The smell of bacon.
The smell of eggs.
The musky aroma of Ean, having been in my bed.
Waking up perfection.
Except, alone.
I looked at the empty bed and decided to move. Aching in every place, I wish I weren’t, I got my teeth brushed, my hair in a bun and some form of clothing on, in no record time.
I found Ean at the stove, which I had been expecting, just not shirtless.
I tried to sneak up but I was a little clumsy and loud.
He looked to me and gave me a big smile. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning, handsome.” I pushed my face into his back, biting at his smooth skin—the sight of him had turned me on.
He laughed. “Don’t bite me. I’m cooking.”
“Bacon, without a shirt on.” I huffed, pulling my wanting form from his. “Seems super smart.”
Turning down the gas burner, he moved towards me for a kiss. With all his stubble and beard gone, we were back to the smooth sloppy kisses, my favorite.
He scooped my cheeks and leaned in, our tongues dipping against one another.
Pulling back from me, I refrained my need to pout, he checked the eggs and I watched. The perfect lines of him bothered me and since he had insisted on letting me rest all night, my hormones were antsy.
“Do you feel okay?” He asked.
I shrugged. “My side’s a little sore and head, but it’s not that bad.”
He moved to get plates. “Why don’t you take some pain reliever?”
I shrugged and watched as he dished up the food, that I wanted to eat but didn’t at the same time.
“Did you take a shower?” I asked him.
He smiled. “Yeah, do I not smell better?”
“You smelled fine before.” I took the plate he offered and walked to the small dining table across the kitchen.
He followed me over, chuckling. “I smelled like dirt and the woods.”
“That’s what you always smell like.” I argued, sitting, eating a few bites.
He sat across from me, smiling. “I do? I don’t think that’s a compliment, sweetie.”
“I like the way you smell.”
His brow lifted. “Do you now?”
I grumbled, I had agreed that his bushman scent was nice and worse, I liked it. I wanted it back? I liked him woodsy and dirty?
“Have you thought about your brother’s place today?”
I smiled, thinking he was joking.
Ean waited. “Amy?”
“Oh, you’re serious?” I wrinkled my nose.
“Uh, yeah.” He ate.
As he waited, on the topic, I wondered if he ever lost his patience.
“Sweetie?” He cut through my thoughts.
“No.” I brushed it off. “I don’t want to go.”
He sighed. “I don’t want to upset you.”
“Than don’t.”
“But other than the issues with your parents,” he continued on, “Do you really need to hold that against your siblings?”
“Why do you want me to go?” I huffed.
“I don’t want to fight with you.”
I ate more, hoping and praying he’d shut his mouth. I wanted to have sex, not argue with him but he often chose mental healing over sexual. It was a shame.
“Amy.” He tried.
I rolled my eyes. “I told you yesterday, they’re a bunch of sexist losers.”
“That’s a bit harsh.” He breathed.
“It’s true!” I burst.
He lifted a hand from the table. “Sit. No putting yourself in early labor.”
I stuck my tongue out at him and said nothing more.
He let me simmer another few minutes and brought it all back up again. “Amy, I think you should go.”
“That’s your opinion,” I chirped.
“Yeah, it is, but I still think you should. Things have changed.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I argued, “I’m not down to their level and I never will be, doesn’t matter how many kids we have!”
He paused his brow lifting. “You want to have more kids?”
“I didn’t say that!” I pointed at him, catching myself, except I had said it. I groaned, rubbing my sore temple.
“Alright, don’t get upset.” He hushed.
It made me want to laugh, though, he’d already upset me, he didn’t believe me that they were a bunch of Stepford wives.
“You think I need to go, like it’s going to help me, but Ean, it won’t!”
He sighed, “Sweetie, it’s okay—”
“No,” I stood, not finishing my food. “You don’t believe me, I’ll prove it to you. We’ll go, okay!” I hopped around the table to the best of my ability.
“Where are you going?”
“To do my hair and makeup!”
“It’s only noon.” He called as I hobbled into the bedroom.
“I don’t care!” I slammed the door and made my way to the bathroom, at this rate, it would take me all of three hours to get ready anyway, might as well start now.
I opened one of the many makeup drawers and found my face cleanser as Ean appeared behind me.
“Amy.”
I didn’t look at him, just went about cleaning my face with the cleanser and running water.
