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- Herausgeber: LSODea
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Serie: The Billionaire's Baby
- Sprache: Englisch
The baby is here and that means the contract is over.
Can Harker convince Alison to stay with him, to make this a real marriage or will he lose her forever?
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Seitenzahl: 211
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021
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Having The Baby
The Billionaire's Baby, Volume 4
Ellis O. Day
Published by LSODea, 2021.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
HAVING THE BABY
First edition. July 27, 2021.
Copyright © 2021 Ellis O. Day.
ISBN: 978-1942706663
Written by Ellis O. Day.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Also by Ellis O. Day
Hot Holidays
The Mistletoe Game
A Banging New Year
Cupid's Misfire
La Petite Mort Club
Six Nights of Sin
The Voyeur Series Books 1 - 4
Six Weeks of Seduction
A Merry Masquerade For Christmas
The Dom's Submission Series (Parts 1-3)
Hot Holidays
The Billionaire's Baby
La Petite Mort Club Intimate Encounters
His Lesson
Playing House
His Love
His Imperfect Day
Six Nights Of Sin
Interviewing For Her Lover
Taking Control
School Fantasy
Master-Slave Fantasy
Punishment Fantasy
The Proposition
The Billionaire's Baby
The Baby Bargain
Making the Baby
The Baby Battle
Having The Baby
The Dom's Submission
His Sub
His Mission
His Submission
The Voyeur
The Voyeur
Watching the Voyeur
Touching the Voyeur
Loving the Voyeur
Standalone
The Dom's Birthday Weekend
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Also By Ellis O. Day
Having The Baby (The Billionaire's Baby, #4)
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CHAPTER 1: Alison
CHAPTER 2: Harker
CHAPTER 3: Harker
CHAPTER 4: Harker
CHAPTER 5: Harker
CHAPTER 6: Harker
CHAPTER 7: Alison
CHAPTER 8: Harker
CHAPTER 9: Harker
CHAPTER 10: Harker
CHAPTER 11: Alison
CHAPTER 12: Harker
CHAPTER 13: Alison
CHAPTER 14: Harker
CHAPTER 15: Alison
CHAPTER 16: Alison
CHAPTER 17: Harker
CHAPTER 18: Alison
CHAPTER 19: Alison
CHAPTER 20: Harker
CHAPTER 21: Alison
CHAPTER 22: Harker
CHAPTER 23: Harker
CHAPTER 24: Alison
CHAPTER 25: Alison
CHAPTER 26: Alison
CHAPTER 27: Harker
CHAPTER 28: Alison
CHAPTER 29: Harker
CHAPTER 30: Harker
CHAPTER 31: Alison
CHAPTER 32: Harker
CHAPTER 33: Alison
CHAPTER 34: Harker
CHAPTER 35: Alison
CHAPTER 36: Harker
CHAPTER 37: Alison
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CHAPTER 1: Alison
––––––––
Alison waddled out of the bedroom, stopping in mid-stride as another contraction surged through her. They’d been coming all night, but she wasn’t taking another needless trip to the hospital for Braxton Hicks. Her mother would kill her if she didn’t make the baby shower today. Mom was still a bit perturbed that she’d had to decorate in greens and yellows because Alison and Harker had decided to wait to find out the gender of the baby.
She took a deep breath when the contraction subsided and then continued down the hallway. She had three more weeks before her due date and it couldn’t come fast enough. If this kid decided to stay inside a little longer, she’d have to start walking down the hallway sideways.
Of course, all the extra weight wasn’t the baby’s fault. For the first few weeks after that incident in the office Harker had been polite but distant. He’d tried to get her to have dinner with him, watch TV, and even go shopping; but he’d never tried to seduce her again. She should’ve been glad because she was weak when it came to him, but she wasn’t. It didn’t matter that he’d hurt her over and over again, she still wanted him.
“Are you ready?” She walked into the kitchen.
Harker stood in front of the refrigerator, staring into it. He turned and guilt twisted inside her gut. He had bags under his eyes, and he must’ve lost weight because the jeans that used to hug his ass so beautifully were very baggy. He looked miserable and it was her fault.
“Yeah.” His eyes raked over her. “You look great.”
“Please don’t.” She didn’t have the strength to keep fighting with him, but she couldn’t give up. She needed time away from here to make sure that this was real and not some fantasy brought on by great sex and living with him.
