regret it.”
“I won’t.” She swiped at her tears. “Thank you for making my cheeks hurt.”
Assuming she meant right then, I was about to release the tight hold I had on her hair.
Her hands shot up to grip my wrists and keep them in place. “From smiling so much. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how easy it is now.”
I dropped my forehead to my wife’s.
My pregnant wife.
“I need to call Aria,” she said.
“Later.” I moved my head lower, trailing my lips along her neck.
“No, I want to tell her before they leave for dinner.”
“Later,” I repeated.
“Now.” Although she didn’t sound as sure.
“I need to show you how else I can make you smile.” I pushed in close so she could feel my hard cock. “Take off your pants and climb onto the counter.”
“You know how I feel about sexual manipulation.” Her words would’ve held more weight if she weren’t stripping down as she spoke them.
“You love it.” I lifted her onto the counter before positioning myself between her spread legs.
“I really do.”
Then, like the first time she’d sat in that spot, she grinned at me.
And it was just as blindingly beautiful.
Briar
One and a half years later
SITTING ON THE kitchen counter, I flipped through the notebook Dr. Linda had given me a couple years before. Every day, I was supposed to write something good. One reason I smiled.
One thing I had to live for.
At first, it’d been hard to find happiness. I’d had to settle for listing the least bad parts of my life.
But then it got better. Easier. I didn’t settle nor did I have to search for joy.
Thanks to Alexander, my life was joy in abundance.
It wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t perfect. I still saw Dr. Linda. I still took meds. I still had an anxiety elephant that liked to sit on my chest. I still had intrusive thoughts that twisted inside me like thorny vines. I still had the occasional bad day that required a depression nap.
Alexander and his magic dick hadn’t cured me. I wasn’t normal—whatever the hell that was. And I’d never be picture-perfect.
But I was able to love and be loved. Worthy of it. Unconditionally. Reassuringly.
Obsessively.
Soft snores and squeaks grew louder before Alexander entered the kitchen. Once he was within reach, I swiped his precious cargo.
Baby Rose.
All blond hair, honey eyes, and chubby cheeks.
She was perfection.
I kissed her soft skin and inhaled her baby scent, marveling for the billionth time that day that we’d created something so incredible.
I’d thought I’d fallen for Alexander quickly, but it was nothing compared to Rose. I’d loved her from the second those two pink lines had appeared. I continued to love her more and more with each passing day.
And she’d always know it, too. There’d be no cruelty. No cold indifference. Only a lot of love and acceptance and smiles so wide, they hurt our cheeks.
Alexander positioned himself between my thighs—his favorite place to be. “They’re almost here.”
I glanced around. “Did you pick up—”
“The Fudge Stripe cookies and marshmallows, yes.”
“What about—”
“Salsa and chips, too.”
“How about…”
“What’d I forget?” he asked when I didn’t finish my sentence.
“Nothing, I just like keeping you on your toes.”
Careful of the baby, he pushed in closer, his voice low and rough. “And I like keeping you on your knees.”
“Maybe if we’re quiet, we can sneak upstairs and pretend we’re not home.”
As if on cue, someone knocked at the door and Mister, genius guard dog he was, began barking.
“Think that ship has sailed, flower.” He took Rose so I could hop down.
Walking to the front of the house, I opened the door to kisses, hugs, and chaos. There was also a lot more barking and snarfling as Mister and Muppet greeted each other before running all over the house and out the backdoor—much to the chagrin of the ornery cats and spoiled chickens.
Alexander barely had Rose back before Aria stole her away. “Give me my niece. I bought a little black dress for her, and I’m dying to see her in it.” Her nose wrinkled. “I’ll even change this diaper while I’m at it. You’re welcome.”
I wasn’t sure if it was possible to have baby fever while already pregnant, but if it was, Aria had it.
Everyone settled around the bonfire, talking and laughing and eating our weight in Fudge Stripe s’mores. After a bit, I stood.
“What do you need?” Alexander asked, always ready to give me the world.
I shook my water glass. “Refill.”
“I’ll grab it.”
Waving him away before he could stand, I added, “Bathroom, too.”
His