Into the Storm (57 page)

Dr. Sue laughed. “Well, I don’t think there’s any room for more in there, Joshua, so yes, one of each. Both are very healthy.”

I leaned down and kissed Rabbit, hard. Her eyes were filled with tears. “A Jack and a Bunny girl, Rabbit.” I grinned at her.

She laughed as I helped her to sit up. Dr. Sue handed us the latest pictures before she left the room and I stared down at them.

A son and a daughter.

I looked up at Rabbit’s tender expression. “Now we have to pick names from our top five, Joshua.”

I leaned forward. “I know which one I want for our daughter, Rabbit. You pick for our boy.”

She smiled and cupped my cheek. “Jack then. Jack Anthony Bennett.”

I grinned. “That’s a good, strong name for our son.”

Her voice was soft. “Danielle?”

I nodded. “Danielle Emily.” For my mother. My voice caught. “Elly.”

Rabbit smiled. “Perfect. Jack and Elly.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and wrapped my arms around Rabbit.

Jack and Elly.

Our children.

“
I can’t wait to meet them,” I sighed eagerly. “How is it possible to love someone—two little someones—this much when you’ve never even seen them?” I looked down at Rabbit. “I didn’t know my heart could hold so much love, Rabbit.”

She smiled and cupped my face, her fingers stroking small circles on my cheeks. Her expressive eyes were filled with love and joy.

“
I had no doubt, Joshua. No doubt at all.”

“
No, I don’t want anything, Joshua.”

I sat back flummoxed. “Not even ice cream, Rabbit?” She
always
wanted ice cream.

“
No.” Rabbit lay on her side, looking uncomfortable and upset.

I leaned forward and stroked her brow. “Does you head ache today?” I asked softly.

Rabbit shook her head but I saw the tears that slipped out from behind her closed lids. My heart clenched at the sight. Dr. Sue wanted her calm. Relaxed. Rabbit’s blood pressure had been all over the map; she had developed pre-eclampsia and was now on bed rest. Bright lights bothered her and she had a lot of headaches. She had been so brave and determinedly cheerful at first, but the past few days her emotions had been ragged.

“
Rabbit …”

She began crying in earnest. I stretched out behind her and wrapped my arms around her, my hand rubbing her tummy, as I whispered soft hushing noises into her ear. “Soon, Rabbit. Dr. Sue says just another couple weeks and she’ll do a C-section. You’re doing so well, sweetheart. Just hold on a little longer,” I pleaded gently. “Please, Rabbit, don’t cry.”

“
I’m sorry. I’m just so … tired of lying here. I’m tired of the headaches and the nausea. I want to go outside. I want to go for a walk. I want to sleep on my back. I want to make love to you. I want to wake up with my head buried in your chest and your arms around me. I want to bake you a pie! I’m just so useless!” The last words came out in a high-pitched whimper.

I smiled into her hair. “I want you to bake me a pie too, Rabbit. I haven’t had pie for three weeks,” I whined into her ear. “And I miss your face buried in my chest as well. Nothing is sexier than feeling you drooling on me in the morning,” I chuckled lowly. “And you haven’t rubbed my …
leg
…
in days,” I whispered. “All you do is lie here, looking beautiful and pregnant. You get to be all glowy and eat ice cream. I have to walk Bear alone and talk to Cecilia every single day now.”

“
Stop it,” she half sobbed, half giggled.

“
Stop what?” I asked innocently as I nibbled her ear gently. “Seriously, woman, you
are
so lazy. Lying here, denying me the drooling and the rubbing and the pie … letting the world revolve around you while you only do one little thing.” My arms tightened around her. “Protect and nourish our children. I mean really, Rabbit, how utterly …
selfish
…
of you.”

“
Stop trying to make me laugh.”

“
Oh, I’m sorry. Was I doing that?”

She sighed deeply. I felt the shudder run through her body at the same time someone started kicking. I smiled and rubbed my hand over the movement. “Someone wants Mommy to calm down,” I whispered. “They don’t like it when she’s upset.” I paused, my voice turning serious. “Neither do I.”

Reaching over, I turned her face to mine, my fingers stroking her tear-stained face. “I know this is hard, Rabbit. But you’re doing so well. Tell me what you need to make it easier. Tell me what you want. I’ll do anything, my pretty girl. Anything. But please don’t cry.”

“
I don’t know what I want. I just feel so …” Her shoulders shrugged. “Just ignore me, Joshua. I’ll feel better in a little while. “

“
No, I won’t ignore you. This isn’t like you, Rabbit. There has to be something I can do. You need a change of scenery or something,” I insisted.

Her eyes filled up again. “I want to go outside and sit but I can’t. The light hurts my eyes and the chairs are uncomfortable. I’m afraid if I got into one, I’d never get out,” she sobbed.

