The song ended, and they let go of each other. The baby kicked. It was hard. She smiled.
"Give me your hand."
She took his hand and placed it on her belly. After a couple of seconds, it kicked again.
"Oh my God. That is the greatest thing I've ever felt. There's a little person in there, and I am the only other person who can feel them move. Allie, thank you for sharing that with me."
He got on his knees and put his cheek against her bump.
Allie looked at the joy in his face. She suddenly felt all alone.
"Hey, peanut. How's the weather in there? Peanut says it's a balmy 98.6 degrees," he said.
He looked up at her face. "Allie? What's wrong?"
He stood back up. A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Is it what I said? I'm sorry I overstepped my bounds. I just wanted you to know that you do have choices. Taking him back or being a single mom aren't your only options. I respect and support any decision you make. I just want you to be happy and taken care of."
She nodded her head slowly. "I'm going to go to my room to lie down. It's been a pretty draining afternoon."
"Sure, do you want me to bring you anything? Do you want your ice cream?" he asked.
"Yeah. Bring two spoons."
"I don't think Peanut needs her own spoon."
"It's not for the baby. It's for you, silly," she said.
"For me? You want me to come lie down with you?"
"And eat ice cream. Maybe tell me I'm pretty and that I have a beautiful, sexy body. You know, build up my self-confidence."
"I was going to anyway, Cara Mia."
Allie went into her bedroom. She took her clothes off and pulled a clean nightshirt out of her drawer. She slid it on. She didn't realize it was Dean's Northwestern shirt when she had pulled it out. She stared at herself in the full-length mirror. She smoothed the shirt out and turned to the side, looking at her profile.
"Your father is a selfish asshole, Peanut. I have no doubt that he is going to love you with every fiber of his being. But he's still a flaming asshole."
"You're absolutely beautiful. Do you know that?"
Alex was standing in the doorway. He put the ice cream down on the side table and walked up behind her. She reached behind her and pulled his arms around her, placing his hands on her bump. He gently pulled her into him. Her back was up against his chest. She loved the way it felt. This is how it was supposed to be—except it was supposed to be with the baby's daddy.
They looked in the mirror. "You said that because I asked you to."
"No, I said that because that's what I have thought about since the first time I saw you. Speaking of seeing, I think we look rather good together. But you would look good no matter who or what you were standing next to," he said.
He kissed the crown of her head, taking in the scent of her hair.
"I'll seriously consider your proposal."
She turned to face him. His smile was wide and excited.
"Really? You will?" he asked with exuberance.
"Yeah. You make a really valid argument. I will think about it seriously."
Not even thinking, he took her head in his hands and kissed her.
"Oh God, Allie, I am so sorry," he said. "That was a line I shouldn't have crossed."
"No, it's ok. I wouldn't be angry if you did it again."
He kissed her again. It was intimate, slow, gentle. She pulled herself into him and pressed their bodies together. The baby kicked, and he felt it on his stomach. It broke their kiss, and they both started to giggle.
"That was interesting," he said.
"It's more interesting coming from the inside."
"I wouldn't mind coming inside of you."
She smiled and shook her head. She poked him gently in the chest.
"You, Alex Alvarez, are incorrigible. Come lie down with me."
She took his hand and led him over to the bed. She slowly unbuttoned his uniform shirt. She put her hands on his chest, slid it over his shoulders, and let it fall to the floor.
She kissed his chest. His natural brown skin was soft. His deep brown eyes sparkled. She ran her fingers through his jet-black hair.
"Has anyone ever told you how fucking sexy you are?"
"I may have heard that in the past. From you, I think," he said. "You know the ice cream is going to melt."
She kissed him again. She was running her nails softly up and down his back. "I'll DoorDash some more later."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked. "Or are you just trying to get back at Dean? Once you do this, it's done. No going back."
"Does it make a difference what my motivation is, Mi Vida?"
"Oh, Cara Mia, I will do only what you want. I don't care why, and you can tell me how."
She slid Dean's shirt over her head like she was stripping him from her life. Her swollen breasts and her little baby bump made her look glorious in her eyes. She was still in phenomenal shape even though she had a different opinion of herself.
