Special Delivery by April Wilson
Chapter 1 - Beth
Beth McIntyre
It’s Thursday afternoon, and our penthouse apartment is quiet for a change. My sweet toddler, Luke, is taking his afternoon nap. My husband is at his downtown office tying up some loose ends before our new baby arrives and he goes on paternity leave. Our two housemates, Sam and Cooper, are nowhere to be seen. I suspect they’re having some quality alone time in their private suite.
Which leaves me free to have some alone time of my own.
I fill the huge soaking tub in my bathroom with warm water—not too hot, of course, as I’m pregnant—and pour in some rose-scented bubble bath. I light the trio of candles sitting on the ledge between the tub and the window, and then I turn out the lights and lower the blinds so it’s nice and cozy in here. The candlelight makes for a relaxing ambience. And right now, I could really use some quiet time. I’ve been nesting lately, getting everything ready for the arrival of our new baby—cleaning house, preparing the bassinet, washing our stash of newborn baby clothes, stocking diapers. Everything.
After slipping out of my robe, I step gingerly into the bath and sink into the soothing water, trying to be as graceful as I can at nine months pregnant. I’m actually two days past my due date. Our new baby will be here anytime.
As the water envelops me in its steamy warmth, I let out a heart-felt sigh and slip down into the water as low as I can so my chin is resting just above the waterline. I rest my head back on a thick towel and let the water work its magic on my aching muscles.
After chasing a toddler around all day, my back and feet are killing me. A few minutes of peace and quiet is exactly what I need. I just hope I can eke out a good half-hour soak before Luke wakes up hungry for his dinner. So far, according to the soft snoring sounds coming through the baby monitor perched on the bathroom counter, he’s still sound asleep. He’s just getting over a cold, and I can hear his steady, raspy breathing over the intercom.
I close my eyes and let my thoughts wander as the warm water laps against my belly and breasts. Cocooned in this soothing warmth, I lose all track of time.
“Please tell me you aren’t actually asleep in a tub full of water.”
My eyes flutter open at the sound of the low, somewhat-amused voice of my husband. I was so out of it, I didn’t hear him come in. I gaze up at Shane, attempting to appear fully alert, when in truth, I was honestly close to dozing off. I smile guiltily. “I was just resting my eyes.”
His smile tells me I’m not fooling him. “I find the idea of my wife falling asleep in the bathtub rather unnerving.” He loosens his charcoal gray tie, his gaze sweeping my naked body. “Where is everyone?”
“Luke’s napping, and the boys have disappeared.”
He grins when I refer to our best friends as the boys. Cooper is in his fifties and Sam, who’s in his late twenties, is older than I am. They’re hardly boys.
Shane removes his Rolex and lays it on the bathroom counter, along with his phone and wallet. Then he starts unbuttoning his shirt, his movements slow and unhurried. “If you’d told me you were naked, I would have come home sooner.”
As his long fingers release each of his shirt buttons, I feel a corresponding flutter between my legs, as if his fingers are there, touching me, teasing me. Suddenly, the bathroom air feels even warmer, and my skin heats.
One thing about being pregnant, it really messing with my hormones. It seems like I’m constantly in a state of arousal. Lately, I’ve been insatiable. And poor Shane worries so much about hurting me or the baby—which I tell him is impossible—he has a hard time relaxing and simply enjoying sex while we can still have it. I keep telling him there’s nothing to worry about—it’s not like we’re hanging from the chandeliers.
We should make the best use of the time we have before the baby’s born, because after that, we’ll have to abstain from sex for a while.
After shrugging out of his shirt and dropping it to the floor, Shane removes his white undershirt and goes to work on his leather belt. As his long fingers work at the buckle, the tantalizing sensations between my legs intensify, making me squirm. A moan escapes me before I can stifle it, and Shane’s expression heats as his gaze locks onto mine.
When I shift position, the water laps at my breasts, which are heavy and aching and so exquisitely sensitive right now.
Mesmerized, I watch him strip naked. His shoes and socks hit the floor, followed by his charcoal trousers, leaving him in just a pair of black boxer-briefs. My gaze sweeps over his body, from his bare feet, up his long legs, and to his hips. His erection strains against the soft cotton fabric of his briefs, and there’s no mistaking what’s on his mind as he drops his briefs to the floor.
My gaze skims the ridges of his abdomen, his broad chest, and shoulders. I want my hands on him. I want to feel those hard muscles and tendons as they flex.
His handsome face transforms with a slightly-crooked grin. His kissable lips are framed by a trim brown beard, and his electric-blue eyes are locked on me.
