Page 63 of Laurels and Liquor

“Next contraction is going to hurt like hell, but you’re going to push, hard. And don’t stop until we tell you, okay?” Molly says seriously.

Sylvie swallows, shaking, but I nuzzle her head with my nose, trying to comfort her as best as I can. She returns the gesture before turning to Caleb.

“I’m right here,kohkanny. You’re so strong and brave. I love you so much,” he gushes, kissing her forehead, cheeks, and finally her lips.

I look away from the tender scene, but it only lasts a moment as Sylvie’s whole body locks up with an intense contraction. She screams, a wordless cry of pain and effort, and it only gets louder as Molly pushes down on the still-swollen part of her lower belly. All the nurses and doctors are chanting for Sylvie to push, push, push. She’s crying, and then suddenly I’m crying, my skin flushing hotter than ever before as I struggle to keep Sylvie in position. The moment stretches on and on, and I swear it’ll never end, that I’m going to be stuck in this exact point for eternity. But then, something intangible shifts in the air, a relaxing exhale. The whole room goes quiet, and then the world is shattered by an infant’s first wailing cry.

“It’s a girl! Congratulations!”

Nurses take over for Caleb as the baby is placed on Sylvie’s chest, covered in fluids and still screaming. I can’t look away from her tiny face, screwed up and furious. She’s here, she’s safe. Sylvie did it.

My omega mentor looks up at me, tears streaming down her face. I reach over and push her hair back and rest my forehead against hers.

“Thank you, Lydia,” she whispers.

I smile and back away, letting a nurse take my space to see to the new mom and her baby. Breathing deep, my heart skips a beat as I smell her for the first time. Peaches, and maybe something a little woody. It’s delicious and precious and makes every fiber of my being cry out with a need to protect and care for this fragile new life.

That is, until my body shakes and I flash hot and cold, panic rising in my throat like bile. The room is crowded, too crowded. Too many people, none of them my pack. As if sensing my distress, Caleb looks up with alarm. I swallow, frozen and shaking.

“Go to the waiting room,voyin. Your work here is done.”

The command is firm but soft, a hint of his bark coloring the edges. But it’s enough to get my legs to move, and I bolt out of the room.

Chapter thirty

Lucas

ThePAsystemchimes,and for what feels like the hundredth time in the last six hours, the Nursery Lullaby song plays. Another baby has been born.

Sitting in a Labor and Delivery waiting room and having no vested interest in any of the families in the rooms beyond has been a strange experience. I’ve been dragged into multiple celebratory huddles, been handed half a dozen cigars wrapped in pink and blue ribbons, and had my heart ripped out as a family received the worst news of all. It’s been an emotionally draining roller coaster, and all the while, I’ve had to deal with the swift undercurrent of anxiety for my omega.

I’ve been sitting with Caleb’s parents and Sylvie’s father and stepmother for the better part of the last two hours when I finally catch my first whiff of Lydia’s scent. Honey and lilacs drift toward me only moments before I see her rushing down the hallway in my direction. She’s only in a tank top and thin leggings, a shirt clutched in one hand as she looks around frantically. I get to my feet, taking two steps toward her before she finally sees me and barrels in my direction. When she collides with my chest, it knocks the wind out of me for a moment, and I struggle to breathe as she wraps her arms tight around my ribs. She’s rubbing her cheek against my sternum, whimpering. It’s only when I put my arms around her that I realize how hot she is to the touch.

“You’re okay, sweetheart. Let’s go home,” I whisper, kissing her head and rubbing her back.

“Need you,” she mutters, pressing her body as close as she can without physically fusing with me.

“I know, but we need to get you back to your nest. Then I’ll take care of you, okay?” I say gently.

She huffs but nods, and I relax a little. She’s not as far gone as I’d feared. If I can reason with her, then there’s still time. She has to be conscious enough of her surroundings for our plan to work. Though, if it came down to it, I’d skip my bonds if it meant keeping Lydia happy and safe. But I know she’d regret not doing it after the fact.

I disentangle her arms from around me enough to start walking toward the bank of elevators. I’m trying to remember where I parked as the doors slide closed, but I’m distracted as Lydia pulls my mouth down to hers by the back of my neck. I’ve been half hard since I first caught her scent, but now I’m sitting up at full attention as she kisses me like I’m her last meal. I lose myself in her touch, her taste, moaning and spinning us so her back is pressed against the metal wall of the car. She tries to hook a leg over my hip, but I push her back down with a growl.

“Please, Luc. I’m so empty, and it aches so bad,” she whines, nails digging into my shoulders.

Thankfully, I’m saved from having to answer by the bell chiming, and the doors opening onto the lobby level. I grab her hand and pull her behind me as I stalk through the space, and out into the parking lot. It’s dark, but well lit, which ruins my plans. But I can make do. She’s going to be a mess if I don’t do something to take the edge off, and she could hurt herself in an effort to get relief. So instead, I make a beeline toward my bike in the corner of the lot. There aren’t any cars around, which is both a blessing and a curse. No one to watch, but nothing to give us cover. When we reach my bike, I spin her around and set her on the seat sideways before stepping in between her legs. She parts them automatically, clawing at me, trying to get to my skin through my clothes.

“If you’re good for me now and when I’m driving, I’ll give you the fucking you’ve been craving when we get home. Deal?” I ask hastily.

She nods, head falling back between her shoulders as she moans, not in pleasure, but in pain. My heart flips, and I don’t waste another moment. I slide my hand below the soft waistband of her leggings, and I have to bite my lip to contain my groan as I realize how absolutely soaked she is. I can work two fingers into her tight heat without any prep, and I twist my wrist until I can press my thumb to her swollen clit.

She shouts at the sudden intrusion, hands flying to my shoulders as she hangs on for dear life. I pump hard and fast, and it’s not long until she’s clenching down and gushing more cream over my hand. But I can’t stop. The pleasure written on her face is a drug, and now that I’ve had a hit, I can’t quit. Her ankles lock behind my legs and she melts backward, arching her back and breathing hard, sweat beading on her chest. I lean forward and lick a long stripe up her cleavage and neck, tasting the earthy rain and vanilla of her arousal on her skin.

“Oh, God, Lucas. Please don’t stop,” Lydia pants, clinging closer to me.

“One more for me, greedy girl. You get one more and then we’re going home to our alphas,” I snarl out through gritted teeth, adding a third finger to stretch her, just like she loves.

The pain of her nails digging into my back is nothing; inconsequential to the feeling of her channel milking my fingers, dragging me in. It only takes a few more flicks of my thumb, a few more hard, deep thrusts of my hand to send her crashing into another climax. I wrap an arm around the back of her neck and pull her forward to bury her face in my shoulder to muffle her cries of ecstasy. I slow my thrusts, working her through the orgasm, until she finally stops shaking. When I withdraw, I move to lick my hand clean, but I blink in surprise as Lydia snatches my wrist. I don’t fight her as she pushes my hand to my throat and chest, working with her to spread her release all over my skin.

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