Chapter 26
What to expect when you're expecting
It was the morning after their glorious, but tiresome night of babysitting. She stood at her bed, holding a cup of coffee, not for her, but for Spinelli whenever he would decide to wake up. He looked cute, his hands tugged on the pillow while his soft face peacefully rest in silence. He seemed happier, happier than he had been in weeks. She wished she could pin it on the fact that he finally had his health back, but she knew it was because of her…and the baby and that left her unsettled.
"Maximista is staring at the Jackal he presumes?" He opened one eye.
She embarrassingly smiled that she had been caught, "Just observing."
"Hmmm," he playfully grunted, reaching out for her, "Perhaps you can observe from over here?"
She never thought her Spinelli could be playful and loving as he was in this moment when looking at her. All the reasons why she shouldn't do this, why she shouldn't be a mother, why she shouldn't be with him, fluttered from her mind, leaving her heart that wanted to embrace the greatest gift she had ever been given.
"I think I can do that," she set the cup on her nightstand and then put her hand in his where he pulled her into a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he slowly lied back on the pillows and the two pleasantly smiled for this blissful simplistic moment that never seemed to present itself until now.
She felt ticklish as his lips escaped hers and caressed to her cheeks and down her neck and chest, "Spinelli…"
"Shh," he glanced up at her with a wide grin that electrified his current emotions for her.
She loved this, every second of this, of that look, of that smile, of that warmth she could feel sitting just in front of him. In her right mind there was nothing better than to have a man who adored her as much as he did. It was so strong that she couldn't keep herself from expressing the feelings that were no kidding, glowing within her.
"I love you Spinelli," she told him as if it was the first time, "I love you so much," she whined with a pause as she felt tears in her throat as well as her eyes, "I…I'm beginning to think we can do this."
He knew she was scared, scared about a lot of things, but if she had him, to protect her, to take care of her, to love her, that she could be okay that the fear would go away.
"We," he smiled enthusing, "Can do anything together." He kissed her hands, giving her the confidence she needed to becoming this closer to having everything she ever wanted even if it wasn't everything she wanted now at 21.
He ran his hand through her silky blonde hair, "You let me take care of everything okay?" He honestly looked at her where she nodded and they embraced in a hug, "Starting with a trip to the mall." Her grip tightened around him and he knew that would lift their spirits up, a little shopping.
Since Spinelli's Aston Martin was still at Elizabeth's house, Mac offered to drive them over there.
"So, what are you guys up to today?" He looked up at them in the rear view mirror, "Anything fun?"
Maxie oddly looked at her father, "Shopping."
"And Spinelli?" He glanced his eyes over to him, assuming he had something else to do, "Jason?"
"Uh no sir," Spinelli seriously looked at him, wanting to leave Jason out of the conversation, "I'm shopping too."
Mac amusingly smiled, "God help you."
"Thanks I'm gonna need it," Spinelli joked.
Maxie annoyingly crossed her arms with playful anger, "I don't know what you guys are talking about, you two have never gone shopping with me."
Mac pulled up in front of Elizabeth's house, "And I want to keep it like that."
"Whatever!" Maxie got out of the car where Spinelli amusingly huffed, "Thanks Mac."
"Thank me by being back after ten tonight."
"Big night?" Spinelli raised an eyebrow.
"I plead the fifth," Mac joked and Spinelli laughed, "Maybe we'll just get a hotel room."
"I don't want to know, I don't want to know," Mac turned away from him where Spinelli slowly got out of the car chuckling.
When she heard her father's car drive off she turned to Spinelli who was still watching Mac excel down the street, "Look who gave our baby its first stuff animal?" She revealed the baby blue elephant.
"Well I still think he was a monster last night," Spinelli jokingly looked at her as she admired the baby blue elephant.
"You're just mad that he outsmarted you." She formed an optimistic smile in the corner of her mouth.
He stubbornly looked at her, "The jackal can not be outsmarted."
"Oh he can't?" She asked knowing there had been many times she had outsmarted him.
"Not by five year olds," he walked towards her, "Because if a five year old can outsmart me than I have no chance against our wee one."
She giggled, "Well the two of us will just have to put up some firewalls…"
"And hope he…"
"Or she," she teasingly nodded.
"Or she," he noted before continuing, "Doesn't use any Trojans."
She humorously laughed at his mind, "You are so giving our child the TALK."
"Me?" He pointed to himself where she silently nodded with a goofy smile and he nodded in objection, "I think Mac should give the talk."
"Oh yeah cause it worked wonders on me," she sarcastically looked at him where he couldn't argue back. "Well thankfully we have a good sixteen years before we have to think about the birds and the bees."
"Well if she's anything like me we might have to do that sooner," she teased and he looked at her amusingly appalled, "Well I'm not letting her near any boys till she's at least thirty."