He waited in the door frame, very Ean Hunter like of him, I wanted to chuck something at him for it.
“Go away.” I dried my face.
“Sweetie, we don’t have to go.”
I turned to him, pointing. “No, this is what you want. You want to meet them, fine. We’re going.”
He chuckled. “Oh, Amy . . .”
“Shut up.” I shot, turning back away. “Not everything I do is that funny.”
His laughing tapered as he came up behind me.
I paused the shaking of the cover-up tube. “Don’t—”
“Don’t what?” He nuzzled my shoulder, nipping, licking.
“I’m going to hit you.” I warned.
“Literally, the single most violent pregnant woman I’ve ever met.” His hands on my hips gripped me and played with my tank top.
“Stop it.” I seethed, yet I liked it. I wanted more, feeling the throbbing between my legs with the continuation of his touch.
He took the makeup from my grip and dropped it down on the counter.
“Ean.” I tried to warn him once more but failed.
He took me from the bathroom, leaving me on my feet but persuading me with his mouth and hands. Unfortunately, that was enough.
He brought me to the bed, stripping me down.
Freaking bright, my rooms windows wide open, he could see every bit of me. Every bit of fat, little me.
With one last kiss on my nape, he moved onto the bed and reached for some pillows.
I stood, uncomfortable, annoyed. “Ean.”
He came up beside me again. “Go on your hands and knees.”
“Why?” My heart raced.
“What do you mean why?” His mouth trailed my neck again.
Swallowing, I dropped to the edge of the bed on my knees. “I really-”
He snugged the pillows in around my stomach for support. “Better?”
I wanted to scream ‘no’ but all I could get out, against my embarrassment, was a noise like yes. Burying my face in a pillow, I felt his gentle touch between my thighs.
I had tensed before his hands wrapped my thighs and his tongue met my wanting. Shuddering, I tried to scoot away.
He kept me in place and continued on, sucking and lapping, till I could burst.
My toes clenched and unclenched, pressing against his bare chest from where he kneeled on the floor.
I mumbled into the pillow, wishing for bravery and less self-consciousness.
With a deep groan, his hand left one of my thighs and met my heat. I found his want to satisfy hot, desirable, and a true talent of his.
Yelping from his fingers dipping inside, I bit my bottom lip as the increase of pleasure washed over.
His focus on me consumed him as his mouth moved closer, his tongue faster.
I panted, my stomach muscles clenching and trying to protest my need to finish. I reached with one hand out in front of me and gripped the sheets. “Mm. .Ean!” My ears began to ring the longer and harder he continued.
Starting to break, I tried to hold as long as I could. “Stop, I’m—”
He crushed his face into my sweetness and went at a furious pace, till I crashed. With the softening and tightened of my walls, I felt a cool breeze before he filled me from behind.
I moaned, liking it, feeling wrong for it too.
His grip took my relaxed hips and he moved into deep, full thrusts that left me gasping and struggling to breathe.
Holding back my need to be loud, I shoved my fingertips between my teeth and closed my eyes.
His cock left and entered, left and entered.
He said something to me, but I didn’t hear, so I answered with a nod and his pace increased. Bouncing me on the bed but keeping me in place, his thick arm wrapping around my chest as he crawled on top me and took me harder.
I moaned loudly from how incredible he felt inside of me.
He kissed my shoulders and neck. My eyes opened to see his one arm bracing him beside my cheek. I wrapped my fingers around his wrist and held on as he finished with a few final, big thrusts.
Inching up the bed under him, I relaxed, his panting on my back hot and sticky.
I smiled and closed my eyes as he took his time to recover atop me.
His hand on my breasts trailed down and held our baby. “Did I upset the baby?”
“I think you put him or her, to sleep.” I giggled, sure his rocking had done us both over.
He kissed my back once more and moved off me, sitting on the edge of the bed.
With a slowness, I tried to move but Ean ended up helping me stand.
“Okay?”
“I’m dizzy.” I stumbled around the side of the bed from him and tucked myself into the blankets.
“What about your hair and makeup?” He chuckled.
“You ruined that task for me, I need to recover now.” I snuggled into the bed.
He walked around the other side and wrapped himself around me, “Was I too rough?”
“You’re never rough.” I answered, my eyes closing.
