“Time to make you feel good. I didn’t get the chance last night, but I sure am taking it right now.”
I don’t give her a chance to say otherwise before I tug her panties off, spread her legs wide and lick her up and down, making her moan in pure pleasure. I’ll give her this much pleasure every day for as long as I can. She deserves to be treated like a queen.
Once done and we’ve showered, we dress, and I find Stephanie standing in the doorframe to our daughter’s room. I slide my arms around her.
“You okay?” I ask, placing light kisses on her neck.
“Yeah. I just can’t believe she’ll be here sleeping in this room soon. Jake?”
“Hmm?” I nuzzle her neck where I last kissed her.
“How do I know that I’m going to cope with the pain of labour?”
“You’ll be awesome, baby. You’re so strong, and I’ll be there on Skype. How about, in the meantime, we don’t dwell on that, and we go shopping for a gift for Aria and Simon? A little something for them and not the kids?”
She smiles. “I love that idea.”
Smiling, I place a kiss on her forehead. Later, we’ll discuss what she wants during labour, birth and anything else once the baby is born. I’ll support everything she wants.
Stephanie
We arrive at Aria and Simon’s place, both of us excited and nervous to meet our new niece. I’m nervous because I know Jake is shattered he won’t see our daughter or even get to hold her, but he will hold his niece.
He parks the car outside the house, shuts off the engine, and we get out. He gathers the stuff we brought for Simon and Aria before we make our way inside.
As we enter the house, we find we are the first ones to arrive. Aria is sitting on the couch, holding the baby while Simon is busy in the kitchen. Aria looks up and smiles.
I make my way over to the couch and sit beside her. “Hey,” I whisper, not wanting to wake the sleeping baby. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore, very fucking sore. Everything down there hurts,” she says, looking down at her daughter. “But she was so worth all that pain.”
She looks back at me as Jake comes to sit down on the couch. “Want a hold, Auntie Steph?” Aria asks.
I sit back as the baby is placed into my arms. She’s got dark hair like Aria.
“Does she have a name?” Jake asks as Aria stands to hug him.
“Natalia Jade.”
“It suits her.” I look down at the little bundle in my arms. The front door opens and in walks Toby, Sasha, James and Riley. Jake takes a seat beside me and looks down at her.
“Do you want a hold Uncle Jake?” I ask him.
He practically steals her out of my arms and sits back, rocking her as he cradles her protectively and I know this is heart-wrenching for him.
Toby hugs Aria as Sasha pops open a bottle of champagne. She pours and offers a glass of it to Aria who gladly takes it, then pours herself and Riley one. Simon produces a glass of something for me too. Taking a sip, the distinctive notes of sparkling grape juice hit my tongue.
Jake watches his new niece like a hawk, making sure he’s holding her right. Suddenly, she squirms and turns red before a puff of air spurts from her butt.
“Jake, come on, man. If you need to fart, at least excuse yourself and go outside.” Toby chuckles.
“It wasn’t me. It was Natalia.”
“Yeah, sure it was.”
“Ari, why is she going all red in the face?” He looks at her. “Oh, gross! My arm is warm.”
Aria laughs. “She’s pooping. Best I change her.”
“Lead the way, sis. I gotta learn to change a nappy at some stage,” Jake offers.
He’s going to make an awesome dad. Slowly, he stands with the baby and follows Aria from the room.
Riley comes to sit down next to me. “How are you feeling? Not long to go for you,” she remarks.
I laugh. “Too long. Hey, I was wondering, do you do maternity photoshoots?”
“I sure do. Would you like one done?” she asks.
“Yes, please. I know I’ve probably left it a little late to organise it.”
“Not at all. I have some time in the next three weeks if it’s not too late.”
“It’s perfect. I want one done before I get any stretch marks.”
She smiles. “Awesome. Once I’m home, I’ll organise a date and message you.”
“Sounds great.”
Smiling to myself, I can’t wait to tell Jake that I’ve organised it before he goes away.
Jake
Aria and I make our way down the hall. We enter the spare room. It still has a bed, but there’s now a bassinette and change table in it.
“Why are you sleeping in here?” I ask.
“It’s not forever. Simon suggested it this morning for during the day, so she and I can nap in here where he’s next door working, but close enough to get to us. Honestly, everything was screaming at me when I tried to climb the stairs earlier.”
“I didn’t need to know that.”
“Get used to it because when Steph has your baby, you’ll know more than you want to about a woman’s body.”
“How do I do this?” I ask.
She grabs me a nappy and some wipes, putting them on the changing table. I take a look at my sister—a good look. She looks exhausted, overwhelmed and yet somehow, content.
“You doing okay?” I ask.
She nods, taking a seat on the bed. “Yeah. I just wish Mum and Dad were here.” She wipes away a stray tear, and I walk over to her with my niece in one arm. I wrap my other around my sister. “I miss them so much,” she adds with a sniffle.
“I do too, but I know they’d be proud of everything we’ve achieved,” I say.
She nods at me. “I know.”
“Mum would’ve been super excited to get not one but two grandkids in a year.”
She smiles. “She would’ve gone crazy buying stuff.”
“She’d also have demanded to know why I haven’t proposed to Steph yet,” I say offhandedly.
“Are you going to?” Aria asks.
“Yeah. I want it all with her. A family, a house, maybe a few dogs. You name it.”
Aria smiles. “That’s so sweet.”
“I got her ring. I bought it once I left my mate’s place along the way home yesterday. She’s going to be so surprised.”
“Is that where you were?”
“Yeah. I also have something to tell you. I’m being deployed again before Stephanie has the baby. No, I hadn’t planned on going, but I need to. It’s non-negotiable.”
Aria’s lips tremble at the same time there’s a knock on the door. Toby enters the room carrying Aria’s wine and two beers.
“I’m coming to check on you both. It’s taking too long to change that nappy.” He flicks his gaze between us. “Oh, you told her.”
“Yeah.”
He comes over and sits on Aria’s other side. “Hey, don’t be sad. He’s not going forever, and he’ll be home before we know it.”
She sighs. “I know. I guess I got too used to him being home.”