"If I can be perfectly honest, I have had the urge to do this for weeks now. I'm 50% sure it's the hormones, 30% sure it's to get back at him, and 20% sure it's because of my feelings for you. Now, how about you? Want to be with a puffy pregnant woman who's producing stretch marks even as we speak?"
"You are ravishing. I would rather be with you than anyone else, pregnant or not. I do think I have a kink for a pregnant woman named Alexandra Kingston.
She undid his belt and unbuttoned his pants. They were both naked, gently running their fingertips over each other. He grew as erect as her nipples. His body was a lot like Dean's. He was still muscular and cut, just like the last time she stood naked with him.
"Sex, not love?" he asked.
"Let's not put a label on it this time."
The two of them lay next to each other, their hands exploring one another. It was so meaningful. He looked into her eyes and swept some loose hair behind her ear.
"How should we do this? I don't want to hurt you or the baby."
"I don't know. I've never done this before. Remember, I haven't been with anyone since the day I conceived this little one. I guess we just see what works."
"Want to know how many days it's been for me?"
"I don't think so. I have heard enough depressing news for the day. I hate to think how long it has been. Remember, I went for three years between Malibu and you. I know the ache that hunger time can produce. Just take it slow," she said.
You waited three years. Oh, Caretaker, I'm touched.
"And you're eavesdropping!"
"I'm planning on taking it slow. This may never happen again, and I will soak in every second possible."
"Alex," she said his name while looking into his eyes. "I think this is going to happen again."
He ran his hand over her belly. "There is only one thing more beautiful than a pregnant woman."
"And what would that be?"
"You being that woman," he said.
He slipped his arm under her back and rolled her over on top of him. He felt her belly pressed up against his. She kissed him. There was no passion or aggression. There was warmth, attentiveness, and benevolence. They kissed for an extended time. They were taking their time.
"Do you want to be on top or bottom? What will be most comfortable for you?"
"I honestly have no idea. Bottom, I guess, you know what they say: the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. Guess Dean got over me a lot of times."
He kissed her firmly this time. Inhaling deeply through his nose.
"Let's not talk about him. This is about you and me. But mainly, it's about you," he said with a smile.
"Is it now?"
"Oh, most definitely."
"We can make it a little about you," she said, kissing him.
She lay flat on her back. He took all of her in. He kissed her belly.
"Is she sleeping?"
"She?"
"I think it's a girl. Someone as beautiful as you will have someone just as beautiful. Do you want to find out?"
"I kind of wanted to wait to find out with Dean if he had gotten back in time," she said.
"How about now? You have an appointment on Monday. We could find out if I'm right."
"You know what? Yes. Let's find out. I want to start thinking of names."
"I have a great name for her."
"And what would that be?" she asked.
"Alexis."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" she laughed. "We are not having three Alexs in the family."
Uhm, Caretaker. Do you realize what you just said? Malibu yelled from the other room.
"No. No, I did not. And stop eavesdropping! "
How are you going to backpedal on that?
"I'm sorry. What did you just say?" he asked. He sounded confused but hopeful.
Forget backpedaling. You don't even own a bike anymore.
Allie said nothing.
"Oh, Freudian slip? It's okay," he said. "That means it's in there somewhere."
"Alex, I... It's just."
"You don't have to explain," he said. "How about a change of subject?"
"That is a marvelous idea."
"Cool, then it's settled. Monday, we find out it's a girl."
He kissed her bump.
"Hear that peanut?" He kissed her again. He felt peanut rollover.
"She knows your voice. She hears you every day," she said. "Don't you? They know their daddy's voice."
Oh fuck. You are not coming back from that one Caretaker.
It just felt like a natural conversion. She didn't even realize she said it.
"Okay, that one I am NOT letting go."
"I didn't think you would."
Alex sat up and looked at her. "Alexandra Grace-"
"How does everyone know my middle name?"
"We have a long history; I think it's a beautiful name. Now, let's get back to the subject at hand."
