Seriously, if this whole Mafia thing just one day stopped working for him, Nathan was sure he could easily have a career in stand-up. Everyone laughed,
including
the man, the myth, the legend himself, Robert Steele.
Nathan turned to his new brother. “Gabriel.” He’d said his name with a bit of laughter, making Gabriel smile. “Gabriel Steele, you are a force—” He got the laughter once again.
God I’m good.
“You shock us every day with the words that come out of your mouth, but,” he silenced the laughter, “you also have an admirable ability to make us think. Carterina and I know that you’ve only been living on this estate with us for two short weeks, but you have already made such an impact in our lives, that it is hard for us to imagine a time when we didn’t know you. Thankfully our children won’t know what that is like. Welcome to the family, Gabriel.
Salute.”
“Salute,”
the family repeated.
Gabriel gave Nathan a nod and mouthed thank you. He heard Carter sniffling next to him and handed her a tissue.
“Thank you,” she whispered, lightly drying her eyes. “Continue, honey. Don’t mind me.”
Nathan gave her hand a light squeeze, and Robert leaned over and kissed her forehead, understanding that her constant emotion was a symptom of pregnancy and not of weakness.
“And last, but not least, my brother’s little angel, Sofia Nicole Valente. Welcome to the family,
bella bambina
. I think we all look forward to watching you grow. And Kyle, if you ever need anything, always know that Carterina and I are here for you.
Salute.”
“Salute,”
Kyle replied.
Nathan nodded. “Let us pray.”
Speaking and praying at the family dinner had been a milestone occasion for Nathan. It was usually his father that did the prayer before the meals, but today Nathan had finally taken his place at the head of the table, with his wife sitting on the right of him. The way it should be in his home.
~*~
Dinner had been amazing. It reminded Nathan how much he enjoyed to take a day off from being an underboss to just be with his family. Afterward they had all gathered in the living room to open Sofia’s gifts and have dessert. Everyone stayed and enjoyed themselves until after dark, then they all made their way home. Gabriel was the last to leave for the pool house before Nathan locked up and joined Carter in the bedroom.
Carter was exiting the closet when he walked into the room. She came straight to him and he immediately took her into his arms and kissed her passionately.
“I love you, Nathan Salerno,” she whispered.
“I love you, too, baby,” he said softly as he set her back to her feet.
She looked up at him with a smile. “Nathan …”
“Yes, love?”
“I’ll do it. I’ll stay home for the pregnancy, and a little while after.”
Nathan’s eyes widened in shock.
How did she know?
She laughed softly. “Because I know you, that’s how. Also because I agree with you, honey. I want to be safe.”
Damn. She really could read his mind. Gripping his hand, she pulled him over to sit on the bed.
“Promise me, Nathan,” Carter whispered. “I’m going to do everything that I need to so that I will be safe. I’m falling off the radar, and I’m doing what I’ve always hated doing. I’m allowing myself to be hidden for my entire pregnancy.”
“I know, Carterina.”
“Then promise me.” She cupped his face, and ran her thumb across the outline of his bottom lip. “Promise you’ll be safe. Promise me you’ll come home every day. Promise me that we’ll enjoy this experience—”
Nathan knew exactly what she meant, and he wanted it too.
“We’ll stuff your shirt with pillows, and imagine how you will look when the twins start showing more?”
Carter kissed him softly and nodded her head. “Yes. And we’ll start a measuring line on the kitchen wall—”
“To track the growth of your baby bump,” he finished her sentence. “You can even send me out on midnight runs for McDonalds or Taco Bell.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. “Whatever your chunky little heart desires, it’s yours.”
“Did you just call me chunky?” she asked, and lightly punched his arm.
Nathan chuckled. “You’re going to gain weight, Carterina. We’re having twins. If I get you used to the idea of being chubby now, you won’t be too sad when you can’t fit any of your dresses anymore. Don’t worry, baby, you’re beautiful to me no matter what size you are.”
