“Like you can’t wait to get underneath me.”
“Now there’s a pretty picture,” I muse thinking exactly of that.
“Then I better not keep you waiting.” Hotboxing his cigarette he flicks it to the ground, and I climb on his bike, wrapping my arms around him close hoping I never have to let him go. I find the more I let go of the past the easier the fall is. Abel better not let me down. I won’t survive being crushed by another Black.
Back home, Petunia is eagerly waiting for me. “Momma’s sorry she left you alone all evening.” I scoop down and pick her up. Her tongue goes to my nose in greeting, and I scratch behind her ears. “Were you a good girl all alone in the house today?” I place her food bowl on the kitchen island then sit her next to it. “Babe, can you get me her food from the pantry?”
Abel smiles at me the shoves off from where he was leaning. “The dog hates me.”
“She’s just not used to you yet.” I grin and remember how she snapped at his finger last time he tried to feed her a treat. “You’re momma’s little protector, aren’t you?”
My husband returns with a can of wet food and a scoop of the dry and the smell makes me gag. “Can you?” I cap my palm over my mouth and run for the half-bath that’s right off the kitchen.
Dinner reappears as I fall to my knees and hug the cool porcelain. I think I’m dying as I heave and gag into the lemon scented bowl.
Petunia appears at my side licking my arm and Abel grabs my fancy towel that is mostly for looks and wets it. I don’t correct him and accept it when he offers it to me. “She didn’t eat. She wouldn’t stop yapping until I put her on the floor so she could come find you.”
I scratch the top of her head and move back so she can curl into my lap.
“Come on. Up you both go.” He bends down and cradles me in his arms newlywed style. I have one hand around his neck and the other holding my dog. Letting out a grunt he stands up and packs us up the stairs and doesn’t put us down until he drops me on the mattress. “Get some sleep.”
“I need a bath and to brush my teeth.”
“I’ll start your water but don’t try to get up. I’ll be back for you.”
“Babe, I’m fine.”
“You’re pregnant.” The smile that stretches across his lips could light up all of Texas right now. He disappears into our master bathroom, and I hear the faucet come on.
Petunia curls up on his pillow and goes to sleep.
Abel comes back and takes one look at the dog and chuckles. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” I take his hand and insist on walking to the bathroom when he tries to carry me.
I go to the sink and start brushing my teeth. Behind me, reflected through the mirror, I watch my man get undressed. Warmth pools in my belly as mint swishes in my mouth. Is he going to get in the bathtub with me?
Naked and beautiful to look at, he steps up behind me. Curling an arm around my front he undoes my jeans. I finish rinsing my mouth then turn into him and allow him to undress my bottom half. Lifting my shirt over my head I toss it to the side.
Abel tugs my tight jeans down my legs, tapping each foot for me to lift to get them all the way off. Next, he slides my panties off. I unhook my bra from the back and let it fall down my front, landing on his head.
He chuckles and tosses it to the side. Gazing up at me on his knees he presses his lips to my belly. The little bit of fur that is coming in around his lips scrapes over my skin.
“I want to promise you something, baby, but I need something from you in return.” His tone is so serious. I stroke my fingers through his hair and nod. “This baby is mine just as much as you are. I don’t want to ever hear my brother’s name as anything more than being an uncle.”
“I promise you, husband ‘o mine,” I mock him.
“Good, now come, let me wash you.”
He sinks down in the hot water first but holds a hand out to help me in. I slide down between his legs into the bubble filled warm water and relax into his strong embrace.
One arm under my breasts, chin resting on my neck, he washes me with his free hand, taking his time, driving me crazy wild with every calculated touch.
No more words pass between us, but the unspoken promise is there…he’s falling too.
Maybe he already has.
Chapter 9
Abel