Chapter 23 Gabi
GABI
For the first time in weeks, I can actually say that not only am I comfortable, but dare I say, relaxed.
Welcome to the second trimester.
Yes, the bath I’m currently taking absolutely helps.
And that my morning sickness has finally curbed.
I’m not as tired as I was, which is great because I’m now awake for more than two non-working hours a day.
I know Maddox is excited about that. Except the other night I’m pretty sure he was wondering why we weren’t in bed by seven.
Mind you, it was seven-fifteen and we were in bed twenty minutes later. My boyfriend is newly twenty-five going on sixty.
Boyfriend. I don’t know what’s harder for me to wrap my head around—the fact that I’m thirteen weeks pregnant, or that Maddox Gallagher is my boyfriend.
Honestly? It’s a tie. As much as I can’t believe it, as the days go by, it’s becoming harder and harder to imagine what I’d be doing right now if I wasn’t here. Well, not physically here, as I’m currently in Maddox’s huge bathtub. But here in general.
Here with a successful bakery, where I’m in the process of hiring another baker to help me with the workload. Beau says we can afford it without him chipping in any extra of his own money, and he wouldn’t lie about that.
Here with my professional football player boyfriend. A man who shows me daily what it’s like to not only be loved, but to be in a relationship that’s a true partnership.
And here as an expecting mom. Now that I think about it, this wins the baffling trophy.
Getting divorced in my mid-thirties, I figured the odds of ever being in this position were pretty much slim to none. I didn’t even know when I was going to be ready to date again, let alone start a family. Guess slim had better odds than none.
My hands absent-mindedly go to my stomach, where the slightest baby bump has started to show.
We had our first doctor’s appointment two weeks ago, and hearing Tiny Tot’s heartbeat was the most surreal experience of my life.
I was crying, Maddox was a mess, and the doctor was all smiles as she pointed out different things on the ultrasound.
I heard most of them, but I forgot them as quickly as she said them.
Because all I could do was look at the monitor and stare at what I’ve come to think of as my little souvenir.
The one I didn’t know I wanted.
The one that terrifies me every day.
The one I already love so much.
I feel the water start to chill and take that as my cue to start getting out of the bathtub. Except when I open my eyes, I notice I’m not alone.
“Hey gorgeous.”
I could say the same to him. Because Maddox Gallagher wearing nothing but drawstring gray sweatpants, leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his broad chest, giving me the perfect view of his trim waist? I don’t know if “gorgeous” is an adequate enough word.
“Hey,” I say softly as he starts walking toward me. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I didn’t know if you were sleeping or not, so I made sure I was quiet.” He leans down to place a kiss on my forehead. “Have a good night?”
“So relaxing,” I say as I fight the urge to sink back down into the tub, and maybe pull Maddox in with me. “How was poker?”
“Really fun,” he says. “We…I made some money.”
“There you go,” I say as I start pushing myself up. It’s either get out now or I’ll be here for the night. “Help me up?”
His smile turns wicked. “Gladly.”
I give Maddox my hand as I brace myself on the edge, not wanting to lose my balance or slip.
As I step out, Maddox reaches over for the towel that I placed on the counter, and begins thoroughly drying me off.
He pays special attention to my chest—that’s not a surprise—but he also makes sure to travel down my body, having me lift a leg so he can dry off each.
But then, just as I think he’s done, he takes the towel and dries my growing stomach.
Sigh…
“Were you good tonight Tiny Tot?” His lips hover over my stomach, and he places a lingering kiss just above my navel. “If you weren't, you're grounded. If you were, I’ll give you ten dollars.”
“Tiny Tot was perfect,” I say with a laugh, already picturing a conversation like this when our son or daughter arrives. “No upset stomachs, no weird cravings, all and all, a peaceful night.”
“That’s good.” He stands up, kissing me gently but deeply once he’s at his full height, and wraps the towel around my body. “I’m glad I went to poker, but now I’m jealous that I didn’t get to enjoy this bath with you.”
“There will be plenty of chances for that. I’m glad you’ve joined Beau’s poker game. You know, the one I didn’t know he even had.”
“Me too,” Maddox says, and maybe it’s from the lingering steam in the bathroom, but I swear his cheeks are turning a little red. “They’re good guys.”
“I’m biased on my brother,” I say as I bring my hair up into a towel. “I can’t wait to meet Asher and Theo.”
