“Spike Ventura,” Micah growled, in that low snarl that sent Spike’s balls shrinking back into his body.
“Push, Micah,” Spike whispered loudly. “Remember to push.”
Micah growled, rearing off the bed. He pushed, and Spike watched the heave of his body, the sinewy muscles and his clenched teeth, and there was such strength in Micah’s body. The stark beauty of his form. The sheer determination to get their baby out.
So he could murder Spike.
But that was helping, right?
“Both of you, get out,” the midwife said, jabbing her finger at the door.
“But then I won’t get to see Micah push!” Spike said.
Micah bellowed and he heaved, and if eyes could shoot daggers, Spike was certain he’d be pinned against the far wall with pointy bits a hairsbreadth from his balls.
“Ignore him,” Kai pleaded with Micah. “Please.” He held his arm out in front of Spike, as though that could keep Micah away if he got furious enough.
“C’mon, Micah, on the count of three,” Spike said.
Micah’s eyes burned. Kai groaned. “I won’t have anything left of you to bury after this, Spike.”
“One,” Spike said. “Two...”
With an animal cry, Micah heaved, and suddenly there was a bloody mess between his legs, and Micah turned toward Spike, his blue eyes snapping, his chest pumping with the effort.
Kai stepped between them, wrapping his arms around Micah—to hold him down, Spike was sure, because Micah was glaring at Spike over Kai’s shoulder as though looks alone could roast.
“Damn, you sure are beautiful when you’re mad,” Spike said. That was the truth.
Micah continued to glare. And for a moment, fear stabbed through Spike—had he ruined everything with his omega, by pushing him too hard?
“You know he’s an idiot,” Kai said rapidly in Micah’s ear. “He’s only trying to help. Don’t kill him. Please.”
Micah held Spike’s gaze, long enough that Spike squirmed, regretting everything he did. It seemed that was enough for Micah, because Micah laughed softly, flopping back down against the bed. “Oh, gods, Kai. You and Spike. You’re impossible.”
Relief washed through Spike like a torrent. And his knees grew weak, suddenly. For a moment there... he’d been truly afraid.
“You did it,” Kai murmured, giving Micah a deep kiss. “You did great.”
Spike watched them, glad that he hadn’t ruined things between Kai and Micah. Then the midwife came forward with a squirming, wailing bundle.
“Congrats on your baby girl—she’s beautiful!” The midwife set the baby carefully on Micah’s sweaty chest, a bundle of flushed red skin and some blood smears, and squinted-shut eyes and a dusting of hair.
Her nose... it was a little bit stubby, like Spike’s. Her hair was brown, like Micah’s. And her eyes...when she squinted a little, Spike caught a glimpse of copper.
Micah broke into a tearful smile, murmuring at their baby to soothe her. The wails subsided a little.
That was their daughter. They were dads now. His own flesh and blood, his own baby.
He knew the moment he felt the connection between him and that baby, the same moment Kai’s mouth fell open, and he reached forward.
Kai trailed his fingertips down their baby’s back. Then he carefully set his palm against her, so large against her tiny body. “She’s ours,” he croaked, his throat working. His eyes filled with wonder.
Micah met Kai’s gaze. “Ready to be a dad?”
Kai nodded, cracking a tiny smile. “Yeah.”
Gods, Spike loved his alpha. He’d figured Kai would come around, but to see it happen... that was something special. Kai met Spike’s gaze. In that moment, an understanding flickered between them. We’ll protect our baby girl.
Micah cradled the tiny child against himself, his smile wobbly. When Spike could no longer stay away, he approached his omega, sheepish. “Sorry for being a pain,” Spike mumbled, glancing warily at Micah. “I just—”
Micah closed his hand around Spike’s arm, hauling him close. “Spike Ventura,” Micah muttered, staring hard at Spike. “The nerve of you...”
“The same nerve that started all this, right?” Spike traced his fingertips along Micah’s jaw, stroking his lower lip.
Kai chuckled, wrapping his arm around Spike. “Yeah, if it weren’t for your hare-brained plan to go see Micah during his heat... This wouldn’t have happened.”
Micah laughed, hauling Spike down for a kiss. His lips were soft and sweet, but his smile was even sweeter. “I’ll forgive you,” Micah said. “But about those ten months of servitude...”
Kai barked a laugh, raking his fingers through Spike’s hair. Spike grinned, kissing Micah again. Then he kissed their baby, too.
“If that’s what you want,” Spike said, tracing his wrist down their daughter’s back, marking her.
Micah shook his head. “Nah. I don’t want a servant, Spike. I want an equal.”
And a warm, comforting weight settled in Spike’s chest. “Equals are good. I can do that. If you’re okay with occasional bouts of me being me.”
Micah smiled, and kissed him again. “You wouldn’t be Spike otherwise.” Then he fingered the ring on Spike’s hand, and Spike remembered Micah’s promise. Micah wanted to marry him and Kai. And that seemed like the most impossible dream coming true.
“Lenna,” Kai said suddenly, dragging his wrist down their baby’s side. “Her name. You didn’t pick one, did you?”
Micah laughed, tangling his fingers with Kai’s, dragging his own wrist down their baby so she smelled like all three of them. “We were waiting for you to arrive so we could decide on one. You like Lenna?”
“‘Brave and hardy,’” Spike said, dragging his wrist down Micah’s jaw. “I like it.”
Micah nodded, too. “That sounds like an excellent choice. Lenna.”
As though she heard her name, Lenna squirmed, giving a tiny mewl.
Kai smiled, wrapping his arms around all three of them. Then he kissed Lenna on her tiny ear, and looked at them in the eye. “You’re all mine,” Kai whispered. “I’m never letting any of you go.”
Micah beamed. Spike’s heart swelled.
After what they’d been through together, after their falls and their victories, something so innocent as the birth of