She laughed at his ridiculousness, "No," she giggled, "You are not being over protective like Mac."
"He's not overprotective now," he giggled under his breath.
"What are you laughing about now?" Maxie looked at him knowing there was an inside joke somewhere.
He smirked as he enclosed on the space between them, "Your dad thinks we'll be staying at the Metro Court tonight…"
"Oh?" She looked at him wondering who gave him that idea.
She watched him stop in front of her and wrap his hand around her waist, slightly pushing her forward, where she placed her hands on his chest, "And doing what may I ask?"
"Things," he kissed her cheek, "Things he doesn't," he kissed her neck, "Want to know about," he gazed up at her with an evil smile.
"Damian Spinelli," she eyed him like he was being a bad boy.
"Maxie Jones," he intriguingly smiled, "That is if she's up to it?"
"Oh I'll be up to it," she smiled like she could definitely take on the challenge, "Your tired pregnant girlfriend will find a way to be up for it." She pulled him into a kiss where he couldn't resist her.
"Spinelli!" Maxie tried to grab the Borders bookstore bag from Spinelli's hand as they walked down the hall in the mall.
"Maximista," he innocently pulled the bag away from her where he stopped in front of her placing his hands behind his back, "Good things come to those who wait."
"And you know," she playfully looked into his eyes, "I don't like to wait," she moved her hands to around his back.
"I know indeed," he widely grinned before glancing down to her Victoria Secret bag, "But it's not like you've told the Jackal what garment you decided to buy for tonight's evening."
"It's a surprise!"
"And so is this!" He exclaimed before kissing her neck, "Come on," he placed his hand on her back and then looked at the store they were in front of.
She smiled, but stood in place, "I'll meet you in there."
"What?" He looked back at her trying to hold onto her hand.
"I have to go to the little girls room."
"Again," he rolled his eyes.
She giggled, "Don't make fun of me."
He cracked a giggle, "The jackal would never make fun of his Maximista, but can't you just wait? Those women," he looked at the store, "They're vicious…" He looked back at her playfully frightened, "I won't survive for one minute."
"Well I guess I better hurry then," she pulled from his grip leaving his side as he called her name in annoyance.
"Go!" She motioned and he grunted, but strolled into the store.
"Can I help you?" A sales lady asked as Spinelli walked into the same clothing store he had a month ago.
"Uh yeah," he reached for his wallet and took out a little note, "I need another leather jacket like this." He gave it to her listing all the qualifications that should make it easy to find the exact one or similar one to that.
"Oka-y," she nodded assuredly, "This way." He walked with her to the leather jacket display while keeping his eye out for the woman who had her claws into him the last time he was in here.
"She's stepped out for a minute," the blonde haired lady smirked at him.
"Who did?" He tried not to act like he had a problem with the said woman.
"You know who, Mr. Spinelli," she looked away from him back to the jackets where she found the one that matched his description.
He nodded so he wouldn't seem like a moron, "Glad to hear."
"Well I think I found it," she turned to him, "You want to try it on or does it look fine."
"Uh sure," he nodded and she politely helped him put his arms into it.
"How does it feel?" She looked away from the mirror, "Does it feel like the old one?"
He formed a special smile, a smile reserved for when he thought he looked cool, "Close enough."
"Great," she smiled feeling like she had done her job, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Nope, that'll be it," he quickly said before his eyes caught a mannequin in a black suit with an orange dress shirt and blue tie. His thoughts immediately turned to tonight and all the beautiful dresses he watch Maxie try on in the past our, "On second hand."
"Okay," she followed his gaze where she heard him utter in a quiet amazement, "The jackal wants that."
"The Jackal?" She looked at him confused where he looked at her slightly embarrassed that she heard him call himself that in such a drooling manor, "I'm sorry, I meant can you ring up that suit along with," he took the jacket off, "This."
"Why certainly," she took the jacket from him where he quickly said, "And can you make it kind of…" He looked at the entrance, "Fast?"
"This a surprise Mr. Spinelli?" She sweetly smiled.
"Sort of, um, do you need to measure me or…"
"No, we have your size on the computer," she assuredly told him and he looked at her kind of surprised at how efficient that was.
"I'll be right back," she walked away from him towards the computers. He nodded, watching her, and then curiously walked back to the front entrance of the store scanning the outskirts of it for his blonde one. He had just about given up hope that the bathroom run would be quick when his eyes swore he saw her in Tiffany's.
"Damian?" He heard the Stacy the seductress calling his name.
He tried to ignore her voice from behind and narrow his eyes in on his Maximista, but the plan failed when Stacy stopped just to the side of him, "Damian Spinelli?"
He sighed heavily inside, "That's my name."