“Scoot,” Shane says as he motions for me to move forward. He carefully slides in behind me, then pulls me back against his chest. His legs are on either side of my hips, his knees slightly bent, and I’m cradled between his strong thighs. I can feel his erection prodding me from behind, and it sends shivers down my spine.
His wet hands glide up on either side of me to frame my enormous baby bump. “How’s our little girl today?”
I laugh softly. He’s so sure we’re having a girl. Secretly, I suspect he’s right because this pregnancy is nothing like my first, but I’m not going to tell him that. It’s more fun to tease him. “Or boy.”
He grunts noncommittally. “Or boy. But I’m telling you, she’s a girl.”
“We’ll know soon enough, won’t we?”
“Mm-hmm,” he murmurs, distracted as he presses his lips to my temple. He plants nibbling kisses down my cheek, down the side of my neck, then across one shoulder. His hands slide up to cup my breasts, and he teases my sensitive nipples with gentle thumbs.
Electricity shoots straight to my core, heating me up and making me flush with need. His touch makes me moan and squirm.
Shane draws lazy circles over my nipples, and we both watch my areolas pucker tightly. A groan escapes me, and I feel a desire to move, to rock my hips. When the need intensifies, I grab one of his hands and bring his fingers to the hot, throbbing spot between my legs. Without further prompting, he opens me up and slides a finger over my clit and down to my opening.
I moan loudly as he sucks on the side of my neck. “Shane, please.”
“Are you sure?” he asks quietly. Unhurriedly. As if he has all the time in the world.
While I’m practically burning up inside. “God, yes.”
When the tip of his finger eases inside me, I lean my head back against his shoulder and gasp. “Yes, please.”
He proceeds to tease me, ramping up my desire to a fever pitch. His thumb on my clit, rubbing tiny circles, and his long slick finger inside me, stroking me—it’s too much and yet not nearly enough. I need him, now, inside me.
I lean my head back and turn my face for a kiss. His lips latch onto mine, and he kisses me until I’m breathless, his tongue teasing mine.
“Shane, please,” I say.
He steps out of the tub and dries off quickly with an oversized bath towel. Then he takes my hand and helps me out. He grabs a fresh towel and wipes me down while I stand naked before him. His gaze is hot and hungry as it sweeps every inch of my body, from my pussy to my big belly to my pregnancy-heavy breasts. I used to be so self-conscious when I was naked in front of him, but not anymore. A man can’t fake that kind of reaction. His muscles are taut as his chest rises and falls with heavy breaths. His nostrils flare with arousal. Even if I feel self-conscious at times, I know he likes what he sees, and that’s all that matters to me.
Standing behind me, he wraps his arms around me and settles his hands on my belly. The baby’s doing somersaults at the moment, so we both stare in awe as my belly ripples with movement.
“A woman’s body is a miraculous thing,” he muses as he splays his hands over my undulating bump.
Carefully, he sweeps me up into his strong arms and carries me out of the bathroom and into our bedroom, heading straight for the king-size bed that is the main focal point of our room. He sets me on the floor so he can pull the bedding to the foot of the bed. Then he climbs in bed, lies on his back, and holds out his hand to me. When I take it, he helps me haul myself up onto the high bed and onto him.
I straddle him, positioning myself over his erection. He watches me with heated eyes as I grip his length and guide him into me. His flesh is hot and so hard in my grasp, it takes my breath away.
When I slowly sink down onto him, joining our bodies, he clamps his hands on my thighs and lets out a rough groan.
“Naked pregnant cowgirl,” he says with a satisfied expression.
It’s currently our favorite position. With my abdomen so big, there are only a couple of positions we can manage comfortably, and this is one of them.
Linking our fingers together, Shane steadies me as I start to move on him. I’m already so wet and aroused that it doesn’t take me long to work him into me. I have the advantage in this position of being able to adjust the angle of penetration and the speed, so that he’s hitting my g-spot perfectly. My body tightens on him, my sex squeezing his erection hard enough that he grits his teeth to keep from coming. As usual, he’ll wait for me to come first. Then, and only then, will he give himself permission to seek his own pleasure.
My orgasm sweeps through me like a soft, rolling wave of heat and pleasure, and I cry out. He leans up to kiss me then, capturing the sounds I make and stealing my breath.
His big hands slide to my breasts, cupping them, and he teases my flushed nipples. He starts thrusting in earnest now, raising his hips and powering into me. My body is so soft and fluid, I’m half in a daze as the residual tremors of my climax sweep through me.
Shane has a lot of stamina, and normally he could go for ages, but I know he’s worried about hurting me or wearing me out. So he lets himself come, his hips bucking into me with each spurt of his release. His hot flesh throbs deep inside me.
