Page 115 of Undeniable Temptation

“Hmm?”

“You need to say, ‘I do.’”

“Oh.” She opened her eyes and grimaced. “I do.” Her voice broke as searing pain descended on her lower back.

“Hey.” Ryan grabbed her arm. “What happened?”

“Nothing, just a twinge.” She squeezed his hand. “Keep going.”

More words were spoken. A ring slid onto her finger and she fumbled to do the same for Ryan through narrowed vision.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Ryan leaned in, his lips stopping an inch away. “Leah?”

A rush of warmth gushed between her thighs, the sensation trickling down her legs.Holy shit.She peered at the floor, unable to see her feet over the mountain of stomach, and had to step back to observe the puddle of liquid pooled on the floorboards.

“Umm…”

There was a mutter behind her, then another and another.

She raised her gaze to the officiant, then to Ryan.

“Clean up, aisle five,” Mason called from the front row.

Asshole. She was going to kill him. Not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But one day soon Mason would taste her revenge from the years of brotherly bullshit.

“I think we need to get you to the hospital.” Ryan wrapped his arm around her, supporting her weight.

“Would you like me to call an ambulance?” the officiant asked.

Ryan stole her attention, his panicked eyes repeating the question.

“No.” She straightened and placed a fortifying hand on her lower back. “We can make it on our own.”

“Are you sure?” Ryan swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to remember how to drive.”

She began to smile, the humor fading as pain crept into her abdomen, subtle at first, then building higher and tighter in intensity. She reached for his shoulders and bent over to fight the building agony.

Everything dimmed. It was only her and the pain. Only agony and the need to fight through it. Then slowly, the destruction ebbed and she blinked back to reality to find all their friends by her side—Mason and Sidney, Sean and Melody, Mitch and Alana, and Blake, Gabi, and baby Sophie.

“I’ve got you.” Ryan held her forearms, his grip unyielding.

“Me, too.” Alana rubbed Leah’s back. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“I think something might be wrong,” she whispered. The pain was too rich. She hadn’t expected the potency. Surely, giving birth couldn’t last for hours if this was the torture involved. “Am I going to make it through this?” She looked at Gabi, then to the little baby now wriggling in her father’s arms.

“You’re going to do great.” Gabi’s fake smile faded as she glanced to Ryan. “Those contractions are fast. We need to hurry.”

* * *

“One more push.”

Leah wailed, unleashing every ounce of empathy in Ryan’s body and tying it up in knots. He was completely helpless, useless, while this unfathomably brilliant woman brought life into the world right before his eyes. Well… Notright beforehis eyes. He had no intention of moving his line of sight anywhere past her abdomen.

He was learning from Blake’s mistake—Buddy, I beg you. Donotgo down there. You’ll never recover.Ryan didn’t need to be told twice.

“You’re doing a great job.” He held her hand, wishing the painful squeeze of her grip was doing something to alleviate her torture.

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