Captive (26 page)

“No, I’m gonna go see my wife.”

“She’s resting.”

I sat the glass of wine on the table. “I’ll rest with her, then.”

“I’ve got her hooked up to the monitor. You can’t jostle the bed or anything. It might be good if you didn’t sleep in there.”

“I’m sleeping with my wife,” I said, standing up and stretching. “I’ll be careful. We’ll see you in the morning.”

I didn’t even need to look at Carla to know she was pouting. I considered inviting Luke over, but Carla was on the payroll. She could get laid on her own time.

When I pushed open the door to the bedroom and closed it behind me, Kate was sitting up in bed reading a book. She glanced up and looked at me over the top of her reading glasses.

“Hell, yeah. Naughty pregnant teacher,” I said, pulling my t-shirt off. She smiled and sat the book down.

“I’m glad you’re here tonight,” she said. “I keep worrying I’ll go into labor in the night when you’re on the road.”

“You feel like it could be tonight?”

“No. Everything feels the same as usual. I just think I’ll sleep better knowing you’re here. I don’t want you to miss any of it.”

“Me, either.” I unbuttoned my jeans and let them drop to the floor. Kate sat her glasses on the nightstand, switched the bedside lamp off, and I climbed into bed. I couldn’t help smiling at the amount of shuffling, shifting and adjusting it took her to get comfortable on her side. Then she had to reposition the straps around her belly so the monitor picked up the baby’s heartbeat. I got on my side and wrapped an arm around her, rubbing her bare stomach.

“You can lay against me if you want,” I said. She turned her face back to me and I could just make out her smile in the dim light of our bedroom. I had to kiss those perfect pink lips. What started out as a soft show of affection turned into something more. I let my mouth roam to all the places on her it craved – over her cheeks, down to her neck, to her sensitive earlobe.

“I read that nipple stimulation can trigger labor,” she said, her tone breathy. “And orgasm.”

I hummed my approval of her idea against her neck. “Is that right?”

“Yes. But I can hardly move.”

“You don’t need to.”

I hiked her shirt up near her neck so I could trace the lines of her swollen nipples with my fingertip. She moaned and breathed faster, urging me on.

“They’re so sensitive,” she whispered. My cock stiffened against her ass. When I pinched a nipple, she moaned the way she did when she was starting to come. I nipped her shoulder the way she liked and lowered my hand to her hip. My effort to get it between her legs was hindered by her very pregnant belly.

“Sorry,” she said with a light laugh.

“Get on your back,” I said.

“I’m supposed to stay on my side.”

“Okay.” I pushed myself up on an elbow so I could reach her nipple with my mouth, and I licked and sucked it until she was breathing hard again. “Lift this leg up. Rest your foot behind your other knee.” I patted her thigh and she did what I wanted, allowing me to get my hand between her thighs from behind.

“Ah!” Her hips bucked forward the moment I made contact with her swollen clit. I wouldn’t miss how cumbersome she was, but fuck, would I miss this constant state of arousal.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I whispered in her ear. My cock was throbbing from the feel of her wet pussy and the sound of her desperate moans. “Come on, sweet, dirty girl. Come for me. I wanna feel you come on my fingers.”

That did it. She turned her face into the pillow and moaned into it over and over. I felt the deep pulsing waves in her pussy against my hand. I kept the pressure on, slowing it to pull her pleasure out longer.

“My God.” She pressed her back against my chest and purred like a cat. “If that doesn’t do it, nothing will.”

“You feel good?” I rubbed my bristled cheek across her soft, bare shoulder.

“So good. Can you still get inside me?”

Her body had gone slack with relaxation, and I could hear the fatigue in her voice. “Just you tonight, baby. Go to sleep now. Maybe you’ll wake up in labor.”

“I love you, Ryke. You’re amazing.”

“I love you, too.”