He kissed my forehead. “So, you liked it?”
“Mmhm.” My head catching a lazy nod. “Besides me being a fat lump, did you like it?”
He kissed my shoulder several times. “I think you’re sexy.”
I opened one eye. “I think you’re crazy.”
He smiled at me. “I think you should marry me and we should have more babies.”
“Yep,” I finalized, “You’re crazy.”
He smiled, keeping quiet.
Our eyes were far from quiet, though, we were in some kind of a gray area, where I didn’t know what I wanted but I knew exactly what he wanted.
I swallowed, tucking myself into him. “Wake me up in an hour, if you still want to meet my family.”
His low laugh sent me off into a pleasure endued sleep and I woke an hour in a half later to Ean, stroking my side, my name on his lips. The images of him holding a baby were the last of my dream tapering and as I stirred, his mouth brushed against mine.
“No.” I mumbled, the aroma of our lovemaking still present around us.
“Sweetie, I still want to meet your family.”
I opened one eye and looked up at him, groaning, I’d forgot. “Ah, shit.”
“It won’t be that bad.”
I turned away from him. “Look at how pregnant I am? All I want to do is sleep.”
He started to kiss my neck. “All I want to do is make love to you but we can’t always get what we want.”
My cheeks burned. “Ean, shut up.”
He started to kiss me again, bugging me into a waking state.
I sat up. “Ah!” I swatted him. “Can you not be so annoying?”
“I can try.” He laughed as I got out of bed, looking for something to cover myself, so instead I skipped to the bathroom.
“Get something nice on!” I called as I flicked on the tap.
“Nice?” He called but I couldn’t hear the rest of his protesting as I brushed my teeth and went about the original makeup problem.
Ean came into the washroom, jeans on and two shirts in his hands, “This is all I have, for dress-type clothing.”
I turned, mascara in hand as I looked over his options. A blue button-down or a checkered print dress shirt.
I wrinkled my nose. “Blue.”
“This one is more comfortable, though.” He tried to pull towards the one I didn’t like.
“You’re the one that wants to meet my crazy family.” I chimed.
He smiled and put on the shirt I requested, fumbling with the tiny buttons.
Adjusting my robe, I turned towards him, taking in how well that particular shirt fit him. My hope of him being a city boy took over again.
I reached and fixed his collar, “You’re so hot in this shirt.”
He lifted an eyebrow, “Really?”
“You can fit in here.” I smiled at him.
He held his smile but one corner faded. Noticing his animosity towards my comment, I walked past him to dress, trying not to dwell on why my words had bothered him.
He stayed in the bathroom for a few minutes as I picked out a fat-dress.
Fat or fatter? I picked out a white and coral empire waisted dress.
Ean walked out, fiddling with his cuff. “Are you hungry?”
“No, I’m okay.” I turned to the side in the mirror and smoothed the dress over. “Does this look okay?”
He glanced up at me and nodded. “Pretty.”
Satisfied with that, I found my purse and popped a piece of gum in my mouth as he doddle around.
I walked out into the kitchen and he followed behind, still in his slow step.
Slipping on a pair of comfy but cute flats, I adjusted a camisole on my shoulders.
Ean waited patiently.
I opened the front door and we walked out.
“Is Beth back with Steve then?” Ean asked as we stepped into the elevator.
“I guess.” I shrugged.
“She seems happy.”
I shrugged again, not saying anything back and we stood in silence. However, I wanted to touch him and so I looped my arm around his thick forearm. Pressing my cheek to his arm, I kissed him, not liking him so quiet.
“Did I upset you?” I said in a soft, bare voice.
“No.” He answered, looking at me. “When?”
“Upstairs?” I pried.
“Everything is fine.” He turned towards me and peppered my cheeks and nose with kisses, it wasn’t an answer or I wouldn’t have accepted it on a normal occasion but at the same time, I wanted him here, with me. We would have to bite the bullet of that conversation sometime, just not at this moment.
I took a long breath and he rubbed my back, right where he knew it often hurt. We waited in the descending elevator as the doors opened into the lobby, being greeted by George; the doorman.
I smiled at him and he complimented our clothes and next, we were in my white beamer and I had handed Ean over the keys without a second thought.
He slipped into the leather and looked over the fancy dash. “Jeez, look at this thing. It’s like a spaceship.”