Carter pursed her lips, “Thank you, honey, you’re so sweet,” she said dryly.
Nathan nodded with a self-satisfied smile. Leaning forward, he kissed her pursed lips. “I’m the sweetest husband in the world. I know.”
Carter rolled her eyes, but couldn’t resist smiling. “The best,” she said sarcastically, then she got back to their list. “We also need to go shopping, but first we need to pick which room will be perfect for the babies. I was thinking we could empty both of the rooms next to ours.”
Nathan nodded and just listened.
“The biggest room will be for the babies, and the smaller one will be their playroom. I don’t want all of their toys in their bedroom.”
Nathan smiled at the excitement in her voice.
“I think we should paint and decorate both rooms by ourselves, too, bubby. I’ve had a lot of time to read lately, and it said that us doing the babies room together is a bonding experience, and I want us to bond. Don’t you think?”
Nathan nodded. “Absolutely, baby. I’d love to bond with you.”
Carter smiled warmly and took his hand in hers. “I’d love to bond with you, too, Nathan Salerno.”
“Then it’s a date. We’re bonding.”
Carter giggled and jumped into his arms, sending them falling back on the bed. “We’re going to be good parents, bubby.”
“I agree,” he said through soft laughter.
“Although I love our parents, we cannot be like them. We have to be honest with our children.”
“Absolutely,” Nathan agreed enthusiastically. “I don’t care if it scares the shit out of them, we will always be honest with our kids.”
Carter grinned wide. “
Brutally
honest if we have to.”
They nodded in exaggerated agreement. “Because that’s the secret to good parenting, baby. Brutal honesty. No matter the consequences—” Nathan couldn’t even finish his sentence before he and Carter burst into laughter.
Once their laughter had subsided they lay on their bed, gazing into each other’s eyes.
“Promise me,” she whispered again.
Nathan cupped her face with his hand and kissed her deeply. “I promise.”
And it was a promise well kept. The months passed by and Nathan and Carter were the happiest they’d ever been. No drama, no danger, and best of all, absolutely no Silas.
Chapter 18: 9 months (The babies are coming)
Nathan documented every moment of Carter’s pregnancy, even going as far as recording it. Every morning she woke up, Nathan had the camera in her face. Each morning she gave him a different reaction, but the kicks, punches, and angry hair pulling were well worth it in Nathan’s opinion. He was committed to his new role as the excited, expectant father, and he wasn’t going to let anything ruin his fun.
Carterina was a vision of expectant mother beauty with every passing month her pregnancy progressed. Nathan had never seen her so peaceful, so happy. Every Sunday they would measure her rapidly growing belly on the kitchen wall with Nathan’s trusty permanent black marker, then they would head out to the garden for a picnic with Gabriel. It quickly became a new family tradition, the Sunday brunch only growing when the guys joined them as well.
Just as it would for any other first time, expecting couple, each day brought on new challenges. There were times when they were blissfully happy, and times when Nathan was ready to pull out his hair and punch numerous holes in any wall he could find. During the first few months, Carter’s hormones drove him up the wall. Remaining patient was the hardest part, especially on the days when his work in New York kept him busier than he liked. Carter didn’t take it well in her fifth month of pregnancy when Nathan’s schedule took a turn for the
packed
, and Nathan didn’t blame her. The majority of the time he’d come home and she’d already be sleep, and before she woke up in the morning, he was gone again. Though she never yelled about it, he knew she wasn’t happy … especially the Sundays when he’d missed their scheduled tummy measuring and she’d had to do it with Gabriel.
By month six, Nathan was all caught up at work and was able to be at home more. Carter’s bump had grown significantly and she had an entire new wardrobe to prove it. Nathan would never forget the night he came home to find her in the middle of the closet floor in tears. He’d been scared out of his mind, thinking that she’d fallen.
“Baby, what happened?” he’d exclaimed, rushing to her side. “Did you fall? Is it the babies?”