“I'm just trying to compliment you. I’m not trying to fuck you.” He slammed the refrigerator door.
“Like anyone would right now.” She ran her hand over her belly. She’d never been the sexiest of women and right now she looked like a dead animal on the side of the road—bloated almost past the point her skin could contain. She wanted to go back to her room and lay down for a bit, or better yet, soak in the tub, but instead, she had to spend the day with Harker, pretending to be happy and in love. “Let’s save the niceties for public.”
“Sorry. I thought we should practice so we don’t both look miserable when we get to your mother's house.”
“You're right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped. I'm just”—she sighed as she stared down at her stomach—“so tired of being pregnant.” She glanced at him. “I miss my feet. I never would’ve thought that, but I liked seeing my toes.”
“They still look great.” One side of his mouth tipped upward in a slight grin.
“Great? Now, you are lying. I see them a bit when I put my legs up, and they look horrible. They’re huge and misshapen and there hasn’t been polish on my toenails for several months.” She smiled at him and then her shoulders sagged. “I’m just so tired. After I have this kid, you’re carrying him or her around for the next nine...” She stopped at the look of hope in his eyes. “I didn’t mean—”
“I know.” The hope disappeared like a fire being doused by a bucket of water.
“I’m sorry.” She was tired of hurting him and tired of being hurt.
“Me too.” He moved to her side and took her arm. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah.” She couldn't stop herself from leaning against him as they walked into the garage. He was always there when she needed him, but he was too stubborn to see that what she needed most was some time away from him to think. She had to know that she was making this decision on her own without any manipulation from him.
“We won't stay any longer than we have to.” He opened the car door.
Her hand squeezed his arm as another contraction shot through her body, starting in her back and moving through her stomach.
“Are you okay?” He grabbed her other arm, steadying her.
She breathed through her mouth for several seconds until the contraction was gone.
“Alison, get in the car. We’re going to the hospital.”
“No. I'm fine. It's just Braxton Hicks again.” They’d both learned that lesson. She’d woken him in the middle of the night, positive she was about to give birth, but she’d been wrong.
“Are you sure?” He helped her into the car.
“Yeah.” She pulled the seatbelt over her giant stomach. Another few weeks and she’d look normal again.
“Maybe we should go to the hospital to be safe,” he said as he got into the car.
“No. Mom will kill us if we miss the baby shower because of Braxton Hicks. She’s spent weeks planning this.”
“She should've had the party earlier.” He started the car and pulled out of the garage.
“She had church obligations.” She didn’t want to fight about this again.
“She has obligations to her daughter.”
“And she's having the shower now.”
“She should’ve—”
“Harker, stop. Fighting about this isn’t going to make us look not miserable.”
“Fighting about this is normal.” He pulled onto the highway.
“You are so obstinate.”
“And you’re so amenable,” he said drolly.
“Compared to you, I’m an angel.” She laughed.
He glanced at her, a look of surprise on his face.
“What? It’s true,” she joked.
“No. I mean...yeah, probably.” He smiled but it was hesitant. “It’s just that I haven’t heard you laugh in a long time.”
“Oh.” Her smiled died. “I guess I haven’t had much to laugh about.”
“You seem to think I’m funny. Maybe you should spend a little more time with me.” He glanced at her again but then quickly looked back at the road.
“Please, don’t do this. I don’t want to fight with you.”
“Then don’t.” The softness in his tone was gone. “I’m just saying that laughter is good for you...and the baby. So you should do things that make you laugh.”
“Is that your way of saying I should do you?” The man was unbelievable and so freaking charming in his gruff, grumpy way. This was why it was dangerous for her to be anywhere near him. He could literally charm her pants off. A little voice started to ask if it’d be that bad if she let him when another contraction coursed through her. Everything but the pain disappeared as she gritted her teeth, waiting for it to pass.
“I wasn’t but now that you mention it.” He stopped at a light and looked at her. “I miss you.” His dark eyes roamed over her and then he frowned. “Are you okay? Is it another contraction?” He felt her forehead.
“I don’t have a fever.” She pushed his hand away.
“We’re going to the hospital. Call your mother and tell her we’ll be late.”
“No. I’m not ruining this for her over a few contractions and do not argue with me about this.”