"You called me Peanut's daddy. I heard it. You said it." he said. "Come to think of it, before you called Dean a flaming asshole you said your father. You didn't say your daddy. Do you know the difference between a father and a dad? The dad is focused on loving their child, while the father focuses his attention and efforts elsewhere."
"I have never heard that before," she said.
"Google it."
"Well, then, I guess I had a father. Now, can we continue so I can have an orgasm that doesn't involve my BOB?"
"Whose BOB?" he asked.
"Battery-operated boyfriend, BOB."
"Women are weird."
"Well, this woman is pregnant, and being pregnant has been known to make women very horny, so what do you say we get this show on the road."
"That was romantic," he laughed.
"You never know. It might be the greatest show on earth. No pressure," she smiled wide.
Every movement he made was deliberate. He was slow and gentle till she told him not to be.
She was in ecstasy. The hormones coursing through her veins intensified every feeling. If she knew it would feel like this, she would have climbed down from her tower long ago. She tapped into the woman's ability to have an infinite number of orgasms. Unfortunately, she made a huge mistake when the first one came on.
"Oh my God. Please keep it just like that." Her eyes rolled back into her head. "Dean," she said in a breathy voice.
"Alex," he whispered into her ear. "But I'll give you a pass on that one."
"Oh shit, I am so sorry."
"Maybe I just need to do something that always made you say my name."
"And what would that be Mi Vita?"
Alex was in the missionary position, Allie's legs bent at the knees. He took her knees and pushed them down till she was splayed out. He started to move. He held them down every time she tried to bring her knees back up. The feeling was so intense. This was always her favorite position. She had only done it with Alex. She never asked or showed it to anyone else. She slithered. He quickened his pace. He repositioned his body. He was holding her legs down with his shins. The quicker he went, the more her body wanted her legs to move. He grabbed her by the wrists and restrained her hands. She struggled but never didn't tell him to let go. She squirmed aggressively but never told him to stop.
"Alex… Alex…I am going to..." She couldn't finish her sentence.
"You're going to come on cock, baby girl? Fuck you feel so good. Oh god, I missed you. The feel of your hungry pussy eating every inch of my cock. Fuck Allie, come for Papi."
Fuck, she missed his filthy mouth. She orgasmed violently. Releasing a flood onto him. It was like a damn broke. It has a different feeling than a regular orgasm. The intensity of it made her scream. The position, the hormones, Alex; it was the perfect trifecta. She could barely catch her breath. When she screamed, Alex climaxed. His was intense but nowhere near as close as Allie's was.
"You said my name," he smiled.
"Alex, that was the best orgasm I have ever experienced. My face is numb. I have never experienced a pleasure like that. It was… epic."
He kissed her. They barely touched, her tongue meeting his through their slightly parted lips.
"Tell me."
"What Cara Mia?"
I'll answer you this time. I will say the words. I'm not afraid anymore."
"Really?" he asked.
"Really."
"I love you Allie."
"I love you too, Alex. I don't think I ever really stopped."
When it was all over, he kissed her body. She lay there stroking his hair as his head slowly moved from side to side.
He looked at her. She had a dreamy smile on her face. She was gently playing with his hair. She caught his gaze.
"What?" she asked with a little smile.
"Will you Marry me, Alexandra Grace?"
"What? I just called you by the wrong name, and you would want to marry me?"
"You could call me any name you feel like if you said you'll marry me. We can do it today; we can do it ten years from now. As long as I know that it will happen someday."
The love she saw in his face was something so pure and absolute.
"Why don't you wait until I get a few more stretch marks and maybe some swollen feet? Then we will see how you feel about me."
He smiled at her. " So, it's a deal. I will check back with you later."
She nodded her head. "Yeah, you do that," she said. "Hey, remember when I told you this would happen again?"
"Please don't tell me you changed your mind."
"No. I wanted to tell you that it's again."
"Oh, is it now?" he asked. "I bet I still remember just the way you taste."
He put the sheet over his head and made his way down her body.
"Oh, Alex," she moaned. "Dear God."
Allie never called him by the wrong name again.