Page 31 of Bound

Smiling, I pushed the earlier event out of my head and decided to enjoy the night with my now husband. Damon stood, offering his hand out for me to take. And I did so.

We made our way to the center of the dance floor and moved to the slow song that played. “I hate when all eyes are on me.”

“It’s just our friends and family, Dove.”

I smiled and pressed my head onto his shoulder. In his arms, I felt safe, loved, and I knew Rose and I were his entire world. Losing either one of us would kill him.

Once the song was over, we continued dancing to the faster music and Rose excitedly joined us. Her dance moves made us laugh in hysterics.

It was toward the end of the night, and our guests came over congratulating us before they left.

While we got our own things together to leave, I felt it. “Oh god. My water just broke.”

“Shit. Shit,” Damon panicked.

“Don’t freak out. Just get Olivia. She’s going to the delivery room with me. Tell the rest of the guests we have to leave. Have Olivia grab my overnight bag from the house. She knows where it’s at.”

He came back, fumbling to find his car keys.

“Now get me to the hospital.”

***

Twenty-four hours after being in labor, I held my baby boy. We named him Kingston Cade Alessio. We would call him King for short. He had a head full of dark hair.

“He is literally the cutest thing ever,” Olivia said.

“What do you think, Rose?”

She pointed. “My brother.”

I smiled wide. “Yes. He is your baby brother. And you’re gonna be the best big sister to King.”

She really didn’t know what to think. But she was around Olivia’s baby for a few months so I think she was kind of used to it. But this little guy was her brother.

“Damon, do you want to hold him?” I asked.

He nodded, and I carefully passed my son to my husband. My son…that was a weird thing to say but I knew eventually, I would get used to it.

“Oh my god. He is so tiny,” Damon said. Matteo stood next to Damon to get a look at our son.

“I know. He’s only seven pounds and six ounces.”

Olivia reached for my hand and squeezed. “You did good, mama.”

“Thank you.”

Damon passed the baby back to me. After being in labor for so long, I was exhausted and I really needed some sleep, if that was gonna be possible. But it was nighttime, and if I could get a few hours, I would be happy with that.

Olivia looked to Matteo then to me before taking Rose’s hand. “Why don’t we take Rose home with us, so you can get some sleep? We can come back first thing in the morning.”

Matteo nodded. “We would be happy to take her.”

“Do you want to stay the night with Aunt Olivia and Uncle Matteo?”

“Yes.”

I held my arms out for her. “Come here and give me a kiss before you leave.”

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