

"That's three minutes since the last. I think that's active labor now," Danon said, sounding eager.

He didn't need to tell me. It felt like something huge was inching down my passage. The stretch hurt but wasn't unbearable.

Danon put a pillow under my lower back, but soon I turned in the nest, curling onto my side.

Danon lined the nest with fluffy towels.

"Now," he said. "Let's get those PJ bottoms off."

"Yeah. It's time."

He helped pull them down, then folded them and set them aside.

My bare butt was now exposed for all the world to see. Literally. Because Danon was my whole world.

Danon rubbed my back as another contraction hit.

"Do you mind if I lube you up on the outside?" he asked. "I know you're making your own slick, but this will help, too."

"Lube away," I replied, closing my eyes to rest for a couple minutes before the next cramp hit.

Warm oiled hands massaged my ass cheeks. I basked in the pleasure. Slowly, Danon's fingers delved into my crack. He spread the oil up and down, then around my hole.

My next contraction made me cry out, pulling my knees to my chest. The egg moved down more, the stretch still tight, but we were making progress.

When I could breathe again, I said, "It's coming."

Danon's oiled fingers spread me. "Your hole is starting to open."

"Good. I'm tired of this and I'm more than ready to meet our egg."

"You're doing so well, Akai. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks. What color do you think the egg will be?"

"We'll find out soon."

In the final moment, I ended up on my hands and knees, butt down. Danon had a towel in hand and was wiping me after every push.

Finally, the magic words. "I can see it crowning!"

I tried to push, but at this point I wanted a nap.

"Don't stop," Danon encouraged. "It's almost here. Keep pushing, sweetheart. You're doing amazing."

"I can't push anymore. I just can't."

"You can. Take a deep breath. You're stretched and ready. You can do this."

"Uh-uh. I think it's stuck."

"It's not." Fingers touched my rim, slick and soothing. "One more push, just a little more stretch. Okay?"

"Okay."

I squeezed my eyes closed, inhaled all the way, and let out a wail. Beyond the din of my own voice, I heard Danon.

"It's coming. It's coming. Keep it up. Push a few seconds longer." Then a long pause, which ramped up my anxiety.

I cried out again and pushed until I saw stars. My old world ended. A new world began when Danon shouted.

"It's here!"

My lungs clawed for air. I couldn't see. Soft towels pressed against me and between my legs. Then something was in front of me. Danon. Kneeling.

I blinked, trying to clear my vision. He held our egg in a towel before me. Gleaming. Still wet.

I pushed myself up until I sat on the towels and held out my hands.

Danon placed the egg in my cradled arms.

"It's so beautiful." My voice came out hoarse. "Look. We have an egg."

"The most beautiful egg," he agreed.

"I love him." Tears slipped down my cheeks. "He has Dani's colors. Pink and purple."

"It's perfect." Danon hugged me, kissing away the tears on my face.

Together, we looked down at the precious egg we had made.

"In about three weeks, we'll meet him," Danon said.

"Wow. It's amazing to know he's inside there growing strong. Our baby."

The egg was the best Christmas present under a tree that I could ever imagine.

"You did so well. You're a champion," Danon praised.

"It hurt a lot." I pouted.

"Don't worry. I'll pamper you to death."

I smiled up at him. "I know you will."

I held the egg to my chest as if he was already a baby. It was warm and not very heavy. Also, I'd expected it to be bigger.

"Next on the agenda," I began.

"What?"

"Discussing names without arguing."

"I promise not to argue."

I leaned my head against Danon's strong chest.

"Good. Because I like Caymen. It's my favorite name in the whole wide world."

"Caymen." Danon said the word twice. "I love it."

"You do?"

He laughed. "No argument."

Three weeks later, we watched for hours as our baby dragon pecked his way into the world. It was torture not to be able to help him. But I knew helping any hatchling made them weak. He needed to get out of the shell all by himself.

At long last, a pink and blue dragon emerged, letting out the cutest, high-pitched cry. He looked around with bulbous blue eyes, stretched his wings, turning and turning.

A cotton-candy scent filled the nest. There was a pop and a pink cloud. When the cloud dissipated, a baby boy lay before us, fists pumping the air.

"Caymen, welcome to your life." I reached out and lifted him up.

Danon was ready with a soft cloth to wipe him down, and a baby blanket to wrap him.

"Thank you for this gift," I said to Danon, eyes brimming.

"You're both gifts I never thought I'd receive in my lifetime," he replied, wiping the back of his hand across his eyes.

Crying and laughing, we held Caymen between us as if he was the heart that joined us both.