34. Isabella
Theweeks that followed, marking quite possibly the biggest change in both Max’s and my life, were a whirlwind of morning sickness, picking out paint colors, napping, and juggling all the events I had committed to before my entire life changed.
Theweeks turned into months, and as my belly grew, so did the support system around us. Max and I were overwhelmed by the love and assistance we received, not just in readying the brownstone but also in preparing for our new arrival. It seemed everyone wanted to play a part in this next chapter of our lives.
Assoon as Max and I shared our news, it was as if a switch had been flipped. Our family and friends, including Natalia, Emma, Jessie, Liam, and my brother Dominic, rallied around us in a way that left me both overwhelmed and incredibly grateful. The brownstone, which had been a labor of love and, at times, a source of stress, became a hive of activity. Everyone pitched in to help get it ready for our little one’s arrival. I was touched by the generosity and the sense of community that enveloped us.
Duringthe sanding and painting process, I was unceremoniously evicted from the premises, with everyone citing concerns about what I should and shouldn’t be breathing in. Despite my protests, I knew they were right. The health and safety of our baby were paramount, and I was willing to take all necessary precautions—even if it meant stepping back and letting others take the lead.
Natalia, always the organizer, had taken charge of scheduling the work that needed to be done on the house. She had a knack for rallying the troops, ensuring there was always someone present to oversee the contractors or to paint a room. Her ability to manage and delegate made the renovation process smoother than I could have ever imagined.
Mymom, the epic problem-solver, tapped into my extensive network and found me an assistant. This was a first for me, and honestly, it was a game-changer. My ability to focus had taken a nosedive, a casualty of the pregnancy brain that seemed to have taken over my cognitive functions. My new assistant was a godsend, adeptly handling client communication for WanderLand and ensuring no detail, no matter how small, was overlooked. It was a relief to know my business was in capable hands, allowing me to focus on my health and the monumental changes on the horizon.
Emma, with her impeccable taste and design expertise, had offered to help decorate the nursery. Together, we pored over color swatches and furniture catalogs, choosing each piece with care. She had this incredible way of turning my vague ideas into a coherent vision, creating a space that was both beautiful and comforting.
Jessie, our group’s creative spirit, had surprised us by handcrafting some of the most adorable decorations for the nursery. From painted canvases to a mobile she had assembled herself, her contributions added a personal touch that made the room feel even more special.
Max, ever my rock, took the lead on the renovation front, coordinating with our friends and overseeing the endless list of tasks that needed to be completed before we could move in. It was heartening to see him so involved, his excitement about becoming a dad evident in everything he did. He was already talking about babyproofing the house and researching the best strollers and cribs, his enthusiasm boundless.
Inthe midst of all this, there were moments of pure joy—choosing the color for the nursery, feeling the first fluttering kicks, and envisioning our future as a family. There were also moments of sheer panic—wondering if we were truly ready, if we could handle the responsibilities that lay ahead.
Themore the swell of my belly grew, so did the strength of my confidence in how our life was unfolding. I had this sudden focus on something so much bigger than myself, even though, at this point, it was the size of a mango. Each kick and flutter was a reminder of the new life Max and I were about to welcome into the world, and with it, a clarity that what we were building together was meant to be.
Todaywas the day I was allowed back into the brownstone. Max stood at the front door, his face a mixture of excitement and nerves, as if he was presenting me with a gift he desperately hoped I’d love. God, this man was something else. My hormones kicked into overdrive, and I was ready to jump his bones with even the slightest look from him.
Hereached for my hand, his palm warm and reassuring against mine. “Ready for the grand tour?” he asked, his voice laced with hope.
Aswe stepped through the vestibule—a term Max had proudly learned and insisted on using—I was immediately struck by the transformation. The entranceway opened into a bright, airy space where the living room flowed seamlessly into a hallway leading to the kitchen at the back. The walls, once bare and peeling, were now adorned with vibrant colors and covered with patterned wallpaper.
Memoriesfrom around the world found their new home here. A tapestry from Morocco draped elegantly over a vintage couch, colorful lanterns from Turkey hung from the ceiling casting soft patterns on the walls, and a collection of framed photos from my travels adorned the walls, each telling a story of adventure and discovery. Natalia had outdone herself, digging through my parents’ storage to bring these treasures to our new home, infusing the space with warmth and personality.
