“Is that all you need to make you happy?” she murmured.
“No, I need
you
to make me happy. I’ll always need you.” Brody turned her face and kissed her softly. “I’ll just wait until you catch up with the fact that I’m not going anywhere. No, shh, don’t answer. Let me get my beauty sleep.”
She laughed out loud at that and he pulled her close. Marie fell asleep with his hands caressing her stomach and baby Grayson’s gentle kicks as if in answer to his father’s touch. She knew he wasn’t going anywhere.
She already loved him to distraction, but things changed didn’t they? Men could be one way and then the other. She wanted to believe him and should believe him, yet something kept her from taking that very important step, one that would change her life completely. Marriage to Brody would mean she would have to actually commit to being happy or commit to having her heart broken again. But she did have hope and excitement about their future together. Did she dare believe that she, Marie Watson, could have a happy ending?
Her maternity leave officially began when she was eight months along.
She was having more Braxton Hicks contractions and the baby was now turned head down which the midwife said was natural and normal. It was Grayson’s way of getting ready for birth and Marie was feeling heavier and more uncomfortable. Brody was still working, of course. One couldn’t take time off from the military. But something was up, because he and Rafe had loosely mentioned a change may be coming so both she and Ivy were curious and a little worried. It had become one of the topics they spoke of frequently when they were together. Ivy was moving along in her pregnancy and mostly on bed rest because of some spotting she was having. Marie was worried enough that she called Ivy every day and Rafe took Bonnie to daycare instead of leaving her home for Ivy to manage.
Rafe’s mother and father had become Ivy’s guardian, so to speak, and were at the house almost every day. But the lack of anything to do and boredom was driving Ivy crazy, so Marie planned prenatal massages for them at a local spa. When Ivy’s doctor signed off that she could go, Marie took the big suburban to pick her up.
“This thing is a tank,” Ivy said as she climbed into the passenger seat.
“With this belly, I can’t sit behind the wheel of the Acura anymore, let alone get down low enough to actually slide into it,” Marie said. “And it doesn’t have warming seats.”
Ivy laughed. “Good point. It feels great on the back. You’ve got about eight weeks left. You must be excited.”
“It’s April now. I wish that June would hurry up and get here.” Marie maneuvered the suburban toward the exit they needed. “I feel like a beached whale.”
“You’re telling me, I feel completely useless just lying around.” Ivy sighed. “I cannot stand that Rafe and his parents have to take on such a burden.”
“They don’t consider you or what you’re going through a burden, Ivy,” Marie said gently.
“Well, the doctor said if I stop spotting for at least a week, he’ll let me get back to cooking and other light tasks.” Ivy clapped her hands. “I’ll be able to get off that darn couch and play with Bonnie.”
“That sounds good. I’ll come over and hang out with you guys.” Marie laughed. “I wish you were going to the midwife clinic with me.”
“Me too, but because I’m high risk we couldn’t take the chance. But I did sign up for a doula to be with us in the delivery room,” Ivy said.
“You’re still going to be there, right?”
“You know it. Brody will be an old pro at labor and delivery by then and he can keep Rafe from freaking out.” Marie laughed.
Ivy chuckled. “Rafe’s mom is excited to watch Bonnie and Grayson.
But there’s more news.”
“Oh, do tell,” Marie encouraged.
“It’s twins. The doctor confirmed yesterday, one of each.” Ivy was grinning wide.
“Oh, my god!” Marie squealed. “Wait, how come they didn’t see this sooner?”
“They did, but honestly they didn’t even know if one would make it let alone two and the girl is smaller,” Ivy replied. “We kept it close to the chest because Dr. Stein thought maybe we’d lose one, but they are both thriving.”
“How is Rafe taking the news?” Marie asked.
“Well, let’s just say he looks panicked when we talk about the babies,” Ivy said. “This is going to be my only birth. The doctor thinks it’s a miracle enough I got pregnant with all the scarring.” Marie felt her heart ache for her friend. She wanted more children eventually, but Ivy wouldn’t have that chance. “At least our kids will be growing up together.”
“I hope so. I’m worried that our men may spring something bad on us,” Ivy said.
