by Sienna Mynx
"What do you think?" she asked.
"What took so long to frame it?" He glanced over at her.
"So much has been going on, with us moving here, buying this cabin, and the trips back and forth to Johns Hopkins. It took a while for things to settle." Asha walked over. She wore blue jean shorts and a white maternity shirt. His baby grew daily in her belly. His wife carried the weight in her hips and ass. He thought she looked sexy, with her protruding belly. But Asha complained about the weight constantly. And denied him sex. He was a tortured man.
"How do you feel?" she asked in that mommy tone he loathed. She rose on her toes and he leaned over and kissed her.
"I could be better," he said.
"How?" she asked.
"If you'd take off these shorts and sit on my face." He touched her ass.
"Very funny." She knocked his hand away.
"Asha, I miss my wife."
"Well, I want my husband healed. And today is a great day. Today we get the news. You look so good, Ice. So healthy."
"I think it's because of you," he said and touched her thigh. She bent over and picked up the laundry basket. He got a brief, lovely tease, but she was up and on the move again. Then she stopped.
"And the baby, don't forget the baby," she said.
He walked over with the cane and touched her belly. "And our little swimmer. You make Daddy so happy."
"And Daddy makes Mommy so happy," she said. He looked at her. She kissed him. "I made you breakfast while we wait on the call."
"What time will they call?" he asked.
"They said before twelve, so soon," she smiled. "Come on."
"I think I can go without this cane," he told her.
"Ice? You promised. I don't care how strong you are, we stick to the doctor’s orders. Remember?"
"Right, I'll be a good boy," he said and followed her out. The roles had reversed halfway into his recovery. The baby grew and the stress levels peaked with Asha. He now did what was necessary to keep her smiling and worry-free.
They slept in the guest room downstairs; the master was upstairs. The log cabin was located on the lake. He could see it from their room. Asha loved being back home. It was his idea that they return to Wisconsin. He wanted her around family. He wanted her to have support.
"Sweetheart, there is a letter on the table for you from the USCG," she said and went back into the kitchen. Ice stopped and looked at it. He picked it up. The official insignia and thin envelope looked familiar. He'd gotten several over the past few months giving him status updates on pay and his leave.
He pulled himself up and out of the chair and opened it. He scanned the news. He smiled. Asha came in with his plate. She'd made him tomato soup and grilled cheese. His favorite.
"So what is it?" she asked and went back into the kitchen.
"I'm discharged," he said.
"What?" She glanced back. "I thought you would have to wait, you know, to know if you are... recovered."
"I put in a request to have a discharge a month ago. It's been approved."
"Why, Ice? We agreed..."
"I'm not going back. You and I both know it. And I'm not dying anymore, Asha. We know that too. Right?"
"Right," she smiled.
"Besides, who's going to stay home and take care of my baby while my big baby goes to work and takes care of us?" he asked.
She chuckled. She came over with her plate and sat down. "I'm not practicing law again. Real estate is where it’s at. I have a plan. In the meantime, we don't need the money. I invested well."
"You sure about that, babe? Practicing law was your dream."
Asha laughed. "Are you kidding? This is my dream." She winked.
He smiled. He glanced over to the china cabinet. He could see his reflection. He had his hair back, and his eyebrows too. He had color to his skin. He was still too skinny, but he knew eventually that would change. He glanced to the phone. It still hadn't rung.
"You nervous?"
"Should I be?" he asked.
She ate her food and smiled but didn't respond. His immune system had improved. The tests were positive, but not conclusive. The cancer was there. It was a matter of a waiting game.
"I talked to my doctor. There is a procedure when the baby is born, to freeze the stem cells and umbilical blood for the baby," she said. "If ever our sweetie were to get sick, it can be more highly effective in curing her or him than a donor."
"I like that. I read about that and was going to mention it..."
The phone rang. They both jumped. Asha looked at Ice and he looked at her. She got up from the table and got the phone.
"Hello," she said. "Hi Dr. Sternberg."
