“You did good, pumpkin,” he declared with a proud smile before kissing the top of Alyssa’s head.
My wife laughed. “It doesn’t appear that way. She looks just like her daddy.”
“There’s plenty of you in there, baby,” I assured her as I cuddled her closer and gazed at the little angel in her arms. “And you were amazing today.” I’d been a nervous wreck when Alyssa had gone into labor. Luckily, she’d remained calm and ordered me to get my shit together and take her to the hospital.
I hadn’t done a whole lot better in the hospital room while she was having the baby, and I had no doubt I’d never live that down because Patch dropped by to check on us. Alyssa asked him to help me through this, and he laughed for a good five minutes. He was on call, and his pager went off a half-hour later, calling him to the ER. He said he’d be back, but Alyssa had been settled in her room for half an hour now, and he’d yet to return.
“What are you going to name her?” Jana asked.
“Celia Anne.” Alyssa had picked the name, and when she told me, it was the only time other than our wedding day that I nearly cried.
My parents had passed away when I was ten, and I’d been raised by an uncle—a Silver Saint. I’d had a great childhood, but my parents had been incredible, and I missed them every day. My mother’s name was Celia, and my father’s mother was named Anne.
“Perfect.” Jana beamed at us before leaning down to coo and baby talk with CeCe.
“Amazing how perfect, considering her ugly-ass father,” Patch announced as he strolled into the room.
I rolled my eyes, not in the mood to engage. Not when I had everything I could have ever wanted safe and secure in my arms.
“Where’ve you been?” I asked idly, distracted by my daughter’s tiny fist wrapping around my finger.
“Dealing with a patient.”
Something in his tone made me look up and scrutinize him. He was trying to hide it, but he looked a little shell-shocked and a whole lot frustrated. I recognized that expression.
“I need to get back to her—”
“Later,” I interrupted, waving my hand toward the door. “Go take care of your woman.”
He didn’t bother to deny it, just lifted his chin and mumbled congratulations before beating a hasty retreat.
“Uh-oh.” Alyssa snickered. “He had the same look on his face that you did when I walked up to you in the parking lot at school.”
“It worked out for me,” I said with a shrug and a crooked smile.
“True.” She winked at me, and I couldn’t help capturing her lips in a sweet kiss.
“Ahem.” Jensen cleared his throat, but I ignored him.
I vowed to send Jana diamonds when she chuckled and dragged her husband from the room because we needed some private family time.
“I love you, baby,” I told Alyssa when I finally ended the kiss.
“I love you, too,” she answered, her expression soft as she stared up at me.
CeCe drew our attention when she began crying and rooting around for her next meal.
Alyssa lowered her hospital gown and brought our daughter to her breast to feed her. It was a tender moment, but as CeCe suckled at my wife’s tit, I couldn't help feeling a little jealous. I couldn’t wait to have my turn when I got Alyssa home and back in our bed. I couldn't take her for six or so weeks, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t satisfy each other.
After CeCe finished and had fallen back asleep, in my arms this time, I was marveling at how gorgeous she was when a terrifying thought struck me.
“We need to have a boy,” I croaked. “Lots of boys.”
Alyssa laughed and shook her head. “How about we enjoy our firstborn for a little while before we go making anymore. And we don’t get to pick the sex, babe. That’s not how this works. Are you sure you know how babies are made?”
I was too caught up in my nightmares about all the little shits that would be flocking around my beautiful daughter one day to catch onto Alyssa’s teasing tone. “Right away. We have to have boys, baby. Look at her. She’s too fucking gorgeous. I’m going to need help.”
“Teach her to take care of herself, and you won’t need to rely on her brothers,” Alyssa stated.
“I still want more protection for my precious girl,” I insisted.
Alyssa huffed, but there wasn’t anything in her eyes besides amusement and love. “Okay, if it will make you feel better, we can try again in a year.”
I didn’t agree or disagree, so she shouldn’t have been shocked when she was pregnant four months later. Nor should she have doubted my commitment to protecting my daughter. I was determined to give CeCe brothers who would protect her, and the next time Alyssa gave birth, it was to twin boys.