20. Astrid
ASTRID
I’ll admit that I agreed to the bath for Declan's sake. He clearly needs a little time to think through everything and process his emotions.
But once I’m in the tub, neck deep in my favorite strawberries-and-cream bubble bath, I realize that I won’t need his body wash to assist my orgasm tonight. I’ll have the real thing. I sink deeper into the tub with a huge smile.
I also realize this is the perfect chance to shave and exfoliate prior to sexy times with my husband for the first time.
So I stay in the tub longer than I’d intended, and I’m in a weird state of excitement and relaxation when I descend the stairs.
Knowing that my muscle tightness has improved and that Declan finally knows everything that’s going on has left me in a state of euphoria I haven’t felt since I don’t know when.
But there is adrenaline pumping through my system, anticipating the night ahead, along with a few nerves about how it will go.
What if it doesn’t work?
What if he gets all excited about this and I have to stop partway through?
What if…
I stop partway down the stairs and take a few deep breaths.
Am I ready for this?
I’m not sure.
Dammit. I need a pep talk. Should I call Miles quick? Or maybe Andi. Andi is confident, strong, and kickass. She gives great pep talks.
The step I’m standing on squeaks as I shift my weight, and Declan turns to face me from where he is standing in front of the couch.
I’m shocked to see him holding Oscar.
“Have you made friends?” I ask.
He strokes his hand over the cat's head, looking from him to me. “He was sleeping on you, and when I sat down at the end of the couch, he came over and climbed up on my shoulder.”
I smile and continue down the steps. This is going to be fine. Probably.
I cross the room to them and reach out to stroke the cat’s head. “Such a good boy,” I tell him.
“It was cuddling him that made me fall asleep. On you.”
I look up at Declan with a smile. “A very good boy.”
I think he’s going to say something, but instead he leans over so that Oscar can jump the short distance to the couch.
Okay, here we go. My heart rate picks up.
I didn’t know what to wear. He said comfortable clothes. I don’t really have lingerie. I haven’t had a need for that, so I did the next best thing, and I put on his shirt. The one I always wear to bed. I did pull on panties too, though, for a moment I debated.
His eyes are hot as they travel over me.
“Here,” he says, reaching for the blanket on the back of the couch. He wraps it around my shoulders and tucks it in snugly just above my breasts. It’s long enough that it covers me from shoulders to ankles.
“Declan, what—”
But he takes my hand and starts tugging me toward the kitchen.
Not only am I trying to set a sexy mood here, but it’s June. I only use the blanket when I have the air conditioning cranked up, and I only crank up the air conditioning when I want to snuggle up with the blanket on the couch and watch a movie.
“Are we going—”
My question about whether we’re going to sit on the back patio is answered a moment later.
We step out onto the patio, and I see that the twinkle lights are glowing along with the candles on the low table at my cozy end of the patio.
There is soft music playing, and a tray of snacks is set out on the table, including my favorites: apple slices with fluffy caramel dip, caramel corn, pretzels, which also go well with the caramel dip, and some nuts and cheese.
I didn’t realize Declan knew all of my favorite snacks.
But that is not the most surprising thing on the patio.
No, that is the fact that my three best friends are sitting there, propped up on the cushions around that table, grinning at me.
Andi laughs. “I haven’t seen anybody that shocked to see me since I crashed my mother-in-law’s birthday party.”
I am shocked. But right on the heels of that, I feel a rush of affection.
For my husband.
He’s trying to make me comfortable. He’s showing that he wants to support me. He’s taking this slow.
“Um, hi, girls.”
I’m also a little disappointed to see them.
I love them. This is very sweet and supportive. Declan knows I had a big, stressful day, and yes, this patio, these people, and this food always make me feel better.
But…none of these women are the ones I want to get naked with right now. Even with the nerves I was just feeling.
“Yours is Pecan Praline Crunch,” Declan says, nudging me toward the group and the cup from Perks and Rec sitting on the table, clearly waiting for me.
The girls are all holding theirs. “I remember Harley said that was your favorite. I already took care of the ducks. I’m going to head out. Have fun.”
I start to protest, but he’s already turned and disappeared through the kitchen.
I turned back to my friends. I smile. Then sigh. “What did he tell you?”
“Just that you needed us,” Sutton says.
Nora smiles. “He’s taking care of you.”
“He could do that by having sex with me.”
Sutton chokes on her drink of milkshake.
Andi laughs. “Well, I’m not sure he knew that you wanted to have sex with him. I think he’s thinking that after your big day and all the emotions, you would want to talk to your friends.”
I sigh and drop onto the puffy cushion at the end of the table. Yeah, I should have told him that. I reach for the milkshake. At least I’ve got ice cream. “You all told him my favorite snacks?”
They all nod.
“This is really sweet,” Nora says. “The other night at Perks and Rec, he made a note that we do milkshakes when one of us is upset.”
All of that is true. This is really nice.
It’s just not as nice as an orgasm from my really sexy husband.
I take a drink of the milkshake and, yeah, okay, Bruce's milkshakes really are amazing.
“It is sweet. He’s pretty freaked out by the idea of pain and me having trouble with sex.”
Nora nods. “That makes sense. Especially because you guys haven’t done it. He’s worried about hurting you.”
“So what’s your advice?” I ask. “I was thinking I could use a pep talk. You might as well tell me what to do.”
“Just tell him what you want. Tell him what to expect. And tell him not to be a prick about it,” Andi says.
I laugh. “I’m going to give him a little time,” I say. “I think he’s processing too. Maybe he needed some space from me?”
“Thea said he asked her for some things to read. He wants to learn about pelvic pain and the therapy for it. Maybe he just wants time to study before you do anything,” Nora says.
I lean in. “He asked Thea for reading material?”
“Yep. I think that’s really sweet too.” Nora points at her phone lying on the coffee table. “But just tell me when you want him back here. I’ll send Alex to go get him.”
I nod. I’m going to give him some time. He needs to be ready too. I take another sip of milkshake, then look at Andi. “So what is this about you crashing your ex-mother-in-law’s birthday party?”
She swallows her drink and grins. “She didn’t take me off the group text, so accidentally invited me. I decided to show up. And I gift wrapped the ugly ass flower vases that she had given me over the years as her gift.”
Sutton giggles. “I really need you to give me lessons on how to be sarcastic and sassy.”
Andi nudges her with her foot. “I am here for you anytime. I would love to see sassy Sutton.”
I lean into the cushion behind me and sip happily on my milkshake. This might not have been exactly what I was expecting tonight, but it is amazing that Declan thought of all of these things as a way to comfort me.
But I can’t wait until he gets home and I can tell him what I really want.