He’d certainly never given her any cause to doubt him. Not in all their five years together. Even his stepmother was no longer in the picture ever since she remarried some British count. Keyonna hadn’t even known people still took those titles seriously. And then there was Mark; she’d heard he did get married but not to Trisha and he was now a man of business himself, a top exec in the Tucker supermarket chain with his aunt going as strong as ever even in her seventies.
Thinking back to all the people who’d played even a small part in her life had Keyonna feeling more sentimental than usual. Or maybe it was just her condition that had her mooning and teary-eyed over anything. She really didn’t want to be alone tonight. So she was going to ring Nick up and confirm he couldn’t make it and then call up Natasha to see if she could come over to chill with them for the night.
Just as she reached for the phone, it rang.
Keyonna jumped, then bit hard on her lip. Depression gave way to angst as she glared at the phone like it was Nick in person. The next second, she was grabbing it and snapping, “Nick?”
“Baby…I should have called, I’m sorry,” were the first words he said. Just the sound of his voice had Keyonna heaving a sigh of relief.
“I was really worried, Nick,” she said softly, fingers combing through her hair that she’d fixed so nicely for the evening.
“You know about the really bad weather that’s been coming down all day?” he added, and Keyonna’s breath caught.
“I haven’t really been following the news. Does that mean it delayed your flight? You’re not coming are you, Nick?”
“Keyonna, I…”
“Oh no,” she cried. “I cooked all your favorite dishes, I planned such a romantic evening.”
“Caramellino, shush,” he said soothingly. My little caramel. Keyonna was far from reassured even though she was relieved he was okay – but she truly wished he was here now and he obviously couldn’t be.
Tears stung her eyes. “I just really wanted you to be here. You know I haven’t really minded about how occupied you get with business; but you know I’m extra sensitive now that I’m pregnant and I…”
“Keyonna, just please open the door. And stop crying. I don’t want to see a single tear clouding those beautiful eyes when I look into my sweet wife’s face.”
Keyonna gasped, dropping the phone and fairly flying to the front door. She threw it open and Nick was there. Oh God.
“Nick!” she cried and leaped into his arms. He grabbed her to him, his arms tight around her as he walked them in, closing the door behind him as he kissed her forehead, her nose, her teary cheeks. Soft words of endearments followed and she just clung tight, relieved and dazzled with happiness.
“Happy anniversary,” he said simply, into her crown of her hair, and Keyonna just wanted to bawl.
“Oh Nick. I was so worried. I thought you forgot. I knew you had to be sick of the way I look. I’m so fat now. I can’t possibly compare to all those gorgeous girls who swarm around you and it’s so depressing.”
“Ah, piccino,” Nick breathed, cupping her face and drawing back to look into her eyes. “You are beautiful. And you’re certainly not fat. I love your curves; always have. And they’ve got that much juicier and sexier. How could you even think I wouldn’t absolutely love how you look carrying my child? My third child? Baby, I feel so special and blessed. Sometimes I don’t know what you’re doing with me. I don’t deserve such blessings.”
Keyonna sniffled, feeling silly and yet deeply mollified by his words. “So you think I’m still sexy?”
Nick growled in reply and nuzzled her throat. She shivered as he tugged her much closer against him, as close as her protruding belly would allow. “Tell me you haven’t forgotten how much we were at it for the last two pregnancies. Right up to the last few weeks prior to delivery,” rasped Nick, right before he spun her round to face the mirror standing in the foyer. He edged up snugly behind her and she quivered to feel him stiff and throbbing in between her ass cheeks. She stared into his eyes, and melted when she saw the emotion there. And the deep-seated lust.
He reached round to cup her breasts over their stretchy bodice. “You’re the sexiest woman alive to me right now. And always. You’re a wonderful mother, a hard-working homemaker, a focused career woman. As well as a sexy-as-hell wife. I ask myself how did I get so lucky that such a beautiful, intelligent and affectionate woman would still want to be with me after five years?”
“I have a couple of reasons,” Keyonna purred, her smile sultry as she turned in his arms and reached for his tie.