Chapter TWENTY
One Month Later
Aidan trudged through the garage door, exhausted at the prospect of boarding a plane for Charlotte in just a few hours. At least he’d gotten to leave work a little early. After he dropped his briefcase on the kitchen table, he called, “Em?”
“I’m in the nursery,” she replied, her voice muffled from above.
He smiled as he started up the stairs. Her voice raised in song trilled back to him. When he got to the nursery doorway, he saw her bustling around, putting away some blue blankets in the chest of drawers. “Hey baby.”
She whirled around. “Hey. I was just finishing up in here, and then I was going to pack your bag.”
With a grimace, he said, “I’m still not so sure about leaving you.”
She crossed the room to him. “It’s going to be fine. You’ll barely be gone for two days.”
“I still don’t like it.”
Emma wrapped her arms around his neck. “My due date isn’t for another three and a half weeks. First babies rarely come early, so it’s going to be fine.”
“You’re still having Casey come spend the night with you, right?”
She grinned. “Yes, worry-wart. In fact, she and Connor are taking me to dinner, and then we’re having a slumber party.”
Aidan laughed. “That should be an interesting evening.”
“Jealous that you’ll miss the make-overs and gossip?”
“No, I think I’ll pass.”
“Suit yourself.”
He gazed around the light blue nursery walls. At first, he was skeptical about Emma’s idea of doing a Noah’s Arc theme to play on Noah’s name. Through her work contacts, she had found an artist to draw a rainbow and animal themed mural along the walls. He couldn’t believe how amazing it had turned out. The last piece of furniture had been delivered the week before, so the room was now outfitted with a bed, changing table, chest of drawers, and glider and ottoman. Now all it needed was Noah himself to complete the picture. “Looks like you’ve got everything just about ready for Little Man’s arrival.”
She nodded while rubbing her belly. “Just a few more stuffed animals…the full-sized giraffe and elephant are still on backorder.”
“More stuffed animals? You already have enough animals in here to make a zoo.”
She grinned. “No, it’s an Arc we’re going for, babe.”
“Whatever.”
She grabbed his hand. “Come on. You can shower and shave while I get you packed.”
“Are you insinuating I stink?”
She giggled as they started down the stairs. “No, but considering you overslept this morning and ran out the door without shaving, least of all showering, I’m thinking you should have one before your business dinner tonight.”
“I thought you liked it when I had a little stubble?”
She smiled and rubbed his cheek. “I do, baby.”
His reached out to caress her backside as they started into the bedroom. “You usually like it most when it’s rubbing against your thighs as I’m going down on you.”
“Aidan Fitzgerald!” she squealed smacking his hand away.
He laughed. “You know it’s the truth.”
She wagged a finger at him. “Go get in the shower, dirty boy.”
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her to him. “I could be a lot dirtier if we were to have a quickie—a nice send-off before I have to leave.”
She squirmed out of his arms. “You need to clean up, and then you have a flight to catch, mister. So get busy.”
Aidan groaned. “You’re such a party pooper lately. No loving for your man. I thought the sex ban wasn’t supposed to happen until after Noah was born.”
He knew he was in serious trouble when her green eyes narrowed at him. “Yeah, well, I’m so sorry that I’m exhausted from working full-time, keeping up this house, and most of all, carrying your son whose Fitzgerald stubbornness knows no bounds when he wants to kick and move all night when he should be sleeping,” she countered.
Raking his hand through his hair, he gave a defeated sigh. “I’m sorry. I just miss you—I miss us. That’s all,” he said before he trudged into the bathroom.
He showered and shaved in record time. Wrapping a towel around his waist, Aidan opened the bathroom door. He took one step into the bedroom and froze. His mouth gaped open in shock.
Emma lounged on the bed, propped up on her elbows in the green negligee he had bought for their engagement night that she never got to wear. What truly made his cock twitch was the fact she was wearing her cowboy boots and a cowboy hat.
His mouth ran dry. “What are you doing?”
“Well, since I’ve been so tired lately and haven’t been in the mood, I felt bad about denying you a quickie. You really have been kind and understanding, and a horndog like you does have his breaking point.”
Aidan chuckled. “Thanks…I think.”