"Hmmm…Don't wear it out," she flirted as she stepped in front of him.
"Hi Stacy," he simply said trying to make it obvious that he was not amused by her behavior.
"Hey to you," she stepped closer to him.
He dreadfully smiled where as she reached up to touch him he turned away from her, "Um I'm looking for some new dress shirts," he said without thinking for now he was sure that until Maxie arrived that Stacy would be trying to put the moves on him.
"Well I think I can help you in that department," she walked past him with a wink. He grinned widely like he was excited and then the moment she looked away from him he glanced back at Tiffany's and confirmed his suspicions, Maximista was definitely in there, the only question was why.
"Ma'am?" Spoke an old man in the jewelry store.
Maxie startlingly looked up at him, "Oh I'm not looking."
"Sure you are," he amusingly huffed, "I've been standing over there for two minutes and you've been gazing at these wedding rings for a while."
She nervously looked at him wanting to fight that she had been thinking the idea, "no…I…" She began to twist the ring on her finger where suddenly a light bulb turned on, "Actually," she glanced down her finger twisting the ring off, "I was wondering if you could tell me how much my boyfriend might have spent on this."
"Oh," he surprisingly looked at her where he leaned over the glass casing taking the ring from her hand, "I remember the gentlemen that had this made." He squinted his eyes as he examined the ring.
"Oh," Maxie tried to appear interested before glancing at Men's Warehouse wondering if Spinelli had noticed her abnormal absence yet.
Spinelli slid his hands into his jean pockets as somehow Stacy had him buying more dress shirts, "And Chloe," she looked up at the blonde chick who had been handling his order earlier, "Why don't you get him a silver shirt and black tie too."
Chloe looked up at Spinelli looking for his permission and he nodded, "Stacy," he glanced at her, "Do you spend other men's money for them too?"
She giggled touching his arm, "Only the men I like."
He gave her and awkward look and she immediately grew worried, "Oh I'm sorry, is that the arm you just had surgery on?"
"Oh no," he shook his head smiling, "It's the other arm."
She looked at relived, "Phew," she rolled her eyes before staring at him, "How are you…anyway?"
"Recovered," Spinelli crossed his arms.
"I see," she smiled before another awkward silence formed.
"Stacy," he uttered feeling like he should tell her that he was taken.
She looked up at him slightly blushing, "I know, you just got out of relationship and you need time…"
He continued to awkwardly look at her where she felt pressured by his glare, "I read it in the paper, you and Maxie broke up and I just want to say that I'm sorry."
He held his breath feeling every bone in his body telling him not to correct her, "Um."
"Oh I'm so embarrassed," she put her hand over her mouth, "You probably didn't want to be reminded of that considering the last time you were here it was for a date with her, I'm sorry Damian."
He slowly smirked at her knowing that if he just pretended to act like he was single and heartbroken that the woman would back off so that's what he did…well sort of.
"Stacy," he looked way from her, "If I wanted to make an impression, like I wanted to stick out in the crowd," he turned to look at the assortment of colored dress shirts, "What would you have me wear?"
"Um," she eyed him believing it was weird at how quickly he sort of just forgot how stupid she was just acting, "Black." She walked to the shirts pulling out a black dress shirt, "Red tie" she dangled it over.
"Hmm," he walked towards her somewhat surprised at how intrigued he was with the matching of the colors that drew him in like a stranger with candy.
"You going to a party sometime soon?" She curiously looked at him, but not because she wanted to be his date, no, she just wondered why he had that look on his face.
"No, well I don't know, but," he stopped front of her where he set down his border bag and took the coat hanger and tie to the mirror. He pinned it against himself, "It's missing something."
"Yeah black dress paints and a jacket," she eyed him imagining what he would look like in the clothes.
He negatively nodded, "No, do you have any hats?"
"Right next to you," she pointed at rack and he glanced at it seeing just what he was looking for.
"Now how do I look?" He adjusted the vintage black hat that a certain detective found himself wearing in the Maltese Falcon.
"Bad," she smiled interestingly.
"Bad?" He confusingly looked at her, "Why I think I look like Humphrey Bogart, Mr. Sam Spade."
She giggled, "In that?" She huffed in amusement and he shrugged his shoulders like maybe not.
"No," she walked towards him, "I think you look bad ass is what I was going to say, dark."
"Dark?" He glanced at her wanting to elaborate.
"Powerful," she stopped in front of him, "Like a player."
He saw the glimmer in her eyes and realized that his plan to stop her sexual prowl was a plan failed, "I'll take these and that'll be all."
"I'll ring them up," her fingers touched his as she took the clothes. What was sickening about it all was that he could see she got off on that little touch. It made him wish his Maximista would return soon for Stacy the seductress unnerved him.
