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To my readers—thank you for loving
the characters of The Proposition. Your
love has blessed my life in more ways
than I can ever say, and I thank you from
the bottom of my heart.
As she sat in a leather chair beside the
crackling fireplace, Casey Rossi gazed
down into the diminutive face of her
drowsy-eyed daughter. After glancing at
the clock on the mantle, Casey smiled.
“Hang on, Liv. Just ten more minutes
until Daddy walks through the door to
see you.”
Olivia widened her dark brown
eyes as she appeared to be
contemplating Casey’s words. But then
the overwhelming desire to sleep won
out. With her eyelids drooping, she gave
a yawn and then snuggled closer against
Casey’s chest. Considering keeping a
sleeping baby awake was the equivalent
of skipping through a landmine, Casey
let Olivia drift off. Nate could wake her
up if he wanted to and then deal with the
repercussions.
Instead of turning on the TV or
catching up on work emails, she merely
stared at the perfection that was Olivia.
Watching her daughter sleep had become
one of her favorite pastimes. It amazed
her that she never seemed to tire of
doing it. Each time she did, she noticed
something different about Olivia’s tiny
features—the way the double dimples
she had inherited from her father never
faded even when she wasn’t smiling, the
way her dark little brow furrowed from
time to time as if she was having some
sort of baby dream. Everything about
Olivia was enthralling, which never
ceased to surprise Casey.
After all, she had never been a
baby person. When she was growing up,
the only baby she had really ever been
around was her kid sister, Carlee. She
sure as hell didn’t do any babysitting
when she was a teenager. For a long
time, she hadn’t even planned on having
children. But then a 6’5 stud with a heart
of gold came into her life and changed
her mind…although she put up a hell of a
fight for a long time.
As she eyed the sparkling
diamond on her left hand, Casey thought
of the many years it had been on her
finger. It had been over a decade since
she had literally bumped into Nate Rossi
at a Starbucks in downtown Atlanta. Her
iced mocha had drenched the front of
Nate’s jeans, making it appear like he
had pissed his pants. Thankfully, his
steaming hot cappuccino had stayed put
in its cup, and he had good-naturedly
found the incident amusing, rather than
being angry like she probably would
have.
Coming off a two month fling with
an out-of-work musician, Nate was just
the kind of guy she usually ran from.
While he was panty-melting gorgeous,
he didn’t exude the personality of a
player. Even at twenty-three, he had his
shit together where at twenty-one, she
was still giving her parents grey hairs
about the outlook of her life. She’d
dropped out of college once and then
changed her major twice. It was after her
parents last “come to Jesus” sit down
with her that she had enrolled at Georgia
State University to do something with
marketing or public relations. At least
that’s what she had assured her parents
that their tuition money would be paying
for.
Normally she would have
apologized profusely and then gotten the
hell out of there, but something about
Nate’s dark chocolate eyes, the Tom
Selleckesque double dimples in his
cheeks, and his sincere smile made her
take him up on his offer to have dinner
with him. This was of course after he
insisted on buying her another iced
mocha.
And at dinner that first night, she
knew she had met the man she wanted to
marry…just not at that moment. The
thought scared the hell out of her, but at
the same time, she didn’t want to run
away. For the first time in her life, she
wanted to see things through with a
decent man. Nate truly brought out the
best in her. He knew just how to smooth
her rough edges while slightly taming
her wild-child side. They were the old
adage of “she made him want to be a
better man” in reverse.
With her free hand, Casey reached
over to pick up the picture sitting on the
table next to her. She and Nate stared out
of the sterling silver frame with
genuinely happy smiles on their faces.
The picture was of the two of them on
their wedding day along with their herd
of bridesmaids and groomsmen. The
lone redhead in the group caught Casey’s
eye and made her smile.
It was through Nate she met her
best friend, Emma Harrison. Another
life-time ago, Nate’s med school roomie
had been a hell of a nice guy named
Travis. After spending a few nights
hanging out with him at the apartment,
Travis insisted that she needed to meet
his high-school sweetheart and fiancée,
Emma. Just like that first dinner with
Nate, Casey knew the moment she met
Emma that she had met a best friend for
life. It didn’t hurt that the two shared a
major and even some classes. Of course,
Casey often found herself corrupting the
shy, sweet girl, but at the same time,
Emma had the same affect as Nate and
tempered her outrageous antics.
But it had been tragedy that
bonded their friendship even deeper than
she could have ever imagined. Travis
had been killed in a car accident just a
year before his and Emma’s wedding.
Casey immersed herself in the role of
comforter for both Nate, who had lost
his best friend, and to Emma, who had
lost the love of her life. Those dark,
agonizing days, weeks, and months had
moved them all past friendship into a
family.
The rumbling sound of the garage
door rising up had Casey popping out of
her chair. Olivia grunted softly in protest
at being jostled as Casey padded across
the hardwood floors to the kitchen. Just
like clockwork, Nate arrived through the
door at seven forty-five. Before Olivia
came, he made it home much earlier, but
now after his shift ended, he grabbed a
quick shower in the doctors’ lounge to
wash away any germs before being
around the baby.
A beaming smile stretched across
his lips at the sight of her. “Hey
gorgeous,” he said, as he pulled her
close to him. Even though she had shed
her work clothes for a ratty sweatshirt
and pair of leggings, Nate had the ability
with one look and a few words to make
her feel like a million bucks and wearing
the finest couture.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her
face against his chest and inhaledhis
comforting, familiar scent of Dior
cologne and fresh soap. “How was
work?” she asked, as she pulled away.
In the past, she would have been
pissed at him ignoring her question. But
in this case, she had to smile at the way
he was staring adoringly at Olivia’s dark
head. Without pressing him for
information, she gently passed the baby
into his eager arms.
Olivia only stirred slightly as she
settled against Nate’s broad chest. “Hey,
baby girl. How was your day? Did you
have fun with Nana?” Nate crooned
softly.
Since Casey had returned to work
a few days a week, Nate’s mother had
been keeping Olivia. While Emma had
been happy to quit work to be a full-time
mom, Casey knew she would never be
able to give up completely on her career.
After initially having a rough start
settling on what she wanted to do in life,
she adored her job. She dealt with the
obligatory “mommy guilt” of working,
but she knew that Olivia was in the best
hands with Nate’s mom. The retired
kindergarten teacher was already itching
to start lessons with Olivia.
“She did. She had her first taste of
some applesauce.”
Nate’s brows rose as he
momentarily tore his gaze away from
Olivia. “Did she like it?”
Casey smiled. “She did—at least
what she actually ended up getting in her
mouth.”
A hearty chuckle rumbled through
Nate’s chest. “My baby girl is growing
too fast. First it’s food, and then it’s—”
“Dating?” Casey teased.
Nate’s expression became pained
like he’d been sucker punched in the gut.
“God forbid.”
With a smile, Casey mused,
“Between you and Aidan, I don’t think
Caroline and Olivia will see the light of
day outside of a convent.”
“Sounds good to me,” Nate
replied with a wink.
Casey rubbed Olivia’s plump
cheek. “Don’t worry, Liv. I’ll save you
from your Daddy’s overprotectiveness.”
Tilting her head thoughtfully, she then
added, “But not if you want to take too
much after me.”
Nate threw back his head and
laughed, which startled Olivia awake.
Instead of crying, she just eyed her
parents curiously before lifting one side
of her mouth in what Casey loved to joke
was a pity smile. “I’m pretty sure that
little smirk is all yours, babe,” Nate
teased.
“Then we’re in serious trouble.”
Using his free hand, he smacked
her playfully on the behind. “I guess I
better get this wee one upstairs and into
bed,” Nate said.
Casey didn’t bother asking him if
he was hungry. She knew he scarfed
something down on the way home so that
all of his time could be devoted to
Olivia. “You head on up, and I’ll grab
her bottle.”
“Thanks, babe,” Nate said before
bestowing a kiss on her cheek.
The corners of her mouth turned
up with pleasure as she listened to Nate
chatter to Olivia on the way up the
stairs. Casey then went into the kitchen
to grab the bottle of milk she had
pumped earlier. Letting Nate do the
before bed bottle was one way she was
able to make him a part of Olivia’s
feeding schedule.
When she got to the nursery, she
found Nate at the changing table. As he
blew raspberries on Olivia’s bare
tummy, she giggled and kicked her legs.
“She already needed changing again?”
Casey questioned as she sat the bottle
down on the table beside the glider.
“Someone had a massive blow out
in her diaper on the way up the stairs.”
Casey giggled as she came to
Nate’s side. “Good going, baby girl.
Save those for Daddy.”
Olivia grinned at Casey while
Nate only shook his head. After he put
on a fresh diaper, he buttoned up
Olivia’s pink and white sleeper. Turning
to Casey, he said, “I’ve got it. You go on
and do what you need to do.”
Leaning up on her tiptoes, she
planted a kiss on his lips. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Casey then kissed Olivia’s cheek.
“Love you, too, Livvie Boo.”
At Olivia’s little coo of a
response, Casey’s heart melted. When
she got to the doorway, she glanced back
one last time at Nate and Olivia. Some
nights she loved to just hang around and
watch the two of them interact. It
might’ve meant not getting to watch a
little TV or read, but it was well worth
it.
But not tonight.
Tonight she was a woman on a
mission—a seduction specific one. She
wouldn’t think about the laundry piling
up around the washing machine or the
dirty dishes in the sink. No, they could
all go fuck themselves for all she cared.
She was going to have some mind-
blowing sex—the kind she and Nate
used to have pre-Olivia.
Over the last week with sex being
MIA, Casey came to realize how
different things were for her and Nate in
the bedroom. Even after all the years she
and Nate had been together, she could
still count on sex being a consistent four
to five times a week. And they weren’t
just “let’s get it over with” quickies
before bed either.
Ever the patient and understanding
husband, Nate hadn’t been the first one
to initiate sex post Olivia’s birth. During
her healing time, she had thrown him the
obligatory bone, so to speak, for his
boners in the form of either hand or
blowjobs. In the end, she had been the
one eager to get intimate again after her
doctor cleared her for action.
When the first few times weren’t
as toe curling as before, she chalked it
up to her being tired, to postpartum
hormones, to Olivia being in her
bassinet next to the bed. She even went
as far to blame it on the fact it was a full
moon—anything not to have to question
that something was wrong. But as time
passed and things didn’t improve, Casey
didn’t just worry—she began to panic.
Sex had defined who she was
ever since she lost her virginity at
sixteen. She hadn’t been stereotypical
girl pressured to give in to some horny
guy. She had been equally as horny as
her boyfriend. Once she’d had her first
taste of sex, she wanted more and more.
Before she had someone like Samantha
Jones on Sex and the City to relate to,
she sometimes wondered what was
wrong with her that she had such a
healthy libido compared to some of her
friends.
By the time she and Nate got
together, she could no longer count her
sex partners on one hand. While he was
far more conservative about sex, Nate
had always enjoyed and appreciated her
voracious appetite. They were the
perfect couple physically and
emotionally.
Just not anymore…at least not
physically. But that was going to change
tonight. Over the last two days of
mulling things over in her head, Casey
had worked on a strategy. She had
approached taking back the heat with as
much tenacity as she would project at
work. So what if she was exhausted
from starting back to work coupled with
Olivia’s up and down nighttime
schedule? That didn’t mean she couldn’t
have some hot, sweaty sex with her
husband.
She practically sprinted across the
hall to their bedroom before dipping
inside her walk-in closet. With lips
pursed in concentration, she began
rifling through her lingerie section. Some
women might have a drawer or two
devoted to the naughty, but not Casey.
She believed in dressing to impress on a
daily basis, so it only made sense to take
that same motto to the bedroom.
There was a little bit of
everything—lacy bustiers with matching
panties, racy teddys that left little to the
imagination, and even some naughty
themed costumes. Tonight called for
something a little daring...maybe
something a little nostalgic to recapture
the old fire.
“Oh hell yes,” she murmured at
the sight of her slutty nurse’s costume. A
little role-playing never hurt, and Nate
always got a big kick out of her wanting
to play doctor on the doctor.
After grabbing the costume on its
hanger, she headed into the bathroom to
change. Once she shed her leggings and
GSU Alum sweatshirt, she started to put
on the skimpy white uniform.
“Umph,” she grunted as she
writhed and wriggled beneath the
material. Having to use exertion to get
outfitted for sex was a new experience.
She usually saved all the huffing and
panting for the act itself. Although she
had lost most of her pregnancy weight,
there was still a pesky five to ten pounds
that kept hanging around no matter how
hard she dieted or worked out. While it
seemed to even out in her clothes, the
same couldn’t be said for the skintight
lingerie.
