Chapter Thirteen
I wasn’t goingto tell Tate about my midnight visitor, but I realized that eventually someone would post the pictures I took and it’d be pointless. He shook his head and simply smiled when I told him about my dad’s reaction to Cara.
“I told you. You can’t not love her. I’m glad you got to talk to him about it. I can’t wait to meet him myself. He’s already solid in my book.”
My mom did call me later that night, screaming about me keeping it a secret from her. How could I not tell her he was coming to visit? She wanted to see the baby. I tried explaining that I had no clue he was coming to visit but she didn’t believe me. I ended up agreeing to see her the moment she got back.
Things seemed to be really working out. We were learning a new normal. Everything we did took just a little longer, with more equipment. We couldn’t just leave the house with our keys and shoes on. Now we had diaper bags, car seats, and play pens.
Also, everything was set around her feeding and sleeping schedule. We took turns for nightly bottles. Tate and I alternated nights, but I still woke up every time she cried for attention. I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since they moved in completely. It was odd. I felt like it should be more stressful than it was, but I kind of liked it.
I hadn’t realized how much I had been kind of floating through life before I met Tate, and then Cara by extension. Granted, the freedom was nice, but now, life meant something. Before, the only thing I had that was meaningful was my music. Now, I was realizing that it wasn’t my end all be all. There was more to life than being on stage. I liked having people to come home to.
I mentioned it to Tate after we got back from a show at the club. They had asked us back a third time. Cash was confident that they were going to offer us a residency soon. Cara was staying at his parent’s house for the night. Tate wanted to take the opportunity to have a date night. I was exhausted from the show, so I wanted to take a bath. He offered to draw it for me.
I undressed as he went into the bathroom and got the water ready for me. When I eventually followed him, I found him sitting on the side of the tub, waiting for me to climb in. I did so and gasped at how hot he had made the bubbly water. It felt fantastic on my sore muscles.
“I found some bath salts under your sink. I thought they’d feel good.”
“They do,” I closed my eyes and relaxed further into the water. “Thank you.”
He moved to sit on the closed toilet.
“Of course. You’ve earned it. You were fantastic on stage tonight. You’re what’s going to get us that residency.”
“You think? I was pretty sure they liked our music, not my awkward dancing.” I opened one eye to peer at him.
“Oh, I can assure you, we like the dancing. When your dress bounces all over, giving us a tiny peak of your cheeks.” He put his fingers to his lips and kissed them. “Perfection.”
I changed the subject.
“A residency would be good. Getting to come home every night.”
“It really would. I don’t know what to do if we actually start touring. That’s still far off, but just the thought of it has me on edge. I don’t think there’s really any good solution to it.”
He was voicing aloud all of my own worries. We could either take Cara with us or leave her with someone. Both situations felt selfish and not great for her.
“Let’s not worry about that tonight.” I sat up and slapped the water lightly. “Join me?”
“Is there room?” He eyed the tub skeptically.
“There’s plenty. Come here,” I waved. He was quick to undress but hesitant to climb into the bath. Slowly, he slipped down behind me in the water. Once he was sitting down completely, I leaned back, relaxing into his naked form. Instantly, his body was at attention.
“I love being able to play and then come home. I feel like I’ve got the best of both worlds,” I commented. He reached his arms around, embracing me tightly around my middle.
“I like it too. It’s like... I finally have something separate from my work. Before, I was kind of always working. It was voice acting or music stuff. Now I have a family. I didn’t think I’d ever want this, but now I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I used to live day by day, but now I enjoy imagining our future.”
“You do? What’s our future look like?”
He reached for my bath loofah. I leaned over and grabbed the body wash. I squirted some on the loofah and rubbed it in to get it all soapy. He brought it to my arms, rubbing the soap all over me. He went to my shoulders, and then started down my front.
“I don’t know. I kind of want more of this,” he murmured as he leaned down and pressed his lips to my ear. I groaned as his fingers pinched my nipple playfully. I tilted my neck to give him better access to my sensitive skin. He eagerly kissed me there.
“More of what?” I asked, closing my eyes again. As his hands and the loofah roamed my slick skin, he continued kissing and nibbling.
“Our family. You are at your best when you’re taking care of her. I can’t wait to see your stomach round with one that’s me and you. You’re going to be so fucking sexy pregnant,” he groaned as if just the idea turned him on beyond belief.
“You want another one? Already?” My mind wanted to freak out, but his deliciously slow attack on my body was muddling my thoughts. His hand slipped down between my legs, abandoning the loofah completely. Without thought my thighs spread, giving him better access to my arousal.
