“There is no need to fret. You’ve been married for just three months, Diya; it’s too early to declare yourself barren,” I said over the phone while arranging Zion’s lunchbox. The nanny offered to do it, but I told her I had it under control. I didn’t want to give up packing Zion’s lunch box just yet. Though I knew Aaron had hired her to do the job, it was my joy to do it. We reached an agreement. I would get his lunch box ready on Mondays and Thursdays, and she could have the rest. Aaron didn’t seem too happy about that deal, but he could do little to nothing to change my mind.
It sounded like a good deal to her because she didn’t object. She just nodded and had a big smile on her face.
“We’ve been together for over six years, and we were sexually active through these years, but not once did I miss my period. Of course, I would have room for concern,” she answered, and I could tell by her voice that she had thought about this all night.
“Have you told Greg about it?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that a baby would come in its time.”
“And he’s right.”
“You’re not helping, Zera.”
“You’re worrying about nothing.”
“Wanting to be a mother while I’m still young isn’t worrying about nothing.” She snapped at me, her voice becoming an attacking one. “Greg doesn’t understand that I need a baby.”
I maintained calmness. “You’re worrying too much, and that stress might contribute to you not finding what you’re looking for.”
She sighed, and I could tell she was rubbing her hand over her forehead. “Do you have any pregnancy tips for me?” she asked, and I almost dropped the bottle in my hand.
“Umm, you know Zion’s pregnancy wasn’t something I planned for, right?” I demanded, my brows furrowing.
“Yes, but at least you’ve had the experience.”
“I think you’re high for this early morning, Diya. I will drop by after work today,” I said, ending the call.
“What’s got you so worked up, my love?” The sleepy voice of Aaron came from the doorway of the kitchen, and I turned around to find him naked from the waist up. His hair looked messy in a sexy way, and his lips looked tempting and red, calling to me. My eyes lingered at the waistband of his grey joggers, and forbidden thoughts raced through my head.
Why didn’t I ride this man when I got home last night?
‘You were too tired.’
Since the mark appeared on his chest weeks ago, he’s been rather shirtless or worn clothes that hinted at and flaunted his upper body. This was me thinking too much, and it wasn’t a good thing. I liked what I saw and wish I didn’t have work waiting for me.
“It’s Diya,” I answered, dragging my eyes up to meet the smirk on his gorgeous face.
“What about Diya?” He sounded so curious that I spoke.
“She wants to have her own child as quickly as possible.”
“She is still young; she has no reason to worry. She’ll have hers when the time is right.” Somehow this was what I said to her, but Diya had been one to listen to only the things she wanted to hear, and that line wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
I couldn’t fault her. This was what she wanted, and she has always been passionate about what she wanted.
“She asked how I did it with Zion.” I blurted while putting the small water bottle and a cup into his lunchbox.
“What did you tell her?” His eyes lingered on my lips, and, as if on instinct, I lapped my tongue over them to get them wet.
“That I didn’t plan for Zion; it just happened.” I shrugged, zipping up Zion’s lunch box before pushing it forward.
“Did you plan to have kids early?” he asked, stepping towards me.
“If by early you mean twenty-one, then no, I didn’t plan to have kids that early, but I always thought I’d have my family early, with my husband and child, and home before I turned forty.”
“Zion ruined your plan then.”
I laughed, and my head dropped, causing my hair to fall over my face. “Yes, at first, I thought that, but then he became the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“You two are the best things that ever happened to me,” he said, and I believe him. He moved the hair strand that fell on my face away, tucking it behind my ear. Then he leaned in and kissed my lips. His lips felt soft, and so did the kiss. My hand lifted to stroke the side of his face while I deepened the kiss by pushing my tongue into his mouth. He took the cue for my want and guided his hand down my lap, then lifted my gown to sing his hot hands over my skin.
I gasped into the kiss when I felt his finger push my pants to the side and sink two long fingers into me.
“I’m go… going to be lat… ee.” I stuttered, too affected to utter composed sentences.