Once she had wrestled the fabric
across her back, she reached for the
zipper. She should have anticipated that
it wouldn’t come up as easily as it once
had. She had to tug and jerk it to get it up
over her hips. But that was a piece of
cake compared to what happened when
she reached her boobs. “Mother…
fucker,” she grunted as the teeth of
zipper cracked and popped over the
track. Yeah, her normally C cup breasts
had gotten enormous since she was
breastfeeding Olivia, but it wasn’t like
she had turned into Dolly Parton or
something.
When the suit was finally zipped,
she let out a sigh of relief. Standing in
front of the lighted mirror, she twirled
one of Nate’s old med school
stethoscopes between her fingers while
turning from side to side. As she
surveyed her appearance, her lips pulled
into a frown. She didn’t feel like the
sexy seductress she usually did. Was it
the way her milk-laden breasts made the
dress’s zipper pull too tightly across the
chest, or was it the post-baby pooch
around her middle? Whatever it was, she
sure as hell wasn’t liking it. She had
never, ever felt unsexy before.
Her thoughts were interrupted by
a high-pitched squeal. After striding
over to the doorway, she cautiously
questioned, she strode over to the
doorway. “Everything okay?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Nate
replied in a humorous tone.
“If you’re sure.”
“Positive, babe.”
Within a few seconds, Olivia
quieted down, so Casey went back to the
bathroom to touch up her hair and
makeup. After a day at work and then an
afternoon with Olivia, she could have
used another shower, but she didn’t have
the time. Much to her dismay, the voices
of self-deprecation about her appearance
didn’t stop even after her full lips
shimmered with gloss or her dark hair
fell in waves down her back. In the end,
she felt like she had just painted the pig,
or she was the equivalent of Jabba the
Hut styling too tight lingerie.
She was just about to lose her
nerve and throw in the towel, or in this
case the stethoscope, when she heard
Olivia’s door close. “Oh fuck it,” she
muttered before hurrying out of bathroom
and into the bedroom.
At the sight of Nate in the
doorway, she lunged forward and threw
herself into his arms. He hadn’t
anticipated her, and they both went
staggering back into the hallway. “I
guess you’re glad I’m coming to bed,
huh?” Nate asked.
“Oh yes. But not to sleep.”
“And here I was thinking that’s
what we did in there,” he replied, his
voice vibrating with amusement.
She eased back in his arms.
Running her fingers through the strands
of his dark, curly hair, she said, “If
sleeping is all you remember us doing in
there, I think you need your head
examined, Dr. Rossi.”
When Nate’s dark eyes flared
with desire for her, it instantly silenced
all the chattering voices of doubt in her
head. “God, you’re sexy as hell in that
outfit.”
“Really?” she asked, her cracking
and betraying her false bravado.
“Oh yeah.” He dipped his head to
capture her lips with his. The kiss sent a
tingling from her head straight between
her legs. He had always been able to
make her weak in the knees with just a
kiss, and after all their years together, he
still had the gift.
When he finally broke the kiss,
both of their chests rose and fell in harsh
pants. “So you’re up for a head
examination, Dr. Rossi?”
“Mmm, hmm.”
Casey slid one of her hands down
Nate’s chest past his belt to cup his
growing erection. “I think this head
needs my immediate attention. Don’t
you?”
“I’d like that very much, Nurse
Casey.” Shooting her a sexy grin, he
added, “I leave myself in your capable
hands.”
While she kept stroking him over
his slacks, she used her free hand to
unbutton his shirt. Once she had it open,
Nate helped her by sliding it off his
shoulders and letting it drop to the floor.
She then turned her attention to freeing
his cock that was straining against his
zipper.
After sliding his pants and
underwear over his hips and down his
thighs, Casey couldn’t help standing
back and admiring Nate’s body. He kept
himself in fabulous shape. She traced his
washboard abs with her fingers, causing
them to tighten at her touch.
“Your examination methods could
use some work, Nurse Casey.”
Tilting her head at him, she
questioned, “You don’t like the care I’m
giving you.”
He smiled. “That’s just it. You’re
killing me with the teasing.”
“By all means, please tell me how
to do my job. I want to take care of you,”
she urged. It was more of a challenge to
him since he usually wasn’t the dirty
talker in the bedroom—that was usually
her job.
“I want—no I need you to put
your hands and mouth here.” He brought
her hand back to his dick, which
throbbed under her fingertips.
“I’m so sorry. Let me take care of
that for you right away.” She guided him
over to the bed before placing both
hands on his shoulders and playfully
shoving him back to where he fell down
onto the mattress. His hooded eyes
stayed on hers as he pushed himself up
in the bed, giving her the room to kneel
over him.
While he might’ve given her all
the room she needed, the fabric of her
nurse’s outfit didn’t. It took two tries
before she was finally able to get up on
the bed. Cursing inwardly, she swore
she would burn it the minute she got free.
Bending down, she brought her
lips to his. When Nate widened his
mouth, she darted her tongue inside,
dancing hers along with his. Knowing he
was dying of anticipation and probably a
case of blue balls, she decided to
prolong his agony a little. After all,
delayed gratification usually made the
most mind blowing orgasms, and she
wanted more than anything to give him
that.
She started kissing a trail over the
stubble on his chin, down his neck
across his bobbing Adam’s apple to his
chest. While some women hated chest
hair and would have encouraged Nate to
wax, she happened to rather like the dark
dusting across his chest and stomach. Of
course, she had to draw the line with
back hair, which a lot of the Italian men
in his family had.
When his erection bucked against
her stomach, she teasingly rubbed
against it, giving him a little friction. “I
think I’m going to have to report you to
the charge nurse,” he rasped.
Casey grinned as she flicked her
tongue across Nate’s pebbling nipple.
When she drew back, she blew air
across it, causing Nate to suck in a harsh
breath. “At least I’m not making you
beg.” She cocked her brows at him.
“Yet.”
“I’ll make sure to remember this
when it’s my time to play doctor.”
His words coupled with the dark
look glittering in his eyes sent a shiver
down her spine and a shot of heat
between her legs. Wanting to get to that
moment, she decided it was time to get
down to business. When she took him
into her hand, he groaned and arched his
hips off the bed.
After taking him deep inside her
mouth, she bobbed her head up and
down, alternating between fast and slow.
Call her crazy, but she was one of those
strange women who actually liked giving
blowjobs. She wasn’t necessarily
someone who thought it was better to
give than receive, but she loved nothing
more to have Nate groaning and writhing
with the pleasure she was giving him.
With her nurse’s uniform starting
to cut off the circulation around her
middle, she was forced to momentarily
let Nate’s cock fall free from her mouth
as she shifted from sitting on her knees
to lying down beside him.
Closing her eyes, she lay her
cheek against Nate’s thigh, which still
gave her easy access to stroke and lick
him. She found the position a lot more
comfortable than she had imagined. It
was downright cozy. Why hadn’t she
thought of doing him like this other
times? Before she realized it, her hand
began to slide slower and slower on his
shaft.
“Casey?”
“Hmm, what?” she murmured
drowsily.
“Um…I think you fell asleep.”
“Huh?” What the hell was he
talking about? Of course, she had fallen
asleep. I mean, they were in bed after
all. Her eyelids flicked open to take in
her surroundings. To her surprise, she
not only found herself eyelevel with
Nate’s dick, but she had it in her hand.
Her gaze left Nate’s deflated
erection to stare up at him. Propped up
on his elbows, he wore an expression of
amused concern. “You just fell asleep in
the middle of giving me head,” he
replied.
Holy shit. She had seriously just
dozed off…with Nate’s dick in her hand.
How the hell was that even physically
possible? Maybe she had passed out…
maybe she’d had a stroke or something
while she was stroking him. I mean, she
couldn’t possibly have checked out
voluntarily in the middle of a sex act.
A fiery mortification burned its
way over her body causing her skin to
feel inflamed and not in the good, erotic
way. Her lungs screamed for the air that
she couldn’t seem to bring into them
while her stomach lurched and churned.
“Babe?” Nate questioned. He rose
up to a sitting position and reached for
her.
The moment he touched her, she
scuttled away from him so fast that she
ended up falling off the end of the bed.
“Ow!” she cried as her ass smacked
against the hardwood. Of course she had
to fall off the end and not the side where
the ton of throw pillows would have
been to cushion her.
“Jesus, are you all right?”
When she stared up into Nate’s
concerned face, her already overwrought
emotions went even more haywire. For a
second, she wished he was mad or
frustrated at her for what had happened.
But considering the goodhearted guy
Nate was, he was worried about her
feelings…and her soon-to-be bruised
ass.
“I have to get out of here,” she
blurted as she lunged to her feet.
“Casey, it’s okay.”
“No. No, it isn’t.”
“But I’m not mad. I swear,” he
said.
Sprinting into the bathroom, she
eyed the pile of clothes she had shed a
half an hour ago. The tight as hell nurse’s
costume would take too long to wrangle
out of, and she needed to be out of the
bedroom and house. Like five minutes
ago.
She snatched her terry cloth robe
off the hook and jerked it on. As she was
frantically tying the belt, Nate appeared
in the doorway. “Babe, let’s talk about
this.”
She couldn’t bear to look at him.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. Not right now.”
After she blew past him and
started out of the bedroom, he called in
surprise, “You’re not leaving, are you?”
“I just need some time to myself,”
she replied in a low-tone as she went
past Olivia’s closed door.
“Where the hell are you going to
go at this hour?”
“I don’t know.”
It wasn’t a second before Nate
was at her side. He tugged gently on her
arm. “Casey, I don’t want you driving
when you’re upset like this.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Case—”
When she reached the bottom of
the stairs, she whirled around and held
up her hand. “Please, Nate.”
The pained expression he wore
told her how much he wanted to argue
with her, but instead, he clamped his lips
together. Crossing his arms over his
chest, he said, “Fine. Just promise you’ll
be careful.”
“I will.”
She didn’t have to tell him to take
care of Olivia—that was a given.
Instead, she grabbed her keys and
hurried into the garage.
She had told Nate she didn’t know
where she was going, but that wasn’t the
truth. There was only one place—one
person—that could make her feel even
the slightest bit better at the moment. She
had to see Emma.
After careening into the familiar
driveway on two wheels, Casey
screeched her SUV to a halt just before
dinging the garage door. Not even
bothering with her phone or purse, she
flung open the car door and sprinted up
the flower-lined front walk. She
gathered up the hem of her bathrobe to
pound up the porch steps.
Just as she reached for the
doorbell, she quickly recoiled her hand.
Considering how late it was, she didn’t
dare ring it for fear of waking Noah and
Caroline. Instead, she started banging
out a steady rhythm like Morse code on
the wood. It took a few moments before
the porch light flicked on, and the door
swung open.
Standing before her with a
bewildered expression etched on his
handsome face was Aidan Fitzgerald.
Barefoot and shirtless, he sported a pair
of orange and green checked boxers—a
subtle nod to his Irish heritage. In one
hand was a longneck Corona and in the
other was a baby monitor.
His blue eyes widened as he took
in her disheveled appearance. When he
opened his mouth, she held up a hand.
“Out of my way, douchenozzle. I need to
talk to Em.”
Aidan didn’t protest as she blew
past him through the front door. Nor did
he give her any grief about calling him
“douchenozzle”. While she had first
used it as a derogatory term against him,
it was now a more endearing nickname
between the two.
Craning her neck down the hall,
Casey questioned, “Em?”
“She’s not here.”
Casey whirled around. Placing
her hands on her hips, she demanded,
“Where the hell is she?”
“Down the street at Becky’s for
Book Club.”
Casey grimaced. In her turmoil,
she had completely forgotten that
Wednesday night was Book Club. More
accurately it was “a kid free night
hanging out with the girls while the wine
freely flowed”. Casey would have been
there herself if not for Nate’s work
schedule.
At the prospect of not getting to
unload her traumatic troubles on her
bestie, Casey stomped her house-shoed
foot like a petulant toddler.
“Motherfuckingshitdamnhell!” she
screeched.
Aidan snorted in amusement at her
cursing. After crossing his arms over his
chest, he asked, “What could have
possibly happened that warranted a
‘motherfuckingshitdamnhell’ situation?”
Gazing into his amused blue eyes,
Casey did something she rarely, if ever
did—she burst into tears.
Through her blurry vision, she
almost laughed at the look of horror that
stretched across Aidan’s face. As he
shifted on his feet, it looked like he was
debating tearing out of room and
sprinting down the street for Emma. That
was something the Old Aidan from three
years ago would have done—the one
who broke out in a nervous sweat at the
sight of any expression of female
emotion. But thankfully, Emma had
changed all that.
The New Aidan gave her the
sweetest, sympathetic look. “Oh hell,
Case, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have teased
you. It’s obvious from your...” He
motioned at her attire. “look that
something is wrong.”
“No. It’s okay,” she reassured, as
she swiped the mascara stained tears
from her cheeks.
Placing a hand on her back, Aidan
instructed, “Come over here and sit
down.” With expert precision, he guided
her through the maze of baby
paraphernalia littering the living room
floor.
