Brody’s lips parted as his eyes rolled. Deep, shallow breaths, I began to move up and against him. Now was not the time for slow. I needed him badly. His fingers dug into the flesh of my ass as I ground against him. “Shit! Fuck! Slow!” He moaned louder, falling to his back with a groan. “Oh, God!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Nervousness filled me as I drove behind Brody. We were going back to the house, and I hoped Noah and Lila would forgive us for how we’ve been acting. Selfish is what we were, but not anymore. They were going to see that their dad, and I were a united front. We were both committed hard to making this work.
We’d had one look at the custody paperwork after finally dragging our asses out of bed and dressed. They were now in the bottom of a bin and torn into tiny little pieces.
Pulling into our driveway, I parked the Jeep as Brody parked his Audi beside me. He got out and came around to the door, helping me out. I could have managed, but I didn’t say no. I liked him helping me. Grabbing my suitcase, we walked towards the front door, and I felt nervous.
“The house is a mess. I’m sorry. I really fell to shit after I made you leave.”
Offering him a smile, “It’s okay. I know cleaning isn’t your strongest point. It’s only mess. It’s not important.”
If the house wasn’t trashed, then the kids weren’t having fun. I may have loved a clean home, but I loved happy children even more.
He was right, though. The house was trashed. Clothing was strewn about. Dirt over the floor from their shoes went to show just how much I actually did around here. Hopefully, he appreciated me all that more. I kept the home tidy, and it felt good to see that he finally realised that I work too. Just that, I don’t get paid for it.
I was so anxious as I stepped inside. The noise that rocketed through the house was terribly loud. Noticing Brody’s mother Loraine, she looked exhausted as she called out. “Brody, are you back? I cannot keep up with them and their fighting. They won’t listen when I tell them bedtime!”
I felt awful that we’d put this on her. Her eyes widened as she noticed me walking inside with him and so did the kids. Their screaming had stopped, and they were running towards me.
“Mama!” Lila’s scream came out as she threw her arms around my waist, almost sending me backwards on my bum.
Brody quickly spoke up, “Careful of your mama’s stomach.” They ignored him even though he didn’t let the hurt show. I knew it hurt him.
The look on his mother’s face was priceless. She had caught onto his slip. “You’re?”
“Yes, we are,” I smiled, loving that I was pregnant again.
Giving Noah and Lila both a kiss on their cheeks, I smiled, “Give daddy a kiss and say hello, please. You both know that we always give him cuddles and kisses when he comes home from work.”
Noah glared, and Lila crossed her arms over her chest shaking her head. “No.”
“Well, go to your room then,” I shrugged, standing back up. “And go straight to bed please.”
Within seconds, they were giving their father a cuddle and kiss. This was going to be tough, and I didn’t expect them to forgive us and be happy. All we could do was show them that things are going to change, for the better.
Brody mouthed a thank you to me, and I smiled. Bending down to Noah, he looked from him to Lila. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been a very good daddy these few weeks,” he said and hugged them. “I do love you both, so much, and I love your mama.”
Lila was the first to speak as Loraine had made herself scarce. “Is mama staying with us again? I don’t want her to go.”
I smiled. “I’m not going anywhere, baby. We’re all going to sit and talk but maybe before we do that, can you help put all those toys away on the floor? We have a surprise for you both.”
“What kind of surprise?” Noah asked, a grin growing, as he looked curious.
“One that is very exciting!” I said with great enthusiasm.
They raced off, and Brody’s hand went to my lower back as we walked into the kitchen. I ignored the pile of pizza boxes on the counter. He wasn’t lying. He really did go to shit while I was away. With a smile, I sat up on the bar stool as he turned the coffeemaker on.
A voice spoke to us, and I waited for her to yell. “So, you’re pregnant?”
“Yes, Gabby is pregnant,” Brody said, confirming the news as he came around to me from behind. “She’s moving back in here.”
Loraine looked at us both and was cut off from speaking as the front door slammed.
