Free Attainment (The Temptation Series) by K.M. Golland Page B

hands around my son’s head. “Now,
Alexis. Push!”
    “Now, Hunny,” I add again.
    Alexis lets out a mighty big yell and pushes with all she
has. The sound of her pain and sheer determination rips at my heart, drowning
my ears until I hear the most wonderful sound in my life—my son’s cry.
    Looking down, I see his tiny little body in Dr. Rainer’s
hands, and I can’t for the life of me begin to describe what my heart is doing
in my chest. I’m stunned, yet so happy, and I want to fucking cry. I never
fucking cry.
    “Daddy, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?” Dr.
Rainer says as she hands me a pair of scissors.
    I accept them and automatically go on daddy-autopilot,
snipping the cord and helping to wrap him in a blanket.  Shit! He’s so
bloody small.
    Alexis is now quiet and her breathing, more controlled. Her
eyes are wide and damp, and her neck is craning, searching for our boy. Dr.
Rainer gives him a quick check over then places him on Alexis’ chest.
    I’m fucking floored, stumped; halted in my tracks. My fiancé
is holding our son in her arms and it’s the most amazing thing I have ever
seen.
    “Hi, little boy, it’s me, Mummy,” she says as she drags her
nose along the bridge of his and kisses his forehead.
    Seeing that small loving gesture has my heart thumping like
crazy in my chest. “I love you,” I say softly, finally opening my mouth and
finding the words. “And I love you, too, baby boy.” I lean in to kiss my son
for the first time. Wow! He’s so warm...and soft...and perfect. Perfect
like his mum.
    Sitting on the edge of the bed, I drape my arm around
Alexis’ shoulder and kiss her like never before. Pouring everything I have into
it. “Thank you. You make me the happiest man alive. Thank you for our son.”
    She cups the side of my face then looks lovingly at the
little miracle in her arms. “So, Daddy, do you think he looks like a Brayden
now?”
    I gently wiggle his nose with my finger and his lazy little
eyes find mine. “Yes, I do. It suits him.”
    She smiles through elated tears and hugs him to her chest.
“Welcome to the world, Brayden Lauchie Clark.”

 
    CHAPTER EIGHT
    In the blink of an eye your life can change. How you feel,
act, think, and see the surrounding world around you. It just changes...without
your say so...never being able to go back to the way it was beforehand. Not
that I would EVER want my life to revert back to how it was prior to becoming a
father. No way in hell!
     
    Standing here with Brayden sleeping peacefully in my arms,
and Alexis who is sleeping soundly beside me in her hospital bed, I feel like
my life has just begun.
    I slowly take steps around the room, lightly bouncing and
assisting Brayden in a lulled slumber. The swelling on his face is just
starting to go down, being only hours after he entered the world.
    “Brayden,” I whisper, while placing a soft kiss on his head.
“Daddy loves you so much, and I can’t wait to take you home and spend every
minute together. You and me, buddy, we are going to have so much fun.”
    A gentle knock at the door sounds right before it slowly
creaks open. Lucy pokes her head around and locks sight on me cradling my son.
The smile we share in that moment is profound and one only Lucy and I can
communicate.
    I nod my head and indicate she come in.
    As she tip-toes over to where I’m standing, a tear is
already making its way down her cheek. “Oh my God, Bryce, he’s amazing!” she
whispers as she places her hand on his head and wraps her other arm around my
shoulder. “Congratulations, big bro. I’m so happy for you.”
    “Thanks,” is about all I am capable of saying, still
semi-speechless from sheer awe.
    “It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? Finally holding, smelling, and
seeing your baby in the flesh for the first time.”
    Staring down at his peaceful little face, I answer. “There
are no words, Luce. No words.”
    Lucy nods toward Alexis. “How is she?”
    “Yeah, she’s good. Just