When Casey sank down onto the
couch, her ass emitted a high pitched
squeak. She quickly reached under her to
jerk out a fluffy pink toy. A smile played
at her lips because her Olivia had one
just like it. In spite of it being annoying
as hell, it was the four month old’s
favorite.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Aidan asked, as he sat down beside her.
Groaning, Casey tossed the bunny
to the side. “It’s too mortifying.”
Aidan nudged her knee. “Come
on. Nothing can be that bad.”
Oh fuck yes it can. Staring down
at her hands, Casey decided to bite the
bullet and tell Aidan the truth. As the
flashback played in her mind, she
pinched her eyes shut. “I kinda dozed
off…” She swallowed hard. For a
moment, she felt as bashful as Emma
was when it came to talking about sex. “I
dozed off for just a second while doing
a…job.”
When she dared to look at Aidan,
his blond brows were scrunched in
confusion. “You fell asleep at work?”
Rolling her eyes, Casey then
grunted in frustration. “No. Not at
work.”
“Then what—”
“I fell asleep while blowing Nate,
okay!” she blurted.
Her words had the same effect on
Aidan as if she had slapped him. He
shook his head back and forth like he
was trying to wake himself out of a daze.
For the next few seconds, he just stared
ahead without blinking.
Throwing up her hands, Casey
demanded, “Well say something,
dammit!”
“Motherfuckingshitdamnhell,”
Aidan muttered.
“Thanks for making me feel so
much better,” she snapped.
“I’m sorry. It’s just…wow.”
Rubbing her fingers along her
temple, she said, “Once again, you’re
not helping.”
“Yeah, well, I’m really sorry. It’s
just it’s one thing for you to come
barreling in here, looking like someone
was killed or something, and then you
drop that kinda bomb on me…It’s going
to take me a little while to recover.”
“Well, I’m sorry if my threshold
for patience and understanding is a little
thin. Catch me on a day when I haven’t
just fallen asleep giving oral sex.”
Aidan made a strangled noise.
When he recovered, he questioned, “I’m
still not completely grasping how that is
even possible?”
A frustrated growl escaped
Casey’s lips. “I don’t know exactly. It
just is.”
“You didn’t like…” Aidan
swallowed hard and shifted on the
couch. “Bite him. Did you?”
Casey rolled her eyes. Leave it to
a man to be only concerned with the all
mighty dick in the story. “The last thing I
want to do right now in my frame of
mind is get technical with you, but if you
must know, Nate and his dick are
unscathed. I didn’t have him in my mouth
when I dozed off.”
Aidan exhaled what could only be
described as a sigh of relief. When she
glared at him, he held up his hands.
“Sorry. I needed to put that worry to
rest.”
“Ugh, you men and your precious
Penis Brotherhood.”
Leaning forward on the couch,
Aidan picked up his phone. “Don’t you
dare call Nate and let him know where I
am!”
“I’m not. I’m texting Emma to
come home. I’m am so not the person for
this situation.”
Casey shook her head. “I don’t
want to interrupt book club.”
Aidan snorted. “Like I don’t
realize there’s no real reading involved,
and it’s a just a means for her to have a
kid free night with the girls.”
Widening her eyes, Casey said,
“You know?”
“Yeah, I know. I just play dumb to
save face. As much as she does for me
and the kids, she deserves three hours to
herself.”
“That’s pretty damn considerate of
you, Douchenozzle,” Casey said.
“I have my moments.” Nudging
her knee again, he said, “So let me have
a moment to play the sensitive, caring
guy friend. Tell me exactly what
happened.”
After studying the earnest
expression on Aidan’s face, Casey
decided she might as well open up. Once
she had drawn in a ragged breath, she
purged herself of the story from start to
finish. She didn’t look at Aidan until she
was done. She hadn’t wanted whatever
facial reactions he had to interrupt her
train of thought.
When she finally dared herself to
tear her gaze away from wringing her
hands, she found him to be staring
earnestly at her with a concerned,
contemplative look on his face.
Thankfully, he didn’t appear to be
feeling his original shock and horror.
Breaking the silence between
them, she said, “So tonight was
supposed to be perfect—I was supposed
to get my hot sex life back. Instead, I fell
asleep in the middle of giving oral sex,
threw a psycho fit, and ran out on my
poor husband.”
“I can see why you had the
reaction you did.”
“You can?”
Aidan nodded. “Forgive me for
pointing out the obvious, but you just had
a baby four months ago. All aspects of
your life are turned upside down,
especially your sex life. Change is hard
regardless the circumstances, but then
when you throw in all the post-
pregnancy hormones, it makes for an
emotional shit-storm.”
Casey blinked a few times as she
took in his words. Either she was farther
gone mentally than she thought, or Aidan
was making good sense. “Okay, I gotta
be honest and say that you’re slightly
wigging me out with the words of
wisdom. It’s not like you…well, maybe
it’s not like the old you.”
Aidan’s bare chest rose and fell
with a chuckle. “Just calling it as I see
it…and felt it.”
“I didn’t realize you went through
anything like that.”
With a wry smile, Aidan said,
“Yeah, I’m sure it’s hard to imagine me
ever being that deep.”
“That’s not what I meant,” she
argued.
“I know. I’m just teasing you.”
“So what happened with you?”
Aidan drowned the last of his
beer. “Well, obviously I didn’t have the
hormones, but Noah’s birth was a real
transition for me. Sure, I was so fucking
happy to have him and to have Emma,
but in the course of a few months, my
life was completely unrecognizable. And
that wasn’t my previous wild and crazy
life—that was just the life I built with
Emma as husband and wife. Then there
were three of us—one being completely
dependent on us for survival. I was
scared out of my fucking mind that I
wasn’t going to be the father that he
needed—that after screwing up before, I
would screw up again.”
“How did you get through it?”
“By talking to Pop and some of
my brothers-in-law—you know, people
who had fought their way through the
trenches of fatherhood before.”
“I see.”
“But even if you talk to all the
women in your mommy group, you still
have to communicate what’s going on in
your head to Nate.”
Casey winced and rubbed her
eyes. “He has to already think I’ve lost
my damn mind.”
“Knowing Nate like I do, I’m sure
that’s the last thing on his mind.”
“Like you wouldn’t be slightly
concerned about Emma’s sanity if she
had run out on you like I had?”
“Well, maybe a little,” Aidan
admitted.
“I rest my case.”
Aidan’s expression became
suddenly grave. “Okay, I’m going to tell
you something—something not a living
soul besides Emma knows. And I’m only
telling it now so that you can feel a little
better about what happened.”
With Aidan’s tone and body
language, Casey couldn’t help leaning
forward expectantly on the couch. “What
is it?” she questioned in almost a
whisper.
After doing a nervous pop of the
knuckles on his hand, Aidan cleared his
throat. Whatever he was about to tell her
seemed especially painful. “This one
time when Noah was about two months
old…” He swallowed hard. “Emma fell
asleep when I was going down on her.”
Seconds crept by as she could
merely stare at him, blinking. If her
situation hadn’t been so bleak, she
probably would have busted out
laughing at the absurdity of it all.
“Aidan, while I appreciate you
trying to commiserate, I can tell you
from a woman’s perspective that’s really
not a bad thing.”
Aidan’s blue eyes widened. “Are
you fucking kidding me? Putting your
wife to sleep during a sex act is never,
ever a good thing.”
“But oral for a woman can be
very relaxing—sometimes an orgasm is
just what we need to get the best sleep of
our life.”
He shook his head furiously from
side to side. “Oh hell no. It’s not
supposed to be this—” He closed his
eyes, lolled his head to the sound, and
made exaggerated snoring sounds.
“But—”
“It’s supposed to be this!” Rolling
his eyes back in his head in mock
ecstasy, he then mimicked the high-
pitched voice of a female as he moaned,
“Oh God! Oh God! Yes, yes, YES!”
Casey snorted back a laugh, which
earned her a frustrated grunt from Aidan.
“Last time I ever tell you something to
make you feel better,” he grumbled
before hopping up off the couch.
As she watched his retreating
form stomp away, Casey sighed and rose
up herself. She followed him into the
kitchen where he had his head stuck in
the fridge. “I’m sorry.”
He pulled back to eye her around
the side of the fridge door. Waving a
longneck at her, he asked, “Want one?”
Her mouth watered in
anticipation. “I really shouldn’t.”
“Pump and dump. You’ve earned
it.”
A laugh escaped her lips. Who
would have ever thought Mr. Manwhore
Fitzgerald would understand all the ins
and outs of breastfeeding? “Okay. You
twisted my arm.”
Always the gentleman, he popped
the top off before passing the cold bottle
to her. Holding his bottle, he clinked the
neck of hers. “To great sex.”
With a groan, she repeated, “To
great sex.” After taking a long, foamy
swig, she leaned back against the
counter. “Just for the record, your
reputation as the ultimate lover has not
waned one bit in my eyes because of that
story.”
Aidan grinned at her over the top
of his longneck. “Really?”
“Really.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” After
nibbling his bottom lip a tad bit
nervously, he added, “And it was only
that one time.”
Casey bit back a smile. “I believe
you.”
“Good.”
Aidan’s phone began to ring.
When he picked it up, he glanced at her.
“It’s Nate.”
Sitting the beer down on the
counter, she waved her hands back and
forth. “I don’t want to talk to him.”
With an exasperated look, Aidan
answered the call. “Hey man.” Although
Nate couldn’t see him, Aidan bobbed his
head. “Yeah, she’s here, and she’s fine.”
Nate must’ve asked about talking to her
because Aidan grimaced before
scratching the hair at the back of his
neck. “Um, she really doesn’t want to
talk to you right now.”
If she tried, she could almost
picture Nate at home, pacing around
their bedroom—his dark brows
furrowed in worry. His hair was
probably disheveled from jerking his
fingers through it, which was one of his
nervous quirks. The thought that she was
the source of that worry caused an ache
to burn through her chest.
“Tell him I’m on my way home,”
she blurted.
Aidan’s brows rose, but he didn’t
question her. “She’s coming home.”
Once again, he bobbed his head. “Yeah,
I’ll make sure she gets to the car okay.”
Tears stung Casey’s eyes when
she thought of how concerned Nate was
for her. God, she loved that man with all
her heart and soul. The last thing in the
world she ever wanted to do was hurt
him. Humiliation once again stung her at
the way she had overreacted. Man, she
could sure manage to fuck up a situation,
couldn’t she?”
As soon as Aidan hung up the
phone, it dinged signaling a text. After
glancing at it, he said, “That’s Em. She’s
on the way home. You sure you don’t
want to wait for her?”
Casey shook her head. “I need to
get to Nate—to make this right.”
Aidan patted her shoulder. “It
wasn’t ever a wrong, Case.”
“If you say so.”
“I know so. But I’m glad you’re
going home. Nate sounded pretty
desperate.”
“God, I was such a heartless bitch
to run out on him like that,” she
lamented.
“You were just doing what you
thought was best in the moment. If you
had stayed, you might’ve said something
you would have regretted.”
Casey stared at Aidan in surprise
as she weighed his words. After shaking
her head, she questioned, “Whenever did
you get so wise, douchenozzle?”
He laughed. “Becoming a husband
and father was the jumpstart to maturity I
desperately needed.”
She reached out and patted his
cheek. “It looks and sounds really good
on you.”
“Thanks. That means a lot coming
from you.”
“You’re welcome. And thanks for
listening to me.”
“Anytime.” With a wink, he
added, “But if it’s all the same, I really
hope Emma’s home the next time you
have a crisis.”
Casey snickered. “I’ll keep that in
mind.”
Picking up the baby monitor, he
then proceeded to walk her out to the car
just as he had promised Nate. He went
as far as to open the car door and shut it
back. She waved at him before cranking
up. As she backed down the driveway,
she thought how lucky Emma was to
have Aidan. What had started out as a
proposition had turned into so much
more.
Although there were a million
things she wanted to say to Nate, she
didn’t pick up the phone. What she
needed to say should be said in person.
When she pulled into the garage, Nate
stood waiting for her in the doorway.
He’d thrown on a pair of boxer shorts,
but besides that, he was exactly as she
had left him.
From his body language, she
could tell he wanted nothing more than
to bound out to the car and take her into
his arms, but he wouldn’t let himself. He
was giving her the space he thought she
needed. Just when she thought she
couldn’t love him more, she did.
She flung open the car door and
sprinted to his side. For the second time
that night, she threw herself into his
arms. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,”
she murmured against his neck.
He rubbed comforting circles
over her back. “You don’t have to
apologize.
“Yes, I do. I acted like a crazy
shrew.”
Nate’s chest rumbled with a good-
natured chuckle. “You had your
reasons.”
“Not good ones.”
He brought his hands to her
shoulders and gently eased her back.
Staring into her eyes, he smiled. “Let’s
don’t play the blame game anymore,
okay? It’s late, and we both need rest.