“I have no intention of arguing with you.” He put his turn signal on.
“Keep going straight. If you take me to the hospital, I will call my aunt and I will leave you there. I’m not missing my baby shower. My mom put this together for what will probably be her only grandchild.”
“Are you sure it’s Braxton Hicks? You look like you're in pain.” He turned off the turn signal and kept driving straight.
“Of course, I'm in pain. Do you think Braxton Hicks is a walk in the park?”
“No, but I don’t remember you being in this much pain.”
“I was more panicked last time because I thought I was about to give birth.”
“We should at least call the doctor.”
“I'm fine,” she said through gritted teeth as another contraction pulsed through her body like a freaking stun gun. “Let's get to my mom's house and get this done.”
“If you're still in pain afterward were going to the hospital.”
“Okay, but...” She stared down as warmth surged down her thighs. “Harker...” She couldn’t take her eyes off her legs. She was going to have her baby...now.
CHAPTER 2: Harker
––––––––
“Enough. You win.” Harker still thought they should go to the hospital but arguing with a hugely pregnant woman wasn’t a good idea. He glanced at Alison. “We’re going to your...”
She stared at her belly, a look of surprise on her face.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” His hands tightened on the steering wheel not sure if he should keep driving, stop, or turn around. He had no fucking idea what to do or what was wrong with her.
“My water just broke.”
“What?” He slammed on the brakes, pulling the car to the side of the road. Water breaking. That meant the baby was coming. “Shit. Fuck.” He stared at the stain on her pants.
“We need to get to the hospital.” She cried out, clutching her stomach. “Oh god, it hurts.” She stared at him, her eyes wide and scared.
“It’ll be fine. I promise.” He waited for the freaking cars to pass and then pulled onto the highway, making his way across the four lanes of traffic. As soon as he was headed in the right direction, he grabbed his phone and hooked it into the dashboard. “Call Dr. Shupal.” The phone rang through the car speakers as he glanced at Alison. Her face was pale. “Breathe, Alison.”
“I am breathing,” she snapped.
“In through your nose and out through your mouth. Like this.” He started breathing like they’d taught them during the Lamaze classes.
“Right.” She inhaled and then gasped, clutching her stomach and folding in on herself. “Oh god, please. It hurts.”
“Shit.” He grabbed her hand. “It’ll be okay. You’re going to be okay.” She’d better be okay. She had to be okay.
“Hello,” said the doctor. Her voice calm and professional.
“Dr. Shupal, this is Harker. Alison’s water broke, and she’s in a lot of pain. A lot.”
Alison moaned again, her hand squeezing his.
“Okay. I’ll meet you at the hospital,” said Dr. Shupal. “Are you on the way?”
“Yes. We’re about fifteen minutes away.”
“Great. I’ll call the hospital. Drive to the emergency doors and someone will meet you.”
“Emergency? Is this an emergency? She’s in pain, but that’s normal. Right?” He broke out in a cold sweat.
“Since her water broke, I need you to go to the emergency door. Stay calm.”
“Calm? How can I stay calm?”
Alison cried out again.
“She’s in pain. This can’t be normal,” he almost shouted.
“Harker, listen to me.” The doctor’s tone was firm. “Panicking isn’t going to help her. Stay calm.”
“You’re right.” He forced the panic aside and focused on driving. One thing at a time.
“I’ll see you in a few minutes.” The doctor hung up.
“Everything is going to be fine,” he said, to comfort her and to convince himself.
“Yeah. This is normal. Right?” Alison stared at him, her hands on her stomach as she breathed in moderated pants.
“Yes. Completely normal.” He prayed he wasn’t lying. “Let’s breathe.” He started doing the steady Lamaze breathing exercises with her. He was fucking glad he’d forced her to let him go with her to those classes.
––––––––
The fifteen minutes it took to get to the hospital seemed to take forever. He was helpless to do anything to ease her pain—pain that he’d caused because he’d wanted a baby. He still wanted their baby but this...this part of it sucked. He pulled up to the emergency entrance, and a man walked out of the hospital, pushing a wheelchair. Harker hurried around to Alison’s door, but the nurse was already helping her out of the car.
“When you come inside, check at the front desk. They’ll tell you where she is.” The male nurse helped Alison to sit in the wheelchair.