“Baby bro! I got booze. We’re celebrating your new single status. Good on you for getting that car back too!” his sister called out and came to a sudden stop when she entered the kitchen holding a bottle of Jack Daniels and another of vodka. “Brody, what’s going on?”
Brody hardened his jaw. “Do you mind coming and making an entrance like that?”
Jessie set the alcohol on the table, glancing towards me confused. “Umm.”
“I got to keep the car luckily.” Teasing her seemed easier than getting mad. I just couldn’t be bothered with any more fighting.
“I thought,” she began.
“You thought wrong. Gabby and I have talked. I blamed her for a lot of untrue things—”
His mum cut him off sharply. “You mean you accused her.”
Brody was silent a moment before nodding. “Yes. I will take full responsibility for that. I accused her when it wasn’t true.”
“Oh, well, you’re a dick then, aren’t you?” Jessie winked, coming over and giving me a kiss on the cheek. “It’s not too late to leave him you know. I’m sure there are men out there who don’t overreact.”
I laughed, leaning against Brody’s side. “Well, it kinda is.” She raised a brow, and I grinned big “We’re kind of having another baby.”
“Oh, my God! You’re pregnant!” she almost screamed, grabbing him for a tight hug as she squeezed his top half. “I knew it! You were having so much sex on that holiday.”
“Shut your voice,” muttered Brody, flushing red with embarrassment. “Not everyone needs to know about that shit.”
“That shit knocked your wife up.” You’d expect Jessie to have said that. Instead, it was Loraine. She had all three of us shocked. “Now, you, two, better not have any more of this divorce nonsense going on again. You need to make it work, considering your brother has gone haywire, and Rose is just as crazy.”
Brody’s smile had faded almost instantly. “Speaking of him.” With a grim expression, he continued to fill them in on everything that had happened. I felt awful for putting them in this position, but like him, they had the right to know as well.
Loraine looked sombre as she nodded sadly. “Well, I understand. I am quite disappointed in your brother and his behaviour. I think we all are.”
“Yeah, he’s on drugs or something,” Jessie added. “Anyway, tell me more about the baby. When is she due?”
“She?” I laughed. “Could be a he.”
“I hope they are twins,” Lorraine added. “Maybe next time.”
I looked over at the empty pizza boxes once his mother and sister had finished their drinks and took the hint to leave. “So you really did eat a lot of takeouts.” I hated that we’d been apart for a stupid reason. “Are we going to tell the children that we were going to divorce? They’re so angry at us.”
Brody leant his body against the counter and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I think we should explain the truth. It will be hard, but I think that they deserve that.” Pushing himself up, he walked towards me and cupped my cheeks, leaning in and placing a kiss on my forehead.
I leant into him, relishing the closeness. “I agree. We’ll be fine. We’ll get back to that place we were at.”
“It’ll be better,” he smiled. “When is your next appointment?”
“In a couple of weeks, I forgot what was involved with having a baby. It feels like my first pregnancy with all the sickness,” I smiled. “Can you come to the next app
ointment?” I asked hopefully.
He pulled away slightly and looked down at me. “I told you, I wouldn’t miss any of them. It’s practically my company. I can do whatever the hell I want.” His smile turned to worry. “Is there anything you can do for the sickness?”
“You mean besides drinking tea and eating dry toast? Not really, it’s meant to help, but nothing eases it.” I slid my hands up and wrapped them around his neck. “I think you should take me into your office one day and bend me over your desk.”
A laugh escaped his throat. “How did you get from morning sickness to quickies on the desk?” He chuckled. “I think now I’m going to be working at home more. That’s definitely possible.”
I pushed up on my tippy toes and brought my mouth closer to his. “I love you.”
“Love you too, baby,” he smiled, closing the distance between us.
“All done!” Noah called out, interrupting and ending the kiss all too soon.
“All right, let’s go and sit on the couch.” This was going to be hard, but I couldn’t put it off any longer.
