“But I feel like I need to remind you…I’ve only done this once before and—”
“Honey. Stop. It’s not a performance.” She laughs. “I’m not going to rate you when we’re done.”
I laugh, because…I don’t know…I guess I just feel this pressure, being the man and all. Like I’m supposed to be the one who knows exactly what I’m doing, who takes the lead, makes it perfect.
She steps closer and I kiss her, deep and slow, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other sliding down the curve of her body.
She pulls back just enough to look at me, breath catching. “You know, I’ve been through an entire pregnancy so, like, my body is—”
“Stop it,” I cut her off, kissing her again, harder this time. She giggles against my mouth, and I can’t help but laugh too.
She sucks in my bottom lip, pulling me closer as we stumble back onto the bed. She drops down, and I follow, my hands on each side of her while her legs wrap around my waist. She locks her fingers behind my neck and pulls me in. Our mouths meet again, hungry, familiar, perfect.
This time, I catchherbottom lip, and the quiet sound she makes when I do has my chest pounding. Her hips lift into mine, and for a second I forget how to breathe.
I pull back just long enough to catch my breath and brush my thumb along her cheek, then down across her bottom lip.
When I finally peel her dress off, the room goes still and quiet, except for the sound of our breathing.
My eyes roam over her, I’ve seen her whole body before. Postpartum, exhausted, middle-of-the-night feedings…I’ve been there. But none of that was ever like this.
The stretch marks on her stomach catch my attention first. The silvery lines that curve over her skin.
She shifts, her arms starting to cross over her stomach like she’s trying to hide. But I catch her wrists gently and shake my head.
“Don’t,” I say quietly.
I can see that flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “I know they’re not—”
“They look good on you,” I cut in, firm but soft, leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead. “You’re beautiful.”
She exhales like she’s been holding it in. I look down at her glassy eyes.
“I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you too,” I say, and kiss her again.
Then, her voice teasing, she says, “Show me how much you love me.”
And that’s it. I’m undone. Completely hers. And I will make sure she knows it in a brand-new way tonight.
Chapter 38
Karissa
Being married to Cody has been amazing.
Seriously. It’s only been a few days, but I barely remember what life was like before all this married bliss.
Now he’s here all the time, not just to help with Emma, but to make the coffee in the morning, to sit and eat breakfast together, to kiss me in passing. I have more free time, less stress, and fewer moments where it all feels like things are falling in on me. I can take a shower without rushing, keep the house in order without worrying Emma will start to fuss, and at the end of the day, we get to go to bed together, instead of kissing goodbye and go our separate ways.
Sure, I know it’ll be different once he’s back to working full-time, but this is his slower season, and I’m embracing every single second of it..
We stayed up to ring in the new year last night,barely. Emma wanted to be up as well, so our celebration didn’t exactly go as planned, but that’s okay.
It’s 8 a.m., and we’re curled up in bed together, his arms wrapped tight around me, hands pressed flat against my back like he doesn’t wanna let go. His bare chest is warm against mine, and my head is tilted just enough for his lips to trail down my neck, slow and soft. Each one making me desiremore.
“So help me, if she wakes up…” I whisper, breathless.