“When I come inside?” He grabbed her hand. “I’m going inside now.”
“You have to move your car, sir.” The nurse started pushing the chair and Harker followed. The nurse stopped. “Sir. You can’t leave your car there.”
“I sure as hell can.” He tightened his hold on her hand. “I’m not leaving her. She’s in pain.”
“She's having a baby. That's part of it,” said the nurse.
“Her water broke.”
“I know, sir, but we can’t allow your car to block the emergency entrance.”
“Harker, please.” Alison squeezed his hand. “Move the car. I’ll be fine.”
“They can fu...tow my car for all I care.”
“Please, Harker. Move the car and call my mom. I want her here.” Her face tightened and she gasped before breathing in pants again.
“Okay.” Letting go of her hand was the hardest thing he’d ever done.
CHAPTER 3: Harker
––––––––
The next thirty-five hours were worse than Harker could’ve ever imagined. Alison had done everything she was supposed to do, but the baby wouldn’t come. There was nothing he could do to help, except stand by her side and hold her hand. She was beyond exhausted. Her face was pale, and her eyes were unfocused. He wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
“Have some ice.” Estelle, Alison’s mom, was on the other side of the bed. She slid another ice chip in Alison’s mouth. She smiled pleasantly, but there was fear in her warm brown eyes and a tension in her face that Harker didn’t even want to think about.
He’d never been in a delivery room, but since Alison had gotten pregnant, he’d read a lot about having babies. He knew it took time, especially with the first one, but something wasn’t right. He felt it in his gut.
“Alison, I need you to push again,” said Dr. Shupal.
“I can’t,” whispered Alison as she looked up at him, scared and broken.
He’d never been so terrified in his life. This wasn’t the woman he knew. His Alison was strong and feisty; this woman would never make it. He had to find his Alison. He did the only thing he could think to do. He barked orders at her. “Damn it, Alison. You can. Push. Now. Or are you quitting? Are you giving up?” He wanted to shout in triumph as anger flared in her eyes.
“Go to hell.” She screamed, her grip tightening on his hand to the point of pain as another contraction tore through her body.
“That's it, honey,” said Estelle. “You’re doing great. Just push. The baby will come when it's ready.”
“It's ready. I'm ready. I can't do this anymore.” Alison’s body collapsed as the contraction eased.
“Do something.” He turned to the doctor. “You heard her. She tried but she’s done. She can’t do this. Fucking do something.”
The doctor ignored him. “Keep pushing, Alison. We need a long, hard push now.”
“I...ca...” Alison screamed, her nails digging into Harker's hand.
“That’s it. Good. Again,” said Dr. Shupal.
“I...can’t.” She sobbed, the sound ripping Harker’s heart from his chest.
“Please, Alison.” He pushed some hair from her face. “You can do this. You’re the strongest person I know.”
“She’s almost here,” said Dr. Shupal. “Just one more push. You can do it. Now.”
Alison screamed, her body tightening and shaking. Harker tried not to wince as she squeezed his hand so tight he thought his bones were breaking.
“That’s it. She’s here.” The doctor stood, smiling and holding a baby.
“My baby.” Alison collapsed onto the bed. “I want to see my baby.”
Harker’s hand tightened around Alison’s. The baby was bloody and so small and quiet. The nurse and doctor placed the baby on Alison’s stomach, cleaning it and clearing its mouth and nose. Harker’s heart slowed, every beat like an eternity as he waited for his child to cry, to move, to do something...and then the baby squalled, long and loud.
“It’s a girl,” said Estelle. “I have a granddaughter.” A huge smile spread across her face as she moved to get a closer look.
“Thank you, God.” His legs shook with relief. “We have a daughter.” His smile died as he looked at Alison. Her face was paler than before, and her gaze was unfocused and glassy.
“My...baby...” Her eyes rolled back in her head and her mouth dropped open.
“No!” He shook her hand. “Help! Dr. Shupal! Help her.” He grabbed her head between his hands and begged, “Alison, wake up. Come back to me.”
The room became a center of chaos as the nurse quickly moved the baby while Dr. Shupal started barking orders. More nurses rushed into the room. Harker was shoved aside and then everyone was gone. They’d all swarmed out of the room, taking Alison with them.