After his climax, he gently rolls me onto my side, and we lie facing each other. He threads his fingers in my hair as he kisses me, so gently and yet so thoroughly. My body melts into the bed, and for the moment, I’m relaxed and comforted.
When we hear a loud squawk over the baby monitor, followed by the rustling sound of the crib sheet, we both laugh.
Shane gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom to retrieve his clothes. “We just barely made it.”
He stops long enough to pull on his jeans, commando. I give him a little wave as he heads out of our bedroom on his way to our son’s room, which is next to ours.
Pretty soon, our little family of three will become a family of four.
I smile as I stroke my belly.
* * *
A few minutes later, Shane returns with our son in his arms. I’ve slipped into a nightgown for decency and am sitting up in bed, leaning against the headboard.
“Mama,” Luke cries as he reaches for me.
When Shane deposits him on the bed, Luke crawls to me and I intercept him before he can throw himself against me.
His little arms go around my neck, and he gives me a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Mama.”
“Hello, my sweet boy.” I cuddle him close, breathing in his sweet baby smell and cherishing the moment. “Did you have a good nap?”
Luke pulls back to look me in the eye. “Eat.”
I laugh “You’re always hungry. Yes, we’ll be eating soon.”
Shane disappears into the closet and returns wearing a plain white T-shirt and carrying a pair of socks and sneakers. “Are you sure you’re up for company tonight?” he asks me as he pulls on his socks. “We can cancel. I’m sure everyone will understand.”
It’s part of our normal routine—on Thursday evenings, friends and family come over for dinner. We have an apartment full of people, lively entertainment, and good food. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
“Sure, I’m up for it. It’ll probably be our last one for a while.”
“If you’re sure,” he says again, sounding skeptical. “I don’t want you overdoing it.”
“I’m sure. I want to see everyone.”
Shane takes Luke from me. “I’ll go make his dinner while you get dressed.”
As I watch them leave the room, I marvel at how well Shane has taken to fatherhood. He never hesitates to step up and do what needs to be done, whether it’s feeding our son or changing a dirty diaper. I admit I’m spoiled. I have not only Shane to help me take care of Luke, but also our housemates, Sam and Cooper. They adore Luke and jump at any chance to take care of him.
After climbing out of bed, I make a quick visit to the bathroom, and then I change into a pair of stretchy maternity leggings and a big, loose top. When I join my family in the kitchen, Cooper is in the process of preparing a big batch of chicken wings to go into the air fryer.
“How ya feelin’, kiddo?” he asks me when I walk into the room.
“Good. I had a nice soak in the tub while this little guy napped.”
I nod to Luke, who is seated in his high chair at the kitchen counter. As I brush his pale blond hair, he reaches for my hand.
“Mama, eat,” he says plaintively.
“Somebody sure is hungry,” Cooper says with a wink to me. To Luke, he says, “It’s comin’, buddy. Hold your horses.”
Sam joins us, carrying a number of empty beer cartons that have been flattened. He folds the cardboard carton and sticks it in the recycling bin. “The bar fridge is stocked,” he says to Cooper. Then he sits on the stool next to Luke and ruffles his spikey blond hair. “Hey, little man. Did you have a good nap?”
Luke reaches up to do the same to Sam’s red hair, but he can’t quite reach that far, so Sam bends down to accommodate him. Luke laughs as he messes Sam’s hair. Then he points across the kitchen, where Shane is preparing his dinner. “Eat!”
Sam laughs. “Be patient, little man. It’s coming.”
It’s after five, and our guests will begin arriving any time. Usually, we’re joined by Shane’s siblings and their significant others, along with our friends and co-workers who live in the building—Mack and Erin, Philip, and Charlie. Mack’s teenage daughter, Haley, also joins us on the weekends she spends with her dad and Erin.
“I think we’ll have a full house tonight,” Shane says as he checks his phone. “Everyone’s confirming.”
“I’d better put more wings on, then,” Cooper says as he heads to the fridge. “These people sure do like to eat. I’ll order some pizzas, too.”
Shane brings Luke’s plate to the counter and sets it down in front of him. On the toddler menu tonight is diced pieces of fruit, veggies, cheese, and thinly sliced turkey. Then he offers Luke a sippy cup of milk.
Luke picks up his cup and drinks, then bangs it on the counter before setting it down and reaching for pieces of cut-up strawberries.
Shane stands behind me and wraps his arms around my thick waist. He leans down and whispers in my ear. “You look beautiful.”
I smile. He makes me feel beautiful. But more importantly, he makes me feel loved.