Maxie glanced at the man who was still looking at the ring, "So tell me how much he loves me?"
"Well," he glanced up at her with a smirk, "I can tell you he loves you thousands."
"How many thousands?" Maxie smiled at him brightly.
His smirk turned cautious, "Why are you planning on selling this ring?"
"No, no," she was appalled the man would even ask, "I just…Well, he and I are having a special night tonight and…"
"You want to know just how far you need to go to make it special?" The old geezer looked at Maxie who slightly pretended to be shy about it.
"Your expression says it all," he softly smiled, "I'll be right back."
Maxie smiled in accomplishment of getting rid of him and then peered down at the rings again, the rings that she never considered wearing since Jesse. It was a thinly elegant golden band and a diamond the size of Kate's. Her eyes had gazed on it the second she wandered in here, yes wandered in for she hadn't thought about the idea until this morning when she was watching him sleep. The unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach was that she could get used to him permanently being in her life and a ring could seal the deal.
"You know if you wanted some privacy all you had to do was say something," the old man stood in the doorway of the back.
She nervously looked at him knowing she was definitely caught now, "I really am just curiously looking, not serious about any of it…"
"Would you like to try it on?" The old man smiled like it wouldn't be a problem.
"Um…" She bit her lower lip as he stopped in front of her where he didn't even wait for an answer, he just opened the glass window.
"This one?" He touched the golden band and she for some reason felt like she had to look around the room as if someone might be watching her. "Ye-ah." She looked at him with an awkward smile, "but just for a few minutes."
He understood perfectly setting the holder of the ring on the counter, "go ahead."
She hesitatingly smiled as her fingers slowly grasped the ring and slid it on her finger. From the moment the gold touched her skin she knew it was meant to be and so did he, "Perfect fit."
She smiled excitedly in reaction as she gazed the large diamond twinkling in the lights, it took her breath away at how much she admired it.
"It's Tiffany's most famous engagement ring. The ring of rings, as it has been called, is the most brilliant ring ever and the most beautiful at 2.5 carats."
"Wow," she took a deep breath before giddily looking up at him, "It looks good doesn't it?"
To be young and in love again he thought, "Forty-thousand dollars good."
She darted her eyes to his in astonishment of the figure "But you can't put a price on love, it is an emotion that many desire and few are lucky to actually possess."
She looked away from him not sure how to respond to such poetic words that sounded as if Spinelli had uttered them.
"Do you want me to put it on you wish list for the future?" He wince a smile, but was disappointed when she nodded no and began taking the ring off.
"No, it's okay, but I don't plan on getting married anytime soon."
"You can never be too sure," he suggested as held his hand out with the other ring resting on it.
"I can be though," she took her ring back after placing the golden beauty on his hand, "My boyfriend won't be proposing, he just gave me this," Maxie smiled down at the ring she was twisting back in place.
"I see, well have a nice evening," he put the engagement ring back.
"I will," she smiled with giddiness still pleasantly glowing.
The old Michael Caine of a man nodded in goodbye where as soon as she left, he made a note on Spinelli's account of the prized wedding ring.
Spinelli set the borders bag on the counter, tired of holding it, like most men who were annoyingly exhausted from a few hours of shopping.
"So how much has your expertise cost me?" He joked as held out his credit card.
"Nothing you can't afford," she humored back.
"Hmm," he intriguingly looked at her while his hands gripped the edges of the counter.
She giggled as she swiped the card and handed it back with her eyes curiously looking that bookstore bag, "Should be just a minute for the transaction to go through."
He nodded as he slid the card back into his wallet, "Only a minute?" He teased and she giggled once more, "No more than five I promise."
He chuckled with a wide grin that left her in aw and mislead her to think that it was appropriate to ask, "What's in the bag?"
"Uh," he stuttered, "Just some magazines."
"Magazines?" She flirted like she would be intrigued if they were playboy.
He saw her hands slither into the bag and he freighted at what she would discover.
"Magazines eh?" She looked up at him slightly ticked off at the 'What to expect when you're expecting' book in her hand, "Well I'd like to hope this is a gift for someone, but there's another one in there like this."
He was a deer caught in headlights, "Um I can…"
"Are you going to be a dad?" She shockingly asked him for she thought he was way too young to be a father.
Before he could answer he heard Maximista calling his name and he immediately looked at Stacy who put two and two together, "I'd like to keep it," the book, "A surprise." He honestly looked at her to put the book back and forget that she had discovered what she had.
"Spinelli!" Maxie playfully whined coming from behind and Spinelli intensely looked at Stacy to drop her jealousy for a moment.
She displeasingly put the book back and turned away from him as she saw Maxie playfully cover his eyes.
"Heeey," he giggled removing her hands and setting them on his hips as he turned to her with his back leaning on the counter, "I was beginning to think you left me."