Let’s spend the time we have working
things out about about what happened
earlier.”
Casey groaned. “Why do you have
to be so good at communication?”
“Just one of my many gifts,” he
teased.
As he started to pull her into the
house, she stopped him. When his brows
rose in surprise, she said, “I love you,
Nate. More than I can ever say or show
you.”
A pleased expression flooded his
face. “I love you, too, babe.” He then
wrapped an arm around her shoulder and
guided her into the house.
The next morning before work Casey
found herself pulling into the parking lot
of her favorite coffee house. She eased
her SUV into a space next to Emma’s.
After what had happened the night
before, an emergency girls’ meeting had
been called. To ensure that they were
able to speak as freely as they needed
considering the subject matter, Emma
had left Caroline and Noah with Patrick
while Casey had dropped off Olivia at
Nate’s mom’s house an hour earlier than
usual.
As she stepped inside The Grind,
Casey inhaled appreciatively of the
tantalizing smell of roasted coffee. She
had loved the illicit substance before
Olivia’s birth, but she had practically
been mainlining it to her veins during
work hours to keep herself awake. Even
though pumping and dumping was a pain
in the ass, it was a necessary evil to
keep her beloved coffee.
After she inched forward in the
line, she craned her neck around,
searching for where Emma was sitting.
Casey spotted her in the far corner.
Always the punctual one, Emma had
arrived early and snagged one of their
favorite spots—an overstuffed couch
and table. Like Casey, her appearance
was a little more thrown together these
days considering Caroline and Olivia
were only a day apart, and then Noah
was twenty months. But if there was
anyone who could make motherhood not
only look easy, but a walk in the park, it
was Emma.
Once she had her venti Vanilla
latte, Casey headed over to the table.
When Emma caught her eye, she popped
off the couch like a Jack in the Box and
opened her arms in an inviting hug.
With a roll of her eyes, Casey
snorted and held up her coffee free hand.
“Jesus, Em, would you stop being so
melodramatic? I only fell asleep during
a blowjob.”
Emma shook her head. “You can
play it off all you want, but I know you.”
“Is that right?”
Jerking her chin up, Emma
replied, “Yeah, it is. You hold three
things sacred in your life—your family
and friends, your career, and your sex
life.”
Casey gave a grunt of frustration
before sinking down into the soft
cushions of the plush couch. “You do
know me too well.”
“I would be a pretty lousy bestie
if I didn’t,” Emma replied, with a
teasing smile.
“True,” Casey murmured before
taking a steaming gulp of her coffee. She
couldn’t help laughing when she saw the
longing look on Emma’s face. “You
know, you can always pump and dump
like I do,” she suggested.
Emma sighed as she swished the
cup that held her Passion Tea Lemonade.
“I know. It just seems like even the least
amount in my bloodstream has Caroline
wired for hours. It never seemed to
effect Noah.”
Casey grinned. “I think it’s more
that Caroline is going to be a little
firecracker and take after her Aunt
Casey.”
Emma laughed. “That’s true. She’s
already way more outgoing and social
than Noah was, and he hammed it up
most days for kisses and smiles.”
“So far so good that Liv seems to
be taking after Nate personality wise,”
Casey mused.
They were momentarily
interrupted by Emma’s phone dinging.
After glancing down at it, Emma smiled.
“Megan’s here.”
“I thought she was working
today.”
“She is. She’s just popping over
during her break.”
Great. The fact that Emma had felt
the need to invite Megan made what had
happened last night seem even more
horrific. Swallowing another gulp of
coffee, she said, “Please tell me you
didn’t invite Connor, too.”
Emma’s cheeks tinged pink. “He
couldn’t make it this morning. But he
sends his love and support.”
Casey groaned as she sat her
coffee down. “Jesus, Em. You’re
seriously making feel like a real nutjob,
you know that?”
“That wasn’t my intention at all. I
just wanted to be supportive,” Emma
argued.
Megan pushed through the front
door and made her way through the
crowd. Outfitted in a pair of pink scrubs,
her long, blonde hair was swept into a
ponytail. “Hey guys,” she said with a
bright smile. As she sat down across
from them, the enormous diamond
wedding band on her left hand caught the
light and almost blinded Casey. After
marrying the handsome and dashing
Alpesh “Pesh” Nadeen two months ago,
Megan exuded the perfect picture of a
happy newlywed.
“Damn, Miss Newlywed and
Oversexed, I’m practically getting a
contact orgasm from sitting across from
you,” Casey joked.
While Emma’s eyes widened at
the comment, Megan only grinned. “I
have to say I’m a very satisfied woman.”
“Yeah and I hate you,” Casey
replied sullenly.
Megan’s brows shot up in surprise
at the change in Casey’s tone. “What?”
Attempting to diffuse the situation,
Emma slid an iced mocha across the
table to Megan. “I went ahead and got
yours.”
“Thanks,” Megan replied, before
sucking a large gulp out of the straw.
After she swallowed, her gaze flicked
between Casey and Emma. “Okay,
seriously, what’s up?”
“Emma didn’t tell you already?”
Casey questioned.
Megan shook her head. “Nope.
Just that we needed an emergency girls’
summit.”
Casey rolled her eyes. “Really it’s
nothing.”
“Case,” Emma implored.
Refusing to look at Emma, Casey
said to Megan, “Em’s just overreacting.
You know, I never got to hear all the
details on the Paris honeymoon.”
Emma wagged one of her fingers
in Casey’s face. “Oh no. Don’t even try
to change the subject,” she warned.
“Em, I—”
“Did you or did you not show up
to my house at nine o’clock last night
wearing your bathrobe where you
proceeded to cry on my husband’s
shoulder?” Emma demanded, tapping her
shoe.
“Yes,” Casey grumbled.
A triumphant look flashed in
Emma’s green eyes. “I rest my case.”
After glancing curiously between
the two, Megan asked, “Once again I’ll
ask, what’s up?”
When Emma opened her mouth,
Casey shook head. “It’s my story. I’ll tell
it.”
“By all means.”
Casey had hoped after talking to
Aidan it would get easier telling what
had happened. But she soon found that
wasn’t the case. In the light of a new
day, her whacked out reaction seemed
even more insane, not to mention it was
still mortifying that she had actually
fallen asleep during a blowjob.
Once she finished with every
mortifying detail, she gaged Megan’s
face for a response. With blonde brows
furrowed in confusion, her mouth hung
slightly open. “Wow,” Megan murmured.
Casey snorted. “That seems to be
the unified consensus.”
Emma shook her head. “That’s not
what I said when Aidan told me.”
Crossing her arms over her chest,
Casey countered, “Oh really. Just what
did you say?”
“If you must know, I said, ‘Poor
Casey’ because I knew how devastating
it had to be for you.”
“Seriously? You weren’t the least
bit confused about how I managed to do
it? Like was Nate’s dick harmed if I was
blowing him?”
“No because Aidan was pretty
thorough when he told the story,
especially when it came to the fact that
Nate was…you know, all right down
there.”
Rolling her eyes, Casey muttered,
“Fucking Penis Brotherhood.”
“What?” Emma asked.
“Nothing.”
Megan leaned forward on the
couch. “Look, at the end of the day, shit
happens. What happened to you could
have happened to any one of us--” When
Casey started to protest, Megan shook
her head. “There isn’t a woman out
there, who if she’s honest, hasn’t had
something mortifying happen in the
bedroom.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes. Really.”
Casey’s brows rose in challenge.
“What’s yours?”
Paling slightly, Megan shifted on
the cushions. “Well…there was this one
time I farted in a guy’s face when he was
going down on me.”
“No you didn’t!” Emma
questioned in horror as Casey snickered.
Megan nodded. “I was a freshman
at UGA. I was up on a kitchen counter at
this guy’s apartment I’d been crushing
on. He was on knees below me. In my
defense, he had a death grip on my sides
and was squeezing the hell out of my
stomach.” Closing her eyes, she shook
her head. “Needless to say we never had
sex, and he never called me after that.”
“Oh my,” Emma murmured.
“Thank you for that,” Casey said.
With a laugh, Megan replied,
“You’re welcome.”
When both Casey and Megan
looked to Emma, her face turned blood
red. “Do I really have to?”
“Yes,” they both answered in
unison.
Staring down at her hands, Emma
practically whispered, “Once when
Aidan was going down on me, I fell
asleep. He didn’t realize it until he heard
me snoring.”
Casey busted out laughing at the
absurdity of hearing a repeat of the story
that haunted Aidan. When she continued
to laugh, Emma straightened her
shoulders in a huff. “Well, I don’t think
it’s that funny.”
After wiping her eyes, Casey said,
“No, it’s not. It’s more the fact that
Aidan told me the same story last night.”
Emma gasped. “He did?”
Casey nodded. “He was trying to
make me feel better. You know, like a
‘We’ve all been there falling asleep
during oral sex’ kinda thing. It surprised
the hell out of me that he admitted it.”
“It surprises me, too. I mean, men
have such fragile egos when it comes to
sex, and while Aidan might put on a
good front, he is very sensitive about his
abilities as a lover and in turn, what that
says about him as a man,” Emma
replied.
“I might not have a dick, but trust
me that I feel his pain. Sex is something
I’ve always been good at.”
With a shake of her head, Megan
argued, “And you still are. You had one
slip up. It’s not a game changer in any
way.”
Emma nodded. “Megan’s
absolutely right. Aidan felt way worse
than he needed to about what happened,
and he did for a long time. Just like with
you, there were outside forces at hand. I
had just gone back to work after having
Noah. I was emotionally and physically
exhausted. It felt so good that I just got
way too relaxed. But in no way did it
mean that Aidan was a lousy lover—his
track record over the years totally
disproved that one. Just like yours
does.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“No. Deep down, you know I’m
right—you’re just too stubborn to admit
it,” Emma teased.
Casey laughed. “Fine. You’re
right, and I’m wrong.” Holding her fist
triumphantly in the air, she declared
rather loudly, “My name is Casey Rossi,
and I’m fantastic at fucking!”
At her exclamation, a few people
turned to stare in their direction.
“Seriously, Casey,” Emma muttered, her
face flushing crimson.
Megan and Casey merely laughed
at Emma’s embarrassment. Once the
people turned back around, Emma
cleared her throat. “Bottom line is you
just have to stop being so hard on
yourself. You just had a seismic shift
happen in your life. Things are never
going to be the same both for the good
and for the bad.”
“I know. It just doesn’t seem fair
that getting something as wonderful as
Olivia means having to lose something.
It shouldn’t be an all or nothing thing.”
Emma shook her head. “It doesn’t.
You just have to adjust a little.”
“Is that what you do now that
you’re a mom?”
“Yes and no. When Noah was
born, my attitude about having sex was
completely different than it is now.”
“Because you just had him, rather
than having Caroline, too?”
“No, it wasn’t because I was less
stressed or less tired because there was
just one child to care for.” Emma
grinned. “Well, three if you count
Aidan.”
“So if it wasn’t the kid factor,
what was it?” Casey questioned.
Emma thoughtfully twirled the red
and white striped straw in her cup.
“Aidan and I were still newlyweds
when Noah was born. I guess I felt a
little pressure to make sure he was taken
care of sexually. You know, considering
the strength of his sex drive.”
Casey grinned. “Yes, the force is
strong with that one.”
“Ew,” Megan replied, but then
laughed in spite of herself.
“I guess I just felt I owed it to
him, and that wasn’t a good way to feel.
It also meant the sex wasn’t that great
either because my heart wasn’t in it. It
wasn’t long before Aidan figured out
what was going on.”
“He really has come a long way in
the emotions department. Like quantum
leaps,” Casey mused.
Emma laughed. “I know, right?
Once he confronted me and I admitted it,
he really stepped up his game to make
me want sex again, which was amazing.
Sure there were still nights when it was
just a wham, bam, quickie—”
“Once again, ew!” Megan
interrupted, covering her hands with her
eyes.
Casey patted Megan’s knee. “I just
want you to know that I really appreciate
you supporting me right now, even
though it means hearing about your
uncle’s sex life.”
Megan peeked through her fingers
at Casey and grinned. “You’re
welcome.” She then nodded at Emma.
“Go on and finish.”
“Only if you’re sure.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“Anyway, since having kids, sex
is something I chose to prioritize. I’m
sure a lot of women wouldn’t agree with
me, and that’s okay. We each have to do
what is best for us and our marriages.
Do I feel sexy and alluring most days we
do it? Hell no. But in the end, Aidan
makes me feel beautiful no matter what.
And thank goodness we have better
communication since Caroline was
born.”
“After last night, we’re good on
communicating. Now it’s just actually
finding a way to bring the heat back.”
Casey then turned to Megan for her
input. “How did you feel when you had
Mason?”
“I’m probably not a lot of help
considering I was single. Overall, sex
was pretty low on my to-do list.”