Marie chewed her bottom lip worriedly for a moment before saying, “I believe it will be something good, for all of us.”
They pulled into the
Oasis Spa
and soon were getting onto memory foam covered massage tables that curved around their burgeoning stomachs. Their skin was warmed while the masseuse worked on their bodies. Marie actually fell asleep while she was being worked on. The pressure and tight muscles of her back eased and Grayson seemed content and the false contractions calmed. By the time they came out she felt refreshed and re-energized. The masseuse even rubbed her belly with warm oils and talked to her son while doing do. Marie was sure that he was in bliss, happily snug in the cocoon of her womb. They had an early lunch before she took Ivy back home and went on to her house. She pulled into the driveway and parked the suburban and noticed that Brody’s corvette was there.
“Hmm, home for lunch, are you?” she murmured to herself. She opened the door, stepped through and called out, “Come out, come out, where ever you are.”
“I’m not hiding. I’m in the living room,” he said and she turned. Brody was sitting amidst pieces of green plastic and assorted nuts, screws and bolts.
“What’s all this?” Marie asked.
“I saw these at the commissary and had to get them.” He held up the boxes. “A baby swing for those nights when he’s cranky, and then a vibrating bouncy seat thingy.”
“Uh-huh, and you had to rush home and put them together,” Marie said amused. The look on his face was priceless, like it was Christmas and his birthday all in one.
“Well, I’m having an extended lunch. Rafe gave the team a few hours downtime before the training exercise tonight,” Brody said and stood up.
“So I came home to my best girl and my best baby.” He rubbed her belly.
“How is he doing in there?”
“Trying to take over the world from the womb,” Marie teased. She backed up as he stepped forward, giggling as he cornered her against the counter that separated the kitchen from the living and dining area. “What are you doing?”
“I’m about to give my favorite girl a kiss,” he murmured. He did so and it became one of those lip locks that make your breath hitch in your chest. He trailed kisses down her neck and made a sound of pleasure.
“Hey, you smell good.”
She shivered. “We went for massages today. It’s probably the oils you smell. They used a lot of lavender.”
“So they rubbed it all over you?” he questioned.
“All over,” she murmured as desire caused wetness to pool between her legs. “I was very relaxed after.”
“Take off your clothes,” he ordered softly.
“Right here?” she asked breathlessly.
He nodded and started working on his uniform. “Uh-huh, right here, right now. I swear I can’t seem to get enough of you.” Marie pulled her sweater over her head and shimmied out of her tights, taking her panties with it. “I swear being pregnant has made me hornier than ever.”
He stripped off the last of his clothes and was moving toward her with his erect cock jutting out from between his legs. Marie carefully got to her knees and took his rod in her hands.
“Baby, you don’t have to do that,” he whispered and moaned when she licked the tip.
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to taste you,” Marie said.
She took him deep in her mouth and began a slow torturous tease with her lips and tongue. She felt the muscles of his thighs flex and tighten beneath her fingers. She picked up the speed, suctioning her lips tightly around his cock and the in and out pace had him bucking in pleasure. He pulled her to her feet carefully, but she could feel the restraint in him.
God, she couldn’t wait for him to take her hard and furious again after the baby was born. He devoured her lips, penetrated her mouth with his tongue while his hand was between her legs teasing the most sensitive part of her. He slipped his fingers between the sensitive folds of flesh and rubbed her clit. She whimpered into his mouth and he slipped his fingers deep inside her. Her juices ran down his finger and she could feel it coating her thighs. She ground against his fingers, wanting more and feeling the invisible cord of her orgasm begin to tighten.
She tore her mouth away from his and threw her head back, panting and moaning his name. “Oh, Brody, oh, yes, I’m going to come.”
“Damn, yes, let me feel you come, feel your pussy clench around my fingers,” he whispered into her ear. “God, I want to taste you while you come.”
He got quickly to his knees and sucked hungrily at her clit as he penetrated her faster with his fingers. Her elbows were braced against the counter as she let go and gave into the orgasm that swelled inside her body. His muffled groan came from between her legs. As the last of her release faded, he kissed his way back up her body and sucked at her nipples. He turned her around so that her ass was pressed against his cock.