"Never," she leaned in to plant a kiss on his lips.
He wrapped his arms around her waist while she wrapped hers around his neck as they deepened their kiss.
Stacy gritted her teeth, but was thankfully distracted by sound of the receipt printing as well as Spinelli's phone ringing.
Maxie leaned her forehead against his, bummed out that they had been disturbed.
He reached for his blue jean pocket, "It's Johnny."
Maxie leaned away from him so he could answer the phone and looked up at Stacy, "Oh hey…"
Spinelli walked away from them, "John how are things?"
Maxie looked away from him, "How are you?"
Stacy smiled, "Not as good as you," she ripped the receipt, "Congratulations."
Maxie oddly looked at her where Stacy explained, "He told me in my embarrassing attempt to hit on him."
Maxie found that amusing for she had never really seen Stacy as a threat, she had known the woman for years and although had seen Stacy hit on a lot of men, she knew it was just fun.
"I mean I was kind of surprised," Stacy looked down at the receipt pretending to check over it.
"Why's that?" Maxie questioningly looked at her.
"Well he's just so young," Stacy emphasized, "Not that he wouldn't be a good father or anything, but he's too…" She paused pretending to lose her train of thought as she gazed at him.
"Too…." Maxie hung on her every word.
"Well," Stacy looked at her, "Don't take this the wrong way, but Spinelli is hot."
"I'm well aware," Maxie giggled glancing at Spinelli who seemed to be having a grand time to talking to Johnny.
Stacy amusingly huffed, "It's just too bad that a man like him has to settle down at the peak of his age."
"Excuse me?" Maxie looked at her completely taken off guard.
"Well, I'm not saying he's a ruined man, I mean I think it's genius the way you've trapped him."
"What?" Maxie again looked at her appalled.
"Oh come on, I mean he's no cop, he's better actually," she glanced up at Spinelli who was still talking on the phone.
"Stacy I don't know what you're talking about," Maxie nervously looked at her feeling uneasy as they spoke.
"Yeah you do," Stacy looked back at her, "A man like that doesn't dream of getting back together with his girl friend to find out he's gonna be a father and then tied to marriage."
"Spinelli and I aren't engaged," Maxie clearly stated while ignoring her other comments.
"Not yet," she simply said, "But you know he'll ask at some point because that's what most men do."
"Spinelli isn't like most men."
"You're right, he's not. He's wealthy, he's good looking, he's obviously devoted to you otherwise he probably would have taken me up on my offer, so," she looked away from Spinelli, "You've done well I'll say. I'm impressed at the jack pot you've hit."
"I'm not that person anymore," she seriously wanted her to forget about the affair that she had once spotted her having with Lucky Spencer.
"I certainly hope not," she glanced at Spinelli who seemed to be finishing the phone call, "I'd hate for Spinelli to get hurt in a trick."
"Stacy!" Maxie abruptly turned to her in an upsetting voice, "I'm not tricking him and he is not trapped. In fact he was the one that insisted he wanted to have this baby so for all you're assumptions that he's going to be the father who didn't want to be a father are wrong. He wants this baby and he wants me."
"Well good," Stacy glared at her while setting the receipt on the counter with a pen, "But you should just be warned that the minute you decide you don't want him or your child because god knows that's just how selfish you are, someone will." Stacy sinisterly smiled, "Single fathers are very in and a guy like Spinelli will be snatched up quickly."
Maxie sickeningly tried to avoid her gaze as she felt herself wanting to crumble against the harsh words of who was now an enemy. Stacy smiled at the way her taunting had made her re-evaluate her relationship with the man, "And…" She leaned over the counter ever so close to Maxie's ear, "I'm not saying I won't go after him, but a certain nurse might."
Maxie jerked her head with a passion in her hand to want to slap the woman, but she knew if she did that she'd be playing right into her games. "Well that's not going to happen because I'm not going to give him up to a two faced obsessed bitch." Maxie leaned in closer, "He and I are happy and in love and if I catch you anywhere near him, I'm gonna bring you all kinds of hell."
"Maxie!" Spinelli happily shouted where Maxie stared at Stacy, "All kinds of hell."
"Maxie," Spinelli said again as he walked back over to them.
"Yeah?" She turned to him with a somewhat fake smile on her face.
"I have good news, well, I don't particularly care, but I know you missed fair Lulu…"
"Johnny found her?!" Maxie smiled honestly now.
"Yup, he found her and they are…" He undoubtedly bopped his head back and forth, "On there way back so to speak." He stopped just front of her where he could see something different in her face, her eyes, her smile, her skin tone.
"Everything okay here?" He stepped closer gently setting his hands on her shoulders where she nervously smiled, "Yeah, we were just catching up."