Ice heart felt as if it would burst from his chest, it beat so rapidly. Asha came back over to the table. "One moment—I'm going to put you on speaker phone." She did and set the phone in the middle of the table. "We're both here, doctor."
"Kevan?" the doctor asked.
"I'm here. What’s the news, doc?"
"I'm happy to tell you both that you are in complete remission," the doctor said.
Asha gasped. They had been prepared for partial remission. It was too soon to think that complete remission was an option.
"All traces of the cancer are gone."
"Doctor, are you sure?" Asha asked.
"I'm looking at it. Had them run the tests twice to be sure."
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Asha was out of her chair. She charged Ice and hugged his neck. She kissed his face.
"We have benchmarks, Mr. Quinn. You have to keep your doctor appointments scheduled. We need to get to the one year, two year, five year and ten year marks, and we do that together. Congratulations."
"Thank you, Dr. Sternberg! Thank you!" Asha said through her tears. The doctor shared some other news and warned Ice to not over-exert himself and to ease into the 'new' normal. They barely listened. Asha was in his lap, kissing him.
"Hey doc? I have a question before you go," he said. "I need my wife to hear your answer."
Asha rested her face against the crook between his shoulder and neck.
"Go on," the doctor said.
"Sex—how soon can I have sex?" he asked.
Asha head lifted. She frowned at him. He touched her breast while they listened. The doctor cleared his throat. "Well, your white blood cell and platelet count are normal. It depends on you and how you feel physically. Like I said, listen to your body and don't over-exert yourself."
"Answer the question, doc. Can I have sex?"
"Yes Kevan, you can have sex."
"Hear that, baby?" he asked. "He told me to listen to my body." He took her hand and put it on his erection. Asha shook her head, smiling.
"Thank you, doctor. We'll call and make our appointments for his follow-ups," she said and reached for the phone.
"Congratulations again, Lt. Commander. Very happy for you and your family."
She turned off the phone.
"Let's finish breakfast, or lunch, or whatever it is," she said and tried to get up.
"No, you're not escaping that easily. We're not done," he said.
"Ice, you just got the diagnosis. I mean, you need to heal. Right?"
"This is healing me. My 'new' normal. Do you know how it has felt lying next to you every night and not being able to have you? Wanting you in my heart but my body wouldn't respond? I love you, Asha. I think I love you more today than I did yesterday, if that's possible. I want you again; I want to be your husband. Trust me. I won't do anything to put our happiness in jeopardy."
Asha stared into his eyes. She was scared. He could tell. She'd suffered with him all these months. Seen him at his worst and never left his side. She cured him, not his brother's stem cells. It was Asha who did it. She saved his life.
His wife eased off his lap. She stared down at him. "My body is different," she said. "If you haven't noticed, I'm pregnant."
"I know, I've seen," he smiled.
She extended her hand to him. He knew her
fears. It was why he wanted to make love to her. He needed her to see him the way she always had. As her partner, not her patient. Ice let her help him stand. But he didn't need her help. He couldn't lift a Buick, but he could stand and walk upright without help. She walked him to the bedroom and he closed the door. Asha went to the tall picture windows and drew the vertical blinds closed for privacy. This part of the house faced the lake. Any person out there sailing or jet-skiing could see into their bedroom.
"I guess we can move upstairs now. Finish decorating and painting the baby’s room."
He nodded. He walked over to her. He took her face into his hands. He stared into her eyes. "You are so beautiful pregnant. I wish you could stay this way forever."
"Not a chance."
He helped her bring her shirt up over her head. She let him toss it aside. He then reached behind his neck and drew his shirt over his head. He tossed it aside too. On his bare chest rested his rosary. He picked up the cross and kissed it, then set it aside.
26.