I stroked her hair until she fell asleep in my arms, but I couldn’t seem to unwind enough for sleep. I couldn’t just stop traveling to games for the next two weeks in case she went into labor, but I didn’t want any of it to happen without me there. I wanted to take her to the hospital when it started and be by her side every second. She’d be scared, and she’d need me.

When I left in the morning, Mimi would be staying at the apartment all the time when I was gone until Kate had the baby. That way she could stay with Melody and Carla could get Kate to the hospital. But the thought of Kate being in labor and having no one there but a nurse she hardly knew was unnerving.

Why the hell couldn’t I have a normal job? Something that didn’t require me to be hundreds of miles from my wife when she needed me most?

These were the questions that kept me in a fitful sleep until I snuck out of bed at six to take a shower and leave for the airport. I was sullen the entire flight to Detroit. Kate had done the hardest part. She’d fought through the grief and sadness and carried this baby to term. My part was to be there to support her, and I didn’t want to fail her.

Everyone on the team knew I could be moody before a game, so they were used to avoiding me. Even Luke stayed away. I left my phone with Terese and told her to get me pulled from the game immediately if Kate called.

It was fucking impossible to keep my head in the game. I played hard, mostly due to my frustration and anger at having to be here right now. The game was close to over and we were tied 2-2 when Luke slid me the puck a second before John London barreled into him. I slapped it in and raised my stick, my teammates surrounding me for a celebration.

But it was short-lived. I couldn’t find Luke, and when I looked over, he was flat on the ice, his leg curled up beneath him. I skated over and pushed past the ref who was bent down talking to him.

“Luke? What happened?” I got down on the ice and put my face next to his. He could only manage a tortured groan. My heart kicked up speed. Luke had never laid on the ice. He was one of the toughest I’d ever played with.

“Fuck.” He breathed out the word and I could tell he was hurting bad. Pete and Terese arrived then.

“Your knee, right?” Pete asked.

“Ugh.” Luke spoke through gritted teeth. “Fucking London hit me knee to knee. Christ, it hurts.”

I slid back so they could load him onto the stretcher that had arrived. A sickening taste filled my mouth. Knee to knee hits could end careers. I searched the ice for London and when I found him, gave him a glare that let him know this wouldn’t go unchecked. I’d make sure his fucking knees both hurt worse than Luke’s did right now.

Vic skated up to me, following my gaze. “Knee to knee?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Fucker.” He put London on notice with another dirty look.

“Ryke!” Terese was waving to get my attention from her spot next to the stretcher. “Your wife!”

One of our benchwarmers was holding up my phone and I took off, sliding to a snow-throwing stop and scrambling over the wall. I ripped the phone from the hand that held it toward me.

“Kate?”

“Come home!” she cried happily. “I’m in labor!”

I ran for the locker room in my skates, my chest seizing with worry. This was exactly what I’d been afraid of.

“Dammit,” I muttered. “I’ve got a plane on standby at the airport. I’m on my way. If I miss it, just know that I love you so much, baby.”

Our team towel boy had followed me into the locker room, and I moved the phone away from my mouth to get his attention. “Hey! Unlace my other skate!”

“Harmony said it will take a while. Oh, wow … that hurts.”

“A contraction?” I was frantic, trying to get out of my pads and keep the phone to my ear. “Kate?”

“Yeah, I think so. It’s getting better now.”

“Are you going to the hospital?”

“Carla and Harmony said we don’t need to go yet. The contractions are still too far apart.”

“If you’re in labor, you need to go to the fucking hospital!” I turned to the towel boy, whose eyes were wide with fear. “Just get the shit off me, I don’t care how you do it!”

“Just come, Ryke. I need you with me. But I’m not alone, so don’t worry, okay?”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Kate, I love you.”

“You, too. And Melody says to tell you hi.”

“Tell her I’m on my way. Call me if you need to. I’ll see you soon, baby.”

“Okay.”

For the first time the whole nine months, there was hope and real excitement in her voice. I grabbed my shoes and ran from the locker room. I’d put them on in a cab. Nothing would slow me down. After everything we’d been through, Kate and I had to be together for this.

