Indulge

by Liv Morris

  After a round of prenatal vitamins, I was good to go with only one suggestion from my doctor. Patience.

  Something neither my husband nor I have.

  ***

  “Lori?” I knocked on the hospital door holding Alexander on my hip. His excitement every time he got to visit with his Momma was heartwarming. It was honestly my favorite part of the day.

  “Ready to bust out of his joint?” I laughed as I hand the boy over into her arms.

  “Jenny, you don’t even know. I am done with this place, but before I leave there was something I wanted to do.”

  My stomach flip-flopped because I knew exactly what she wanted to do. Something she hadn’t had the strength to do during her hospital stay.

  “Lori, that is between you and Jude. Here, let me watch Alexander.” I held my arms out for the boy. His hand tangled in my hair and he tugged. What was with babies and hair pulling? It was like they are these tiny little kinky men in training. Jesus!

  “We’ll be here and if you need anything, Lori... I am here for you.” It was the truth. One thing we made it a point not to talk about since the accident was Jude. She just wasn’t ready and I wouldn’t push. It was a sore subject since we were both women close to his heart in such different ways. I only wish I knew what had happened between them. But, I was sure in time it would all come out into the open. When they were both ready to admit whatever was going on between them.

  “Jenny. Thank you. For everything. None of this is your fault, know that.” She paused at the door and turns again. “You aren’t a boss to me, you are a friend. Something I am really short of these days. I hope you feel the same.”

  A friend. Yeah, I could work with that.

  ***

  “No, Nora. I will be back within the hour.” Nope, apparently no one could do anything without me anymore. She was going on about problems with another new hire.

  “I say we can the bitch!” Nora shrieked into the other line.

  “Nora! Jesus. Calm down. A bad blow job isn’t the end of the fucking world! Mr. Thomaston barely has a dick that works, I highly doubt it was the blow job that was the problem.” My life had become a series of subpar sexcapades I was not even a part of! I ended the call and turned to my husband.

  Mathis wrapped his arm around me as we made our way down the hall from Lori’s new penthouse to ours.

  “You know, Jenny...I didn’t want to tell you this but Jude wouldn’t let us pay for Lori’s accommodations.”

  Not what I wanted to hear. My blood was already boiling from dealing with Nora and Becky Bad Blow Job. DAMN THIS DAY!

  “Mathis. Not now.” I cut him off. I felt bad. I didn’t want to take my stress out on him, but he was the only one in site.

  “I have to head to the hotel site, but we will talk over dinner tonight, okay love?” His mouth fell to mine and I took a moment to savor his lips on mine. I sighed against his mouth and part my lips, slipping my tongue into his. This would never get old.

  ***

  Mathis would be home from the hotel site in a little over an hour. I had enough time to run by the pharmacy, pick up a pregnancy test and get back to the pent house. Hopefully, with enough time to take the test without him catching me. I was not trying to be sneaky. My period was due a couple of days earlier, but I didn’t want to jump the gun and get him excited. I hated seeing disappointment on his face.

  When I walked down the aisle labeled family planning I was confused as hell. Some of the tests had plus and minus signs. Some had actual digital displays that read pregnant or not pregnant because apparently there are people out there who are too stupid to comprehend that a minus sign would mean not pregnant. That right there is a clue you probably shouldn’t be breeding to begin with. Just sayin.’

  I grabbed a couple of the digital ones and checked out quickly. I tossed the bag on the passenger’s seat of my new Fiat and made my way back across town.

  I pushed through the door and kicked my heels off. I ran down the hallway with the bag in tow and prayed he hadn’t beat me home. Normally he would be relaxing in his study waiting for me, but the door was open and the light was out. Looking at the display on my phone, I had about a half an hour.

  Enough time to pee and grab a quick shower.

  I took the tests, carefully peeing on a couple of the sticks and tossed them on the counter. Then stripped down for my shower. Turning the shower on, I was completely oblivious to the door slowly opening.

  “What are you doing?” Mathis looked around the bathroom.

  SHIT! He scared the living crap out of me. I jumped at the sound of his voice, my gaze finding the tests all over the counter.

  I was completely naked, there are pregnancy test boxes all over the counter. The instructions are crumpled on the counter and another box had fallen onto the floor.

  “Um... taking a shower?” I looked at the tests and then back to my husband who now had a smirk on his face. “Wanna join me?” my voice went high pitched like a little kid just caught nosing through dessert before dinner. Damn.

  “Jenny?”

  “Yes?”

  “What is all this?” He looked at the counter again and his eyes ran over my body.

  “Well, Mathis. My period was due about three days ago.” I scrunched my face up and nervously chewed on my plump bottom lip.

  “And is there something you want to tell me?” He slowly started walking across the bathroom, thrusting one hand into my hair and resting the other on my ass.

  “No, I mean... I don’t know. I haven’t looked at them yet.”

  My stomach flip-flopped around, rolling back and forth, I was nervous as shit. I couldn’t believe the extra effort I went to try and exclude this from him, totally blew up in my face. The pressure was crazy. What if it was negative? What if there was something wrong with me? What if we couldn’t make a baby?