Maxwatched me closely as I took it all in, his anticipation palpable. “Do you like it?” he asked, his eyes searching mine for approval.
Iturned to him, my heart full. “I love it,” I whispered, the words barely capturing the depth of my emotion. “It feels like home.”
Heexhaled, relief washing over his face, and pulled me into a hug. “Good, because this is just the beginning. There’s so much more I want to show you.”
Igasped when Max led me to the kitchen. The green cabinets and bright mosaic floor were exactly what I’d envisioned for this space. Emma and I had spent hours combing through inspiration photos as I laid in bed with crackers and Emma sketched. Large terracotta pots and clay vases lined the upper cabinet area, each one reminding me of who I was when I came across it.
That’sthe joy about traveling and picking up pieces along the journey. One day, they’ll get to be on display, serving as a reminder of who you once were. I chuckled at the memory of a salsa-dancing addict version of myself as I took in a display of colorful tiles hanging on the wall that we picked up in Havana. I smiled at the worn rug under my feet by the breakfast nook that Natalia and I came across on a severely hungover stroll through a market in Turkey.
“Max, this is absolutely perfect,” I said as my eyes continued to take in all the tiny details.
“Wait until you see upstairs,” he said.
Hegrabbed my hand and led me back down the hall and up the freshly polished stairs. The wall leading upstairs was covered in mismatched frames, small tapestries, and woven art. It all led to a bright hallway with navy-painted doors.
“Do you want to see our room or the baby’s room first?” Max asked.
“Show me the nursery because I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself from ravaging you if we see our room first,” I said.
Maxthrew his head back and laughed. “Well, by all means, then,” he said, directing me toward the middle door.
Ipushed it open, and tears sprung to my eyes. We’d decided to be surprised about the anatomy of our baby and I hadn’t wanted anything too kitschy anyways. Inside, a deep emerald board and batten flanked each wall, and a gorgeous rug of reds, pinks, and greens covered the floor. An organic rattan shape hung from the ceiling to light the room and a low dresser, already stocked with a few baby necessities, stood to the side.
“Oh my god, I can’t wait to bring our baby home here,” I said through quiet tears.
Maxwalked in behind me, closing me in with a hug. “Natalia went and picked up your things from your parents. The house is officially ours to stay in,” he said.
“Show me our room,” I said, turning to face him.
Ifollowed him out of the nursery and down the hall. Our room looked over the backyard and spanned the width of the second floor. I pushed open the door and sighed at how beautiful everything was. Warm white walls fell back so the beautiful citron velvet upholstered head and footboard could shine. Lacquered navy nightstands stood on the side of the bed and a massive intricate wooden mirror leaned against the wall.
Atasseled chandelier hung from the ceiling and lit the room with golden dim light. I spun on my heel taking in the room. It would take me days to uncover all the tiny details that Emma put into each of our spaces. My heart was bursting with the love and care that went into putting this space together.
“If there’s anything you want to change, I’m sure?—”
“I don’t want to change a thing,” I said, “I couldn’t have created a better space if I’d done it myself. This is our home, Max. Welive here.”
Hegrinned at me as he leaned against the doorframe. “Yeah, I still don’t think my brain has caught up to it all yet,” he said.
Isat down on the edge of the bed, facing Max. I just looked at him for a minute, my brain trying to piece together the people we were barely over a year ago with who we’ve become. I never would have imagined, in a million years, that the to-do list of my life, that once felt so out of reach, would all fall into my lap so quickly. Staring back at me was a partner, an amazing person to share this wild life with, and the man who would soon be the father of our children.
Hisdark hair fell into his eyes with a tilt of his head as he pushed himself off the doorframe and filled the space between us. Max’s hand was warm as it cupped my chin and brought my face up to look at him as he stood before me. This man knew exactly how to light a fire in my belly. I could tell with the smallest shift in his bottom eyelid that he was trying to rein in his control.