“Totally understandable,” Casey
replied.
“But I do remember that after the
insanity of the first six weeks when my
hormones started evening out, I did have
moments where I wanted sex.” Megan
furrowed her brows. “Funny thing was it
was at the most bizarre times—like
during Mason’s mid-afternoon nap. I’d
be watching television and see some
sexy as hell guy, and suddenly I was hot.
In that moment, I would have jumped the
next available penis that walked by my
house—even if it was the ancient Mr.
McMurray across the street.”
Casey snorted at the thought. She
had had the pleasure of meeting the
decrepit neighbor at Mason’s baptism
party. “Man, post pregnancy hormones
are a bitch, aren’t they?”
“Here, here,” Megan said, raising
her cup in a toast while Emma nodded
vehemently in agreement.
“So we know how you feel about
the situation, but you never told us
exactly what Nate said?” Emma
questioned.
Casey huffed out a defeated
breath. “You know Nate. He’s honorable
and chivalrous to a fucking fault.”
Emma nudged Casey’s knee. “You
say that like those are bad attributes for
him to have.”
“I just meant that I wished he’d
gotten pissed off at me, rather than being
so understanding.”
“What happened when you got
back home?” Megan asked.
“We had a long talk about the
crazy shit I’ve been feeling about our sex
life. Of course, he doesn’t seem to think
things are as bad as I do, but then again,
I’ve always been more sexual than he
has.”
Megan took a thoughtful swig of
her drink. “It sounds like you’re missing
more than just the physical act of sex.”
“Trust me, I’ve been pretty
horny,” Casey argued.
“And you’re getting satisfied
physically with the sex, right? Like you
come?” Megan questioned.
Casey nodded. “Always.”
“If you’re having a release, then
your physical needs are being met.
There’s something deeper going on.”
“Interesting.”
“It’s like you’re searching for the
emotional connection you’ve found
through being physical with Nate.”
Pondering what Megan said,
Casey replied, “Hmm, I can see what
you mean.”
“Have you ever tried Tantric
sex?” Megan asked.
“That weird marathon sex shit
Sting and his wife do?”
Megan laughed. “Yes and no. It’s
probably well-known because of them,
but there’s so much more to Tantric. It’s
about connecting on an emotional level
before you even touch each other
physically. Then when you do come
together, it just heightens every feeling.”
Casey gave Megan an amused
smile. “I see the good doctor is really
packing the punches in the bedroom.”
“Trust me. Pesh could be the
poster boy for watch out for the quiet
ones.” Closing her eyes in exaggerated
bliss, she added, “Tantric sex really is
amazing. There’s something about the
withholding that makes it sizzle in the
end.”
“Sounds like something worth
trying,” Casey said.
“It’s not for everyone, and it’s not
something you can just halfway do. So
you need to make sure you have an
afternoon or evening to devote to it.”
Wrinkling her nose, Casey said,
“That’s going to be a little tough with
Olivia.”
Emma shook her head. “No, it’s
not.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I’m going to take her for
you.”
Casey widened her eyes in shock.
“You are?”
“Of course.”
“While I really appreciate the
sentiment, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have enough on
your plate with your own two kids.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Like
Olivia would be so much trouble that I
couldn’t handle her.”
As much as she wanted to say yes,
she hated to take advantage of Emma’s
kindness, and in turn, Aidan’s. They’d
both been so good to her about what had
happened.
Sensing Casey’s hesitation, Emma
said, “How about this? I take Olivia for
one day, and then you can take mine to
give me and Aidan some alone time?”
“I like that idea a lot,” Casey
replied.
Emma laughed. “I’m not sure why
considering you’re getting the short end
of the stick considering I have two kids
to your one.”
Before Casey could argue, Megan
said, “How about I help you out the day
you have Noah and Caroline? We can
pool our resources. Mason is great at
entertaining Noah.”
Casey smiled. “Sounds like a
plan.”
“Good deal.” Megan then glanced
at her phone. “I gotta get back to work.”
“Yeah, I need to get to work,”
Casey said.
“Feel better?” Emma asked.
“Tons.”
“I’m glad.”
“I can’t thank you guys enough for
talking me down from the ledge,” Casey
said.
“That’s what friends are for,”
Emma replied as Megan nodded in
agreement.
“Will you be around to answer
any Tantric questions I have?” Casey
asked Megan.
“Of course. Anything you need.”
“Thanks.”
As Casey started for the door, she
felt a renewed sense of purpose in her
step. She had a plan to recapture her
bedroom heat, and it started with getting
her Tantric freak on.
Five days after her emergency girl’s
summit with Emma and Megan, Casey
stood in the middle of her bedroom
ready to execute the next step of her
seduction plan. Gazing around the room,
she eyed the work she had done with a
critical eye. She had spent her last
several lunch breaks pouring over some
of the Tantric sex books that Megan had
recommended. She had highlighted and
studied the parts on the importance of
breathing. While making mental notes
about some of the suggested positions,
she tried to envision the ones Nate
would feel the most comfortable in, but
also the ones that wouldn’t make her feel
like a tremendous fat ass.
She had also learned that one of
the biggest steps was to transform their
bedroom into a “sacred spot for
lovemaking”. Apparently to achieve
such sacredness one need not hire a
Hindu priest for a blessing. Instead, she
merely needed to add some fresh
flowers, light some scented candles, and
break out the long forgotten pair of silk
sheets. She had also stocked up on some
aromatherapy oils. She was ready and
willing to take out all the stops to ensure
her afternoon was a success.
When Nate left to grab a quick
work out, she had taken Olivia over to
Emma’s. Although Casey had tried
talking her out of it, Emma remained
firm in her resolve to help out.
Considering it was a Saturday afternoon,
Casey had thanked her and Aidan
profusely. After watching the babies
play together on a pallet on the living
room floor, Casey had a hard time
leaving. With a roaring fire going and
Chinese takeout littering the coffee table,
the room was so inviting, especially
with baby chatter echoing off the walls.
Aidan and Emma lounged on the couch
in their most comfortable sweats and
yoga pants.
But she managed to pull herself
together and give Olivia a kiss goodbye.
The moment she had arrived back home,
she’d torn up the stairs and started a
frenzy of preparation. One aspect was
changing into a comfortable piece of
lingerie. While the silk nightie was sexy,
it also gave her room to breathe. She
sure as hell wasn’t going for anything
like the nurse’s costume from the other
night.
She had just finished lighting the
last of the candles lining the floor along
the bedroom walls when she heard
Nate’s car pull in the driveway.
After the garage door shut, Nate
called, “Babe?”
“I’m upstairs.”
Nate appeared in the doorway
with his gym bag slung over his
shoulder. Thankfully, he’d taken the time
to shower and change before coming
home. Not that she didn’t enjoy when he
was a sweaty mess. She just preferred
being the one to make him perspire.
Although what she had done to
their bedroom was a surprise, their
sexdate was not. After her coffee date,
she had told him that she was planning
time for them to be alone.
At the sight of the bedroom
illuminated in candlelight, Nate’s eyes
widened. “Wow, you really went all
out.”
She crossed the room to stand in
front of him. “I hope you don’t mind, but
I wanted us to try something a little
different today.”
Pulling her into his arms, he
smiled down at her. “Of course I don’t
mind.”
“Even if it seems a little…
strange?”
Nate chuckled. “Should I be
scared?”
Casey grinned. “Of course not.”
Tilting her head at him, she asked,
“Have you ever heard of Tantric sex?”
“The ancient Indian practice of
using energy through sex,” he rattled,
sounding like a textbook.
“I should have known you would
know, Mr. Smarty Pants.”
“You know you love my big
brain,” Nate teased.
Nodding, Casey said, “Oh yes, it’s
my second favorite big body part of
yours.”
As Nate nuzzled her neck, he said,
“Remind me what your favorite one is.”
“Mmm, your big ass feet.”
Her smart answer was rewarded
with a resounding smack on the ass.
“Fine, fine. You’re fantastically huge
dick.”
“That is more like it.”
Casey pushed herself out of
Nate’s arms. “Okay enough of that for
now. We need to get busy.”
An amused look twinkled in
Nate’s dark eyes. “I thought we were.”
Wagging a finger at him, Casey
said, “Today is all about Tantric.”
“Yes ma’am.” After giving her a
mock salute, he asked, “Where do we
start?”
“With some dancing.” Picking up
the remote to the iHome, she turned on a
little T.I. to get the blood really pumping.
Tilting his head, Nate eyed her
curiously. “What? I’m supposed to dance
like I’m at a club?” he questioned.
“No. It’s like this. Stand with your
legs hip-length apart.”
Nate’s brows furrowed in
confusion. “How am I going to dance
like that?”
“Like this.” Casey then illustrated
what she had seen in the book, which
was basically a full body shake of your
arms, legs, and ass. When the corners of
Nate’s lips turned up, she demanded,
“What?”
“I was just thinking if I saw one of
my patients doing this I would swear
they were having convulsions.”
She momentarily stopped shaking
to smack Nate’s arm. “Not funny.”
Jerking her chin at him, she said, “Come
on.”
Rolling his eyes, Nate began to
mimic her movements. After a few
seconds, he asked, “Exactly why are we
doing this?”
“It’s supposed to let out all the
tension in our body. Once the tension is
gone, we can allow more pleasure in,”
she replied.
“And how long does it take to
achieve that?”
“Just a minute.”
“Thank God.”
After a minute had passed, Casey
turned the music from rap to a sensual
Indian relaxation song. “Okay. Now it’s
time for us to breathe and rock.” Taking
Nate’s hand, Casey led him over to the
bed. “Have a seat,” she instructed.
“With my clothes on?”
Casey nodded. Quoting one of the
books, she replied, “We have to get
emotionally naked before we can get
physically naked.”
“If you say so.” After climbing up
onto the mattress, Nate shifted himself to
the center of the bed. For a brief
moment, Casey had a flashback of
earlier in the week when he did the same
thing the night of the disastrous blow job
episode. She quickly shook her head and
shook herself free of the memory.
“Okay, cross your legs Indian
style.”
As soon as he finished, Casey got
up on the bed and crawled over to Nate.
Once she reached him, she eased onto
Nate’s lap to where they were face to
face.
Staring into her eyes, Nate
wrapped his arms around her. “I like
this.”
“No touching yet.”
“Seriously?”
“First we have to become one
through our breathing.”
With a resigned sigh, Nate let his
arms fall away and rest on the mattress.
“So exactly how are we supposed to
breathe?”
“We’re supposed to take each
other’s breaths in. Like I breathe out, and
you inhale. Then vice versa.”
“Sounds easy enough,” Nate
remarked.
“While we’re doing it, we’re
supposed to stay even further connected
by gazing into each other’s eyes.”
“I can do that.”
Casey leaned forward on Nate’s
lap. Ignoring his hardening cock beneath
her, she brought her lips to where they
were almost touching his. As he opened
his mouth, she breathed inside. The
intensity burning in Nate’s eyes sent a
shiver down Casey’s spine. Megan was
right—this Tantric shit was pretty epic.
Then the moment was abruptly
broken when Nate’s expression changed
from desire to concern. He inhaled
sharply. "Do you smell that?"
Casey widened her eyes. "I know
you’re not trying to say I have bad
breath!"
With a jerk of his head, Nate then
replied, “No. Nothing like that.”
“Then what.”
“I thought I smelled smoke.”
Grinning, Casey teasingly asked,
“Are you getting so hot with anticipation
that you think you smell a fire?”
Nate opened his mouth to say
something when a small explosion went
off across the room. Both of them jerked
their attention to the balcony’s French
doors where orange flames licked and
danced their way up the frilly drapes.
“Holy shit, the curtains are on
fire!” Nate exclaimed.
Nate grabbed her by the waist and
threw her off his lap. “Oomph,” she
muttered, as she bounced on the
mattress. As she was pulling herself up,
Nate scrambled off the bed. He
fleetingly eyed the flaming curtains
before sprinting into the bathroom.
Throwing herself into action,
Casey hopped down and grabbed her
robe off the end of the bed. She started
beating down the flames with the fabric.
Nate reappeared with a bucket full of
water. “Get back!” he commanded. The
moment she dipped to the side he doused
the remaining flames with water, sending
a loud hiss throughout the room.
Once the fire was out, they both
stood huffing and panting as they tried to
catch their breath. After she felt she
could breathe again, she gazed around,
surveying the damage.
“Damn,” she muttered. They
would have to repaint considering parts
of the once khaki-colored wall were
now an attractive soot-stained black.
The flooring in front of the door would
have to be replaced as well considering
there were burned out holes in it. It was
to go without saying they would need
new window treatments since the old
ones had been turned to ash.
“I’m not sure how we’ll explain
this to the insurance company,” Nate
mused.
Casey groaned. “It’s all my fault. I
was too caught up in making the
bedroom into a Tantric temple that I
didn’t realize I put the candles too close
to the drapes.” She shook her head.