  “Relax, baby.” He ran his lips down my neck and nipped at my collarbone. All reminding me that I was still naked.

  “Why don’t you look, Mathis?” The truth was, I didn’t want to look, which was why I was just going to get in the damn shower.

  He picked up the first test and smiled. Then picked up the second and compared it side-by-side to the first. His smile got bigger. By the third, I didn’t even need to ask what they said.

  “Baby?”

  “Jenny...” He turned and before I could say anything, he had me off the ground and was spinning me around the bathroom. I wrapped my legs around him and threw my arms around his neck.

  “It’s positive?”

  He ignored my question and his lips met mine in an explosion of love and excitement.

  “We’re gonna have a baby!” When our eyes meet, a tear streamed down his cheek.

  “We’re gonna have a baby.”

  I’m gonna have a baby.

  We’re gonna be parents.

  We made a baby.

  Oh shit.

  Chapter 30

  Better Than Him

  (Mathis)

  A baby. We were going to have a baby. I was so fucking excited, I couldn’t control myself. The thought of a piece of me growing inside of Jennifer made me elated, sending a thrill through my body.

  I released my grip from her and placed her back on her feet.

  She looked up at me, her blue eyes full of questioning.

  I quickly stripped my clothes off and was back on her before she knew what I was doing. The beautiful sound of her giggles filled the bathroom. God, I loved that sound.

  Carrying her into the shower, I pushed her gently against the wall. Sex would have to be tender now but I could figure out ways to show her just how passionate I was for her. But right now, I didn’t want to take my time. I needed inside of her like never before, marking her from the inside out.

  “Mathis,” she breathed against my lips and rubbed her core over my hardened cock.

  “You want me, love?” I husked, running the tip of my dick over her erect clit.

  She shivered and moaned. �
��Make love to me.”

  She didn’t have to ask me twice.

  I thrust into her waiting heat, hard and groaned before pulling out.

  A hot tingle ran down my spine. “Fuck me, love.”

  She smiled. “Harder. I won’t break.”

  I caressed her lower belly. “No, but you’re carrying my baby. I don’t want anything to happen because I fucked you too hard.”

  Her eyes glistened. “Make love to me how you want to then.”

  I licked between her lips, slowing my thrusts. As much as I wanted to pound the living shit out of her, it wasn’t just her I had to worry about anymore.

  “Show me how happy you are, my husband.”

  And I did. Over and over again.

  ***

  The moment we found out Jennifer was pregnant, I made plans to turn the spare bedroom into the baby’s room. Although she was only a month or so pregnant, I knew everything would be fine. Most people would think it was too soon or that it was bad luck but everything deep inside of me told me that the baby would grow to be healthy and strong. I didn’t know how I knew this, but I did.

  As soon as I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Jennifer, I made a promise to myself and our future children, that I would not treat them the way my father treated my brother and I. I wouldn’t pit them against each other, comparing one to the other like it’s the child’s fault. So not cool, and although my father was dead and buried, I would never forgive him for that. Yan and I had lost so much of our brotherhood growing up in that type of environment. And for that, I hated my father even more. It was harsh to feel this way when our father was gone, but it was what it was. I couldn’t help but wonder if he ever had a regret for the way he treated us. Did my mother regret letting him treat us all the way he had? I didn’t muse about my past much, but when I did it really messed with my head.

  Jennifer and I had decided to have a little get together at our place a couple of days after finding out the good news. She was bursting with excitement and I was bursting with pride. The possessive male in me couldn’t get over the fact that she was now carrying a piece of me. Yup, I’m a fuckin’ caveman, and I knew she loved me even more for that.

  If I had it my way, I would fuck a child into her every year, for the rest of our lives but, I didn’t think she would go for that. Jennifer wasn’t the barefoot and pregnant type, even though my Alpha male side wanted her to be. Something about the whole mother of my child factor increased her sexy factor tenfold. I couldn’t keep my damn hands off of her.

  I sat back and watched her interact with our friends...our friends. I never thought I would have anything more. If you would have told me a year ago, that I would end up married and getting ready to be a father by the time I turned thirty, I would have laughed in your face and told you to go fuck yourself. Now, everything was changing. Jennifer changed everything.

  Lori had almost fully recovered from her accident but still had quite a noticeable limp. The wreck had done damage to her back but she was finally able to lift and play with her son without wincing in pain. That fact alone made my heart swell. I couldn’t imagine having a child and not being able to hold them. I knew Jenny had spent a lot of time talking with her about Alexander, his father, and becoming actual friends. Transforming their business relationship entirely.

  The only person heavily involved in our lives, but excluded from this joyous occasion was Jude. Whatever was going on between him and Lori was their business only and Jenny and I wouldn’t pry. I only hoped that he would get his shit together. For her.

  Yan smiled at me from across the room and cooed as he fawned over Alexander. He played it off that he felt sorry for the kid but, I knew he was growing fond of him. He was ecstatic to become an uncle for the first time and was already showering Jennifer with presents for herself and our baby.

  Nora kept rubbing Jennifer’s lower belly.