He stood in the bloody delivery room, holding Estelle’s hand and muttering, “She’ll be okay. She’ll be okay.” She had to be. He couldn’t lose her. He wanted to believe that life wouldn’t be that cruel, but he knew better.
CHAPTER 4: Harker
––––––––
“Mr. Harker,” said the nurse. “Would you like to meet your daughter?”
“My...” He stared at the little, wrapped bundle, his hand tightening around Estelle’s. He had a daughter.
“She’s beautiful.” Estelle squeezed his hand, her eyes tearing up.
“She is.” His voice was gruff, filled with too many emotions to name as the nurse placed his baby in his arms. She was so small. The bundle itself was about the size of his two hands and there was a baby wrapped in there which meant she was smaller. She had dark hair and blue eyes and she stared up at him, a frown on her little face. At that moment, his world shifted. Nothing mattered but her and Alison—not work, not his desires, nothing but them. They were his family except...Alison was missing. His legs shook. He couldn’t lose her.
“Why don’t you sit.” The nurse took his arm and led him to a chair. “I’ll be right back with something for her to eat.”
His eyes followed the nurse as she left the room, terrified to look at the bed where Alison should be.
“Your momma can’t wait to meet you.” Estelle touched the soft cap that was on the baby’s head. “What did you two decide to name her?”
“Ah...I don’t...” All he could think about was Alison’s face right before her hand fell from his.
“What is her name, Harker?” Estelle’s voice cracked as she rested her hand on his shoulder. “Alison is counting on you to take care of her daughter”—she cleared her throat—“until she comes back.”
“Irene.” He stared at his baby. Estelle was right. He needed to be strong for their daughter. “She wanted her named after her grandmother. If she’d”—he lifted his daughter and kissed her little head, his heart filling with so much love he thought it might burst—“been a boy, we would’ve named her after Alison’s dad.”
“I wish he were here,” said Estelle. “He was a wonderful father, and he would’ve been a terrific grandfather. He loved kids. I just wish we could’ve had more.”
“I don’t know what to do?” Terror clawed at his chest.
“You’re doing great. Just hold her and love her.”
“No.” He cradled the baby in his arms. “I mean, I don’t know how to be a father. I never had one. I never had anyone to show me.” He hadn’t thought past having a child to raising one. He was going to screw this up.
“Love her and that’ll take care of most of it.”
“It’s not that simple. I don’t know what to feed her, or what do I do when she cries? How do I know if she wants food or to be changed or—”
“Relax.” Estelle pulled a chair over next to him and took his hand. “You’ll do fine. You’ll make mistakes, but as long as you love her, it’ll be okay. Plus”—her grip tightened on his—“Alison will be there to help you.”
“Yeah.” He stared at the doorway, willing the doctor to come back inside and tell him that she was okay. It should be him suffering, not her. He’d change places with her in a second if he could, but life didn’t work that way.
CHAPTER 5: Harker
––––––––
Harker sat in the chair with his head in his hands, trying to make a deal with God for the first time since he’d been twelve. It’d taken him four years of destroyed dreams to realize that praying was a waste of time and that his mother’s family wasn’t coming to get him. But for this...for Alison, he’d try again. He’d do anything...absolutely anything to not lose her.
“Oh, look. She’s smiling,” said Merri.
“She looks just like her mother,” said Ellie.
Merri, Ellie, Aunt Tiff and Estelle were over by the baby crib, adoring Irene.
Merri and Ellie had stayed at Alison’s mother’s house after Estelle and Aunt Tiff had left for the hospital. They’d contacted all the guests who hadn’t arrived yet and then had cleaned up everything before heading to the hospital.
The three women with Tobias and Adrian had stayed in the waiting room for over a day. He didn’t deserve friends like them but somehow, he’d been lucky enough to find them.
“We put all the presents in the baby’s room at your house,” said Tobias. “I can’t believe you still don’t have the crib done. You should’ve told me you needed help. If you want, I’ll come over later, and we’ll put it together?”
He didn’t bother to answer. Tobias handled stress by focusing on the problems he could fix.
“Are you hungry? Merri left some of the food from the shower at Estelle’s house, but we packed up the rest and took it to your place. I should’ve thought to bring some here.” Tobias stood. “It’s okay. I’ll go get us all something from the cafeteria.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Adrian.