He kissed the side of my mouth. “Not if I don’t waste time,” he mumbled, and he seized my lips between his for a devouring kiss while thrusting into me and rubbing my swollen clit. He reaped the response as my arousal covered his hands, telling him how much I wanted this and wanted him.
“Mommy, I am almost done with my food!” Zion called out.
I pulled away from the kiss, terrified that Zion could walk in any moment from now and find me in an awkward position with his father. I wouldn’t be able to explain.
I tried to pull away, but Aaron didn’t release his hold on me, nor did he stop doing his work with his fingers. I glanced up at him with a questioning look on my face.
“You’re almost there,” he said, pushing his fingers deeper, and a moan slipped out of my mouth.
“He’s going to walk in any minute from now,” I panted, my hand on his shoulder tightening to give me balance as my legs were already giving up on me.
“Tell him you will be out in a minute.” He leaned in and kissed my neck, adding to the reactions my body was giving and building up the release I knew wasn’t so far away.
“I’ll be out in a minute!” I yelled and turned to Aaron, who had a delightful look on his face. Forming those words was still a miracle, especially with what he was doing.
He kissed my lips hard and thrust his fingers into me at a fast pace, twisting and coiling his digits to drive them in at different angles.
My eyes rolled to the back, and I clung to him while kissing his lips like I was running out of time. I was close, and he knew because he pulled away from the kiss and stared into my eyes.
“Cum for me,” he commanded, and like his obedient little girl, I came, wanting to scream but knowing that, unlike the bedroom, the kitchen wasn’t soundproof.
He pulled out his fingers and took them into his mouth, sucking them clean before swallowing.
He pecked my swollen and slightly parted lips. “Have a nice day at work.”
Work went by fast for me, and it was because I planned my day out, adding Diya to it. Once I closed and picked Zion up from school, I drove us down to Diya’s place instead of going home like we usually did.
She was thrilled to see Zion and immediately took him to the kitchen and offered him ice cream. The cheerful boy took it and came to show it to me. This was his way of asking if he could take it; of course he could take it. Diya would kill me if I said he couldn’t.
Diya asked what I wanted, to which I replied with nothing. She rolled her eyes and went into the kitchen to make me a quick snack.
“Greg and I will visit the doctor later this week to run a few tests.” She started towards the long stand before the red marble counter at the centre of her kitchen.
“You’re putting yourself and Greg under a lot of pressure,” I told her after following her into the kitchen.
“I have accomplished so much in my life, Zera. I have a PhD and a job that pays over six figures annually, which is what I’ve always wanted, but I also wanted to be a mother, and I feel like I have failed.” I saw how much this affected her. And now I didn’t want to be that friend who would argue just to get that point across. I could never know how she was feeling, and the most I could do was be a supportive friend like she’s been to me for years.
I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her, giving her a tight hug. “A time will come when you will look back at this moment and laugh because you’ve gotten all you need in life,” I told her, and she nodded weakly.
I pulled away and found Greg at the door, staring at both of us with an emotional face.
“Hey, Greg.” I greeted him and stepped back to let Diya do her thing with the pot on the cooker.
He smiled at me, his brown eyes warm. “Hey, Zera, you came to visit.”
“I had to. It’s long overdue,” I answered, and even if Diya wasn’t feeling down, I still would have visited.
Diya and Greg moved into this house over three months ago, a month after getting married, and so far, I have visited only once. I’d kicked myself many times for not being such a good friend when it came down to visits, but Diya always understood. Maybe even more than I wanted her to.
He walked over to his wife and wrapped his arms around her to give her a comforting hug. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead and rubbed her shoulders tenderly. “I applied for the break. It should be granted tomorrow,” he told her, and she glanced up at him.
This had to be because she wanted them to see the doctor, and they couldn’t do that if they both had work.
“Thank you,” she mumbled, placing her head on his chest, and he nodded, stroking her face.
“Anything for you, my love.”