"Oh," he glanced up at Stacy, "Well glad you two had the opportunity to say hello again," he glanced back down at Maxie where he kissed her cheek and then walked to the counter.
"So how much did you end up forcing me to spend?" Spinelli joked.
"Well if you must know," she took the pen circling the total.
"Hmm," he grunted, "I sense a discount here."
"Maybe," she smiled teasingly, "You're our favorite customer."
Maxie rolled her eyes, "Yeah I bet."
Spinelli heard the sigh in her voice, "Well anything to look good for my Maximista," he looked at her while setting his hand down on the receipt. He scribbled his signature while pulling Maxie into a kiss and then set the pen down and wrapped his arms around her waist, developing the kiss.
Maxie pulled out of the kiss with a teasing smile, "Let's get out of here."
"Yeah please," Stacy coughed in annoyance.
Spinelli goofily smiled thinking just before he should grab his bags he should nibble on his fair Maximista's neck.
"Spinelli," she giggled, "Stop that."
"Allll-right," he chuckled, kissing her cheek and then motioning back to the counter.
"Here you go Damian," Stacy put the receipt in his bag, "Oh and don't forget about your reading material."
Spinelli glared at her, "I won't thank you," he grabbed the borders bag and dropped it into the larger bag.
"Thanks again," he smiled.
"Anytime," she flirtatiously smiled back, but knew he wasn't listening as he wrapped his arm around Maxie and walked towards the entrance of the store.
As soon as they walked out Maxie glanced up at him, "You are never shopping there again."
"What gave you that idea?" He joked and she playfully slapped her hand on his chest, "Shut up."
"The Jackal told you she was vicious!" He laughed, "But Maximista didn't believe me and took the hard road of jealousy."
"I wasn't jealous!"
"Really," he looked at her seriously, stopping in his tracks, "So I should go back…" He motioned and she pulled him back, "Don't you dare!"
"Oh," he goofily smiled, "So you were jealous?"
She pulled on his shirt, "Insanely…" She leaned into kiss him where he uttered, "That's what I like to here from my bad blonde one."
She pulled away before their lips could touch, looking slightly offended although she would never take it back.
"Not that I had a problem with you staking your claim on the Jackal, but…"
"Oh, but you enjoyed it," she cleverly leaned closer.
He nodded 'yes', "I just hope you still have that fire in you tonight."
"Well," she slowly leaned in with her eyes locked on his, "I guess…." She leaned closer to his lips that were anticipating the pent up kiss.
"You'll just have to wait!" She pulled away not kissing him at all.
"Hey!" He chased after her where he wrapped his arms around her, "That's not fair!"
She felt his ticklish hands around her waist, "Spin-eelli!"
"Maximista thinks she's funny ehh!" He tickled her crazy.
"Okay stop it! Okay!" She turned to him crashing her lips into his, "You're horrible you know that?!"
"Yeah," he cracked a wide playful smile before kissing her, "But you love it."
"Spinelli," she pulled away from his insatiable lips, "If you don't get me to that hotel room…"
"You're going to die of starvation?" He pulled away where she desperately looked at him out of breath, "How did you know?"
He quickly kissed her, "Because I was thinking the same thing!"
She excitedly smiled, maybe it wasn't just her and her out of control sex hormones, "Great minds think alike!"
"And don't we think great?!...Together!" He pulled her into a short flammable kiss before they pulled apart and sprinted to the car.
Maxie walked into the Metro Court arm hooked around Spinelli's who was modeling his new black leather jacket that he had bought from the mall. They tried to slyly enter the hotel with their bags in hand like they weren't hot for each other, but Maxie found it an impossible task, "Don't start up a conversation with Marty."
He frustratingly looked at her, "I know!"
"Don't I know me!" She slightly raised her voice before lowering it, "Don't be polite either, just get the card and…" She paused, as his stare was obnoxious, "What?"
"I'm just taking in this moment, the blonde one really wants the Jackal, now who's begging for sex?"
"Shut it," she put her fingers against his lips, "I'll be by the elevator, don't make me wait Damian." She playfully pushed him away where he stumbled into two bellmen on his way to the counter. Maxie rolled her eyes as she backed towards the elevator, laughing inside at how awkward the jackal still was.
"Mr. Spinelli?" Marty leaned over the counter as Spinelli picked himself up, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah!" Spinelli quickly stood up, "Is the room ready?"
"Yes it is," Marty handed the cards, "Mrs. Jacks went out of her way to meet your demands, but was happy to do it."
"Great," Spinelli took the keycards from him where as he started to part from the counter he quickly jerked his head, "And we don't want to be disturbed."
Marty nodded, "Of course," but he knew his words had already left Spinelli's earshot.
Spinelli evilly grinned at Maxie who walked into the elevator before him, "Thanks Marty!" He waved his hand back.