I let her cry, rocking her. Dr. Sue had told me this might happen. Rabbit was only allowed up for a very limited amount of time every day and usually by the time she had a shower and got dressed, her time was up until later in the day. The past few days after a walk around the porch in the evening she was so tired that was all she did. I knew she missed being outside. She was used to being busy and active, so I knew the imposed resting was getting to her. I spent most of my time at the desk I had setup in the bedroom, not wanting to be away from her and leave her alone in our room for hours at a time. I had her help me with edits to distract her, played board games with her to pass the time, and when her head was aching, I sat beside her, rubbing her back and reading to her. She said the sound of my voice soothed both her and the babies. But today, there was no soothing and I knew she was reaching her limit. Even Bear and his antics hadn’t made her smile the past couple of days.

I looked down and smiled sadly. She had cried herself to sleep. It didn’t take much to exhaust her these days and her emotional outburst would certainly do it. My hand stroked her hair that was still damp from her shower and I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. She burrowed into her pillow, facing away from me, and I sighed. I did miss her burrowing into me. But the swell of her stomach prevented that at the moment. And, sex was off the table, which frustrated both of us. There had to be something I could do to make her happier.

An idea formed in my head and I gently disentangled myself from Rabbit and went to call Cecilia. An hour later my idea had been bought and purchased and would arrive the next day. I grinned as I hung up. Rabbit would love it.

“
Oh, Joshua!” Rabbit’s voice was filled with delight and her hands clapped with excitement when I carried her outside the next afternoon.

I grinned down at her, being gentle as I laid her down in the soft hammock. A pre-made gazebo complete with bug screens had been set up, providing shade and comfort while giving her the freshness of being outdoors. The large hammock was plush and filled with pillows and a blanket, in case she got cold. A couple of chairs and a table were close where I could sit and use the laptop while she rested in the hammock. Leaning down, I kissed her tenderly. “I should have thought of this sooner. I know you’re still lying down, Rabbit, but at least it’s a change of scene and the fresh air will do you good. I made sure it was all Dr. Sue approved.”

She sighed and looked around her. Her hand reached up and I grasped it in mine. I let her pull me down for a sweet kiss. “Thank you,” she breathed.

I smiled down at her. “Anything. Anytime. Always, Rabbit.”

“
It’s lovely.”

I nodded. “I’ll have a more permanent structure built next year. It’ll be good for Jack and Elly in the summer. It’ll be a great place to sit in the evenings. But for now, this will let you be outside, but not in the bright light.”

“
You’re so good to me.”

I laughed and knelt beside her, my hand going to her tummy where I could see rapid movements happening through her shirt. “I think they like it out here.” I looked at Rabbit, pleased to see her looking happier today than yesterday. “I like to be able to look after you, Rabbit. You mean everything to me, my pretty girl. Everything. All I want is for you to be happy.”

“
I am.” She smiled at me. “I’m happier with you than I ever imagined I could be. I love you so much, Joshua.”

I kissed her softly. “You have given me so much, Rabbit.” My hand pressed tenderly on her rounded stomach. “You’ve made my dreams come true; ones I had long since given up ever hoping for. You complete my life. You
are
my life.”

“
Oh
, Joshua.” Rabbit’s arms wrapped around my neck, drawing me down to her mouth. I lost myself in the sweetness of her kiss, my desire suddenly raging, and I groaned roughly when I pulled away.

“
Want to join me on the hammock?” Rabbit looked at me, waggling her eyebrows.

I smiled down at her, shaking my head. “I’m not sure that’s advisable at the moment. I’m rather tempted to break Dr. Sue’s rule.”

She looked up at me from under her lashes, smiling. “Just rather?”

I groaned, dropping my head onto her shoulder, struggling to calm my body and my breathing. “Don’t, Rabbit,” I pleaded quietly.

She turned her head, her mouth damp against my ear. “Let
me
be good to
you
, Joshua, please?” I felt her hand snake down under the waistband of my loose pants, wrapping around my aching erection. I groaned at the contact, thrusting myself against her palm. “I can’t … but I want you to, please. Let me, Joshua … please.”

The unanticipated pleasure was so great; I gave in quickly and groaned as I felt my pants fall and her hand begin to move freely. It felt like forever since she had touched me. My hands grasped at the pillows around her head and I covered her mouth with mine as I gave into the heat of her strokes. I kissed her over and over again, my tongue dancing with hers in the sweetest of rhythms as her hand worked me into a frenzy of need. Her tiny hand had never felt so powerful or flexible as it did right at that moment, and she stroked me rapidly into a mindless sense of want. My body arched into her grip as my fingers clutched and twisted the soft material beneath them. My sudden orgasm had me gasping out her name as I came hard and fast, kneeling beside her on the soft grass. My body slumped forward, my head now resting beside hers on the pile of pillows as I tried to recover from the intensity of my response. Slowly, my eyes opened and I gazed at her. “Wow. That was … unexpected.”