“Guess it’s safe to say that sure as hell
didn’t go as planned.”
Nate laughed. “I would disagree.
You wanted to put some heat in our
bedroom, and a house fire is one way to
do it.”
Swatting his arm, she replied, “Oh
whatever.”
They stood there for a few
minutes just staring at the mess. “What
now?” she finally asked. After all, they
had a whole Olivia free afternoon to fill.
Part of her wondered if they should try
to make love just to do it, or if they
should call it a day. Considering the
acrid smell of smoke still lingering in
the air, they would have to use their
imagination on where else to do it.
“We could catch up on some
sleep, or we could order in some
Chinese, watch some Netflix and just
veg out,” Nate suggested.
“That sounds good.”
“Or…”
“Or what?”
His dark eyes stared into hers.
“We could go get Olivia and spend the
rest of the day with her. Maybe go out to
eat and take her for a walk in the park?”
Casey reached out and cupped his
cheek. “I like that idea a lot.”
Nate grinned. “Good.”
For the second time that day, he
sprinted to the bathroom. “I’m going to
change. I probably smell like smoke,” he
called.
She nodded. “Me too.”
When she eyed the soot blackened
wall, she shook her head. Once again,
her sex life had gone down in flames,
and once again, she wasn’t sure how in
the hell she was going to fix it.
A week passed without any
improvement. She got slammed with
back to back projects at work, and Nate
helped out one of his doctor friends by
taking their shift, which resulted in
nothing but sleep happening in their bed.
While the setback was disheartening,
Casey wasn’t giving up. She had
decided to view the time as a way to
recoup and recharge and come back with
a better strategy.
Thursday night found her sitting
around Aidan and Emma’s dining room
table as she bounced Olivia on her knee.
Earlier that day, Emma had called to
invite her for an impromptu dinner.
Thankfully, it was not another meeting
about her dying sex life. Instead, they
were all there to support their friend,
Connor, and his husband, Jeff, in their
adoption journey.
As she balanced Olivia on her
shoulder, Casey rifled through her work
bag. She pulled out a manila envelope
and passed it across the table to Connor.
“Here is Nate’s and my recommendation
letter. I had him do a separate one to
lend his medical expertise to.”
Connor beamed as he took it into
his hands. “Thank you. And tell Nate
thanks for taking the time to do one
himself.”
“He was happy to do it.”
“We all are,” Emma said, as she
reached over to squeeze Connor’s hand.
When she pulled back, Jeff gave
Emma a sheepish smile. “Out of
everyone, I’m surprised that you didn’t
say no.”
Emma’s green eyes widened in
surprise. “Why ever would you think
that?”
“Because I didn’t want Connor to
have a baby with you.”
“I could never, ever say no to
Connor’s and your happiness because of
a grudge.” Glancing over at Aidan, she
winked. “Besides, it all worked out as it
should have.”
“Here, here,” Aidan said as he
raised his wine glass.
Sorting through the paperwork,
Connor said, “I think that’s everything
we need from you guys. Now that we
have all the recommendation letters, we
can move forward with the agency.”
Casey smiled. “That’s so
exciting.”
Connor nodded. “To think that this
time next year we could be parents…”
His eyes closed as a hopeful expression
came over his face. “It’s just amazing.”
With a grin, Casey said, “There’s
always surrogacy, too. I mean, between
me or Em, we could pop you a kid out,
I’m sure.”
Emma groaned. “Speak for
yourself.”
Connor and Jeff laughed. “While
we appreciate the offer, we really want
to give an unwanted child a home,”
Connor said. After he wrinkled his nose,
he added, “Jesus, that sounded
rehearsed, didn’t it?”
“No. It just sounds like something
which you’ve given a lot of thought to,”
Emma replied.
Connor smiled. “We have.”
“Well, any child would be lucky
to get you guys for parents,” Aidan said.
“Very true,” Casey agreed.
As she rose out of her chair,
Emma asked, “Who wants some
dessert?”
Aidan rubbed his stomach. “I
think I’m too stuffed.”
Cocking her brows at him almost
in a challenge, Emma said, “It’s
Grammy’s Strawberry Delight Cake.”
Her statement sent Aidan’s blue
eyes flashing with pleasure. “Well, then,
I think I could try a little piece.”
Emma laughed. “I thought as
much.”
“I’ll clear while you get it ready,”
Casey suggested.
“Here. Let me help,” Connor
added.
Once she handed Olivia off to an
eager Jeff, Casey started gathering up the
dirty dishes. As they started through the
alcove to the kitchen, Connor asked, “So
what’s been going on with you?”
With a shrug, she replied, “Oh,
you know. Same old same old.”
After Connor sat the plates in his
hands down by the sink, he gave her a
no-nonsense look. “Hmm, so the same
old shit warrants an emergency girls’
summit?”
Not really wanting to take a trip
down memory lane with him, she rolled
her eyes. “Just Emma overreacting as
usual,” she replied, before heading back
into the dining room.
She should have known she
wouldn’t be able to dissuade Connor so
easily. He caught up to her the moment
she reached the table. “Come on, Case.
What’s up?”
Aidan shifted Caroline on his
knee. “You didn’t tell him?” he asked.
Before Casey could protest,
Connor’s eyes widened. “You mean
Aidan knows, and I don’t.”
“It’s not some conspiracy against
you, Connor,” she argued.
“Just because I couldn’t make it
that day doesn’t mean I shouldn’t get to
know.” In her hesitation, he added,
“Seriously. If you don’t tell me, I’ll just
ask Emma.”
“Fine. If you must know, I fell
asleep giving Nate a blow job.”
The wine goblet Connor had just
picked up slipped through his fingers
and smashed onto the dining room floor.
Without even looking at the broken glass,
he questioned, “W-Wait, what?”
“Em, bring the broom and
dustpan. I just freaked Connor out with
my narcoleptic oral sex story, and now
we have a cleanup on aisle three,”
Casey called in an amused tone.
Poking her head in the doorway,
Emma peered curiously around. “One
second,” she replied.
“I’m sorry for overreacting. It’s
just…wow,” Connor said.
Casey laughed. “Yeah, I know.”
When she gazed over to gage
Jeff’s reaction, he shook his head. “Oh
no. Leave me out of this one.”
“Thanks.”
Connor pulled out a chair and
eased her down into it. Then he sat down
beside her. “Okay. Tell me everything.”
Holding up her hands, Casey said,
“Seriously, do we really need to talk
about this right now?” As Olivia grinned
at her across the table, she added, “Call
me crazy, but it’s kinda weird talking
about it in front of the kids.”
“Why don’t I take them into the
living room?” Jeff suggested.
Aidan nodded. “Sounds like a
plan.”
“Traitors,” she muttered under her
breath.
Rising out of his chair, Aidan
said, “Normally I wouldn’t pressure you
to talk, but after what happened the other
day, I think it might help.”
“There’s more?” Connor
questioned.
Casey exhaled loudly. “Oh yeah.
There’s more.”
“Damn,” he murmured.
“Yep. Pretty much.”
They were momentarily
interrupted by Emma arriving with the
broom and dustpan. After Aidan had
helped get the kids and Jeff settled in the
living room, he took his seat just as
Emma brought the cake in. Although she
probably shouldn’t have indulged, Casey
needed a little sugar to fortify her
strength to unload the continuing sad
saga of her sex life.
She finished up the last sordid
detail along with the last bite of
strawberry cake. Connor had sat in rapt
attention, nodding along through some of
the parts while cringing at others. At the
very end, he shook his head. “Man, that’s
rough.”
“Yup,” she murmured.
“But as I’m sure the others have
said before me, I can promise you it isn’t
as bad as you think.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “When you have
something as strong as you and Nate do,
it can’t be lost so easily. It’s still there.
You just have to have a little patience.”
She grunted as she licked the icing
off her fork. “You should know I’m the
last person in the world to have any
patience.”
“You’re just going to have to try. I
mean, I haven’t had a child yet, nor will
I have the hormones when I do, but I do
know that all relationships and
marriages go through sexual spells.
Sometimes it’s just a lesser season for
you.”
“Ugh…I guess.”
“And getting yourself all worked
up over it doesn’t help matters. You just
have to take a deep breath and relax.”
“The last time I did that I almost
burned down my bedroom,” Casey
quipped.
Laughter erupted around the table.
When it died down, Aidan leaned
forward in his chair, a contemplative
look on his face. "Maybe it's the
bedroom."
Casey furrowed her brows in
confusion. "Huh?"
"Like the issue is with the
bedroom, the place, not the sex itself."
Tilting her head, Casey paused to
let Aidan's words sink in. In Casey’s
silence, Emma glanced between her and
Aidan. "What could possibly be wrong
with their bedroom?" she questioned.
“Besides the destruction by my
pyrotechnic candle lighting skills?”
Casey mused.
Emma laughed. “I thought you said
the walls were repainted two days ago
and the new window treatments are
being delivered tomorrow?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So then what’s wrong with it
physically or emotionally?” Emma
asked.
"I'm not saying there's something
wrong with it, just that to spice things up
she might want to look somewhere
different,” Aidan replied.
Emma crinkled her nose. "Like a
hotel?"
Aidan grinned at her. "You say
that like it’s a bad thing. If memory
serves me well, the first time we were
together was at a hotel."
A blush of pink tinged Emma's
cheeks. From the way she cast her eyes
down, Casey knew she was having an
elicit flashback. Aidan seemed to
appreciate her reaction. Taking her hand,
he pulled her out of her to chair and
eased her down on his lap. As his hand
drew circles on her back, Casey
chuckled to herself that Aidan and Emma
would most likely be making use of their
bedroom as soon as the kids were
asleep.
“So you’re advocating we go
away somewhere to rekindle the heat?”
Casey asked.
Tilting his head thoughtfully,
Aidan replied, “Not exactly.”
“Then what?” Casey asked.
A devious glint burned in his blue
eyes. “Consider a public place.”
“That’s not exactly a first for us,”
Casey admitted.
With a shrug, Aidan replied, “It
doesn’t have to be about trying
something new. In fact, I think part of the
problem is you’re getting too caught up
in the planning and execution. You just
need to throw caution to the wind and go
balls to the wall.”
Casey thought about Aidan’s
suggestion. “Hmm, like a sneak sex
attack at the hospital?”
Aidan bobbed his head. “I like
that.”
Connor cleared his throat. Smiling
slightly, he asked, “Are you sure you
want to be taking advice from him?”
Aidan huffed indignantly. “Excuse
me? Considering my reputation, I think
anyone would be thrilled to have me
dispensing sexual advice.” His comment
earned him a smack from Emma. “Ow,”
he muttered.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Don’t be throwing around your former
reputation in front of me, or you’ll be
needing some sex advice of your own.”
Casey and Connor busted out
laughing. “Burn, Douchenozzle,” Casey
replied.
Aidan merely grinned. “Sorry
about that. I got a little carried away.”
“I’ll think about letting you make
it up to me later,” she replied, with a
wink.
“Angel of mercy,” Aidan teased
as he nuzzled her neck.
After pushing Aidan away, Emma
turned to Casey. “Are you really serious
about doing a hospital sneak attack?”
“Sure. Why not?”
Emma shrugged. “I don’t know. I
guess the aspect of it being Nate’s
workplace makes it seem a little…seedy
and sordid?”
Wagging a finger, Casey argued,
“Ha, like you and Aidan didn’t get busy
in his office.”
While Aidan snickered, Emma’s
face flushed. “That was only because I
was ovulating, and after taking my
temperature, that was the optimal time to
have sex for conception.”
“Yeah, yeah, so you claim,” Casey
teased.
“Fine. Go bang your husband all
over the fourth floor. See if I care,”
Emma huffed.
“Speaking of my office, maybe
you should come by sometime?” Aidan
suggested as he wagged his eyebrows.
Emma rolled her eyes as she
pulled herself out of Aidan’s lap.
“You’re all impossible. Now if you’ll
excuse me, I’m going to make sure my
children haven’t terrorized Jeff into no
longer wanting kids.”
Casey laughed. “I’ll come with
you. It’s time I got Olivia home for her
bath and bed.” After standing up, she
winked at Aidan. “Thanks for the
advice, oh mighty Douchenozzle.”
“You’re welcome. Let me know
how it works out.”
“Call me Pessimistic Paul, but I
don’t have a good feeling about this,”
Connor said.
“Me either,” Emma agreed.
Casey grinned. “Ha, then I’ll just
have to prove you both wrong.”
After easing her SUV into a spot in the
parking garage, Casey threw a final
glance at her reflection in the rearview
mirror. “Hmm, a little more lipstick,”
she murmured, before digging her
makeup bag out of her purse. Once she
fished out her favorite gold tube, she
colored her lips a darker red. She
puckered them and made a kissy face at
the mirror. “Nice.”
