Page 110 of Shiver

“And if you’re good, maybe I’ll let you try it out again,” I say with a wink.

His brows climb his forehead, and his light eyes shoot to Alessandro. “Practice makes perfect, right, Coach?”

“Jesus Christ,” Ale says, winding his arm around Kat’s waist and pressing a kiss to Oliver’s head. “Come on, let’s get out of here. Your Uncle Luca is creeping me out.”

Epilogue Part Two: Luca

Tuesday, July 10, 2029

“Just a few more pushes and they’ll be out of there! Come on, you’ve got this!” Giuliana, the physician assistant, chants, encouraging her the entire way through.

“You’re doing incredible; you’ve got this!” I tell her.I’m so damn proud.

“Get them out of me!” she screeches through the pain.

“Baby A’s head is out! Give me another strong push. Come on!” the PA says. The RNs gathered in the room are waiting to collect the babies one by one, ensuring their safety with each step.

She takes a deep, steadying breath and shoots me a death glare as she starts the last push. “Fuck yes, you’ve got this! Almost there!” I’m yelling, cheering her on the way I would someone on my hockey team. I feel like a douche, but it seems to be working.

Their whole body nearly flies out, and that’s the moment the waterworks hit me.

“Dad, do you wanna do the honors?” the PA asks excitedly, nodding down to our son or daughter. We waited till this very moment to find out the sexes, and I couldn’t be more happy we did.

Emotion wells in my chest. “It’s a boy,” I say, my voice cracking. I turn away, clutching my heart as a sob wracks through me. My cheeks tighten, and I can’t help the tears that spill over uncontrollably. My eyes burn, but Samara’s steady hand brings me back to reality.

She’s sitting beside Arielle in her own hospital gown, waiting to do skin-to-skin.

“It’s a boy,” she says to me in a small voice, her eyes brimming with tears. She’s wearing a smile that has me bursting with joy.

“It’s a boy,” I whisper back to her. “One more to go.”God, I hope it’s a girl.I won’t hear the end of it from Gia if we don’t manage at least one girl, and frankly, raising her has been the most incredible experience of my life. I’d be more than happy to do it all over again.

The nurse brings our son over to us and places him directly on Samara’s waiting chest for skin-to-skin.

“This is so surreal,” she says, holding him tightly against her.

The nurse looks to me and asks, “Do you want to do skin-to-skin for baby B?”

My eyes immediately swing to Samara. She’s waited countless years for this moment. I would never want to take it from her, but I’d give nearly anything to get to hold our next baby in my arms for a moment like this.

“Would that be okay?” I ask my gorgeous wife. Somehow, she’s even more stunning with our handsome little guy perched on her chest, nuzzling himself further into her.

“Of course, baby. This is as much your moment as it is mine.” She smiles at me, and it strangles my heart.

“Then fuck yeah, I’d love that!” I tell the nurse excitedly, pulling my shirt off over my head immediately.

Samara releases a loud cackle. “I don’t think you need to get shirtless just yet.”

“Am I distracting you?” I wink at her, and I earn one of her signature eye rolls.

“Always,” she says with a smirk.

I turn my attention back to Arielle, who’s lying in a position I was certain I’d never see, nor had I wanted to, but fuck, am I grateful for her.

“I get that these are your kids, but if you could stop staring at my wife’s pussy, I’d appreciate it,” Dante grits out as he catches me staring. Though there’s absolutely nothing sexual about this. I’m just fucking amazed at what the human body can do, and getting to see my children born is astonishing. It’s something I missed with Gia and I’m so thankful I get to experience this time.

I chuckle at his brashness. “I’m not looking at hervagina; I’m just checking to see if the next one’s ready to make their appearance.”

“Giuliana will tell you when they are, so stop fucking looking,” he tells me, and immediately, I avert my gaze back to Samara, who’s sucking her cheeks in, holding back her laughter.

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