Asha smiled. Ice was still every bit the man she desired. Nothing had changed. He'd lost a good sixty pounds, but what remained was still muscle. His fair skin no longer had that jaundiced look to it, or the red blotches he had after chemo. She liked the return of his hair. He needed a haircut but refused the one offered by her brother. He had a shadow of a beard she feared he'd continue to let grow in. For now she didn't care. It changed nothing when it came to his handsome face. He still had those heavy-lidded eyes fringed by dark lashes, the eyes of a rock star or movie star who flirted with you with whether he intended it or not. And that cleft in his chin...a dimple that softened his rugged features. She might be biased but she truly had the most handsome husband in the world.
"Take it off," he said.
She smiled. She unbuttoned her jean shorts and pushed them off. She hadn't put on panties when she got dressed. She was hurrying to get out to the mailbox and catch the mailman. So she dropped the shorts and showed him her secret. She unfastened her bra and let loose her breasts that felt as if they had doubled in size. Ice smiled.
"I was watching you shower yesterday," he said as if speaking to her breasts.
"You're a peeping Tom?"
"Felt like the old days, when we were dating and you forgot to lock the door."
"What!" she laughed.
He nodded. "I used to open it a crack to peek at you when you dried off. How you wiped your skin, but you never turned around so I could see your breasts. "
"That's creepy!"
"Hey, it made me want to put a ring on it," he chuckled. He pulled loose the drawstring to his sweat pants. They dropped. And it was true. His erection was strong and very erect.
"Down, boy," she said.
He did as she told him. She was six months pregnant. Her belly was so round she couldn't see her vagina or her feet now. And she'd never had sex since she was pregnant. The only thing she knew to be okay was to get on top.
Ice sat back on the bed. She came over and he helped her straddle his lap. He drew her face to his and their lips met. She reveled in the velvet warmth of that kiss. It tasted like the first time. She felt his lips leave hers, soft and slow like a whisper, and they found her neck. He took hold of her wrists and brought her hands down from her breasts. The heady sensation of his lips dragging down from her throat to her collarbone melted the last of her resistance. Asha reached back and touched his knees. She arched her back and brought her heavy breasts upward. And that is when his mouth covered one, then the other. He'd heard her complain for months over their tenderness. He was gentle, to the point of making her eyes tear.
And soon she was reminded of something she had long forgotten. She missed and needed her husband. Ice’s touch was firm and persuasive to her hips. He lifted her and she eased up, holding his head to her breasts, rising on her knees. Slow and easy was her descent on his dick. She bit her lip to stifle the outcry of delight. Her breast tingled as her nipple was teased by the warm, thick roll of his tongue. And up and down she went. Ice sat up and held her. He released her nipple and buried his face between her breasts. He held her to him. She glided up and down on his cock. Her belly didn't soften or lessen his embrace and she held on to him as she worked her pelvic thrusts and clenched her butt cheeks to make it tight and good for him.
She caressed the strong tendons on the back of his neck. But nothing soothed the urgency mounting between them. She pushed him down, forced him to lay back. She braced her hands on his chest and bounced faster. Ice’s nostrils flared as if he wanted her to ease up on him. But she kept going and going.
"We aren't done, baby. I'm not there yet, hold on," she said. She was determined to not coddle him. To treat him like her lover. Her husband. Because this was the 'new' normal.
Asha stopped moving. She turned and sat on him backwards, taking his cock back into her with her legs straddling the outside of his thighs. And once he was fully inside of her, she leaned back on her hands and used her feet to balance and lift her up. The acrobatic bend made her tilt her head back and kept her belly rising, while she went up and down on him. She smiled because she could hear his groans of pleasure and surprise. And then he begged for mercy, more and more. The backbend fucking only lasted for a few minutes because the baby began to kick. She laughed and sat up.
"What the hell was that?" he asked.
"Something I saw in a book."
"Book?" he panted. He sat up on his elbows.
She looked back at him. He was glistening with sweat. "Yes, I've been reading a book on mommy sex. When you are pregnant, you know, just in case."
"Ah, so you have been thinking about me?" he asked. He gripped her hips and made her move.
