His eyes moved rapidly behind his lids.
Crap.REM sleep. That meant he was deep into this sleep cycle.
Before I freaked out too much or another pain gripped me, I went into our en suite bathroom and cleaned up. Then I changed out of my sleep shirt and into a pair of yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt. Then I grabbed my hospital bag, which we had prepared a month ago, and deposited it at the door.
I ambled back to my sleeping giant. “Hey, baby,” I said in a louder voice than before, shaking him.
As I did, a contraction made me moan, and I clutched his arm so hard, I dug my nails into him.
His eyes shot open. He blinked rapidly, looking out of sorts. “What’s wrong?”
I took in several short breaths, puffing them out, closing my eyes, and trying to stay on my feet when all I wanted to do was keel over and curl up into a fetal position.
Kade flew off the bed then helped me sit down. “It’s time. Isn’t it?” His voice cracked.
I nodded as the contraction waned. “We need to get moving. My water broke, and I think the babies are coming fast.”
The ladies in my birthing class who were on their second pregnancies had said their first deliveries took hours because they were in labor for so long.
Something told me the three inside me weren’t going to take hours.
He spun around, running his hand through his hair, searching the room. “Oh shit. Where the fuck are my clothes?”
I giggled for no other reason than to calm myself down.
He whipped his tired eyes at me. “Seriously? You’re laughing at me?”
I shook my head. “No. I just envisioned how this night would go, and never in a million years did I think you would freak out.”
Once he found his jeans, he stumbled as he managed to get one leg in then the other. “Bag?”
I stabbed a finger at the door as I rose, pushing out my stomach to balance myself. I giggled again. Between my breasts and my belly, which was as big as the universe, I was surprised I didn’t fall forward. I wobbled when I was on two feet.
Flinging the bag over his shoulder, Kade rushed over to me then wrapped his fingers around my arm. “Okay, let’s go.”
“I can walk. I’m not ninety years old,” I teased. “Besides, you need a shirt. Unless you want the nurses drooling over you.”
He reared back. “Fuck.” He let go of me, dropping the bag as he practically vaulted in the air toward his dresser.
I waddled as I headed to the door. I might as well get a head start.
Kade pulled out the first T-shirt his hands landed on and shrugged into it as though he were the Flash. Once he was fully dressed, with the bag over his shoulder, I was in the hallway.
“How far along are the contractions?” he asked.
“No idea.” I should have been counting, but I’d been too busy getting ready. “All I know is the pain seems to be coming faster and faster.”
When we reached the kitchen, I let out a moan that sounded like someone was stabbing me.
“Breathe,” he said.
I snarled. “I’m trying. Get the car,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Lace, you need to breathe.”
My nostrils flared. “Please, get the car. I’ll meet you out front.”
He studied me for a beat, his eyebrows drawing down, debating if he should leave me. “Fuck no. I’m not leaving you.” He paled.