  “Nora, if you don’t stop touching me, I will cut you,” Jennifer said, slapping her hands away.

  “But you have a bump and it’s so freaking cute,” Nora gushed.

  Jennifer huffed. “I do not. I know nothing about this shit but I know it’s way too soon for me to start showing. That is the fucking burrito I had for lunch.”

  I chuckled and shook my head at the banter between my wife and her best friend.

  “Hey my man.” Dean clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Congrats.”

  “Yes, congratulations, brother,” Yan said, joining us.

  Antonio nodded once. “You happy?”

  “Never better.” And that was the truth.

  “Where’s Cliff?” Dean asked, sitting beside me.

  “Around. I told him if it wasn’t legal, I didn’t want to know.”

  “You have that boy on a tight leash,” Yan stated, taking a swig of his beer.

  I scoffed. No one had Cliff on a leash. I did wish he would get out of the underground business but all in due time. I had to worry about my family first. I couldn’t be worrying about a grown adult prone to danger. It was too much of a risk now.

  Jennifer met my gaze and blew me a kiss before turning back to Lori and Nora.

  My heart warmed. I couldn’t ask for more and I definitely couldn’t ask for better. She was the best.

  Both businesses were booming and the girls Jennifer had helped, even now had proper health care. Wouldn’t their old pimps and ex-tricks shit if they found that out? Who offers whores health care plans? My wife. That’s who.

  “Hey, my wonderful husband.”

  I smiled up at Jennifer as she approached me. “Yes, my love.”

  She grinned and placed a soft peck on my lips. “Did you ask them?” She whispered.

  “Not yet. Did you?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Wanna ask together?” I said against her mouth.

  “Sure.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet.

  We moved to face our guests and smiled at each other before turning back to our friends.

  Questioning glances spread over their faces and as much as I wanted to make them wait, I couldn’t hold it in. “We couldn’t decide who we wanted our babies’ Godparents to be so...” I winked at Jennifer.

  “We want all five of you to be Godparents,” she finished, clapping her hands together.

  A silence fell over our friends and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “All of us?” Nora asked looking around her.

  “Yes. Each of you hold something very special in our hearts and we didn’t want to leave anyone out,” I explained.

  “So what do you think?” Jennifer asked timidly.

  Did they not want--

  A cheer erupted around us as we were greeted with hugs and words of thanks.

  I looked down at my wife amongst the chaos. “Think they’re happy?”

  Jennifer laughed. “I think so.”

  And so was I. Finally.

  Chapter 31

  Dead Giveaway

  (Jennifer)

  My phone rang and rang. His number flashing across the screen as I pressed ignore. There was too much happiness in this room tonight to let Jude ruin it. He was out of the hospital finally, but I still wasn’t happy with him. I wondered if I would ever be again. It was such a long road to redemption for everything he had put us all through.

  “Just answer it,” Mathis whispered into my ear. Knowing full well the next number he would start calling was Lori. “He isn’t going to stop and you don’t want him upsetting Lori.” Since when did my husband become so understanding?

  The phone vibrated again and I excused myself and slipped into the home office. “What?” I snapped as I answered Jude’s call.

  “Is she there with you?” his frantic tone yelled into my ear.

  Something was fucked up. He wasn’t right. Was he high? Drunk? What was his deal?

  “Yes, Lori is with me. Jude, what’s the problem?” I often wondered why I cared so much after all the shit he had put us through recently.

&n
bsp; “I couldn’t get a hold of her...” his words trailed off and the line went dead.

  What the fuck is wrong with him? Pssh, why the hell did he hang up on me once I finally gave him the time of day? I mean, I was glad he had moved on but I couldn’t help but feel hurt by the way he was treating me now. I guess he was just giving me back what I had given him. Damn.

  Before I could make my way back out of the office I saw ’Mathis’ phone blinking on the desk. I picked it up and pressed the screen to life. It was a rare occasion for him to leave his phone lying around, mainly because work was just so busy for him right now. I saw a missed text message.

  In Vegas for the weekend, get ready for me big boy. Xoxo <3 Shay.

  Bitch what?

  My blood boiled and I stalked towards the door. As I reached for the handle, I could hear the front door of the penthouse open and a rumble of commotion. Voices raised, one of the women screamed and something slams to the floor.

  I whipped the door open, steaming mad from my discovery to find a drunk Jude in my foyer. All the eyes in the room turned to me and Mathis started walking in my direction.

  “Stop. Right. There. Do not come another step closer to me.” I couldn’t contain my rage. I couldn’t see clearly. All this time I had been such a love struck fool, blind to see there was no way Mathis would ever change. Womanizing was in his blood. He was just like all those clients. Wives at home, barefoot and pregnant. Completely naïve to their husbands cheating. No fucking way would that ever be me.

  “Explain this!” I yelled, waving the phone in his face. Before he could get a good look at it, I chucked the phone across the room. It crashed against the wall and shattered falling to the floor in a mass of broken glass and twisted plastic.

  “Fuck you! How could I be so fucking stupid!”

  The room is silent as I yell at him. He stood silently, trying not to smile.