“Yes, it’s them,” she’d cried. “They ripped my favorite dress, Nathan. None of my clothes fit because I’m a giant, flabby,
fat ass
!” Sobbing harder, she had covered her face with her hands.
Nathan couldn’t believe that his method for preparing her for the weight gain hadn’t worked. However, being the good husband that he was, he always thought on his feet. Months before he’d had all of her favorite dresses remade by a very talented designer of maternity clothing. After he’d surprised her with the clothes, she had rewarded him with an incredible night of Nathan time.
Sex with pregnant Carter was fucking awesome. Nathan could admit that it was different, though. They weren’t as rough, and it took some time to find positions that were comfortable for her. But once they found their groove, Nathan was in heaven. Sex with a pregnant woman was an eye-opening experience for him. There were days when she hated the sight of him, but then there were the days when he’d come home and Carter would attack him—literally attack him—ripping off his clothes as soon as he walked in the door. Nathan loved it … well, most of the time. There was this one night that something had occurred, and it had freaked him out.
It happened while they were both lost in throes of passion, and suddenly Nathan felt it … a kick against his hand. He stopped mid-thrust, staring at his hand in horror.
Carter gasped, “Why in the hell …”
“What the hell was that, Carter? Do you think it was baby B?” he asked in a breathy whisper.
Carter whimpered and pushed her hips back against him. “Nathan, don’t stop, baby. I was almost there.”
Even though it felt damn good when she’d pushed back, once again he’d stilled her movements. “Carter, I know you felt that,” he whispered sharply. “That was a big ass kick.”
Carter sighed. “Why are whispering, Nathan? They can’t understand anything you’re saying. Now stop talking and fuck me.”
This time when she tried to move and he stopped her, she yelled in exasperation, “Nathan!”
“Carterina, they’ve never kicked that hard before, baby.”
“Yes, they have!”
“It was baby B, I know it. Baby B hates when we have sex.”
“Nathan, would you stop it? They’re always up at this time of night. Now shut up and move, dammit.”
“I can’t, Carterina.”
“Oh my God, bubby! I swear, all I need is one minute and I’ll come. That’s literally how close I was before you stopped.”
“Carter, I can’t. That was a warning kick,” he argued. “It was a ‘stop fucking my mama’ kick. I feel like I’m all up in their space or something.”
“You’re being ridiculous!”
“And have we even considered the fact that I have a big dick? I could be hurting them!”
Carter whimpered. “Nathan, please,” she pouted. “You already asked the doctor a million different questions about this …”
“I’m just saying, Carter.”
“Babe, while I agree with you that you are blessed in that department …”
He nodded. “Thank you.”
“… don’t you think it’s a little farfetched to think that you’re hitting the babies?”
Nathan heard the laughter in her voice and was immediately offended. “No, I don’t!”
“Nathan, they’re fine,” she whined again. She removed his hand that was keeping her still from her hip and brought it up to cover one of her breasts. “There, bubby. Is that better now?”
The feel of her breasts in his hands never ceased to send him into overdrive. “It’s a little better.” He downplayed it even as his hips began to move with hers.
Carter ground her hips in a circular motion and Nathan’s eyes rolled to the back of his head. He released her breast, reached down to grip her thigh, and opened her legs wider as he thrust into her from behind.
Carter reached behind her and sunk her fingers into his hair. “Yes, Nathan,” she moaned. “Like that, baby. Mmm …”
Nathan had to moan a few times his damn self as the sensation shooting through his body began to intensify. Carter moaned for him to fuck her harder, and Nathan was more than happy to oblige.
“Ohh. Yes, Nathan! I’m gonna come, baby …”
Carter’s moaning increased in volume and her grip tightened in his hair. Her walls began to tighten around his cock, pulsing and alerting him of her nearing orgasm. Feeling his own orgasm building, Nathan bit down on his bottom lip … but then he made the mistake of placing his hand on her belly again.