Chapter 21 #2
“The thing is,” David continued, “you can’t let the fear of that happening cause secondary health concerns. That kind of anxiety isn’t good for either of you. I know it’s really hard to believe that everything will be okay with the twins, but there’s no reason to believe it won’t be. Okay?”
Maddie nodded and wiped away more tears.
Mac shook his hand. “Thanks, David.”
“I’d say it was a pleasure, but I hate to see you in here for anything other than routine visits.”
“We hate it, too,” Mac said as he helped Maddie sit up so she could get dressed. “No more crises. We’ve had enough of them for one lifetime.”
David signed the discharge paperwork, and Victoria promised to check on them the next day.
When they got to the parking lot ten minutes later, Mac realized they had two cars there. “I’ll send someone to get the truck tomorrow.” He helped Maddie into the passenger seat of her SUV. Fortunately, it had a third row of seats, which they would soon need to transport their five kids around.
Breathe, Mac. You’ve got this.
As they rode through the dark winding roads that led to home, Mac looked over at Maddie. “David’s right. We’re letting the stress get to us.”
“I know.”
“We have to try harder to focus on the good things and the three successful pregnancies rather than the one that didn’t work out.”
“I know that, too.”
“Easier said than done, though, right?”
“Yeah.”
At home, they found Francine sacked out on the sofa. Rather than disturb her, Mac texted Ned that she was asleep. He covered his mother-in-law with a blanket and shut off the lights before going upstairs to find Maddie already in bed.
He unbuttoned his shirt and took it off. “What a day.”
“One I’m not going to want to remember years from now.”
“Me either, but we have a lot to be thankful for. I didn’t actually have a heart attack, and you didn’t go into premature labor.”
“True.”
“My grandmother used to tell us to see the glass as half full rather than half empty, and it would make anything seem better than it was.”
“She had a point.”
Mac went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and dropped his work clothes into the hamper. He got into bed next to Maddie and stared up at the ceiling, focusing on breathing the way David had told him to. When he looked over at Maddie, he found her watching him. “What?”
“Just looking.”
“Don’t look at me. Don’t come near me, and for the love of God, do not touch me.”
She lost it laughing. “Is that what it’s going to take to get through the next few months?”
“Yes.”
His gorgeous wife slid across the mile he’d put between them, snuggled up to him and rested her hand on his abdomen. “That’s not going to work for me. I can’t go months without touching you or kissing you or sleeping in your arms.”
“Madeline…”
She slid her hand down to encircle his hard cock. “He said I can’t have sex. He never said anything about you.”
He put his hand on top of hers to stop her from moving it. “That’s exactly what it means. If you can’t have it, I can’t either.”
“That’s ridiculous, Mac. Why should you suffer just because I’m laid up?”
“You’re laid up because you’re carrying my babies. What’s fair is fair. We’re officially on the wagon.”
“You can’t go two days without sex. How will you stand to wait months?”
“I’ve done it before when you were expecting Mac, and I went weeks without it after you had Hailey and Mac, and after we lost Connor. Contrary to popular opinion, I’m not a complete horn dog.”
“Um, well, you’re a pretty horny dog.”
He gave her a foul look. “So are you. And by the way, I can control myself when I have to, and right now I have to because it’s what’s best for you and the girls. It’s no big deal.”
“You say that now…”
“I say that until six weeks after these babies are born.”
“Want to make a bet?”
He raised a brow. “What kind of bet?”
“That you can’t go that long without taking the edge off.”
“Maddie! Are you suggesting that I…”
“Spank the monkey? Well, don’t you?”
Hearing the words spank the monkey coming from her made him so hard, he saw stars. “My brother Adam says there are guys who do it and guys who lie about it.”
Maddie laughed. “So which one are you?”
“I’ve been known to spank the occasional monkey in my life, but far less often since I’ve had my beautiful wife to spank it for me. But trust me. My monkey can go without spanking, if need be.”
“And that’s where the bet comes in. I bet you can’t make it to the end of my pregnancy without doing some spanking.”
“I can, too!”
“Cannot.”
“Fine. I’ll take your bet. What’s the wager?”
“Hundred bucks?”
He held out his hand.
She shook it.
“How will you know if I fall off the wagon?”
“You have to tell me. You’re on the honor system.”
“Won’t be anything to tell.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
“We shall see.”
“Yes, we shall.” Even as he made the wager and talked a big game, he hoped he could stick to it.
“Mac?”
“Yes?”
“Will you kiss me good night?”
He gave her a chaste peck on the lips.
“I want a real kiss.”
“You’re not allowed to have real kisses.”
“Yes, I am! I’m not allowed to have sex. David said nothing about kissing.”
“Kissing leads to sex.”
“Not if we don’t let it. Please? I can’t go months without at least kissing you.”
“I can’t go that long without kissing you either.” He turned on his side to face her. “I hope these girls go easy on us when they’re teenagers. They’re going to owe us for the enormous sacrifices we’re making for them.”
“Which you will not ever tell them about.”
“I love when you’re stern with me. It’s so hot.”
“Put some ice on it. We’re on the wagon.”
“Don’t remind me. Are you going to kiss me or what?”
“I’m going to kiss you.”
And when she did, Mac quickly realized that, despite his bravado, abstinence was going to be pure torture, because like always, any time he kissed his sexy wife, he only wanted more of her.