I bite my bottom lip and distract myself by picking up the bowl of papaya I carried from the camp. I take a bite and then squeeze some more lime on it. "I hate it when you say things like that," I tell him. "I don't want A.B. to leave ever. He's like..."
Flint finishes for me, "Our baby."
I nod, "Exactly."
"Well, he's not going to stay this small forever. How big did you say he'll get?" Flint asks.
"Eventually the size of a car." I sigh, not wanting things to change. "But he's so sweet and gentle with us."
"I know, but..." Flint's eyes run down my body and I feel exposed. My tiny baby bump is what he's thinking about. "A.B. won't hurt this baby," I say, rubbing my tummy. “He'd never."
Flint says, "I want to think that too, but..."
"Don't," I say. "Believe in the best." I stand on my tiptoes and give my husband a kiss.
Yes, my husband, because that's what we decided we were, husband and wife. After six months out here with our dino baby, we’re as much a family as anyone. "I'm sleepy," I say. "Do you want to stay out here while he swims and I'll go back to the camp?"
Flint shakes his head. "You know how I feel about that," he says.
"I know," I say, "but there are never any predators near."
"That mastodon gets near sometimes."
"He's as gentle as A.B."
"Don't," he says. "You know I don't like having you out of my sight, Fancy."
"I know, but..." I bite my bottom lip, my body hot.
"What?” Then he chuckles, shaking his head. “You weren't going to take a nap, were you?"
I groan. "I didn't want to mention it because I know you have a lot of things to do today, not just dealing with A.B. You’re going to check your traps and climb up that mango tree down the beach. I can't anymore now that I'm pregnant and..."
"I see, so you were going to take some time alone.” He smiles. “And what were you planning on doing, Fancy?"
My cheeks heat up and my face is red. "Stop," I say. "You know what."
Flint squeezes my ass. "Damn, I should feel a little offended. You'd rather slip off to the cave alone than invite me."
"You know how I am with this pregnancy; I am constantly so horny. But I didn't want to say anything because you have work to do. I don't think that's exactly fair."
Flint chuckles, "No, baby. What's not fair is the idea of you going into that cave and touching yourself without me."
I lick my lips, wrapping my arm around his neck, hooking my leg around his hip. "Then come back with me. Screw the busy work, we can do our chores tomorrow."
He runs a hand over my body then he whistles loud, two fingers in his mouth. "Come on A.B., time to go home."
A.B. completely understands his papa and he rolls out of the water, shaking off his tail, his leathery skin, and then he trots alongside us. I crouch down beside him, tickling his neck. "Was that a good swim?" He grunts at me and I know it's his sign of approval. I smile at him, kissing the top of his nose. "You're a good boy, aren't you?" I swear he smiles at me. Flint says it’s impossible for a lizard to smile, but he does, I know it. "I love you, boy," I say, then we walk back to camp.
Once A.B. is settled in his little nest for an afternoon nap, I drag Flint through the sliver of an opening into our private cave that's become our oasis.
"What will we do with a baby?" I ask him, drawing him close, kissing him more deeply. My hand running up and down the length of him. He's hard and big. He's mine.
"What will we do?" he asks. "We'll do our very best."
"No, I mean, how are we going to handle having to share our devotion with another person? I love you so much Flint, I can't imagine.”
“Think about how your love grew for A.B. after he was born."
"That's true," I say, touching his cock, firm and thick. My mouth waters.
I kiss him again, long and deep as his hands runs over my skin. We shed our fur clothing and, naked, we move as one together. I climb on top of him, which is my favorite way of making love. He massages my breasts, kissing me deeply, and I kiss him back.
"I love you," I moan as he takes me deeper and faster. As he takes me everywhere.
"I love you more, Fancy."
And I believe it because the last six months have taught me that life is even more beautiful than I ever imagined. More full of possibilities.
Yes, my heart aches all the time for Summer, thinking how worried she must still be for me – her best friend gone in the blink of an eye. And of course I wonder what happened with the dinosaur dig. A missing American girl in Mexico doesn't go unnoticed.