The four of us sat on the couch. Brody moved and took a seat on the coffee table in front of us and began to speak first. It felt so familiar like we had been here before. We had been when he promised them he wouldn’t leave. “Everything has been really messy lately, one big misunderstanding.”
“You said Mama didn’t want us. That’s why she wasn’t here.” I tried not to let Lila’s word hurt me. I picked her up and sat her down on my knee.
“I was angry when I said that,” Brody said quietly, explaining to them in the short G-rated version of what had gone on, and I think it was good we could talk to them about things instead of keeping them curious and in the dark.
“What’s our surprise?” Noah asked, getting to their main point. I realised they were over talking about us and wanted to get to them.
Looking towards him, I was pleased that they seemed to be taking this well. “Well, your daddy and I, we’re going to have another baby. There’s a baby growing inside my belly right now.”
Brody leant over and kissed me. “Yes, you two are getting a brother or sister.”
“Brother!” Noah grinned.
Lila shook her head. “No, it’s a sister!”
After the debate of what the baby was, we went into the kitchen, and I was going to make us some dinner until I realised there was no food in the pantry. It was bare and sad to look at. Brody looked embarrassed at how he’d slacked off, but I didn’t make a fuss over it. His cheeks reddened as he ran a hand through his hair.
I just grinned. “We need groceries badly,” I said as I closed the fridge door. I felt pretty bad about how they had not been eating well. “Did you want to go and get groceries, maybe pick up dinner on the way home?”
“I like that idea,” he said. “I feel like shit for not taking care of the household when you were gone.”
Putting my hand on his jean-clad thigh, we drove into town to a Coles shop. “We should take them to the snow before the baby comes. They’d love it down there.”
“Just us?” he asked, glancing over. “That would be preferred than going away with my family again or yours.” Ah, my lovely parents who I had been avoiding like the plague, I just didn’t want to tell them about all out problems and give them a reason to say I told you so.
“Yeah, just us,” I smiled back, leaning over in my seat and towards his. “You still make my heart race.”
A soft groan escaped his throat. “As do you. If you’re not careful, I’ll pull over right here and fuck you.”
Rubbing towards the middle, I grinned. “Too bad those two are in the back, or we’d definitely be pulling over.”
He groaned again. “You’re killing me, my love.” Glancing once more, “Thank you, Gabby.”
“For what?” I asked, bringing my hand back to his thigh. I felt really happy right now.
“This, for everything, for taking me back again and giving us the chance we need but I promise you that we will get through this. We’ll get it right this time.” He placed his hand over mine and held it. “I love you.”
“I love you too, and we will get through this. We’ve been together too long to just throw it away.”
Once we’d gone and brought enough food to keep us feed for the week, we picked up some fish and chips and then made our way home. The kids surprisingly were good on the way home, at the store and at the house. They didn’t complain nor did they act out in public. I thought it was ridiculous that Brody hadn’t actually been able to buy groceries for such a long time, and he was amazing at what food was out. We had a lot of junk foods that was going to keep me tempted to snack on when those cravings hit.
Clearing the plates, I reached for Brody’s. “I promise, tomorrow I will cook a roast.” I was craving vegetables so bad. “And, now, I think we should get these two into bed and go to bed yourself.”
“I agree. You, two, it’s bed time,” Brody said standing up.
They both just looked at him.
Their moods have changed, and they were still upset. It was understandable. Walking towards them as Brody took the plates from me; I sat on the chair next to Noah. “Please go and say good night to daddy; then, I will come and read you both a book.”
When they didn’t move, I just looked at Brody. “I’ll put them to bed. Why don’t you go run us a hot bath?”
He nodded with a sad smile. “All right.” Kissing their heads, he then left.
Talking to both kids separately, I think I may have gotten through to them that this wasn’t their father’s fault. Coming into our bathroom, I sighed and began undressing as I watched Brody who was already in the bathtub, leaning back with his eyes shut.
