Page 56 of Dante
“Umm…because it’s not my house, and I honestly don’t know them. It was super nice of them to have the party there, and it was definitely a surprise, but I’m not going to be rude and ask to use their toilet.”
I sighed and pulled Banner closer. “Hang on,” I told him just before I had us home and standing outside the downstairs bathroom. Banner rushed in, and when I heard him sigh, I knew I’d made the right choice in hurrying him home. Next stop was going to be our bed. My mate needed a nap, and I knew it.
Chapter 20
Banner
Iwasn’t feeling good. It wasn’t just because I was two days overdue. I just felt…off. I knew to trust my instincts, and right now, they were telling me I needed my mate.
“Dante?” I called out. I was in the bedroom, and he was probably in the nursery.
“What’s wrong, baby? Is it time?” Dante asked as he came rushing into the bedroom.
I tried to smile, but I really didn’t feel like it. “Maybe? I’m not sure. I feel…wonky. Like, the room is kind of sideways?” Dante was instantly at my side and helped me over to the bed.
“Let me look at your omega line. Do you feel like you’re having contractions? I’m having light stomach pains, but I know that whatever I’m feeling is nothing compared to what you do.”
I sighed when Dante gently placed me on the bed. I had been trying to walk from the bedroom to the nursery, but my body had other plans. Dante carefully pulled down my pajama pants, and his face told me everything I needed to know.
“So my omega line is open, then,” I said.
Dante looked up at me. “Sort of. It’s opening. But it looks like it just started.” Dante held up his fingers about an inch apart, and I wanted to cry.
“Seriously? Only an inch of the entire line is open?”
“I’m sorry, baby. Yeah.”
I nodded and closed my eyes. “I know due dates are estimates, but I’m ready, Dante. I want our son to be here. I want to hold and cuddle him. And dammit, I want to be able to bend over and touch the ground.”
Dante cupped the side of my face. “I know, baby. I’d do anything to have him here with us. I’m not sure what we can do to speed up the labor, but hopefully, it doesn’t take too long.”
I sighed. I knew he was right, of course. It wasn’t Dante’s fault, and I needed to remember that he wasn’t the one holding up my ability to do those things. I looked down at my stomach, and although I wanted to glare, I couldn’t. I loved our son already. I just wished he were here with us.
“Could I have some water, please?” I asked Dante. “I know I should probably get up and get it myself, but you’re already up, and I’m just not feeling good.” Dante gave me a look that I’d seen before. I was being ridiculous. He wasn’t wrong. But walking probably would help move my labor along a little bit, but I just didn’t feel like getting up. Dante held out a glass, but when I went to reach for it, I felt a sudden sharp pain in my stomach. “Oh, oh…ouch,” I said as I grabbed my stomach instead.
“Contraction?”
I nodded. At least, I thought it was. It felt like everything that Todd had described to me. Cecil as well. I knew that Dr. King could do something to help with the pain, but there was always the possibility that it could slow labor down or even stop it. I was torn on what to do.
Once the contraction passed, I took the glass of water, and as the cool liquid slid down my throat, I sighed. It felt amazing.
“I’m going to message Dr. King. I’ll let him know that your omega line has started to open, but just barely.”
“Okay,” I said. I took another drink of water. I held the glass out, and Dante took it before placing it on the nightstand. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. I needed to relax so my labor could progress. Right? I felt my pants being moved again, then carefully put back into place. I didn’t bother opening my eyes because I knew it was Dante checking the omega line so he could give the most up-to-date progress to Dr. King.
I felt Dante run his fingers through my hair and then down the side of my cheek. I opened my eyes and realized we weren’t in the bedroom together. Behind Dante was Dr. King.
“Umm…it’s just started,” I said to Dr. King.
He chuckled. “Not exactly. You dozed off, from what I heard.”
I looked over at Dante, confused. “Did you do something?”
Dante shook his head. “No. You said you were dizzy. Then I gave you water, and you decided it was time to take a nap. That was when your omega line was open about an inch. It’s progressed quickly but is not fully open.”
That was surprising. “How long ago was that?”
“Around an hour,” Dr. King said. “It’s time to deliver your baby though. Are you ready?”
