Page 85 of A Deceitful Pact

“No take backs,” I promise, slamming my lips over hers and kissing her until she starts to moan into my mouth.

“Okay, I really have to get ‘em in here.” I rush to the door. “I think she’s ready,” I tell the doctor and nurse waiting outside, before I take my place back beside Riley and loop my arm around hers.

“Are you feeling ready to push?” The doctor asks, taking the stool between Riley’s legs

“I don’t think I have a choice.” She presses her chin into her chest and bears down hard until the nurse tells her to relax. She barely has time to take a breath before she starts pushing again.

“That’s right, you're doing so good, just keep pushing,” I encourage her, holding her leg open and peeking down over it.

“I can see the baby's head.” I glance back up at her. “Riley, you're so close, she’s really coming.” I can feel my heart thumping through my chest as I watch. Holding Riley’s hand as she pushes our little girl into the world.

“Just one more,” the doctor tells her, and Riley screams like she’s charging into battle, pushing till her body trembles and a real-life baby slips all the way out.

“Holy shit!” I throw my hand over my mouth when I hear the first little, choked-out cry she makes turn into a wail.

“Congratulations, you have a baby girl.” The doctor lifts our daughter up and places her on Riley's chest, and Riley looks down at her and bursts into happy tears.

“Hey, I’m your mommy,” she introduces herself, still shaking as she wraps her hands around her.

I have to remind myself not to be heavy-handed as I place my palm over our little girl’s back. She’s so tiny and precious, I’m petrified of hurting her.

“And I’m your daddy,” I let her know then, placing a delicate kiss on her slimy head, I smile to myself proudly when she stops crying.

“You okay?” I ask Riley, unable to believe what I just witnessed her do.

“I’m okay now.” Riley looks up at me and laughs. Throwing back her head and closing her eyes as she embraces the relief of holding our little girl in her arms.

“You wanna get married?” The words just fall out my mouth, and when Riley opens her eyes and looks at me, I expect her to turn me down flat.

“Yeah.” She frowns as if she’s confused. “I think I do.”

I kiss her before she can change her mind, then, looking down at my baby girl, I smile. “Told ya we’d prove her wrong.”

RILEY

THREE DAYS LATER

“Come on, look at what we did. How can you say you don’t wanna do it again?” Sawyer leans over me and strokes our little girl’s cheek while I feed her.

“I’m not saying that I don’t wanna do it again. I’m just thinking that maybe we should wait until she’s out of diapers before we think about having any more.”

“Nah, we do this far too good. I think we should have at least five.”

“Five?” I laugh at him, handing her over to him when she’s finished, so I can tuck myself away.

“You could just leave ‘em out, ya know. Give me a turn. They say you should teach kids to share from an early age.” He smirks at me before turning his attention to her. “Looks like you put her in a milk coma with all that good stuff.” She’s fallen asleep and looks adorable lying in his hands.

“So, about these other four kids you're gonna give me.” He looks up at me and smiles.

“I’ll settle for three,” I offer.

“Three, then we’ll reevaluate,” he comes back at me. “Come on, you know I’m a good convincer.”

“I’d go more with manipulator. You knewexactlywhat you were doing when we made that pact.”

“Yeah, and look how beautiful it turned out.” He looks down at our daughter. “Daddy had to make a deceitful pact to get you here, and he’s got no regrets,” he tells her.

“You're unbelievable.” I shake my head and roll my eyes.

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