Chapter 53

A slew of swear words came out of my mouth during the next contraction. I was in it now. The intensity was picking up. The reprieve between was getting smaller and shorter. I was squirming and desperate to make it stop. I couldn’t sit down. I couldn’t walk.

Then it was over. But for how long? I was rushed upstairs to the room that was converted into a birthing suite and nursery. Eva was waiting for me and she was prepared. Rowan’s hands were on my arms to help me into the room.

As another contraction hit me, I roared, “Don’t touch me!” as I crumbled down against the side of the bed, riding out this awful, painful wave. He jumped right away from me, taken aback from the sudden aggression in my voice.

I was told that giving birth was an out-of-body experience. Whoever said that was a f*cking liar. I couldn’t get out of my body. I was forced to stay within my skin because there was no escape. I was at the mercy of every agonizing squeeze.