I had. Because I knew what he was waiting for out in the bedroom, and I wasn’t sure I could give it to him without tossing my cookies all over his perfectly sculpted chest. I didn’t think that was how he wanted this to go. Not when he had to leave in half an hour for his Thursday night game. Over the years, things had shifted and changed as our relationship grew. Without me, he’d worn my necklace during every game. Once I was back in his life and before every college game, he’d required a good luck kiss. Once we were married, it was pre-game lovemaking. Which was the best ritual ever. It was imperative to his mental state and we never, ever missed.
He popped the lock and tiptoed inside. At the sight of him, wet hair tousled on his head, only a towel around his waist, my breath hitched. You’d think after almost eight years of marriage I wouldn’t still get butterflies at the sight of him, but I did. Especially when he was shirtless.
His head cocked and his dimple flashed. “Glad to see you’re alive. I’d really like to get this party started before the kids’ movie is over and they come busting down the bedroom door. Belle figured out how to pop the lock last week, remember?”
“Yeah. I’m ready.” I forced a smile and walked over to him. He pushed my robe off one shoulder and brushed a kiss to my collarbone. Goosebumps sprang up across my skin and warmth filled my belly. Peace washed over me. I loved this man. So incredibly much. He was the other half of my soul. I felt that truth to my bones.
“Good gosh, woman.” He groaned causing more goosebumps. “You smell incredible.”
I ducked down, making his mouth meet mine. I wasn’t going to make it through a lot of foreplay. We needed to get straight to business. I let out a little moan. After all these years, he knew that was the signal. Full steam ahead.
He smiled against my mouth. “All right, then.” His hands hooked around my thighs and with a jerk he lifted me up, hitching my legs around his waist. At the motion, my stomach rolled. I kissed him more intensely, trying to power through. He dropped me on the counter and kissed me until I couldn’t breathe. Literally. I had to cut off my air because his spearmint toothpaste was trying to do me in.
His mouth was on my throat. Pressing kisses, down, down, down. I shivered in delight, as I wished the queasiness away.
There was pounding on the bedroom door. Four little fists, trying to get in.
“The kids,” I said.
“No,” he growled. “Go watch another movie,” he yelled. Then his mouth was back on my throat.
More pounding. Now on the bathroom door.
“Let us in!” Blaze yelled.
The added noise made my stomach roll. Vomit pressed against my trachea. Nope. I wasn’t going to make it. Without warning, I shoved Blue to the side, jumped off the counter, and sprinted for the toilet. I made it just in time to throw up everything I’d just eaten for lunch.
His fist came around my hair, pulling it back as I wretched again. His hand was on my back. “Babe, are you okay?”
In response, I heaved again.
The door flew open and Belle and Blaze giggled.
“Daddy,” Belle squealed.
“Your butt!” Blaze snickered.
Blue hissed out a swear word and dropped my hair.
I peeked under my arm to see him bear-crawling back to the towel that he’d apparently lost halfway across the room. I laughed which made my stomach wrench again. Dang it. I wasn’t done.
“Mommy?” Belle sounded on the verge of tears.
“Mommy’s okay.” Blue dropped down next to me again and picked my hair back up. “She’s just not feeling well.”
I was finally finished. I flushed the toilet, closed the lid and flipped around, leaning my back against the porcelain base. My lungs needed a second to slow. Blue handed me some toilet paper to wipe my mouth.
“Hey.” He pushed a lock of hair behind my ear and he put his palm against my forehead, checking for a fever. “Don’t worry about coming to the game. Do you want me to text Martha and get her to come over and take care of the kids so you can rest?” Martha was our nanny. Having a part-time nanny was the only way to make it all work.
“No!” Blaze cried. The boy lived for Blue’s games. The atmosphere, the fans, eating all the snacks in the suite.
“I’ll take care of you Mommy!” Belle bounced on her toes, her dark hair flouncing out as she turned and ran out of the room to grab her toy stethoscope. I knew that’s where she was going. She found every opportunity to put it to “use.” Said she was going to be a vet someday, just like me.
I shook my head. “No, I’m coming to your game.”
He blinked rapidly. “Babe, you’re gonna make people sick.”
I fixed Blue with a look, trying to send him a silent message. “I’m feeling better already.” I touched my chain around his neck, always awed that he still wore it.