“I’m sure you will at some point,” he says, sneaking in for another kiss. “How about this? You finish in here, and when you’re ready, I’ll be in bed waiting for you with a surprise.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “Is the surprise your dick? Because that’s not a surprise at this point.”
He takes my hand and rubs it against his already hard length. “That’s not the surprise. That’s just the bonus.”
I laugh as he kisses me one more time before leaving me alone in his expansive bathroom.
Between the double shower, the separate bathtub that can hold me and him easily, and the double vanity, it’s hard to go back to my apartment on Sundays.
We’ve fallen into a groove of staying at my place during the week—simply for logistics as it’s easier for me to get to the bakery in the early hours.
Which means most weekends we spend here.
I knew tonight was poker night, but I asked if I could come early and take advantage of the bathtub while he was gone.
I know he wasn’t opposed, but asking while I was giving him a blow job didn’t hurt.
I hurry and brush my teeth, moisturize in all the right spots, and take my hair out of the towel before slipping on the clothes I laid out.
When I walk into the connecting bedroom, Maddox is laying on the bed, head propped up with his fist, and something conspicuously not baby or sex related in front of him on the bed.
“Is that a bag of white cheddar popcorn?”
He nods and holds out his hand like he’s a spokesmodel showing off a product. “Not just a bag. Six bags.”
I laugh as I walk to the bed, and yup, all right in a row, six bags of white cheddar popcorn. Why six bags? Because I mentioned once last night that they sounded good, and the rest is because he’s Maddox Gallagher.
“I don’t know if you needed to bring them all to bed,” I say, putting five of them on his dresser but keeping one bag for me. Because they do sound really good.
“I thought it added to the effect,” he says as he opens the bag and grabs some for himself. “Then again, I also pictured throwing every bag off the bed when you walked in here naked.”
That makes me laugh. “Sorry to disappoint you. It felt like a T-shirt and sweats kind of night.”
Of course not just any T-shirt and sweats. Maddox’s Fury gear. Also known as the set from Vegas that I now consider mine. And my favorite thing to wear.
“Not disappointed. You know I think you’re sexy as hell in my clothes.”
“Good to know a football T-shirt and sweatpants do it for you,” I say as I crawl into bed with him.
“Everything about you does it for me.”
And just like that, all thoughts of popcorn, and my clothes being on, are out the door.
I mean, I should’ve known. I did know. I’ve spent the night with Maddox enough times to know that when he’s walking around in his fuck-me sweats—yes, that’s their new name—or I’m within touching distance of him, more often than not we’re going to have sex.
Not that I’m complaining. I never will. The man makes me feel things I didn’t know were possible.
Like the way I always feel seen and heard.
I didn’t realize your heart can literally expand just from having a partner who not only listens to you, but values your opinion.
And those tingles that go through my body every time he touches me?
And I do mean every time. Plus, what he just did in the bathroom?
Taking care of me like I’m a precious gem? I almost cry every time he does it.
Then of course there’s the sex. I never knew I could actually have multiple orgasms. I used to struggle with singular.
Turns out it wasn’t a me issue. I wish I knew that years ago—it would’ve saved me over a decade of frustration and self-defeating thoughts wondering what was wrong with me when it came to sex with Justin.
Newsflash: There was nothing wrong with me.
I’ve discovered I really enjoy reverse cowgirl, too. It’s fun. Turns out, you do learn new things every day.
I’d heard that second trimester hormones were a real thing. That my sex drive was going to go way up. So I don’t know if these thoughts are because of those, or because of how ridiculously sexy Maddox looks in bed eating popcorn.
I’m gonna say it’s about fifty-fifty.
“Can I have a piece,” I say as I crawl over to him.
“Gladly.” He places one delicious bite on my tongue, and I swear his eyes dilate even more when I close my lips around his fingers before pulling slightly away from him.
“Mmm.” I make sure to over exaggerate the noise, and by the swallow of his throat, I’m pretty sure it did the trick. “Now…is there anything else you want to feed me?”
Popcorn kernels go flying through the air as he throws the bag off the bed, rolling me over to straddle me, each of his hands holding my wrists above my head. My laughter is quickly swallowed by his mouth crashing into mine, kissing me like he hasn’t in days instead of hours.
“Does my gorgeous girl want my cock?” he asks as he inches away the barest amount..
I lick my lips, knowing what I need. “Yes please.”