Chapter Eight- H is for Happy Birthday:
"I go to work for the morning and you decide to turn our bedroom into an art studio." Saul teased, leaning in the doorway, jumper loose and hair rumpled. Karla smiled and continued painting, eyes flickering over the paint pots and jam jars filled with brushes surrounding her. The painting was almost finished, just a few more strokes and… there it was done. She sighed and sat up.
Saul burst out laughing at the sight of his girlfriend, hair dip-dyed in paint, hands and wrists streaked with oil paints and her nose, dotted with black freckles. She stuck her tongue out at him and stood, painting in her arms.
"Can I see?" he asked holding out his arms.
Karla shook her head, smiling mysteriously. "Nope."
He pouted, giving her puppy eyes. "Please baby? It is my birthday."
"Nope. You'll have to wait, birthday boy." She placed the painting on the desk, and slid a cover over it, so he couldn't see. She walked up to him, standing close enough for her chest to be touching his. Then she leaned up, captured his lips with her and kissed him, slowly at first, entwining both arms around his neck. He sighed, chest rumbling and caught her lower back with his hands and guided her backwards, towards the bed. She giggled and spun round, knocking him backwards so he was flat on his back. She sat on his chest, one arm holding her up, the other stroking his rough cheek. He reached up and tucked her hair beneath her ear, smiling at the sight of her new earrings; sapphires and emeralds this time, in a heart shape (it had been her birthday two days before).
"I love you," she murmured.
"I love you to, angel." He replied, sitting up to kiss her again, gently tugging on her lips with his teeth, her hands undoing the buttons on his shirt, curling her fingers over his muscles and smiling delightedly when he leaned her back to kiss her neck. Then he stopped, fell back and looked up at his wife with a devilish grin. Karla melted, kissed his lips, neck, across his chest, he shivered.
"Karlie," he whispered, catching her cheek and pulling her up to face him. "Make love with me."
She smiled, rolled onto her side and kissed him gently, nodding as he caught her waist and rolled on top of her…
0oo-oo0
"Happy Birthday darling." Karla whispered, tracing patterns over his chest; a circle, hearts, squares. He sighed contentedly and she sat up, reaching for his shirt, which now belonged to her. Karla had a habit of stealing his shirts and just wearing them, so much so that Saul just gave her all his old ones and bought new ones for him.
She tugged it on, began to do up the buttons and laughed exasperatedly when Saul un-did them all.
"It's only me here." He said, "And you are beautiful and sexy and gorgeous and amazing in bed."
She laughed. "You want your present don't you?"
He nodded eyes shiny and eager. She jumped up, deliberately swishing her hips as she crossed to her painting and picked it up, frowning at one part.
"Tada!" she said, handing him the painting. Saul's mouth fell open. It was amazing. It was them, in bed, hugging, kissing, in the rain, on a mountain, on the beach, dancing, calling- a collage of them together only painted.
"You don't like it?" Karla said sadly.
"No, I love it, I love it so much. Thank you-" he kissed her. "-darling, angel, baby, sweetheart-" kiss "-sugar, princess, doll face, little apple-" kiss "-honey, my sweet, adorable, amazing, sexy goddess of a wife- "
"Okay, okay you like it." Karla nudged him with her elbow, though he could tell she was pleased. She sighed and took the painting away from him, leaning it against the wall.
"Saul…" she said slowly, taking his hand. "I have something to tell you."
He looked up at her expectantly. "Good news?"
"Maybe…well I think so, but…"
"Spit it out girl." He said, pulling her closer. She took his hand and pressed it against her stomach, with felt firmer, more solid than usual.
"Karla…"
"I'm pregnant." She said quietly. There was silence for a few seconds and then Saul gave a shout and lifted her into the air, spinning her round and round. She squealed and kissed him again.
"This," Saul said as he went down on his knees and pushed aside her shirt to kiss her stomach, which made Karla laugh as there was no bump yet. "Is the best birthday present you could give me."
"And my painting?"
"Definitely your painting."
"And the sex?"
He laughed. "Especially the sex…you are amazing in bed after all."
