Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I tell her. Vik immediately shifts, staying rooted to my side.
“Go with her, Vik.” My hand flutters in the air.
“I’m not leaving your side, Romy.” I cut my eyes toward the warmer across the room, where two nurses are wiping down our baby. My protective, maternal instincts flare to life, overriding my exhaustion.
“Vik, go over there.” My voice is raspy, but it’s not laced with weakness.
“No, the nurses have her. I’m staying with you,” he doubles down.
“Viktor Orlov, I swear to god, if you don’t get over there right now and watch over our daughter, I will personally rise from this bed and castrate you,” I threaten, narrowing my eyes through tears. “Please, don’t leave her alone.”
“I’m going. We’ll come back to you threatening castration, too,” he murmurs, quickly kissing my lips before turning and striding across the room. He parks his massive frame right next to the small plastic bassinet, looming over the nurses like the dominating billionaire he is.
I watch him from the bed, a soft, tired smile spreading across my face as I see his large hand reach into the carrier, his massive index finger completely disappearing as our tiny daughter’s hand wraps around it. I close my eyes and my legs, resituating myself since the doctor and nurse are now down there taking care of the afterbirth, cleaning me up, and helping me into what I can only assume is a period-type diaper contraption.
A few minutes later, Vik is wheeling the bassinet back to the side of my bed. Our girl is wrapped tightly in a pink striped hospital blanket. The slip of paper on the outside states her weight, seven pounds and four ounces, and she’s twenty inches long.
Once Vik has it parked, he carefully scoops her out and transfers her back to my waiting arms. He moves into the bed next to us when I scoot over, his arm going behind my back, his other holding our daughter beneath her rump right along with mine.
“She feels so light,” I whisper as she starts to root at my breast. I’ve read so many forums and so many books that I know this is a natural instinct, and I let her take charge.
“She’s tiny and she’s already got your stubborn streak, that’s for sure. She was fighting the swaddle,” he says his eyes staying on our daughter.
“Well, would you want to be wrapped in a fake cocoon when you’ve been inside your mommy for nearly ten months? How do you feel about Élodie for her first name, and you can pick her middle name,” I murmur, my finger tracing the incredible, velvety soft skin of her cheek.
“I like that, and it is your grandmother’s middle name. How about we use Anastasia, my mother’s middle name. It means resurrection, a new beginning,” Vik agrees. We’ve been waffling over which names to use and where, but holding her in my arms, seeing her facial features, the name fits.
“Élodie Anastasia Orlov. It’s perfect.” A few tears blur my vision again as I look back down at the tiny miracle resting on my chest.
“It’s perfect because she’s yours,” Vik whispers, pressing his lip in a long, deeply devoted kiss to my bare shoulder. “Because we made her. I love you, Romy.”
“She’s perfect because she’s ours,” I fix his statement. “And I love you, too, Vik,” I breathe.
“Next up is changing your last name.” My eyes were almost closed, when he opens the can of worms.
“And we will, once I lose the baby weight.” I want Élodie to be a part of our ceremony. I also don’t want to be worried about fitting into a dress and feeling unconfident.
“You’re perfect the way you are, Romy. I’d marry you right now if you’d let me.” He absolutely would. He’s tried multiple times to get me to the courthouse at every turn possible.
“November seventh,” I tell him as I close my eyes, his words wrapping around me, completely cementing our future right here and now.
“Perfect, both of you.” He presses a kiss to the crown of my head. I settle deeper into our family hold, happy and content.