“I don’t like that Noah is swearing, and Little Miss Attitude is going to have those dolls taken away if she keeps her act up,” I said pulling a sock off, balancing myself on the wall.
He just sighed. “It’s my fault. I’m sorry. I didn’t do anything after kicking you out but sit and have a pity party. They won’t listen to me at all.”
Sinking into the water once naked, I laid down with my back to his chest. “They are mad, yes. They don’t really understand. They just think you hurt me and wouldn’t let me come back.”
He reached forward, wrapping his arms around my body and resting his hands on my stomach. “I was beyond upset, and I have put myself in your place. I was a mess just like you were. I couldn’t eat. I just felt numb. Even work was getting messed up.”
“You thought I was leaving you. I would have been hurt if you didn’t go through some kind of breakdown. I can’t imagine what you felt, but I will never leave you or hurt you.” I brought my hands up to his. “You took everyone’s blame, and that wasn’t fair.” He never let his mother or sister blame me once. He didn’t have to do that.
I felt his lips against the nape of my neck, his warm breath hitting my skin. “It was because I chose to not let you explain. I deserve it all.”
“I should have made you listen. Try harder,” I said quietly. “I couldn’t tell my parents about us.”
I could feel his smile slowly breaking out. “I don’t blame you. That’s a conversation I’d never want to have.” Then his body relaxed as he sighed heavily. “The kids, I’m sure they told you that I yelled at them a lot. I was a bastard.”
Well, it didn’t surprise me that they were so mad at him. “They said you were mean. I tried talking and explaining things.” I remembered him saying he’d spent a lot of that time drunk. “Did you, go out drinking?” I hated to even think of him in a bar, and sad.
“No. Never. I stayed in the home office. I even slept there too. I deserve it, I deserve it all.” he said and held me close. “I am truly sorry, baby.”
“I know.” And I did know it. He had shown me just how sorry he was. “Your mum isn’t getting twins by the way.”
“Oh?” he chuckled.
My eyes closed as I relaxed in the hot bath of water. I loved baths. “Three is g
oing to be a handful.”
“But he or she is going to need a friend as you pointed out,” he reminded.
I had forgotten about saying that. “Maybe, let’s just see how this one goes.”
My eyes flew open as he his hand began to wander down lower from my belly and between my thighs as his voice turned husky and cock grew stiff. “Oh, baby, after this one, I’m definitely putting another in you.”
If only he knew just how much that turned me on.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
I felt as if my eyes were glued shut. I was completely exhausted.
We had spent a good part of the night going over a new challenge, the thirty days of sex. Leon had sent him a text with the link last night, and Brody was eager as hell for it. I, on the other hand, was befuddled; thirty days? Really?
The ground rules for our thirty days of sex challenge. It wasn’t just in-and-out basic sex, no. It was quickies — sex in the kitchen, laundry sex, keep your clothes on sex, normal sex, outside sex, naughty outfit sex, fantasy sex, blindfolded sex. It was going to be thirty days of having sex. Rain, hail or shine, or in our case, fighting, kids, morning sickness or late nights, we were going to do it. 2 AM or 2 PM; we were both attempting to do this challenge. I gave it a week before we’re calling for a night off.
After all the talk about it, I fell asleep before Brody got lucky.
“What are they doing?” Brody groaned, half asleep with his arm covering his face.
I yawned into the pillow as I listened to the kids screaming and fighting. “No idea.” Lifting my head, I groaned when their fighting wasn’t dying down. It wasn’t even 5 AM. Looking back towards him, I whispered, “Stay in bed, it’s early.” I kissed him on the arm and got out of bed.
Pulling on some boxer shorts and a tank top, I threw on a jumper and slid my feet into my purple slippers as I grabbed a hair tie while walking towards the stairs. Doing my hair in a messy bun as I walked into the kitchen just in time to watch as a bag of rice bubbles burst open, and little white puffs went spraying everywhere.
Forgotten Sweethearts: A Romance Novel Page 25