“So, I thought I’d make it up to you by giving you the going away present wanted,” she replied with a coy smile. She patted the bed beside her. “So giddy-up, Cowboy. I’m finally ready for a ride.”
Aidan cocked his head and grinned. “Well, yippee ki-yay, mother f*cker!”
She giggled as he closed the gap between them. “I can’t believe you just made a Die Hard reference.”
“Yeah, well, I can’t believe you told me to giddy-up like I’m some horse.”
“You were my stud horse once upon a time, remember?”
“Were. I’m your husband now, so the whole giddy-up thing is a little ridiculous.”
“Roll-playing, babe.” Sweeping her hat off her head, she placed it on his. When he started to take it off, she said, “Uh-huh. I like it.”
“You can’t be serious?”
She bit her lip before reaching over to snap the towel from his waist. She drank in his appearance and then grinned up at him. “Mmm, yes, I like the sight of you naked in a cowboy hat very, very much.”
“Em, you naughty girl,” he murmured, as he leaned over to kiss her. He made quick work of whisking the negligee over her head. The sight of her voluptuous, naked form sent his erection bobbing against his stomach. He cupped her full breasts as his tongue plunged into her mouth. He worked the nipples until they were erect buds, causing Emma to moan and nibble his bottom lip between her teeth.
She then brought her hands around his neck and stroked and tugged the hair at the base of his neck. He groaned into her mouth as his fingers trailed from her breast down to the apex of her thighs. “No underwear? You were pretty confident your little stunt would ensure I was a sure thing, huh?”
She laughed. “And when are you not a sure thing?”
“Never. Because I never get enough of you.”
Emma’s amused expression faded. “Aw, baby, that’s so sweet,” she said, her eyes shining with love for him. She brought her lips to his and kissed him passionately, letting her emotions flow out through her kisses. “I love you, Aidan,” she murmured against his lips.
“I love you, too.” Easing her on her back, he gripped her hips and slid her bottom to the edge of the bed. Opening her legs wide, he positioned himself between them as he stayed on his feet. “You okay with not taking me for a ride?”
“You can take me anyway you want, Cowboy.”
He gave her a wicked grin as his fingers found her center, which was already dripping with need. “You really were ready for me, huh?”
“It’s the hat,” she panted as he worked his fingers in and out of her.
He rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”
She scowled at him. “You fantasize about me in green lingerie—I wanted you in a cowboy hat.”
“Then I’m glad I can make your fantasies come true.” He found her sweet spot, and she gripped the sides of the bed.
“Oh yes, yes, right there, Aidan. Oh God! Please!” she cried, bucking her hips into his hand. When he sent her over the edge, her head writhed back and forth as she came.
He slid his fingers out of her and then positioned himself at her entrance. With one thrust, he filled her, causing them both to moan. “Mmm, wrap your legs around me tight, babe. I want those delicious cowboy boots digging in my ass.”
She obliged him, and he gasped with pleasure. Gripping the sides of the mattress, he began thrusting in and out of her. Emma’s legs remained tight around him, and when he slowed his pace, she dug her boot heels into his flesh, indicating she wanted him to speed up.
Staring down at her, he cocked his brows. “Are you sure?”
She licked her lips. “Mmm, hmm,” she murmured.
Obeying her command, Aidan pounded into her. The more frantic his movements became the more sweat began to trickle down his body. He would almost need another shower when he was finished with her. He knew they didn’t have long so when her walls clenched around him, signifying she had gone over the edge, he gripped her hips and thrust faster and harder until he cried out her name as he came inside her.
Panting, he leaned over to plant a kiss on her lips. “Thank you, babe. That was a helluva send off.”
She giggled. “And thank you for indulging my cowboy fantasy.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am.” Aidan replied, while tipping his hat back. “Now after you unwrap your delicious legs from me, might you oblige me with a ride to the airport?”
“I’d be happy, too.”
“Just give me a second to drown myself in some cologne to mask this heady sex smell. Don’t want to make my business associates jealous that I got some.”
“Aidan!” Emma squealed, shoving him off of her.
He chuckled. “There’s nothing I love more than teasing you, Em. Especially when you react like that.”
She grinned. “And I love that you have to tease me so mercilessly.”
His thumb came to caress her cheek. “And I love you.”