Baby Love (Baby #2)(6)

"Not one bit," she assured me as she finished up in the living room.

"It does my heart good to care for a little one again. I feel like family with her too, Tylar."

Preston was squirming in my arms, a sign she was either hungry or needed a diaper change. I decided I would check her diaper first.

I headed to the nursery laying her down on her changing table and raising the rails on it while I gathered up a clean diaper and the baby wet wipes dispenser.

She promptly started sucking her thumb; her big blue eyes followed me as I crossed the room to get the tube of ointment off the dresser. She was kicking her little legs as I unsnapped her onesie and ripped the taped tabs off of her disposable diaper.

"Pee-Yew!" I said, pinching my nose and smiling down at her.

"Somebody has a stinky poo-poo in her diaper, doesn't she?"

She grinned at me, momentarily forgetting about her thumb, kicking her legs as I removed the dirty diaper and wiped her clean. Once cleaned up, I dabbed some ointment on her almost healed belly button and fastened a fresh diaper on her. I swaddled her back up in a clean receiving blanket and cradled her against me as I put the soiled diaper in the stainless steel lidded container.

I carried her into our bedroom and settled down on the bed with her. She started rooting for my breast; I knew it was nearly time for her next feeding. I switched the television on and we got comfortable in our normal position watching Ellen. She clamped onto my breast, sucking hungrily as I pulled a blanket up to partially cover us. It was so cozy nestled with her that I ended up dozing off as she nursed contentedly encircled in my arms.

It must have been an hour or more later that Trey lifted a sleeping Preston from my arms, gently placing her into the bassinet near our bed. I awoke and yawned, stretching languidly as I pulled the blanket up further. My nap was delicious. I didn't want it to end now that I knew Preston was snuggled up in her bassinet sawing logs.

Trey was beside me in a moment, wrapping me in his arms, kissing my neck. He fondled the bare breast that Preston had just left.

"What did the doctor say today, baby?"

(Uh oh.)

"Well, he said that it looks as if I am healing up nicely."

(No lie there.)

"So? Are we good to go then?"

"How romantic, Mr. Sinclair," I commented wryly.

"Baby, it's been a total of seven weeks since I have been able to sink myself into you. Two weeks before you delivered; the last five since Preston came along. I'm not thinking romance at the moment."

I looked up at him warily, not sure what his response was going to be when I presented my idea to him.

"Trey, will you consider something and I mean really consider it before answering?"

He cocked an eyebrow now looking at me warily, waiting for what I was about to spring on him.

"Go on," he urged.

I sat up in order to face him squarely while we discussed this. At least I was hopeful that it would be open for discussion.

"We are getting married in less than four weeks," I started. "I was hoping that you would be agreeable to abstaining from, well, from any form of sex until our honeymoon."

I blurted the last part out hurriedly afraid I would chicken out if I delayed the inevitable.

"You have got to be f*cking kidding me," he practically screeched. "Why?"

"I know you are probably thinking 'what's the point' in doing this, I get that, but honey, I'm just asking for some semblance of tradition. I think it will add so much more mystique and romanticism to the wedding and honeymoon. It's just as rough on me as it is on you believe me. . . .Please for me?"

(That last part was a cheap shot, I realized, but I really needed to get him on board with it.)

He was glaring at me in disbelief, but at least he was not shouting, nor had he given me a definitive 'no.' He raked both hands through his hair.

(Not a good sign, double raking.)

"Tylar, what exactly will that prove? I mean I'm horny as hell for you right this minute. It seems like it has been months instead of weeks. Don't you miss it?"

"I just said I did Trey. How could you think that it hasn't been hard for me as well? I just want that feeling back like when it was our first time. Just a little bit of mystery because we are sort of 'rediscovering' ourselves on our honeymoon. I know it may seem ridiculous to you. If you say 'no' I won't be mad or anything."

(I knew that last part would really get to him. I was counting on it to at least.)

"Christ, Tylar, what the hell? When you put it like that I guess I would be some uncouth caveman if I didn't honor your request now wouldn't I?"

"Trey, are you angry?"

"No, just a bit disappointed. I'll get over it."

He raised himself off of the bed, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his dress shirt to get into his sweats, which were his usual after work garb.

I went to the kitchen and prepared dinner. I broiled some steaks and made a salad. We ate in silence. I tried to strike up a conversation, asking about things at the office. Trey was giving me one or two word answers. This was not working.

Halfway through my dinner, I stood up, taking my plate to the kitchen and scraping my uneaten portion into the trash. I rinsed the plate, shoving it into the dishwasher and went into the laundry room to check on the load of Preston's clothing that I had washed separate from ours.