“Not without you,” I replied.

We fell silent for a few brief moments, and when Jade spoke again I saw that she was wiping her cheeks.

“Hey.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and tilted her face towards me. “Why are you crying?”

She sniffled, and gave me a watery smile. “It’s nothing. I’m just so happy...”

“So they’re happy tears?”

“A bit of both,” she replied. “I can’t help but feel like something is going to go wrong.”

My brows furrowed. “What do you mean ‘go wrong’?”

She shrugged, and looked down at where our hands were entwined on her stomach. “I have everything I’ve ever wanted Reid, even if it’s a little earlier than planned, and I just don’t understand how it’s possible to be so...content. I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Nothing bad is going to happen,” I told her, lowering my head. “You’re allowed to be happy, Jade. We’re allowed to be happy.”

“I know,” she swallowed audibly, “But I have this heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach that something is going to happen, and I haven’t been able to shake it.”

I kissed her temple, and threaded my fingers through her hair. “Everything’s fine, baby. Come back to bed.”

I stood up, and reached my hands out to help Jade. When I lifted her up, she wordlessly wrapped her legs around my waist, her arms around my neck, and rested her head on my shoulder. I walked back to our bedroom, kicking the door shut behind me, and placed Jade back on her feet next to our bed.

She looked up at me, and I saw the plea in her eyes – she wanted me to chase away her worry, and reassure her that everything was going to be just fine. I gingerly lifted the long-sleeve shirt from her body, and dropped to my knees to remove her cotton sleep shorts. Her hands reached for the drawstring of my pajama bottoms as I rose, and the material fell to the floor with a dull thud.

Jade crawled backwards, and I mirrored her movements until we were lying side-by-side with the moonlight bathing our bodies in light. She reached up, and brushed her fingers across my lips, staring at me with her big brown eyes. I pulled her closer, and she let out a gasp when I wrapped her leg around my waist, opening herself to me.

A sigh slipped from her lips when I rubbed the head of my erection against her, and it turned to a whimper as I slowly filled her.

“Okay?” I asked, flattening my hand against her back, while the other stretched out beneath her head.

She nodded, and then bit her lip when I slid out, and back in again. Her lips found mine, and we moved at an unhurried pace until we found a rhythm. I lifted her leg higher, pressing my fingers harder against her skin, and groaned when she took me deeper.

Jade held my face in her palms, her eyes never leaving mine, and started grinding her hips.

“I love you,” I whispered hoarsely. “So much. I will always take care of you.”

Her breaths became shakier with every thrust, and I felt her tighten around me. She let out a whispered, Yes, and after a few more languid movements of my hips, her mouth dropped open with a silent cry as she came.

My hips slowed, and when Jade felt I was close, she squeezed, pushing me over the edge right after her.

We stayed that way until our breathing turned to normal, and then I lowered Jade’s leg, tucking her into my chest.

“I love you, too,” she murmured against my skin. I smiled into her hair, and felt her relax into me.

“Get some sleep,” I told her, feeling rather tired myself. Her breathing evened out, and only when I was sure she was sleeping peacefully did I allow myself the chance to do the same.

Jade

I had my back to Reid’s chest, and his legs on either side of mine as the hot water lapped around us in the large claw-foot tub. After my admission last night, Reid had been more attentive, taking care of me as if I was fragile. I didn’t feel fragile, but I was having difficulty shaking the uneasiness that had been weighing me down over the last few days. Admitting it to Reid lightened it, if only slightly, and he did small things to reassure me that I had nothing to really worry about.

Our move was easier than I’d expected – not that Reid allowed me to do more than unpack a few boxes – and we were finally able to start preparing for our baby girl’s arrival. Reid was back at school, along with our friends, and after two weeks of being bored, I was excited to finally have something to do with all my spare time.

I twisted my head, and looked up at Reid. “I’ve been thinking about baby names,” I told him. “I thought we could choose one together.”

“I’m all ears, baby.” Reid kissed my neck, and started washing my arms with a soft washcloth.

“My favorite so far is Daniela. What do you think?”

I watched as Reid’s hands moved from my arms to my neck, and then down my torso.

“I like it,” he replied. “What else?”

“I also like Zoe, and Amelia.”

“Can’t we choose a more unattractive name?”

I gaped at Reid, expecting him to tell me he was joking, but he looked serious.

“We are not giving our baby an ugly name! Why would we do that?”

“To keep the horny little fuckers who want in her panties away,” he stated matter-of-factly, like it should have been obvious to me.

I snorted. “We have at least fifteen or so years before we have to worry about that.”

“I highly doubt it,” he rebuked, “With my luck she’ll look just like you, and then I’ll have to keep her locked inside until she’s at least thirty.”

“Oh God,” I laughed, “You aren’t going to be one of those dads are you?”

“The hell I’m not,” – the steely determination in Reid’s voice made me grin – “No one is getting his dick near my daughter. Ever.”

I shook my head, already feeling sympathy for what our daughter would have to endure when she started dating.

“You’re a hypocrite,” I snickered. “What will you tell her when she asks how she was made? That daddy got his dick too close to mommy?”

Reid scowled, and my grin grew broader. “No. I’ll just tell her the stork dropped her off or something,” he said.

“And what about when we decide to give her a brother or a sister? What will you tell our little angel then?”

Reid pursed his lips, and thought it over as his hands traveled over my body.

“I’ll tell her I kissed you, and then...”

“And then?” I pressed.

“Can’t you have that talk with her?” He asked, changing tack. “You’re the mom.”

“And miss you telling her how daddy put another baby in mommy’s tummy? I don’t think so.”

Reid sighed, and twisted my chin so that he could look me in the eyes. “You can’t leave me to fend for myself,” – his lips twitched as he struggled to keep his puppy-dog expression – “I have no idea how to raise a little girl.”

My smile turned gentle, and I reached my hand up to cup his jaw. “You’re going to be an amazing dad, Reid. We’ll just figure it all out as we go.”

He rubbed my nose with his, and then kissed me long and hard until I was rubbing my things together.