“I’m sure,” Anna said, and the next thing she knew, she was flat on her back, thighs pressed wide and Cedric was burying himself deep inside her, just as hard and fast as she asked him to. She went from being aroused to…well, something she’d never felt before. Something bigger than herself, bigger than both of them together. It overwhelmed her body and when her skin could no longer contain all that sensation it radiated out, expanding and flexing and growing. She knew she was making noise, moaning and thrashing and digging her fingernails into his backside, raking them down his arms. Someone could have heard, but she was too far gone to care.
Cedric hooked both of his arms behind her knees, easing them as far back as they would go and, eyes locked on her face, sank deep inside her. And with no warning at all, everything peaked and something inside her exploded. It filled her with a feeling, a sensation she couldn’t even describe, something along the lines of ecstasy. Or nirvana.
As she slowly came back to herself, she looked up to find Cedric gazing down at her, a perplexed look on his face.
“What was that?” He asked.
“I’m not sure,” she said with a lazy smile, tangling her fingers in his hair and pulling him down for a kiss. “But give me a minute to catch my breath and we can do it again.”
____________
They napped for several hours on and off until dinner, which they ate naked in bed. In lieu of dessert they took another long nap, shared a shower, then lay in bed, their bodies tangled together, and just talked.
“You remember my Aunt Diana?” Cedric asked, idly toying with a lock of her hair. “You guys met at our wedding,”
“Yes I do,” Anna said, rising up on one elbow to look at him, her belly pressed into the dip of his hip. “We didn’t get to talk for long but she seemed very nice. What about her?”
“Nothing,” Cedric replied,” It’s just… She wants to come visit and stay for a while,”
Anna raised a brow, “Okay,” she said, “Is there a problem with that?”
“No. I just wanted to let you know before inviting her,”
Anna smiled then, and kissed him gently on the cheek. “I would love to see her again, Cedric, and thank you for asking me first,”
____________
When Cedric woke the following morning, he was still sprawled on Anna’s bed. He reached over to find her, but the spot beside him was empty, the sheets cool. He hadn’t meant to spend the night. They’d sat up late talking, and when Anna had drifted off to sleep, Cedric just lay there watching her. Five more minutes, he kept telling himself. Five more minutes and he would go to his own room. He must have drifted off.
He sat up in bed, stretching and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He looked over at the clock and saw that it was eight-thirty. Much later than he usually slept in. From the vicinity of the bathroom he heard off-key humming. A second later Anna appeared, looking far too chipper and awake for someone who couldn’t have gotten more than four or five hours of sleep.
When she saw him sitting there, she gave him one of those bright smiles. She looked so…happy. “Good morning.” She greeted him.
“‘Morning. You’re up early.”
“I would have slept in, but I have to see my doctor today.”
“What’s wrong?” he snapped, cringing when he realized how harshly the words had come out.
Anna was incredibly patient with him. “Nothing. It’s just time for my monthly checkup. He should have come over here, thanks to you, but today I’m going to him.”
He shoved his hair back from his face. What was wrong with him that he automatically assumed the worst? He knew monthly visits were part of the routine. It had been his idea for God’s sake. And though he’d never written down her due date, his internal calendar wouldn’t let him forget.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.”
She just gave him that sweet, understanding smile. “It’s okay.
It’ll just take time.”
No, it wasn’t okay. He had to stop overreacting, stop worrying so much.
She sat on the edge of the bed beside him. “I was kinda surprised that you were still here this morning.”
“Yeah, me, too.” He replied. Suddenly needing to change the topic, he said, “Isn’t the doctor supposed to come see you here? Why are you going to him?”
“He was, but I’m going to do some shopping after my appointment, so I let the driver know because I didn’t want to bother you.”
“I wouldn’t have thought you were bothering me,” Cedric cut in.
“It’s okay, Cedric. I know, and I probably won’t be back for a while.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek, as naturally as if they had been doing this for years. “See you later.”
“Be safe.” He waited until she’d left, then fell back onto the bed.
_______________
Anna was called into the examining room, and the doctor sufficiently poked and prodded her belly, taking measurements and listening to the baby’s heartbeat. She’d decided that she didn’t want to know the baby’s gender until it was born, and Cedric was fine with it too, which had surprised her because having a boy child was what had started this entire thing in the first place. After receiving a clean bill of health, she dressed, then made her next month’s appointment.
When she returned back to Haerton, she headed for Cedric’s room and hesitated on the threshold. She knocked, “Yoo-hoo!” she called. “Anybody here?”
“Come on in,” she heard him answer.
She pushed her way inside and shut the door behind her. She stepped into the bedroom just as Cedric appeared from the closet, his hair wet and dripping, a dark blue towel riding low on his slim hips, his chest glistening with moisture.
“Hi,” he said, shooting her a grin, not at all bothered by the fact that she had infiltrated his private space. He was also completely at ease being mostly naked in front of her. Not that he shouldn’t be, especially after last night. She’d been up close and personal with just about every part of his body. And as many times as she’d seen it, it still took her breath away and made her knees feel gooey.
He gestured to her bags. “It looks as if someone had a successful shopping trip.”
“It was. I got you a present. Actually, quite a few presents.”