Chapter Two-Hundred and Ninety-Three
Dominic walked with Clarissa through the baby isle of Walmart, watching as she placed several items in their cart. Including diapers, bottles, a breast pump, nipple cream, shields, pacifiers, wipes, burp rags, onesies, booties, hats, bibs, and many more odds and ends. "Holy shit." Dominic muttered, raking his hand through his hair with all the things they'd missed when they'd been preparing for the quads to arrive. "How bad did we fuck up already?" He asked, rubbing the back of his neck with a rough calloused hand.
"You didn't mess up." She chuckled, handing him a case of Oreos. "You're just new parents."
Dominic helped her with the grocery shopping, shaking his head as he thought about how miserable Jade must have been without the things that Clarissa had bought for her. "Kids are expensive."
"Yep."
Claire sighed in contentment as John's arms grew tighter around her body. His chest was warm against hers, his breath still rattled in his lungs, but he felt sturdy, strong, as if he'd bulked up in the time he'd been in the hospital, though she knew he hadn't. She felt his gentle lips brush over her forehead, smiling as his muscles flexed and tightened. "Sugar…" She yawned, lifting her eyes to see his face.
"Mmm?" He mumbled, barely cracking his eyes open.
She tenderly kissed him, nipping at his lips before he slid his tongue into her mouth. She moaned in pleasure, letting him be dominant for a moment before she switched it up on him.
"What the?" He blinked in shock, smirking when he saw the mischief in her Bambi-like eyes. "Where did you learn that move?" He asked, moving his tongue around and feeling some of the spots she had touched.
"You dumbass." She stated, licking her lips and jumping when Ryan knocked on the door.
Ryan laughed, stepping to the bedside and carefully moving John's body so that he was on his back. "Wanna try this again?" He asked, slipping his hand under John's shoulder blades and unclasping the brace.
John groaned, the muscles in his chest and abs contracting as Ryan steadied him while he sat up. "Fuck…" He ground out through gritted teeth, leaning back into Ryan's hold on him. "Still hurts…"
Claire smiled with how John was able to support his head, shocked at the progress he'd made in the last few weeks. "You… you're able to sit up."
"Kind of…" John heaved a breath, forcing himself farther up before the pain hit him. "Ow…" He whimpered, letting Ryan lay him back down and examine him.
Ryan lifted his eyes to Claire, pulling the covers off of John's body. "Do you want to step outside?" He asked, untying the neckline of his hospital gown.
John stiffened, reaching for Claire as Ryan moved to the knot around his hips. "Stay…" He knew that it was hard for her… seeing him like this… but he knew what was coming, and he needed her there. "Please…"
She nodded, taking his hand and holding it close while she combed her fingers through his hair. She ignored Ryan's movements as he took the gown off of John's thin build, forced John's groans of pain out of her ears as Ryan removed the catheter, gripped his hand tight as Ryan moved John's legs and began to wash him up as best he could. "Every time we touch, I get this feeling…"
"And every time we kiss I swear-" John hacked halfway through the lyrics, his chest rattling with every harsh cough. "I could fly."
She laughed, pressing her hand against the hard plain of his left pec. "I love you." She smiled, kissing his throat before Ryan moved John onto his side so that he could wash his back up.
"Love you more…" He rasped, closing his eyes and holding her hand to his chest.