“No, I don’t think we need stock in pregnancy tests, even if we have more than one kid, which we will.” I arch my eyebrow, already pregnant and planning to have several more.
“Fuck, Nessa.” There’s a reverence in his tone as he hitches up my nightgown, the robe slipping off my shoulders as I lift one leg, then the other. Parker groans in annoyance when he sees that I put on a pair of panties. The difference between my apartment and Parker’s, well, now, our place, is that it’s cold, especially in the mornings. This morning, I’m still exhausted, but my bladder had other ideas about sleeping in. We’ve yet to move out of the city. Call me crazy, but I love it here, how convenient it is to get to places on foot. The hospital isn’t that far away, our home isn’t far from Four Brothers either, and while my schedule has calmed down, Parker’s has not. He’s been at work more than he’s been home, meetings after meetings, coming home so irritable, the only way I know how to calm him down is through sex. On the rare occasion, it’s with us lying down on the couch, me running my fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp as he decompresses, but for the most part, the second Parker is inside the house, he’s after me, and usually, my poor clothes take the brunt of him.
“Happy?” I ask him. One minute I’m sitting on Parker’s desk, the next thing I know, I’m straddling his lap.
“The best anniversary present a man could ever ask for, my wife on my lap, a baby nestled inside her. I’m damn ecstatic.”
“Happy anniversary, daddy-to-be. I love you.” I drop my arms, allowing my robe to fall from my body.
“Happy anniversary, Nessa. I love you. Goddamn, you make me so damn happy,” Parker says, hands lifting my nightgown off my body.
“Don’t do it, Parker Hudson. I swear to all that is holy, if you ruin another pair of my panties, that’s what you will be buying stock in. I swear you ruin at least one set a day.”
“Then quit wearing the senseless things. You have no problem leaving them off if you’re in a dress.” He isn’t going after my panties this time, thankfully. I watch as he places both palms on my stomach, almost as if I already have a bump. He’s in awe of me right now.
“Panty lines are not cute.” I shrug my shoulders.
“Vanessa?” he questions.
“Yes, dear?”
“Shut up and kiss me.” The conversation comes to an end as Parker’s lips land on mine. Emotion bubbles through, and I feel him surrounding me, knowing this man is my greatest lover and protector. His past doesn’t define him, and Parker will be the best father ever, past be damned. Our future is only looking brighter.