Ikicked my shoes off, brought my bare feet to the ledge that ran the length of the bed, and spread my knees out wide. I let the desire shine through my own eyes as I smirked up at Max. He grinned back at me, a willing participant in our games. Quickly, he dropped to his knees and buried his mouth in my hair, against my neck. I threw my head back as he made his way down the front of my loose dress, his breath warming my collarbone, in between my breasts, and the top of my belly.
Heplaced a trail of kisses over every inch of me as his large hands snaked up my thighs, pushing the fabric of my dress up around my waist. Max reached behind me and tugged me toward the edge so that I perched on the edge of the mattress. His head dipped below my line of sight, my belly now protruding out enough to block any view of him.
Ileaned back on my elbows so I could see as Max pressed his face in between my legs. His warm breath immediately sent goosebumps over my skin, but heat pooled to my core as he tugged off my underwear and tossed them to the side.
“God, you’re so fucking sexy,” Max said, the last part of his sentence muffled as he dove back in between my legs. His tongue ran up and down my pussy as he hummed his approval into me, the vibrations causing me to shiver.
“You taste so damn sweet,” he said in between kisses and licks.
Myhips twisted and pushed forward into his face, craving more friction, more touch, just more. I gripped the hair on the back of his head in between my fingers as I tugged him forward.
“Max,” I said breathily, “I need you inside me.”
Witha final lick, he sat back on his heels. I stood, pulling my dress over my head, leaving me in only a too small black bra. I hadn’t decided when it made the most sense for me to buy a larger size, unsure of how long the next one would even fit. My swollen breasts spilled over the edges of the fabric.
Maxstood, unfastened his pants, pushed them off his feet, and took my place on the edge of the bed. I tugged at the hem of his shirt and brought it up over his head. My hands found their home over his chest, running down his muscles and over the small patch of hair below his belly button.
“These need to go,” I said, pulling at the edge of his black briefs. Max lifted and slid them off with ease.
“This needs to go,” Max replied as he unclasped the hook of my bra, allowing my breasts to fall heavily. His eyes went dark as he scooped them up with his hands and brought his face to one nipple, sucking gently, before attending to the other.
Iclimbed on top of him, my knees sinking into the plush mattress. His cock was hard as I hovered over his lap, the head of it bumping against my swollen clit, making me moan. Max buried his face in between my breasts as I lowered myself on him, sinking down inch by inch. I needed to be filled by him. I craved the pressure I felt whenever he was inside me.
“Baby, you’re so warm, fuck,” he hissed, “you are so goddamn wet.”
Iwas at the stage in my pregnancy where I couldn’t get enough of him. One look at his dark eyes and I was ready to jump him. I pressed myself down on him, sinking him in as far as he would go. I tilted my hips forward and back as I ground myself into him as he licked, sucked, and squeezed my breasts.
Withone hand on my breast, bringing my nipple into his mouth, Max trailed the other down in between us and pressed his fingers into my clit, swirling gently. The added pressure was enough to put my hips into a frenzy. I brought myself down on Max over and over as he brought me closer to that glorious edge.
Mythighs tightened and I stilled just enough for the orgasm to flow through me, my grip tight on the back of his head. My mouth found Max’s, our breath warm and our tongues tangled. Wet noises filled the air as my arousal spread over us both.
“Fuck me, Max,” I begged.
Hishands found their hold on my hips, gripping my skin tightly as he brought his hips up to meet mine. With deep, quick thrusts, Max pounded himself into me. Sweat glistened over his chest as our thighs smacked together.
“Oh, fuck, baby,” Max groaned as he found his release, pumping himself into me.
Mychest heaved and curls stuck to my forehead as we caught our breaths. Max rested his forehead on my chest, his hands wrapped around my waist, rubbing my back gently. I twirled my hips gently on his lap, chasing the high he gave me whenever he was inside me.
“This is why you have a young guy around, huh?” he asked with a tease. “So you can get fucked back-to-back.”
Ilaughed into his neck as I felt him stirring inside me. “It’s your fault,” I said. “You unlocked this horny side of me I’ve never seen before.”
AsMax’s hands roamed my back, I placed kisses along his neck and jaw. I was content knowing I had a lifetime of these moments ahead of me. That there was this man who was undeniably obsessed with me and making sure I got the pleasure I craved. I had a feeling Max and I were going to have the time of our lives breaking in this house.