The music swirls around us, and aside from a brief comment here or there, we sit in companionable silence. I don’t think I’ve ever spent so much time with a woman without trying to fuck her.
Not that I don’t plan to fuck her. Dear God, just the scent of her shampoo as she flicks her hair makes me hard.
You’re a sick fucker, Caraldi.
Yeah. Because I like to smell my wife’s hair. And her neck, and her tits, and that sweet place between her beautiful thighs.
When the music comes to an end, Emma’s eyes are wide and moist.
“I’ve never done anything like this before. Not as a… a…
“Date?” I smile.
“Yeah. It feels strange to say that, considering we’re married and all. But…it’s nice.”
“It’s meant to be nice, Emma. Up until now, everything about us has been strange. So let’s just keep going with ‘nice’ for a change. Good?”
“Good. What’s next?” Her face is as wide and eager as a happy teen, but for once, I don’t feel like a dirty old man looking down at her.
This is my woman. And my heart melts at the sight of her smile.
She’s going to smile like that every fucking day if I have anything to do with it.
Jesus Christ.
I think I’ve just turned into Dario and Mateo.
Chapter 13
Emma Caraldi
Isigh happily, sprawled out in our bed. It’s been a week of pure bliss. A few minutes ago, Raoul kissed me goodbye and headed out to the office. Just like a regular husband going out to do a regular day’s work. Of course, there’s nothing regular about Raoul Caraldi, and I love that about him. Still, there’s something comforting in the normality of the life we’re slipping into.
Stretching, I get up and get ready for the day, thumbing out a text to Andy to confirm my appointment this morning. She replies immediately, letting me know she has an ultrasound booked for us.
“Holy shit!” I have to stop and catch my breath for a moment as I take this in for a moment.
I’m having a freaking baby!
An hour later, in the medical suites, my heart’s still pounding.
“All set?” Andy asks as she holds the scanner over my gel-smeared belly. I nod my head, turning to face the screen beside us. The scanner moves smoothly over my skin, and for a moment, I hold my breath as nothing happens.
Then I hear it. A strangely erratic thumping sound.
“There’s your baby’s heartbeat.” Andy’s eyes are on the screen, taking in the image.
“Oh, sweet Jesus!” I blurt, my eyes immediately begin to burn. She points at the pale, hazy blob in the center of a dark, amorphous shape in the image, her fingertip tracing the lines that are coming into focus.
“The dark part is the amniotic fluid in your uterus,” she explains. “Here’s Baby’s head.” She smiles, tracing a portion of the pale blob. “Along here is where we’ll see the spine develop. These little nubs will be arms and legs…” Her voice fades out as I stare at the screen, my world spiraling down into the sound of that tiny heartbeat.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…” Something’s tickling my cheek, and I dash the back of my hand against my face, surprised when it comes back wet. Tears are streaming. I suck in a little sobbing breath, and Andy puts a hand on my shoulder.
“I know, right?” Her smile is gentle. “It took me a while to stop crying like a kid at every scan too.” Her palm brushes her rounded bump. I’m still staring at the screen where shapes are moving fluidly.
“Is…is everything okay?” I ask, suddenly terrified to hear the answer.
“Everything is A-Okay, hon. Your blood pressure is great, and your urine sample didn’t show any excess protein. I can’t give you a hundred percent guarantee that preeclampsia won’t be an issue, but I’d say you can rest easy. We’ll do a blood count too, but in my opinion, you’re a healthy mom, growing a strong little life inside you.”
