Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

Elliot

You have got to be kidding me!

Really, this is when you come? I've been at a three for two weeks, and you choose now, during Grandma's wedding!

He's going to be a pain in my ass like his daddy.

My heart is pounding as pain explodes in my back and down my sides.

What happened to having two more weeks, Dr. Riley!

Asshole.

I dig my fingers into Alex's arms as he holds me tight against him, whispering in my ear to breathe slowly. I don't know how he knew, but I'm not surprised. He doesn't keep his eyes off me for too long.

God, I'm thankful for his possessive ass.

As my sister tells Ciaran how much he means to her, Alex's lips stay at my ear. He doesn't stop encouraging me or let me go. He holds me tightly and with such a protective vibe that it brings tears to my eyes. I am scared out of my mind, and I want to go to the hospital right this second, but I refuse to ruin this moment for my sister. She deserves this. Her happily-ever-after with the ultimate book boyfriend come to life.

I close my eyes as the tears leak out when another wave of pain washes over my body. My stomach tenses up, and my back feels like it's on fire.

This isn't fun.

Zero stars.

Not a fan.

"Tap me twice when you can't hang on anymore. It's okay. I'll sneak you out."

I smile despite the pain. I turn my head, looking up at him. "Pretty sure they'd notice," I mouth back, and he shrugs.

"I don't care," he mouths to me as he leans in, kissing the corner of my mouth.

I breathe in through my mouth and out through my nose like I learned in Lamaze. Alex mirrors my breathing, and it helps more than I thought. Eliza looks back at me, concern in her eyes, but I shake my head.

I am fine.

Just in a bit of labor.

No big deal.

When the minister asks Louisa if she takes Ciaran as her husband, a sob leaves me in relief. This is almost over. I'm sure everyone thinks I'm overcome with happiness for my sister and her new husband, but really, I feel like my kid is coming out of me Alien -style. Yes, I did Google to make sure that can't really happen, and no, I'm not one hundred percent sure Google was right. Because it sure feels like Alejandro Benito Cruz Jr. is coming out of my belly button.

"This will be us soon," my son's father whispers in my ear. "I'll be the one looking into the eyes of the woman I love and vowing myself to her for the rest of our lives."

I'm breathless, and I almost forget I'm in labor.

Almost. Let's be real—this doesn't tickle.

"Alex," I breathe, loving him even more in this moment. He is the perfect distraction.

"Really, though, I think I vowed myself to you when I asked you to give me a few weeks after the baby comes." He kisses the shell of my ear. "I always knew you'd be mine. The first time you eye-fucked me when I was working out, I went home and fucked my hand with you on my mind."

I can't help but grin. This man is ruthless.

"I've wanted you since the moment I saw you, and now you're mine, aren't you? Soon, you'll be my wife. And not to remind you, but the mother of all my children."

My eyes drift shut as love engulfs me. " Sí ."

His lips curve against my ear, and by the grace of God, the minister says, "You may kiss the bride!"

As Ciaran dips Louisa back, kissing her deeply, I'm in awe of them for maybe a minute before my kid reminds me he wants out.

Same, bro. Same.

I tap Alex's arm just as Lou and Ciaran part, and everyone starts to cheer for the newlyweds. The moment my palm hits his arm the second time, he's moving. He starts to guide me past everyone, throwing up his hand. "Sorry, Elliot's in labor."

There is a collective gasp as I wave back at them. "No worries! Everything is fine. I'm fine. Alex is fine. Just gonna go have a baby!"

Pure chaos ensues as everyone follows us, asking questions I can't answer and trying to help, but Alex isn't having it. He lifts me in his arms bridal-style, and I almost feel bad he is getting covered by my wetness, but he's the reason I'm pregnant anyway. When we get to the car, Peepaw is there, opening the door for Alex to set me down. Peepaw's eyes meet mine for a moment, a strained smile on his lips as he nods. I force a smile for my peepaw and nod back. We haven't talked about anything but work in months, and honestly, right now isn't the time for a heart-to-heart.

Alex is in the car and zipping out of the parking lot a moment later. As he hits the road that leads down the mountain, he hands me his phone. "Put the hospital into the GPS."

I do as he says, and then I grimace when I see the expected time. "An hour and twelve."

He groans. "Okay. That's my time to beat."

I cling to his hand as another contraction hits. Wow, these suck. I thought Braxton-Hicks were bad, but they don't even compare. Fear settles in my chest when the contraction ends, and I glance over at Alex. "What if we don't make it?"

"We will."

"But what if we don't? He could die. I could die?—"

He stops the car, both of us rocking forward before we bounce back against the seats. He sets me with a look, and for the first time, I see the fear in his eyes. "No one is fucking dying, Elliot Bea Cruz. And yes, I'm saying Cruz because I'm going to marry you as soon as my son is out of you. So, get those negative thoughts out of your head. We are making it to the hospital."