Operation Sneak Attack Sex was
about to commence.
The instant her office clock hit
eleven, she’d grabbed her carefully
packed bag out of her closet and hurried
into her bathroom. Thankfully, her job as
Vice President of Marketing meant she
had one of the few offices with a private
bathroom. She was certainly going to
need a little privacy today.
First, she took out a sexy pair of
black lace stockings and a garter belt.
Once she had them on, she put on the
black and white lace panties that looked
demure but were conveniently crotch
less. Then she put on the matching corset
top. To ensure another nurse’s costume
mishap didn’t happen, she had used her
lunch break the day before to go
shopping for a size larger than she
usually wore.
Standing back from the mirror, she
appreciated her appearance. “Looking
pretty sexy there,” she murmured. After
quickly reapplying some makeup and
fluffing out her hair, she pulled on her
black, ankle length rain coat that if it had
been brown, would have made her look
like a detective in a trench coat.
After grabbing her purse and
phone, she headed out of the office. She
then made the twenty minute drive over
to Nate’s hospital, in a break-neck
fifteen minutes. Drawing her shoulders
back, she stilled what little nerves she
had and got out of the car.
When she reached Nate’s floor,
she drew in a breath and stepped
confidently off the elevator. She was
secure in the knowledge that in just a
few minutes she would be giving Nate
the surprise of his life. Just the idea sent
tingles up her spine and heat between
her legs.
She paused at the nurses’ station.
“Hi, Mrs. Rossi, how are you?” Amelia,
the charge nurse, asked. Most of the
nurses knew her from the holiday
parties.
“Good, thanks you. Can you tell
me where my husband is?”
“I think he just stepped inside a
patient’s room. Would you like me to
have him paged?”
“No, no,” Casey said a little too
quickly. At Amelia’s raised brows, she
said, “I wanted to surprise him.”
“Ah, I see. I think he’s in Room
415.”
“Thank you.”
Ignoring Amelia’s curious
expression, Casey turned and started
down the hall. When she finally reached
room 415, Nate was just stepping out. At
the sight of her, a pleased but confused
look came on his face. “What are you
doing here?”
Without answering him, she
demanded. “Where’s the doctors’
lounge?”
His brows furrowed. “Down the
hall. On the right,” he answered almost
robotically.
She grabbed his hand and then
proceeded to drag him down the hall,
which considering his size and build
was no easy feat. “Casey, what’s going
on?”
When they reached the door, she
grabbed him by both sides of the face
and jerked him down to where she could
lay one on him. Once they were both
breathless from her kiss, she pulled
away. Taking a step back, she untied her
raincoat and flashed him.
His dark eyes bulged as his jaw
dropped to his chest. “W-What the
hell?”
“Now that I have your undivided
attention, I want you to obey your
Hippocratic Oath by giving me the best
care possible.”
Dumbfounded, Nate replied, “You
want me to what?”
She giggled. “Just how plain do I
have to make it, Dr. Rossi?”
“I don’t know,” he muttered.
“If it’s not abundantly clear, I
came here for you to fuck me.” When she
tried the door on the doctors’ lounge, she
found it locked. Eyeing the card reader
on the wall, Casey then jerked Nate’s
keycard off the lapel of his white coat. “I
want you right here and right now.”
When she slid the card into the
reader, it beeped approval and entry. As
she shoved Nate inside, he shook his
head. “Wait, Casey, not here—”
“Yes. Right here and right now.”
Reaching for his pants, she tugged on his
belt. “Let’s get that fabulous cock out so
you can fuck me until I scream.”
It was then she noticed Nate
appeared to be frozen in place. Gazing
up into his face, she saw he was staring
past her. Whirling around, her eyes
bulged in horror at the sight of five
interns sitting scattered along the
couches. “Holy shit,” she muttered.
While most of the group sat open-
mouthed with pens hanging in midair
above their clipboards, a blond rose to
his feet. With an amused smirk, he
brought his hands together and started
clapping. “You go, Dr. Rossi. Get ya
some!”
Laughter broke out at his outburst.
“Oh. My. God,” she moaned, as a fiery
mortification burned her cheeks. She
snatched the lapels of her trench coat
shut and furiously wound the belt tight.
“Go back to your fucking
paperwork, Farnsworth,” Nate growled
before he grabbed her arm and led her
into the adjoining room.
Once again, she moaned, “Oh my
God.”
“I’m sorry babe, I tried to tell
you.”
She knew she couldn’t blame him.
He had tried, but she was too focused on
her master fucking plan that she hadn’t
listened to him. Great, not only had her
plan gone down in flames, but she had
embarrassed Nate in front of his interns.
“I’m sorry.”
When she expected to find the
usual understanding Nate, she got a big
surprise. With a somber expression,
Nate said, “Casey, this sex obsession
nonsense has got to stop.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“No. Not until we’ve recaptured
the heat,” she pleaded helplessly.
Nate shook his head adamantly.
“It’s too much. It ends now.”
Casey threw up her hands. “What?
You don’t want to have sex with me
anymore?”
“Of course I want to have sex
with you.” He motioned to her trench
coat. “But not like this. Nor with all the
other over-the-top antics you’ve been
pulling lately.”
A strangled cry escaped Casey’s
lips. “’Over-the-top antics’? That’s what
you think of what I’ve been doing?
Jesus, Nate, I’ve been busting my ass
trying to please you, and that’s what you
have to say about it?”
“It’s never been about me,” Nate
said in a low voice.
“Excuse me?” Casey demanded.
Nate chewed on his lip in his
hesitation. “This is all about you and
your insecurities.”
“You asshole!” Casey shrieked.
“I’m sorry, but deep down, you
know it’s the truth.”
Ignoring him, Casey pushed past
him as she started for the door. “Casey,
wait. We need to talk about this.”
“Fuck off,” she called as she
stormed down the hall to the elevators.
After slamming her hand against the
down button, the doors opened up. She
then punched the lobby button. To her
frustration, Nate ducked inside just as
the doors were about to shut.
Jabbing a finger at him, Casey
hissed, “I am not talking to you right
now.”
“Oh hell yes, you are.”
Casey opened her mouth to protest
when Nate turned and hit the emergency
button on the elevator pad. The car came
to a screeching halt, causing both of their
bodies to shudder. “What the hell do you
think you’re doing trapping us in here?”
“When I said we were going to
talk about this, I meant it, dammit.
You’re not getting out of my sight until
we make things right.”
Sneering at him, Casey replied,
“Good luck with that one.”
With his hips, he pinned her to the
wall. Taking her arms in his, he placed
them over her head. “Now you listen to
me. I love you—I have since the moment
I saw you in Starbucks. Over all those
years, we’ve had some ups and downs,
but for the most part, it’s been good.
Correct?”
“Correct,” she grudgingly
growled.
“We’ve been a good team—we’ve
learned to give and take from each other
and work through our issues as a team.
Correct?”
“What does this—”
Now it was Nate’s turn to growl.
“Answer the fucking question.”
“Correct, Asshole!” she snapped.
“We’ve gone on some amazing
trips and seen cool places, had a
beautiful wedding and then honeymoon
in Italy, and we’ve had wonderful times
with our family and friends. Correct?”
“Correct.”
“During all those years, we’ve
also managed to have some scorching
hot sex. Correct?”
Her anger receded a little as she
wondered where he was going with this.
“Yes,” she murmured.
“So when you look back over all
those years together, what’s the first
thing that comes to your mind?”
Closing her eyes, she let her mind
momentarily drift. When she pictured
them, their years of dating, engagement,
and marriage, she saw one thing—and it
wasn’t sex. It was the two of them
smiling and laughing over the little
things.
Tears pinpricked the back of her
eyelids. “Oh Nate,” she murmured.
His fingers came to grip her chin,
and she opened her eyes to gaze up into
his. “It wasn’t the sex you saw, was it?”
When she gave a quick jerk of her head,
Nate sighed. “Then why can’t you see
what we have is good, and you don’t
need to fixate on whether we’re having
mind-blowing sex 24/7?”
“I’m afraid,” she whispered.
“Afraid of what?”
Once again, she gave a jerk of her
head. Although she was used to telling
him everything, she couldn’t seem to
bring herself to say this aloud. She
hadn’t been able to voice this worry to
anyone, not even Emma. Somewhere in
her fucked-up head she thought that if she
acknowledged it into words then it could
really happen. So it had stayed festering
in her mind.
The intercom in the elevator
buzzed. “Everyone okay?”
“No,” Casey muttered as Nate
replied, “Yeah, we’re fine.”
“We’re checking the system and
should have you out in a minute.”
“Thanks,” Nate replied. He stared
intently at her. “Please, Casey. We don’t
have a lot of time.”
As she stared into the face of the
man she loved with all her heart, her
resolve began to waver. She didn’t want
to carry around the burden anymore.
Swallowing hard, she finally uttered the
thought that had been plaguing her. “I’m
afraid that without the hot sex, you’re
going to find someone else and leave
me.”
Nate’s dark eyes bulged. “Have
you lost your mind?”
She snorted as she swiped the
tears from her cheeks. “Yes, I think it’s
safe to say that I’ve officially gone over
the edge.”
“No offense, but you would have
to be a little off to think I could ever
leave you.”
“But don’t you see? You’re the
one who is a catch in our relationship—
you always were. You’re sweet, smart,
and hot as hell. Any single doctor or
nurse on this floor would kill to have
you—hell, the married ones too I’d
wager.” Tears welled in her eyes again.
“They could give you something I can’t
—something new.”
“Is that why you’ve been forcing
all the crazy stuff on us?”
“Yes and no. Don’t get me wrong.
You know how important sex is to me,
and I selfishly wanted more heat.”
“I don’t think that’s selfish at all.
You have needs, and I always want to
meet them.”
“And you do—you always do. I
guess, it’s just after having Olivia, I was
afraid you might get bored with me.
After I’d finally given you the child you
always wanted, you might not need me
anymore. You might begin to realize that
you’d been saddled with Crazy Casey
for way too long, and that the sexy nurse
with the gravity defying breasts and no
pregnancy stretchmarks could make you
happier.”
When he chuckled at her
summation, she gave him the stink-eye.
“I’m sorry, but I can promise you that’s
last thing I’ll ever think or do.”
“I’m sure a lot of men promise
their wives that, and then they change
their minds.”
Nate cupped her cheeks with his
hands. Shaking his head, he said, “This
is me we’re talking about. That’s not
who I am or who I ever was. Deep
down, you know that.”
As she stared into his eyes that
shone with love for her and only her, she
realized what a fool she had been. “Yes,
I do,” she whispered.
“Babe,” Nate crooned as he
pulled her into his arms. When she felt
his arms tighten around her, she let her
emotions truly go. As she wept
inconsolably, Nate rubbed circles across
her back while whispering words of
love in her ear.
“I’msorryI’msorryI’msorry,” she
murmured over and over.
“It’s okay.”
“No. It isn’t. I’ve been such an
idiot.”
He gently eased her back to look
at him. “How about I think of some way
you can make it up to me?”
She smiled. “I’d like that a lot.”
“Good. Now shut the fuck up, and
let me kiss you.”
For once, she did exactly as she
was told. Just as Nate thrust his tongue
into her mouth and deepened the kiss, the
elevator doors popped open. But it was
the sound of applause that caused them
to jerk away from each other. Once
again, they were faced with an audience
—thankfully this time it wasn’t Nate’s
interns. Instead, it was a few of the
nurses and doctors Nate worked with.
“I better get going. I’ve caused
enough trouble for today,” she said
sheepishly.
Nate laughed. “I’ll see you at
home.”
She nodded. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
After giving him a quick kiss
goodbye, she headed off the elevator
into the lobby. Although the day hadn’t
turned out like she’d planned, she
couldn’t wipe off the goofy, satisfied
smile on her face as she walked out to
the parking garage.
A few days after her come to Jesus with
Nate, Casey was immersed in her latest
work project when her cell phone
dinged and interrupted her train of
thought. Although she was prepared to
ignore it, she glanced down to make sure
it wasn’t Nate’s mom calling about
Olivia. When she saw it was Nate, her
brows rose in surprise since it wasn’t
like him to call during the day.
Picking up the phone, she said,
“Hey babe. What’s up?”
Without his usual friendly
greeting, Nate questioned gruffly, “Are
you alone?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Is the door to your office opened
or closed?”
Her gaze flicked over to the
doorway. “Um, it’s half open.”
“Good. Now I want you to do
everything I say. No questions asked.
Got it?”
Her heartbeat thumped noisily
against her breastbone. “Nate, what the
hell is going on?”
“I said no questions.” Before she
could protest again, he said, “You’re
wearing that tight, red skirt I like, aren’t
you?”
Her mouth gaped open. “Yes.”
“Good. Staying right where you
are, I want you to spread your legs as far
as they’ll go.”
She sucked in a sharp breath.