My nails dug into Mom’s hand and I groaned when the pain of a contraction hit its peak.

“Breathe,” Harmony reminded me. “It’s going back down now.”

I forced a breath in and out, relieved when the pain receded as she promised. She was watching the monitor to tell me when the contractions were rising and falling.

“You’re doing great,” Mom said, smoothing back my hair. She had an arm wrapped around my shoulders and was coaching me through every contraction. It was fitting that she was here with me now. She’d been beside me when I’d delivered Harlow, the daughter I lost. We’d cried together then, and we were hoping together now.

“Thanks, Mom,” I said, leaning against her. “Dale doesn’t have to stay in the waiting room the whole time. It could be a while.”

“He wants to be here.”

The nurse who would be with me through delivery, June, walked in the room. She was sunny and sweet, which was nice now but would probably get on my nerves when I was in hard labor.

“More ice chips, sweetie?” she asked, her blonde ponytail swinging.

I was about to answer when Ryke flew into the room, his chest heaving with exertion. He closed his eyes with relief when he saw my pregnant belly.

“I’m here,” he said, walking over. “How are you, baby?”

“I’m … ah.” I closed my eyes.

“Another one’s starting,” Harmony said, reaching for my hand.

Mom moved aside. “Ryke,” she said, waving him over. He shed his jacket onto the floor and rushed over, putting his arm around my shoulder where hers had been.

“Ahhh.” I squeezed my eyes shut, exhaling like it would help relieve the vise-like grip of the contraction. “Ryke.”

“It’s okay, baby.” He looked at Harmony. “This is okay, right? This is normal?”

“Very normal,” she said, patting his hand.

“Can’t you help her? Give her something?”

“She doesn’t want it.”

“Ryke,” I whimpered. He wrapped his other arm around me and I reached up to his bicep, digging my nails into it.

“Breathe, Kate,” Harmony said. “Every contraction brings you a little closer to meeting your baby. Breathe and visualize yourself seeing the baby.”

I forced slow breaths in and out while she counted in a low, soothing tone.

“There, now,” she said. “Getting better.”

I relaxed my grip on Ryke. “You’re here,” I said, meeting his eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

He kissed my forehead, his eyes wide with concern. “Where’s the doctor?”

“He comes in and out,” Harmony said. “Don’t worry, I’m watching everything that needs watched.”

“Good game,” I said to Ryke. “I never got to tell you.”

“You had more important things to think about. Where’s Mel?”

“At home with Mimi. They’re coming later.”

Harmony passed me some ice chips and I put a few in my mouth.

“Relax your body during the down times,” she said. “Close your eyes and be still.”

I scrunched my face up and murmured when the dull ache of another contraction started to sharpen.

“Hmm,” Harmony said. “Lynn, tell the nurse she needs to come do a check.” She took my hand and Ryke moved in close again. The pain was intense this time, and it lasted longer.

“It fucking hurts,” I said, burying my face in Ryke’s chest. I gripped his bicep and whined against him until the pain finally started dulling. June was moving my knees apart and reaching beneath my hospital gown.

“Let’s see how you’re doing,” she said. “Eight! Almost there!”

“I’d like to talk to the doctor,” Harmony said.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I just need to speak with him about your wishes for the delivery.”

“I already did, when I first got here.”

“I just want to make sure he’s got it all down,” she said, heading for the door. “Relax and rest. You won’t have much time before the next contraction starts.”

Mom followed Harmony out of the room, leaving Ryke and I alone. He stroked a lock of my hair and studied my face.

“You look beautiful,” he said softly. “I’ll never forget the way you look right now.”

The tenderness in his voice made my heart swell with love, and I reached out to caress his cheek. I cringed when another contraction started building. He leaned in close so I could squeeze him and lean on him.

Mom, Harmony and the doctor all came in together, and Dr. Polanski went straight for the machine that was monitoring the baby’s heart rate. He studied it and nodded.