"You're wel," he cracked the shouting of his words when he saw a woman's hand reach out of the elevator and forcefully pull Spinelli into the elevator.
It wasn't the most conventional elevator music playing, no it was the radio playing "One thing on my mind" by Chauncey Jacks.
The bags hit the floor and Spinelli raced his hands around her waist as she hit the back wall of the elevator.
"Max…" He pulled away, but she pulled him back, "I need to hit….the 12th floor."
"12th floor!" She angrily pulled him back into a kiss as her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Only…" He leaned away but she nibbled his lips back, "The best…" He pierced the corner of her lips, "For you."
Maxie roughly pushed him away leaving him speechless where she just stood there with a desirable giggle, "You are the best thing for me, now push that button and get back over here!"
He shockingly nodded, "Alright…" He stretched his arm out and pushed the button where as he motioned back to her the elevator opened.
"Hey guys!" Sam smiled walking in from the lobby.
Spinelli stood beside Maxie, both standing innocent.
Sam walked in pushing the third floor for the Metro Court Restaurant, "You guys are quiet." She glanced at them where Spinelli stuttered, "Uh sorry."
Sam glanced down at the bags that seemed to be scattered about, "Did some shopping I see."
Maxie embarrassingly smiled, "Oh yeah."
The third floor chimed and Sam smiled jokingly, "You two have fun."
As soon as she walked out and the doors closed, he turned to her wrapping his hands around her back as she wrapped hers around his neck. Their ferocious making out had sent her to lean against the buttons of the elevator.
"Spine-elli!" She whined as they kissed.
"Shh," he cupped her cheek deepening the kiss so she couldn't complain that it was going to take them twice as long to get to the room.
She moved her hands to his biceps and began removing his black jacket. When one arm became free he pulled out of the kiss to remove it from the other arm where she undid her red blouse to reveal a scandalous black bra.
He smiled in great admiration, "Is there a black surprise in here Maximista?" He slid his hand into her jeans.
"Spin-elli!" She whined with a high-pitched tone.
He giggled moving his lips to her neck and removing his hand that was just about to go beneath the lacey underwear, "I can be a gentlemen for…" He glanced up at the remaining floors, "For five…" He paused with fear as the elevator chimed and began to open.
"Shoot," Maxie nervously looked down for her blouse, but only saw his leather Jacket.
The doors opened fully to see the White Knight and Kate Howard waiting, "Max…" He gently put her behind him as the two walked in with adjusted smiles.
"Spinelli!" Jax smiled, "I heard you were staying here."
"Hey Maxie," Kate crookedly smiled at the blushing blonde who leaned against Spinelli's back with her arms around his waist, trying to cover herself up.
"Hi Kate," she glowingly smiled while feeling Spinelli's hand gripping her thigh.
"Spinelli," Jax charmingly uttered, "I look forward to that meeting tomorrow."
Spinelli cleared his throat, "As do I."
"Good," Jax glanced away from him to Kate, both smirking.
Spinelli looked over his shoulder at Maxie who was too happy to be embarrassed anymore.
The elevator chimed at the eighth floor and Jax and Kate casually walked out of the elevator like nothing had happened. The doors closed and the two started giggling, but didn't stop their antics. She moved her hands to his brown belt and he tenderly wrapped his hand around her milky skin waist before kissing her chest.
The belt went flying and Spinelli tried to break eye contact to see just where it had flown off to, but Maxie cupped his cheek and pulled him into a kiss.
The tenth floor chimed and Spinelli rushed to pull his pants up only to see in the corner of his eye Mr. Corinthos Sir and The lawful one.
Maxie put her hand over her mouth in a soft giggle at Spinelli's shocked glare at Sonny who simply smiled in amusement, "I've got the same color." He pointed down to the black boxers.
Maxie leaned her forehead on Spinelli's shoulder quietly laughing now where Spinelli smiled in relief that Mr. Sir had not been cold.
"Carpe diem Mr. Jackal," Diane beamed a grin at him.
"Yes," he looked away from them to Maxie, "Carpe diem lawfully one."
"Well catch the next elevator Spinelli," Sonny looked at Diane as the elevators closed and Spinelli looked at Maxie completely red in the cheeks, "That was not funny."
She looked up at him chuckling, "Yeah it was."
"Well," he pulled his pants up, "Um…"
"We're here!" She looked at the approaching twelfth level of the hotel.
She leaned against the door of their hotel room kissing his neck as Spinelli tried numerous times to open the door, "Damn it Spinelli!" She quickly grabbed the keycard from his hand and swiped it.
"It's not that easy," he muttered, but the door flung open and he grunted, "Actually it is that easy." He looked up at her to see she was stunned standing in the doorway.