"Yes, I think about us, loving you, all the time."
"Good," he sighed.
Asha began to move again. She rode his dick in the reverse cowgirl until she could see his toes curl and hear him shouting her name. She didn't come. She was too wound up in trying to make sure he did. When he was weak she lifted off him and then eased up on him. She was most comfortable lying on her side. He turned on his side and looked at her. She kissed his nose.
"You're better, I can feel it," she said.
"We're going to be fine, I can feel it," he said and smiled.
She stroked the side of his face. "Do you want to know what your baby will be? What we are having?" she asked.
He blinked at her, a little surprised by the question.
"You know? I thought we were going to wait," he asked.
She turned over and reached for the drawer. She pulled it open and removed a tiny envelope. "I wanted to wait, but not for the birth, for this day. The doctor wrote it down on a piece of paper." She gave it to him.
Asha covered her eyes with both hands. "Go ahead, you open it. Tell me what we are having."
He chuckled. She could hear him unfold the paper.
"What? What is it?"
He didn't answer. She lowered her hands and looked over at him. He was grinning. "Tell me?"
He held the paper out away from her. She tried to reach it but his arm was too long. "What is it you want?" he asked.
"Ice! Tell me! Now!" She kept reaching for it.
"Answer my question," he said.
She sighed. "A boy, a girl, I dunno. I want them both."
He chuckled. "Pick one!"
"Stop teasing me!" she groaned. "Tell me!"
He kissed her. She had no choice but to kiss him back. He kept kissing her. She was able to snatch the paper from him. He smiled and let her read it.
"A girl? It's a girl!" she said. "What I always wanted."
Ice laughed.
"What’s so funny? I wanted a girl," she said. "Secretly."
"I thought we weren't keeping any more secrets."
"Very funny," she said and kissed him. "Are you happy? With a girl?"
"I told you I wanted a girl. One that looks just like you."
Asha smiled and held on to him. "I don't want to ever stop feeling li
ke this. Ever."
"That's my job now," Ice said. "To make you happy. I'm ready to do it."
Epilogue
Future - 12:23 A.M. December 23, 2017
USCG Auxiliary IN-71 - Outpost
"Ice, slow down. The roads are sketchy," Asha said.
Ice glanced up in his rearview mirror. His girls were fine. Asha sat in the backseat next to Ava. She wore her hair in a long crinkly style that framed her face with curls. She had on a cream turtleneck, a camel brown leather jacket and his rosary around her neck. She also wore tight-fitting blue jeans and knee-high boots. He loved seeing her in jeans, especially since the baby was born. It was his thing. Ice couldn't see his daughter because of the way the car seat was turned. They'd flown into Providence and rented a car. His little girl was whining and crying for most of the trip. Now Asha hurried to give her a bottle.
"I'm always careful, babe," he said. "Stop starving my baby; just give her your breast."
"Very funny," she said. "I'm not taking her out of her car seat when you are driving. She'll have to take the bottle."
"I have flown Black Hawk helicopters and Jayhawks for almost a decade, but you're worried about my driving?"
"How much farther, Lt. Commander? We can't be late. The program starts at one," she said.
"You don't remember this drive? How many years did you take this same road to visit me?"
"It looks different. Things have changed."
He glanced over to his left at the snow-covered cars and houses he drove past. He had to admit it did look and feel different to him too. "We'll make it on time," he assured her. She accepted his answer and didn't question him further. He reclined into the drive with his favorite cap on his head. He was a pilot once. A damn good one. And it used to be all he cared about. He was born to be Ice, the fearless. Now he was reborn to be Kevan 'Ice' Quinn, the stay-at-home dad and wood chip maker.
"I think she's getting a cold. She has a runny nose," Asha worried.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I don't feel a temperature. But I'm going to call her pediatrician after the ceremony."
He glanced up at his wife in his rearview mirror. "You look beautiful, babe," he said. Asha's agitation softened. She was smiling. "I like your hair when you wear it like that."
