Page 62 of His Pretty Omega
“Daddy, you want to come and cut your daughter’s cord?” Naomi held out a pair of surgical scissors to Alex, and my mind whirled.
Daughter. We had a daughter.
Alex looked gobsmacked, tears falling unashamed down his cheeks, and all he could do was nod silently.
“Go,” I whispered, “go see our daughter.”
He eased away from me gently, but not before he and Bennett placed some soft pillows behind my back.
I couldn’t see what he was doing, but I had a clear view of his face and all the many emotions that washed over him as he cut the tie holding our child to me.
Naomi wrapped her in a soft blanket, after a very quick wipe off, then handed her to Alex.
He stared down into her face, his own radiating pure love and joy. Moving over to me, he eased down onto the bed, handing her to me.
“She’s beautiful,” he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion. “She’s beautiful like you.”
Staring down at the squalling, red-faced baby, I had to agree with him.
Wet, dark hair was matted against her forehead, and she was pissed. Not at all happy about finally making her way out of the warm place she’d resided in for the past several months.
Looking up at Alex, tears in my eyes, I whispered, “We made her. Alex, we made her.”
“We did,” he agreed, running one hand over her head, then touching her little fingers like she was made out of glass.
“She’s gorgeous,” Bennett told us, reaching to take her, which I balked at. “I’m going to get her cleaned up and then you can have her back. And Naomi will need to give her a look over when she’s finished with you.”
Dammit, I hated when he made sense.
Reluctantly, I let him take the baby from me, my eyes tracking him as he took her into the bathroom, where we already had a baby bath stored.
Alex was doing the exact same thing I was, and I could almost feel the indecision in him. His need to stay by my side and his need to be near our pup.
Leaning my head against his side, I whispered, “Go be with her. You’ll need to scent her, then bring her back to me.”
He looked so torn, his muscles wound tight. “Are you sure?”
“I’m fine,” I assured him, grimacing when Naomi began massaging my tender abdomen to help deliver the afterbirth. “You don’t need to see this anyway. Trust me, it’s gross. I’ve seen it and yeah, pass.”
Naomi tried to hide her smile, but I saw her, and an amused look passed between the two of us. I had been more than happy when my Labor and Delivery rotation had ended when I had worked at the hospital. I was quite happy dealing with babies after they had been delivered, thank you very much.
“I could use someone’s help when you’re done washing the baby,” Naomi called into the open door of the bathroom a few minutes later. “How’s your pain, Seth? Do you want me to administer some pain relief?”
I had been vocal about not wanting any drugs during delivery, but now that the baby had been born, and the adrenaline was wearing off, I washurting.
Nodding, I whispered, “Yes, please and thank you.”
She gave me another of her warm smiles as she filled a syringe, administering the drug into my thigh. “You did amazing, by the way. Seriously.”
The drug worked quickly to take the edge off, and my eyes flicked back to the open bathroom door.
I could just see Alex’s back, and every now and then would see Bennett’s arm. I could hear the soft murmur of their voices, but didn’t use my shifter hearing to listen in to their conversation. The baby had quieted now, seemingly content to be bathed or just happy that her alpha daddy was near.
My eyes grew heavy with the exhaustion of the day, and the pain medication. I let myself doze off, only to be jostled awake by the bed moving. Or maybe because I was moving. Alex had me in his arms, holding me close.
“Wha’s hap’ening?” I slurred.
He placed a soft kiss on my lips, which were feeling a bit chapped.
