Page 55 of Marcello
“Mazzi,” Rio said. “I want you to take the first twin and make sure he or she has a clear airway like we discussed.”
“Absolutely,” Mazzi said.
“Marcello, are you wanting to cut the cords?”
I groaned when another contraction hit, and then I snapped a bit. “I mean, I get it that this is important, but I want that floaty feeling that all of the other omegas raved about at the council. I felt almost nothing before my waters broke. Now, I’m feeling everything, and it flippin’ hurts.”
“I apologize,” Rio said. “Marcello, if you would lie back a bit for a moment and take Abel with you, please.”
Marcello and I leaned back, and that only made my contraction hurt more. Probably because my stomach was stretched out now. I tried to curl up, but Rio pushed on my legs to keep them down. I glared up at the doctor. “It hurts.”
“Yes, I’m sure it does. I need you to lie still if you want the pain to go away.”
That had me freezing. I didn’t even breathe. Rio chuckled and shook his head. I was able to hold my breath until his hand started glowing green. He held it out low over my stomach and then slowly moved it down to the middle of my thighs.
“Ahh,” I said in relief when that floating feeling came over me. “I definitely see why the omegas love this so much.”
Rio chuckled again. “Yes. It also works wonders when paranormals are seriously injured. Now, since you are having twins and have decided you wish to try pushing them out?—”
“Can I change that?” I asked, suddenly not interested in all of that. I had wanted to do all of this without the floating feeling, but as soon as that first contraction started to get painful, I was done. “I’m a wimp. I want them delivered like Tulio. I want you to do it.”
Rio smiled at me. “I can certainly deliver the babies if that is what you wish.” I nodded frantically. Rio looked up behind me at my mate. “Marcello, I do apologize. We will need you to sit or stand beside him.”
Mazzi carefully wrapped his arms around my shoulders and held me up, and then my mate was gone. Mazzi lowered me to the bed, and one minute, I was staring up at the warlock, and the next in his place was the face I loved. I smiled up at my mate. “Hi. I love you,” I said and suddenly started crying.
Marcello ran his fingers through my hair and smiled again. “I love you too. Why are you crying? Are they happy tears?”
“No. I’m scared, and this is a lot.”
“Shh…I’m right here, and so are the others,” Marcello said. “There is nothing to be afraid of.” Marcello leaned down and kissed my nose and then my lips quickly.
“A little movement here, and then you might feel some pressure. Just try to relax if you do,” Rio said.
I stared up at Marcello with wide eyes. “They’re delivering the babies?”
Marcello smiled. “That’s what they’re here to do,” he told me as he continued to run his fingers through my hair.
I felt my body move a bit, but I didn’t feel any pressure or anything like that. Was that bad? I heard a gasp, and my eyes widened. What was wrong?
“All right, Mazzi. Please take the first baby,” Rio said.
“Oh, how precious. You are going to turn this coven upside down,” Mazzi said seconds before there was a loud cry.
I opened my mouth. “We have a baby?” I asked.
Marcello smiled at the baby before he looked back to me. “We have a baby,” Marcello told me. “We have a little girl.”
“What? We have a baby girl?” I asked, trying to lift my head a little.
“You do,” Mazzi said as he held her up. “You have a little fox shifter, and she has quite the set of lungs.”
I fell back flat onto the bed and stared up at Marcello. He became blurry, and I started crying in earnest now. We had a daughter. I’d survived a lot of negative things, and now my mate and I had a baby girl to love and protect.
“All right,” Rio said. “Here comes baby number two.”
Marcello was running his fingers through my hair, and he must have gotten a tissue from somewhere because he was suddenly wiping my eyes and nose. It was no use though. I was a daddy, and I had a little girl. I’d always wanted a baby girl.
Another loud cry filled the room, and Marcello leaned down and kissed me again. His lips lingered on mine, but he didn’t try to deepen the kiss in any way, just held the moment between us. When he pulled back just a bit, he leaned his forehead against mine. “I love you more than anything,” he told me.
