Chapter 22
Dale
Aspen turned around in his new suit. “Like it?”
His stomach protruded, round and precious.
I thought he’d hate the changes his body was going through, being the impeccable dresser he was.
But he loved the bump and the bigger clothes.
His taste never waned. He bought beautiful suits that fit well and showed off the glowing ecstasy of his pregnancy.
“I love it,” I replied.
“I love it, too.”
The suit was streamlined to show off his youthful body and cover the bump but not hide it. He wanted the world to know he was happily having this baby.
We bought three new shirts in white, pale pink and pale blue.
We bought shiny new shoes a size bigger for his swollen feet and topped our shopping trip off with two new ties.
Aspen faced me as I loaded my arms with our bags. “Now your turn.”
“What? I don’t need new clothes.”
“I can't be the only one getting presents.”
“Of course you can. You're the one whose shape is changing. Beautifully, I might add.”
He glanced around the mall. “Damn. I'm not quite done spending money.”
Even pregnant, he still had lots of energy.
“Do we need anything more for the nursery?”
We’d transformed the home office into the baby's room. Our two desks got moved downstairs side by side to the alcove just off the kitchen. I didn't resent it one minute. Most of the time I brought work home I worked on my laptop while sitting on the couch.
Aspen rolled his eyes at my question. “We've already ordered a zillion things online. I'm not sure that room can fit one more teddy bear.”
“You’re the one who said you want to spend more money.”
“On you. I want to spend money on you.” He put his arm around my waist. “You've done so much. Catered to my every whim.”
I chuckled. “That's what I'm here for.”
“You know I never take you for granted.”
“No?”
“Never.” Aspen grinned. “But you do remember…. I never got you a Christmas present. Back at the lodge you got me something.”
“That was ten months ago. Christmas is in two months. You can get me something then. But seriously, the baby is my gift.”
We were having a boy. The due date was just before Thanksgiving. One month away. I thought it was perfect timing.
“You’re right. The baby is our gift to each other for sure. I got your back.” He patted me between the shoulder blades.
That night we made love slowly. I placed Aspen on his side and used my cock to spread him wide open. The obstetrician said sex was good all the way up to delivery. It stretched the passage and relaxed the muscles afterward. Aspen certainly didn't mind.
His pregnant body was sexy. Looking at him, at his rounded belly, turned me on.
Sometimes I came too fast, out of control.
That happened again tonight. When I was done, and he wasn't, I crouched between his legs and teased and sucked him until he lifted his hips and cried out, coming down my throat.
Sometimes it was hard for him to get to sleep now. It was most comfortable for him to be on his back, but he hated sleeping in that position, said it gave him nightmares.
I put my arm under the pillow where his head lay and my other hand on his stomach, holding him against me. Then I began rubbing slow circles around and around the baby bump to soothe him and make him feel more secure.
“I'm right here,” I told him. “You and our baby are completely safe from monsters in your sleep.”
“Tell that to my subconscious,” he mumbled.
It was October and the cold weather had returned allowing me to bundle him up in the comforter and cuddle him without him becoming too hot.
Winter was coming. My favorite season.
“Our are baby craves junk food.” Aspen lay back against the pillows of the bed and set the salad I'd brought him aside. He was due any day now. Less than a week ago, he’d finally stopped going to work.
I had also taken paternity leave at the same time so I could be with him all day and all night until the baby came.. Thanksgiving was a week away. We had planned to go to his parents’ house on that day but if the baby came we weren't sure we would make it.
It was ten p.m. and brittle cold outside. Since it was a Friday night, Aspen was in luck. Most of the drive through fast food joints were open till one a.m.
“What will it be? A bag of tacos? Chicken Strips with three different kinds of dipping sauce? Those potato cakes you like so much?”
He rubbed his hands together. “Ohh that all sounds so good. But what I'm really craving is a bean burrito with extra cheese.”
“I can get that for you.”
As I turned to grab my keys, he held up his hand. “Don't forget the fries.”
“I'll get the combo. Anything else?”
“A chocolate shake please.” A guilty look spread over his face. “I know I shouldn't eat all that this late, but I'm starving.”
“We'll stream a movie so you don't get indigestion going to sleep right after you eat.”
“I want a large diet Coke, too.”
“After ordering all that you're going to get a diet drink?”
“Yeah. You're right. That does sound wrong. You don't have to get it for me if you don't want to.”
“Babe.” I stroked my hand down the side of his face. “I'll bring you back anything you want. I'll go to three different drive through lanes if that's what it takes. But I will have to keep you up a couple hours afterward. Deal?”
“Deal.”
Before I left, I turned on the bedroom TV and handed him the remote.
When I returned he was dozing, mouth open, eyes closed.
“Sweetheart,” I said softly. “I got your food.”
His eyelids slowly opened. “You're the best, Dale. What would I do without you?”
We queued up a movie we had both been wanting to see. I put his shake and diet Coke on the nightstand next to him. I'd gotten my own drink and set it aside, then opened the bags of food.
“Look at all that. You got too much.” He grabbed a fry and started munching.
“Well, I was hungry, too. It looks like I'm going to join you for our midnight snack.”
I set his wrapped burrito in his lap with some packets of hot sauce. Then I began unwrapping my own food.
“Mmm, you got a burger? That looks so good.”
I held it out to him. “Do you want to bite?”
“Sure.”
I wanted to laugh. Being pregnant had to be the hardest job of all. He was so mercurial with his senses. Sometimes a simple smell would make him sick and other times he wanted to feast on anything I put in front of him. Except the stuff that was good for him like salads. Or fruit.
Aspen chowed down on my burger so fast that half of it was gone before I could ask for it back.
“Does this mean you're going to share your burrito with me?”
“Sorry.” He shrugged and grabbed his burrito as if to keep it away from me.
In retaliation, I grabbed a handful of his fries.
“Hey.” He playfully smacked my hand.
“I got you an extra-large fry. You're not going to eat at all.”
“I might.”
Nights like these were the happiest times. I loved my life. I loved everything about Aspen. And I loved knowing we were about to add a third to our family very soon.
Halfway through the movie, Aspen dozed off again. He’d still not unwrapped his burrito and there were a lot of fries left. He had focused on his shake, but not much else.
I paused the movie and cleaned up the trash. Then I turned off the lights and settled him down in the bed, the comforter and my body surrounding him. My hand on his belly, I fell asleep.