Marie bent over the counter so that her hands instead of her stomach were braced against the marble countertop. She felt him run the tip of his cock up and down the swollen lips of her sex before penetrating her from behind, and she cried out as need lanced through her.
Brody grabbed her hips and began a steady thrust that built the fire in them both. Even in his need he still had a care to her condition and took them both to the edge of reason while showing the upmost restraint. Marie felt herself slipping over into the abyss of passion and embraced it fully.
She heard Brody moan and kiss the skin of her bare back as his seed filled her. In the aftermath, he picked her up like she weighed nothing and took her to the bathroom and, in his usual way, carefully cleaned her and helped her get dressed. Back downstairs, she ate lunch and watched as he put together the swing and bouncy chair while every so often she would comment. Later, she kissed him goodbye and watched him drive away for training. Marie leaned against the doorjamb with a smile on her face.
Brody was unlike any other man and she fell more in love with him each day. She closed the door and went back to the living room to put her feet up and watch TV. The perfectly assembled baby accessories stood in the designated spot in the living room and anticipation filled her. In a few more weeks, Grayson would be there and they would be able to hold their little boy.
It was much later when her doorbell rang and Marie frowned. She had on flannel pants and one of Brody’s T-shirts to sleep in, along with warm socks. She would probably be asleep by the time he came home, so as she made her way downstairs she wondered who was at her door. She left the chain on and opened it a crack to reveal a face that could sour any mood.
Charlie stood at her doorstep wearing the puppy dog look of a man who thought he could charm his way into any life.
“What the hell do you want?” she snapped.
“Baby, don’t be that way. Let me in so we can talk,” Charlie pleaded.
He looked the same, but she could see behind the handsome face and green eyes the ugliness hiding beneath.
“First off, I’m not your baby and when we signed those divorce papers, anything we had to say was done,” Marie said. “Say what you need to say and get off my property.”
“I need a place to stay, until I can get on my feet,” Charlie said. “I kind of got kicked out of my place.”
“Go to the veteran office at Walter Reed. You’re a soldier who served in Iraqi Freedom. They’ll take care of you,” she said flatly.
“They’ll give me a cot for a few days. No home cooking like you could, babe.” He tried his charming smile. It failed miserably.
“So you thought you’d come to see good ol’ Marie who will take you in because she loves you so damn much?” Marie asked.
“Yeah, we still have that connection. Everything that happened was because I was messed up, baby. Come on, let me in,” he encouraged softly.
“My fiancé wouldn’t like that so much,” Marie said mildly. “I’m due with his baby in a few weeks and we don’t like unwanted guests.” His eyes narrowed. “You went and got pregnant by some dude? You cheated on me?”
Marie laughed incredulously. “We’re divorced, you fool, and I miscarried after you kicked the shit out of me. Leave now or I’ll call the police. I think that restraining order is still in effect.”
“You fucking bitch. I should cut that kid out of your stomach,” he snarled.
“I’m calling the police now,” Marie said coldly. “I don’t fear you anymore and if you do anything to me, Brody will hunt you like a dog. I hear Marine Special Forces like a good hunt, except scum like you wouldn’t be much of a challenge for them. Leave my house and do not return.”
She closed the door and put the lock on not trusting him in the least.
Then everything happened in slow motion. She heard a loud bang and the door frame splintered and felt it hit her in the back. It propelled her forward and she hit her stomach against the coffee table before falling to the ground. Pain radiated through her and she curled up in a ball and wrapped her hand around her belly as he came inside. Charlie grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to her feet.
“Do you think I’m scared of some puissant of a man you’re fucking?” he snarled in her face and his breath reeked of stale alcohol.
“I installed security—a silent alarm—after we divorced. The cops will be here in a few minutes and you’ll be in jail for the rest of your life,” she whispered. Charlie wasn’t the smartest man and she hoped her bluff worked. She felt her stomach tighten and pain radiated down her back.
She saw him glance around worriedly for a while and then punched her in the face and she fell to the ground again with a cry of pain. “Bring your bastard into the world with a black eye, bitch. Tell your man it is courtesy of me.”