Olivia holds up her bite of ice cream before sticking it in her mouth. The twinge in my chest is back as I watch her.
“I’m not already in your good books?” I pinch her pretty pink nipple and she squeals like a little mouse.
“You’re growing on me.”
She pops in another bite; she’s happy, and safe, eating ice cream and cupcakes for breakfast in my bed at eleven in the morning. Fuck, if heaven is real, then this is it. This is all I’d want. Olivia’s silky, naked perfection beneath my blankets.
“It probably doesn’t help that everything I’m craving is sweet,” she says happily. “Even though I’m pregnant, I’d really like to not gain a hundred pounds eating ice cream and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
I look at her and tuck my arm behind my head. “Peanut butter and jelly?”
“Specifically, Uncrustables with the raspberry jelly. The market near my shop stocks them and I’ve been living off them the last week.” She mentions the premade sandwiches you can buy from the store.
“Fuck, those are full of chemicals.”
“I know, but they’resogood.” She laughs as she sets down her empty carton.
I flip over so I’m propped up on one arm, trailing my finger over her collarbone, and her nipples pebble the moment I touch her. I fucking love it.
“You’ll be beautiful even if you gain a hundred and fifty pounds,” I say to her. “Hot as fuck, and I’ll take my time getting to know every single new curve.”
“You say that now …” she says as my finger dips lower. When I reach her abdomen, I gently press my palm to the small swell there. The connection to the life growing insideher almost cripples me. My own son or daughter, my own blood, andmychance to be the kind of father he or she deserves. At first I had no idea if I could really be the man Olivia and our baby deserve, but now, every day I have Liv by my side, I’m starting to believe I’m exactly the man she needs and that I can be the father mine never was too.
I inch down the bed.
“What are you doing?” She giggles as I kiss my way down her center until I reach the little bump, kissing her there too.
I look up at her from my place at her low belly. “I read that the baby can hear me.”
“Not yet, I don’t think.” She shoots me a grin.
“Hey,” I say, pointing at her, trying to keep my face serious. “Don’t bring that negative vibe here. This is between me and the baby.”
“Oh, is it now?” Her smile is ear to ear now. Goddamn, I’ll never tire of how gorgeous she is.
“Hey, little bear, it’s … your dad.” I swallow down those words that seem so powerful andright,while swallowing the fear that always threatens to take over when I think of keeping our baby safe and happy.
“Tell your mama, please, that no matter what happens while you grow inside her she’ll be a fucking knockout because she’s doing something amazing.” I look at Liv. “She’s growing you.”
“Even when I have stretch marks and my feet are double the size?” she challenges.
I rest my head on her stomach as I continue. “I’ll kiss every single inch of you, Olivia, and stretch marks? Those are fucking badges of honor for how miraculous this body is.” I slide my hand up and down her thigh. “They’ll be the proof of the badass woman you are, what you’re capable of.”
Her hand continues to stroke my hair as she watches me with glassy eyes.
“You and me, yeah?” I breathe out.
She nods as I turn my face back to talk to little bear. “But please, if you get anything from me, little one …” I cup my mouth as if to whisper. “I hope you get my feet.”
Olivia laughs and swats at me as I pounce upward to hover above her.
“Fuck you, discriminating against my toes!”
She writhes under me as I move downward before springing up to my knees and lifting her heel, bringing her pretty pink toes to my lips and kissing the pads of them while I stroke the underside of her foot with my thumb. Her breathing starts to quicken as she pulls a finger to her lips and takes it between her teeth.
“I only joke …” I kiss the next one, then the one after that. “But the truth is, I find every single part of you fucking flawless.”
I kiss the last one then move to run my lips against her ankle, and then the inside of her calf as I stroke the underside of her knee.