Holy shit. Nate was calling her for
phone sex in the middle of the day? It
was almost too good to be true. Although
she desperately wanted to ask what had
gotten into him, she didn’t want to piss
him off and make him hang up.
After widening her thighs, she
said, “Okay. What now?”
“Take your hand and place it on
your calf. Then slowly trail it up your
legs until you almost get to your pussy.”
A shudder went through Casey
hearing both his command and the use of
the word ‘pussy’. Obeying his command,
she slid her hand up her calf and up her
thigh. She stopped just before she
reached her underwear. “Okay,” she said
in a ragged breath.
“Do you want to touch yourself?”
“Mmm, hmm,” she murmured.
“Then start stroking yourself—but
only over your panties.”
Casey didn’t have to be told
twice. She ran her fingers over her hot
center, rubbing her clit over the lacy
fabric. Wetting her lips, she let her head
fall back against the headrest of her
chair. As she closed her eyes, her breath
began to come in harsh pants. It had been
a long time since she had touched herself
like this, and it sure as hell hadn’t been
somewhere like her office. All those
factors made her feel so wanton and
made what she was doing to herself feel
fucking amazing.
“Does that feel good?”
“Yes. Very good.”
“Now slide one finger inside
yourself.”
She couldn’t bite back a moan of
pleasure when she answered his
command. Her hips rose and fell at the
penetration while she kept rubbing
herself. “Oh God,” she murmured.
“Are you wet?”
“Drenched.”
“Good. Now use two fingers on
yourself.”
“Gladly,” she replied, as she
thrust another finger deep inside herself.
“Does it excite you thinking
someone could be watching you pleasure
yourself right now?”
A shiver ran from the top of her
down her spine, causing her to tremble.
“Yeah.”
“Would you deny yourself coming
if you saw someone watching you?”
Considering how close she was
getting, she didn’t give a fuck about
putting on a show. She just wanted to
come. “No.”
“Aren’t you a naughty girl?”
“Yes. Yes, I am,” she panted, as
she lifted her hips harder and faster
against her hand.
“Do you wish it was me?”
“Oh God yes. Your fingers, your
lips, your tongue…” She shuddered.
“Your dick.”
“Would you let me fuck you on
your desk? Spread your legs wide and
bury myself inside you?”
“Mmm, yes.”
“Can you wait to come until it’s
around my dick as it’s pumping inside
you?”
“No...” She shook her head. “I
mean, yes. I’m just so close.”
“Would you like for me to let you
come?”
“Yes.”
“Then beg me.”
Casey was momentarily taken out
of the moment by Nate’s command. It
was so unlike him, and that drove her
absolutely wild. “Please.”
“Please what?”
“Please, Nate. Please let me
come.”
At the sound of the door slamming
shut, Casey bolted upright in her chair.
Her eyes widened not at the sight of her
boss or one of her coworkers. It was
Nate.
Without taking his eyes from hers,
he took his cell and ended the call. In her
shock, she had dropped her phone and
had no idea where it went. Still unable
to speak, she watched as he turned
around and locked the door behind him.
The click echoed through the room and
made her shift in her seat.
As he started over to her, she
asked, “W-What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to be able to watch you
as you came.”
She sucked in a harsh breath at his
words. Although she had a million
questions for him, she bit down on her
lip to keep from asking them. With an
ache between her legs, she wanted to see
this through.
“I didn’t tell you to stop touching
yourself, did I?”
“N-No,” she stammered. This
authoritative side of him had her
completely tongue-tied.
“Are you still wet?” When she
slowly nodded her head, he asked, “Do
you still want to come?”
“Yes. Desperately.”
“Then I’ll let you.” At her sigh of
relief, he held up a hand. “But not yet.”
“What?”
“Take off your shirt and bra.”
At his command, she rose out of
her chair. Her trembling fingers made it
difficult to get the pearl buttons on her
blouse loose. Nate’s hooded eyes
glittered with desire as he watched her
slip the silky material off her shoulders.
Her arms reached back to unhook her
bra. His eyes flared when her breasts
were bare and the cool air and her
desire pebbled her nipples.
“Now your skirt.”
Her eyes widened. “You want me
naked?”
“Yes.”
She quickly unbuttoned and
unzipped her skirt and slid it down her
thighs. Once it joined her top and bra on
the floor, she straightened up and looked
at Nate. “Now your panties.”
Oh God, she was going to be
completely naked in her office with her
coworkers just a few feet away. She
stripped off the lace and stood trembling
before him. “You’re so beautiful and
sexy, Casey,” he said with adoration in
his voice.
“Thank you,” she replied, her
voice barely a whisper.
“Now get up on the desk,” he
commanded.
It took a moment for her to
process his words. Pushing aside her
laptop and paperwork, she then
scrambled up on the desk. Nate came
around the side and eased down in her
chair. Taking her legs, he pushed them
wide apart. Her breath hitched as the
cool air hit her scorching center. “Mmm,
you are wet,” Nate said, as he gazed at
her.
“It’s all because of you,” she
admitted.
“And I’m hard as a rock because
of you.”
Casey’s gaze momentarily left
Nate’s to stare down his lap. Oh God, he
was hard as a rock. She rubbed her
thighs together, desperate for some
friction to ease the ache between her
legs.
“Touch your breasts,” Nate
commanded.
She flicked her eyes to his. Once
again, she did as she was told. When she
held her breasts in her palms, Nate said,
“Squeeze them hard.”
When she did, her nipples grew
even harder. Nate automatically noticed
because he said, “Pinch your nipples.”
A gasp escaped her lips as she
rolled the sensitive buds between her
fingers. Just as she was about to worry
that the stimulation was going to have
her breastmilk leaking, Nate took her
hands from her breasts and put one
between her legs. “Now make yourself
come. And keep your eyes on mine at all
times.”
Casey happily obeyed by slipping
two fingers inside herself. She began
rocking her hips as she stroked her clit.
Just watching Nate watch her was
enough to send her over the edge. As she
felt her walls tensing around her fingers,
she closed her eyes and cried out his
name. Her hips continued to pump as she
rode the waves of the intense orgasm.
When she opened her eyes, Nate
loomed over her. Grabbing her by the
hips, he dragged her to where her ass
hung on the edge of the desk. His pants
were down around his ankles with his
erection jutting proudly out. Although
she wanted nothing more than him to
bury himself inside her, she pleaded in a
ragged breath, “Taste me.”
“Gladly.”
He dipped his dark head and
licked his tongue up and down over her
clit. Not caring about whether her
coworkers could hear her, she shrieked
with pleasure. As he sucked and nipped
at her center, she pumped her hips
against his mouth.
Just as she was about to go over
the edge again, he drew back. When she
moaned with frustration, he smiled at
her. “I want you to come around my dick
this time.”
“Well, when you put it that way,
how can I refuse?”
Taking one hand off her hips, he
then guided his cock to her center. He
drove her wild rubbing himself against
her wetness. Just as she was about to
protest, he plunged himself deep inside
her, causing them both to grunt with
pleasure.
“Oh Nate,” she murmured, as he
set up a punishing rhythm. The sound of
their harsh breaths and moans of
pleasure coupled with their sweat
soaked skin slapping together echoed
through the room. As she climbed the
wave of pleasure, she had to fight the
tears that stung her eyes. This was what
she had been searching for. She’d finally
gotten it because of Nate.
When he reached between them to
stroke her swollen clit, it pushed her
over the edge. She gave in to the most
satisfying orgasm she’d had in a long,
long time. Nate followed soon after her,
spilling himself inside her as he said her
name.
As she lay there, stroking his
back, she couldn’t help murmuring,
“Thank you.”
Nate pulled his head up to smile
at her. “There’s no need to thank me.”
“Yes, there is, and you know it.”
“So you like my sex sneak
attack?”
She gave him a lazy grin. “Oh yes.
Very, very much.”
“Just wait until you see Round
Two.”
Her eyes widened. “There’s a
Round Two?”
“I have the rest of the afternoon
off. I’m going to spend it fucking you all
over this office. I think I’ll do you up
against the window next…with the
blinds open.”
Casey gasped. Taking his face in
her hands, she demanded, “Okay, who
are you and what have you done with my
husband?”
Nate chuckled. “Maybe you’re
wild side has rubbed off on me.” He
cocked his brows at her. “Are you
complaining?”
She furiously shook her head from
side to side. “Nope. No complaints from
me.”
“Good. First up, I think it’s time
you finished what you started.”
“Huh?”
He flashed her a wicked grin. “I
believe you owe me a blowjob.”
She laughed. “Yes, I believe I
do.”
Casey hopped down off the ultrasound
table. In her hands, she held the grainy
image of hers and Nate’s second child.
As she stared at the tiny, twenty week
baby, she beamed as she read the words
typed out on the picture. “I’m a BOY”.
She hurried out of her OBGYN’s
office and headed straight for the
hospital. Since Nate hadn’t been able to
get off for her last few appointments, she
had decided not to tell him about the
gender ultrasound today. She hadn’t
wanted him to feel guilty about missing
out.
The last year had seen a lot of
changes in their lives. Olivia was a
precocious sixteen month old who had
mastered walking like a pro and was
now talking up a storm, although Casey
didn’t know what the hell she was
saying most days. Of course to Olivia,
that jibberish made perfect sense.
Just like she and Emma had
hoped, their daughters were the best of
friends. It was seeing Noah and Caroline
interacting that had finally worn down
Casey’s resolve about when to have
more children. It wasn’t just about the
fact they weren’t getting any younger, as
Nate loved to remind her. And while
Nate would have loved a house full of
kids, she was pretty sure they would be
stopping with two.
And just like with Olivia, she and
Nate had a lot of fun trying to conceive.
Even though she was anxious to get
pregnant, she was glad it took a little
longer this time around. Things were
still good between them in the bedroom.
It wasn’t always mind blowing and life
altering, but she had no complaints. Most
of all, she appreciated the free flowing
communication they had to make sure
everything was good emotionally and
physically between them. She had
learned so much and grown a lot since
Olivia’s birth. She knew when this baby
arrived she would be a lot more
prepared not just about motherhood, but
about being a wife.
After finding a spot in the parking
garage, she headed inside. She took the
elevator up to the 4
th
floor. She waved
hello to several of Nate’s colleagues. At
the nurses’ station, she found out where
he was and went in search of him.
When she turned the corner, she
saw him at the end of the hall. He and
another doctor were conversing over a
medical chart. She tapped her foot
impatiently as she waited for him to
finish. Finally, the other doctor nodded
and walked off.
A smile lit up Nate’s face at the
sight of her walking towards him. “Hello
my love.” He pulled her into his arms
and planted a kiss on her lips.
“Hi there.”
“What brings you here during
work?” Suddenly, he pushed her back,
his brows furrowed. “You’re not sick,
are you?” Before she could respond, he
demanded, “Is Olivia okay?”
“We’re both fine, Mr.Worrywart.”
Nate exhaled a relived breath.
“I’m glad to hear it.” The fear in his eyes
was replaced by amusement. “Are you
here for another try at a sex sneak
attack?”
Casey busted out laughing. “I can
safely say hell no to that.”
“Pity,” Nate replied with a wink.
“Hmm, are you being a naughty
boy today?”
“Maybe.” After playfully
smacking her bottom, he asked, “So what
brings you here.”
“I did go to the doctor today.”
“Oh?”
She nodded. Taking the picture out
of her purse, she handed it to him. “It’s a
boy.”
As he gazed at the image, Nate’s
eyes flared with a mixture of pride,
pleasure, and love. “A boy, huh?”
“Yes. A very healthy boy who is
measuring off the charts since he gets his
height from his father.”
Nate chuckled. “At 5’9, I’d hardly
call you vertically challenged.
“Whatever you say.”
Once again, Nate pulled her into
his arms. “Oh babe, this makes me so
happy. We’re so blessed. A beautiful,
healthy daughter and a son on the way.”
When tears blurred her eyes, she
silently cussed her pregnancy hormones.
“I know. We are.”
A voice over the intercom
interrupted their moment of elation. “Dr.
Rossi, you’re needed in room 416.”
Nate groaned. “Fucking duty
calls.”
She laughed. “It’s okay. I need to
get back to work too.” She planted a kiss
on his lips. “Don’t forget to come over
to Aidan and Emma’s after work.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Casey smiled since she knew Nate
was just as excited as she was to meet
Connor and Jeff’s daughter, Lily. They’d
gotten the call three weeks ago that
through their agency, a young mother in
Kansas had chosen them to give her baby
to. They’d dropped everything and gone
out there to be there for the birth. They’d
just arrived back home, and everyone
was anxious to meet the newest member
of the family.
After giving Casey one last kiss,
Nate bent down and kissed her belly.
“Bye, son.”
The gesture once again sent tears
to Casey’s eyes. As she swiped them
away, she heard Nate’s words echoing in
her ears. Yes, they were very, very
blessed.