Page 58 of Duke's Baby Deal
“I don’t want them to fall out,” I told him sharply. I’d been stuck in this one room for three weeks now, and I was getting a little cranky.
“Well, I think you’re doing an excellent job. At this point, every day we gain is a win. And if you can go another three or four weeks, then we’re almost in the clear. Most of what human babies are doing in the last month is putting on weight—I assume it’ll be the same for shifter babies. We’ll do another ultrasound in a week to check on their growth, but the nurses tell me you’re eating well and I can see,” he eyed my now massive belly, “that the babies are using at least some of that.”
He pulled the sheet back and asked me to loosen the string of my pajama bottoms so he could check out how things were doingdown there. The pajamas were one of the pairs that Bax had given me the day after my mating, huge baggy things with a drawstring waist so I could just keep letting them out as I grew. Ilovedthem. Was thinking about keeping on wearing them after the babies came. Seriously considering never wearing anything else for the rest of my life.
Lady of Wolves, I was getting lazy.
I untied the knot and slinked them down until he could see. Duke still looked uncomfortable having someone else stick their face in my crotch, but he took it well. I could feel the doctor pushing at the skin on either side of my line, and then he stood up again.
“You can pull your pajamas up again. It looks like the gap has opened farther and a couple of the stitches seem to have pulled through. I’m going to put the sling back on you and maybe a pressure bandage. The staples I put in when you first got here are holding. I can do more of those, but I’m honestly not sure it would do any good. We don’t want the babies stuck in there if there’s an opening to the world, that’s just asking for infection. In fact, I might just take the staples out, since they really aren’t doing any good. Hang on, while I get the tool I need.” He patted my knee and left the room.
I looked up at Duke. His face looked grim, but as soon as I turned to him, he slid onto the edge of the bed and pulled me into his arms. “It’ll be all right,” he murmured. “The doctor said three or four more weeks, that’s all. You can do it.”
“He absolutely can,” the doctor said, coming in through the door with a grin. Kristy came behind him, carrying a tray with some stuff on it. The doctor motioned for Duke to get off the bed, and for me to lie down and drop my pajamas again. “This will only take a second.” I felt pressure and some twisting, then heard a ping, and the pressure at that spot on my belly disappeared, only to reappear an inch to the side. “I have a favor to ask you,” he said as the twisting began. The staple pinged and he looked up at me. “You know we’re part of the medical school here, or they’re part of us, whatever. One of the reasons why we have facilities for shifters. I was wondering if you would mind meeting some of the medical students that will be doing rotations next year. If you’re willing, and if Mercy Hills or Jackson-Jellystone is willing, we might be able to convince one to do a short rotation in one of those packs. Get a feel for shifter culture and the medical differences between you and us.” Ping. “But I perfectly understand that, under the circumstances, you wouldn’t want to do it. It’s not required.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted more strangers goggling at me, but I knew this was something that Abel would be really excited about. And, with everything he and Bax and Holland had done for us, I felt like I kind of owed it to them. I had opened my mouth to say yes when Duke cut me off.
“Can we talk about it?” he asked.
The doctor looked up from layering soft hospital gauze over my omega line. “Oh, of course. This isn’t something I’d expect an immediate answer to.” He held his hand out and Kristy laid a wide roll of stretchy elastic fabric in it. “I’m going to need you to lift your hips a little, good, now you can relax.” He pinned the fabric. It was tight, but not uncomfortable. I could feel it holding my belly in place, even more than the sling had.
“Thank you,” I told him. “It already feels better.”
“Well, we have to keep those pups inside for at least another month.” He looked over at Duke. “You keep doing your job, Dad, like you have been, and it’ll be smooth sailing.” He nudged Kristy. “Not too often the nurses sing the significant other’s praises, but they are, right, Kris?”
“You behave,” she told him sternly, though the words were spoken through a smile. “Anything else you want changed?”
“No,” he said. “I’m going to head out, I’ve got someone in labor right now and I should be getting ready.” He turned back to us. “You two have a good day, and don’t worry. You’re going to be fine.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Duke watched the humans leave, then, when Bram wiggled over on the bed, he kicked his sneakers off and climbed in with him.
“I’m so tired of this,” Bram murmured against his chest. “I’m doing everything they’re asking me. Why won’t it stop?”
“Shhh, it’s okay. You’re the bravest shifter I know.” He had to stay strong for Bram. His mate was putting on a good show, but Duke thought Bram didn’t realize how much the strain showed on him. “You don’t have to let him have the students in.”
“Yeah.” Bram rested against him for a moment. “Abel would want me to.”
“Abel doesn’t get a say in this.” He paused to rub Bram’s back, making his mate moan and settle against him in boneless contentment. “And we can still open the invitation, if Adelaide is willing to take on a medical student. You saying no doesn’t mean it can’t happen. It just won’t happen that way.”
“Yeah.” Bram sighed, and Duke held him, and soon Bram’s breathing deepened into the even rhythm of sleep. He waited a few minutes to make sure his mate was truly asleep, then he fumbled his phone out of his jeans pocket and dialed Mac.
Mac dispensed with the usual greetings. “Hey, how are things? How’s Bram?”
“He’s holding up, but he’s getting tired. I don’t know how much longer we can keep this going. The doctor was in today and has him all wrapped up now to keep the pressure off.
“Jason was thinking we could come down to visit for a couple of days, if there’s space for us to stay.”
“He’d appreciate that. It’s kind of lonely down here, they’ve got him in a room all by himself and since he’s not allowed out of bed, all he gets to do is watch television and work on the omega project. And make lists of baby names.”
“I’ll see if I can set it up then. I found a car to replace the other one and it wouldn’t hurt to take it for a good run and make sure it’s not going to break down.”
“By taking it for a run and trying to make it break down?”
“At least I can probably fix it, if it isn’t too bad. Don’t worry,” Duke could hear the grin in Mac’s voice. “I’ll make sure it’s in top shape before we go.”
Duke chuckled quietly, then shot a guilty glance at Bram, but his mate was still sleeping. “The doctor says if he can hang on to the babies another three or four weeks, then it won’t matter so much if they come early. I just wish it was over.”