Tears spill over my cheeks. "But what if we don't make it?"

He swallows hard, his own eyes flooding a bit. "Then I guess I'm delivering a healthy baby from my healthy and perfect woman."

"Alex—"

"I've got you," he insists. "Right?"

I nod, and I know he does. "Right."

"Good. Now, hold my hand, and let me know if he slips out."

I scoff as he pulls back onto the road. "I don't think he can slip. There is a bit of resistance."

"Yeah. It strangles my cock, for sure."

"Oh my God, can we not talk about your cock when I have something the size of a watermelon coming out of a hole the size of a lemon?"

"Wow. Now my cock hurts," he mutters as he speeds down the mountain. We aren't twenty minutes in when I start to sweat and the pain amplifies. I try to keep calm, but it hurts so fucking bad. I squeeze Alex's hand as I breathe through each contraction, and I hate that he isn't as calm as he usually is. He's terrified, just as I am, but he won't voice it. The only reason I know is because he's not smiling.

I close my eyes as I try to breathe. He's always so strong for me, so confident.

I've got this. We've got this.

Or so I think.

We aren't even to the bottom of the hill when I feel ungodly pressure between my legs. I part them and lean forward, screaming a bit as white-hot pain burns between my legs. "Alex," I cry, and somehow I know we aren't going to make it to the hospital.

Man, fuck Dr. Riley.

" Mami , talk to me."

"Pull over. He's coming."

"Fucking fuckadoodle fuck," he mutters as he does as I say. The car whips to a stop, and then he's throwing it into park, jumping out.

"The bag. Grab the bag!" I scream as more pressure burns through my body. I packed two hospital bags because we never use only one car. We alternate between the two, and I'm thankful I planned this far. My door opens, and Alex is there with my orange Bears cooler that I turned into a baby bag. He drops the bag on the floor and reaches over me to undo my seat belt. I cry out as he moves my legs and pushes up my dress. He gently removes my panties, and I watch as his eyes widen to saucers.

Well, that's promising.

"Fucking fuckadoodle fuck," he says a little louder. "Um, the head is coming."

"I know. I feel it ripping me in two!" I grit out, pressing my feet against the door panel, hooking my arms around my thighs.

"Oh fuck. How are you doing this?" he asks, his face turning white as he takes off his jacket.

"I don't fucking have a choice, do I!" I yell back, and when he smiles, I feel a bit better. "Shit, Alex, he's coming. I have to push."

"Well, then push, mami . I've got you. It's nice to know he's impatient like you."

"And has a big head like you!"

He snickers as he moves between my legs. "When I said I wanted between your legs, this wasn't what I wanted to be doing."

"Oh my God, shut up!" I snap, bearing down as I squeeze my thighs in my hands, screaming as the pain burns through my body. I feel like a huge hot poker is being shoved into my pussy, and from the expression on Alex's face, the situation between my legs must not look any better.

The next few moments are a blur. I don't even know how I didn't pass out, but the next thing I know, I hear a baby cry before a sob rips from my big, strong man. I lift my head to see Alex cradling our son in his suit jacket, using the bulb syringe on his nose and mouth like he's been delivering babies on the side of the Gatlinburg mountains his whole life. Tears gush down Alex's face as he throws down the syringe and uses his dress shirt to clean our baby's little face.

When he looks up at me, a cry tears from my body at the unbelievable love shining in his eyes. With his voice so rough and full of emotion, Alex says, "You did it."

My body still burns as I let my legs fall, and I lean forward to look at our son. He's a little thing, but he has all ten fingers and toes. His nose is a little button like mine, but his chin and lips are his daddy's. His eyes are dark, maybe brown, but hopefully the caramel will appear later. His head is full of dark hair, wet against his skin as he cries and wiggles in Alex's hold. I stroke my fingers along his nose, his cheek, and I'm beyond in love with him.

"Hey there," I whisper, moving my finger along his full lips. "It's so nice to meet you, Alejandro Benito Cruz Jr." I feel Alex's gaze on me, and when I meet his flooded eyes, I smile. "You're a daddy."

Another sob explodes from him as he grabs me by the back of the neck and pulls me to his forehead, our bodies cradling our son. Alex kisses my nose, the corner of my mouth, then my lips before he whispers against them, "Don't ever question how strong and incredible you are, mami ."

I grin against his lips, feeling like a badass, honestly.

"You are the most amazing woman in the world, and you are all mine."

Tears stream down his cheeks as our eyes lock, and I slowly nod. While it's still hard to fully believe his words, I stopped denying them a while back. He wouldn't let me anyway, and truthfully, I don't want to fight him on it anymore.

I am his.

I am strong.

And I am incredible.

Especially when I'm with him.

A sob threatens to escape as I say, "I always have been yours, Alejandro."

His lips quirk. "And you always will be."