I got my belt on. “Press the start button.”
He did as instructed while muttering, “Luckily the principle operation of driving, has not changed.” He popped it into reverse.
I smiled. “It’ll show you on this screen where you’re backing up.”
“What? Why?” He stared at it as the screen lit up with an image of what was behind the car.
I couldn’t help my laugh. “To help you.”
“I have eyes,” he grumbled, backing up the vehicle, not using the screen at all. The car began to beep and he hit the break. “What’s that!”
I burst into a laugh. “It’s telling you, you’re getting close to something.”
“I’m not close to anything!” He argued.
I laughed. “It’s just a warning, Ean.”
“Can’t we turn it off?”
“No.” I shook my head.
Annoyed, he got the car out of the parking stall and made his way out into the outside world. As we drove, I gave him directions of where my brother lived but he knew pretty well where he was going.
Pulling the car across the street from the narrow little house my brother called home. I noticed the cars piled in the driveway and along the curb. It brought my anxiety out instantly.
We were only twenty minutes late but that had been enough to let all my relatives get there.
I swallowed as I remembered the last time I’d been at Bobby’s when he’d first bought the place.
Ean unsnapped his seatbelt. “Ready?”
“God, no.” My nervousness heightened. “I can’t.”
He looked to me. “Are you okay?”
I tried to hold back any tears. “Ean, I can’t.”
“Okay.” He rubbed my shoulder and I wanted to cuddle into him. “We don’t have—”
I swallowed as the front door opened and Bobby walked out with another one of my brother’s they hadn’t seen us but my other brother; Sean looked to be showing Bobby something on his car.
“Who’s that?” Ean asked.
“One of my older brother’s, his name is Sean.”
“You want to leave then?”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t do it, couldn’t . . .
Ean started the car and my brothers looked across the street to us, catching my eyes, Bobby waved.
“Fuck!” I swore.
Ean pushed the car back in park. “Few minutes, Amy. If it’s too much, we’ll leave but they’re walking over.”
I began to whine and he leaned over, kissing me.
“Shh, sweetie.”
I got myself together and got out of the car after Ean had. He took the brunt of the hellos and I slipped around the side, joining them.
Sean stared at me. “Wow, you’re pregnant?”
Bobby smiled. “Yeah, Amy, pregnant.”
I narrowed my eyes. “So funny, right?”
Sean smirked. “More ironic.”
“Bobby!” Someone called from the house and there, my little sister stood in the door frame. Not so little, not how I’ remembered her.
She stepped out and Bobby coaxed all us towards the house.
Clinging to Ean, he gave me enough hope of survival.
“Oh my god, Amy!” My sister ran from the porch and wrapped me in a hug.
Caught off guard, Ean let go of me but I still reached for him.
“Christine.” I squeaked.
She pulled back, smiling. “You’re so pretty!”
Ean smiled as he watched us and clung back onto him once I was free.
“Hi.” I got out.
Christine bubbled, tossing her same red-hair over her slender shoulder. “Oh, hello!” She smiled at Ean.
He went to introduce himself but had to endure the same monster hug I had.
He smiled. “Hello.”
She parted from him. “I’m Christine. Amy’s little sister.”
“Nice to meet you.” He nodded. “I’m Ean Hunter,” she waited so he elaborated for her, “Amy’s boyfriend.”
“Come inside!” She scooped up my arm and tugged me away from Ean, leaving him to walk in with Sean and Bobby.
There were only my three older siblings left to meet, and my parents, who I hoped were absent, by some miracle.
Christine crushed into me and whispered, “your boyfriend is hella gorgeous.”
I swallowed. “Thanks.”
“Yeah, where did you find that?”
I winced. “You don’t want to know.”
“No, I do.” Christine giggled. Just like I hadn’t been gone for the past eight years, just like we were teenagers again.
I took off my shoes to the inside mat and heard the murmur of voices in the back living room.
Christine led me forward, my need to run overbearing as I looked behind me. Ean came in with my brothers, smiling and chatting. I envied at how easy he could socialize.
“When are you due?” She bubbled.
“Soon,” I said.
“You look perfect pregnant.” She walked me into the living room and all conversation ceased with the turning of heads.
My eyes scanned the faces, some I didn’t know but I did pick out the remainder of my siblings, my cousins and . . . my mother.