Page 325 of The Christmas Wife

"Not a chance," he growls.

"It could be some more time before—" I wince.

He leans forward, concern in his eyes. "You okay?"

I breathe through that now familiar pain traveling up my spine. Only this time, it builds and builds until it’s like a wall that’s pushing into me, shoving into me, cutting through me. I gasp, and must scream; perhaps, even black out a little. When I open my eyes, Hunter’s features are pale. The shadows under his eyes are pronounced, and there’s a drop of blood on his lower lip. "You hurt yourself, did you bite down on your lip?"

He opens his mouth, then closes it. "I’m never putting you through this again." His voice is hoarse.

"Famous last words." I laugh, then gasp again when the pain begins to build once more. "Oh, no, no, no, that’s too close."

His gaze widens. He reaches for the switch next to the bed. "I’m calling the midwife."

"He’s gorgeous." Hunter’s warm voice cocoons me like a balm.

After he called the midwife, it took another three hours for the baby to emerge screaming into the world. I was shattered, numb, and shell-shocked. My entire body feels like it was put through a concrete mixer. My insides felt like they were torn out…which, in a way, they were, I suppose. And then, the midwife placed the baby over my chest.

I touch his little nose, take in his eyelashes, the little snub nose, those pink lips, and I fall head-over-heels in love… For the third time in my life. I hold him, and a tsunami of love fills every fiber of my being. I miss Olly so much. He would have loved his younger brother.

I’ve been given a second chance with this little boy, and I’m going to do everything in my power not to screw it up. The tearsslide out of the corners of my eyes. I’m unable to stop them as I gaze at my son. Hunter wraps his arm about me and pulls me into his chest, and that only makes me sob more. Then, the baby opens his eyes and looks at me; my breath catches in my chest, and I nearly swoon. Blue-green eyes. Hunter’s eyes look back at me, and I fall for my husband and my son all over again.

When the doctor places my son at my breast for his first feeding, he latches onto my breast with only a little coaxing. The sensation of him suckling at my breast brings forth a fresh round of tears. Hunter holds me until the sobs subside, and my son falls asleep while feeding. I carefully wipe his mouth, pull my hospital gown shut, and both of us stare at the wonder we created.

A buzzing sound fills the room. Hunter ignores it. It stops, then starts again. "I think you should get that," I murmur.

"If I do, it means I’ll have to go back to my responsibilities." His eyebrows draw down.

"You can’t keep putting it off." I shoot him a sideways glance. His hair is mussed, his shirt creased. A day’s growth of stubble shadows his cheeks. He looks crumpled and tired, and so damn delicious.

"You’re beautiful, Mr. Prime Minister."

He chuckles. "You, calling me by that name, in that husky voice of yours, might become my new ki— thing," he corrects himself.

"Glad to see you’re managing to hold back your four-letter words."

The buzzing of his phone fills the room again. "You really need to get that, Hunter."

"I never should have turned on my phone, is what I should have done." He peers into my face. "I’ll never forget what you did for me, for our family. You are the bravest, most courageous person I’ve ever met. I’m honored you became my wife. I thankthe powers that be for the day our paths crossed. If I’m born again, Fire, I hope you’ll do the honor of being my wife in that life, and in all our future life’s together."

Tears prick the backs of my eyes. I swallow down the lump of emotion that squeezes my throat. "Stop, you’re going to make me cry again."

"Don’t cry, baby. This is your time to be happy." He leans in and kisses my forehead.

"Oh, hope I’m not interrupting?"

We glance up to find Abby lurking in the doorway of the room. "I could come back." She turns as if to leave.

"You’re not interrupting." Hunter rises to his feet. "Actually, I’d be reassured if you kept Zara company while I make a few calls."

With a last glance at me, he prowls out.

"Come on in." I gesture to the girl. She walks over with a big bunch of flowers that she places on a table already overflowing with bouquets and toys. "Wow, this room smells like a garden," she exclaims.

"All of the Seven and their wives have sent me flowers and toys for the baby," I murmur.

"You mean the Seven who run the 7A company?—"

"Yes, and the Sovranos."

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