Page 118 of A King’s Obsession

"I know, girl." She brushed a damp strand of hair away from my forehead. "But you're doing good."

I managed a small smile before her phone rang again.

She answered, listened for a moment, and glanced at me.

"Okay, come on up."

She hung up and moved toward the door.

"Malachi's here."

Relief washed over me, but I didn't have time to say anything before another contraction tightened across my stomach. I grabbed the bed rail, squeezing my eyes shut as the pain spread into my back.

"OOOOH, FUCK!"

Yara hurried to my side, rubbing my shoulder while I tried to breathe through it.

By the time the contraction eased, the door had swung open, and Malachi was rushing toward me with his face full of worry.

"Baby, I'm here."

"YOU TOOK YOUR SWEET-ASS TIME!" I cried, reaching for him anyway.

He crossed the room in three long strides, leaning over the bed and wrapping his arms around me. I buried my face against his chest, clutching his shirt while he kissed the top of my head.

"I'm sorry, beautiful. I'm here now," he murmured, rubbing my back. "How you feeling?"

"Like your big-headed ass put two bowling balls inside me."

He chuckled, pressing another kiss against my forehead. "You want me to get the doctor?"

"I want you to hold my damn hand."

He pulled a chair closer and sat beside me, slipping his fingers through mine. The warmth of his palm against mine settled something inside me that had been unraveling since my water broke.

I looked at my husband, noticing the worry still sitting behind his eyes. For all the shit I'd been talking, I knew he'd been scared too.

"I'm sorry I said I hated you," I whispered.

He brushed a tear from my cheek, a small smile tugging at his mouth.

"Baby, you called me every name but the one my mama gave me. I figured you was going through something."

I laughed, leaning into his hand.

Then I noticed somebody standing near the doorway.

At first, I couldn't see past Malachi's broad shoulders. But when he shifted, a woman stepped farther into the room, her dark hair framing a face I knew better than my own.

For a moment, my brain refused to make sense of what my eyes were seeing.

Then she smiled nervously.

"Hey, Ash."

My heart damn near stopped.

"Jru?"