"Spinelli," she softly said as her eyes glistened at the candles and the rose petals, "Did you…" She turned to him, "Do this?"
"Well the Jackal didn't physically do this, but…" He lost his words as she cupped his cheek and ever so gently kissed him.
"You are so sweet," she softly told him with tears in her eyes.
He smiled at the hormones making her vulnerable, "Only because of you...am I sweet." He kissed her forehead and then walked her into the room holding her hand.
He closed the door after them and set their bags down where he felt Maxie let go of his hand and walk to the cart with wine coldly frosting in a bucket of ice.
She lifted the bottle of wine and turned to him, "Well I don't think we'll be able to use this," she smirked.
He giggled walking towards her, "You can't," he took the bottle from her, "but…"
"Oh no you don't!" She took the bottle back, "If I can't drink you can't drink!" She set it back in the bucket.
"Where's the fun in that?" He playfully whined, "I don't get to tease you?" He wrapped his arm around her back playfully pushing her into him.
She grinned at how forceful he was, but completely loving it, "No you don't," she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Spinelli jokingly smiled, "I'm not gonna have any fun while your pregnant, am I?"
She nodded no and he smirked, "It's going to be a long seven months."
"Well," she leaned in slowly, "You've done pretty well restraining yourself in the last seven minutes, I think you can handle seven months."
"Oh you think so?" He playfully leaned forward.
She nodded yes as he neared her lips where she teasingly missed his kiss and pulled away from his close proximity to pick up her Victoria Secret bag.
"I'll be right back," she evilly smiled while slowly letting go of his hand.
He stood there speechless trying to fight to the temptation to follow her into the bathroom. The door closed and Spinelli turned to the bed with a goofy smile wondering if this was really about to happen. He didn't waste anytime though. He rushed to the bed, pulled the sheets back, and stripped down. As he positioned himself on the bed his eagerness to jump into the sack with her became lost for a moment as his mind began thinking of how long he had been waiting for this moment and how this moment was now altered because a baby was involved. He knew it would take too long to open his laptop or too noisy to call Dr. Lee, but there was the book that he bought. He jolted off the bed, rifled through the bag within in a bag and grabbed the help book on pregnancy. Resting against the pillows, he checked the index for sex and then quickly flipped to the page where he skimmed to the answer of his most important question...Is it safe to have to…to well you know…Spinelli thought.
"Spinelli…." She called out where he jerked his head up to see a dark lit bathroom.
Thankfully he just read the sentence of information he need to read and tossed the book to the ground. He got himself situated on the bed and then crossed his arms, "Pres-ent."
From the moment he saw her he knew he must have died and gone to heaven. Sure it sounded cheesy, but as she walked towards him, in this pink lingerie gown thing as he described it, she looked like an angel. Maxie knew by the look of his face that picking the pink Satin merrywidow outfit would be the right choice. She knew she could have picked something more revealing and he would have been just as stunned, but there was something in her that didn't want to dress like that. Maybe she was just starting feel the effects of being pregnant or maybe she just didn't want to be the trashy devil blonde girl. He made her feel like a princess, kind of like Mac, oddly enough.
"Spinelli?" She stopped in front of the bed calling his name to see if he was still breathing.
"Uh-ye-ah?" His voice cracked and he embarrassingly blushed, "Um yeah?"
She crawled onto the bed where he was sure she asked, "Are you okay?" But he wasn't sure with his eyes targeted on her breasts.
"Spinelli?" She sat on his lap, "Hello…Earth to Mr. Jackal?"
He shook his head snapping out of his fantasy, "Sorry," he nervously smiled before interlacing his hand in hers, "Is everything okay?"
"Ye-ah," she nodded, but he was convinced there was something slightly off about her.
"Maximista?" He softly looked into her eyes where he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, "Hey?" He lifted her chin up, "What's wrong?"
She sighed with a frown, "I don't know." She got off his lap and sat next to him.
"Wow," she smiled suddenly, "This bed…" She paused as she leaned back on the pillows.
"Is comfortable?" He guessed with a goofy smile at her.
"Yeah," she sighed happily.
"Well it's even better with the sheets on," he folded them over her and then glanced up at her, "Maxie, are you tired?"
"I wasn't before!" She said disappointedly.
"It's okay," he honestly looked at her, "We had a busy day."
"Spinelli I never get tired from shopping, never."
"Well," he chuckled, "That was before."
"Yeah before," she said slightly annoyed.
"Maxie it's okay to be a little tired, I myself feel like I'm still catching up on a month's of sleep," he stroked her blonde hair.
"I noticed," she humorously smiled thinking of this morning.
He gently dropped his hand from her hair to her cheek, "The point is we all get tired."
"I know, but I really wanted to be with you and this will be the second time that I haven't been able to…"
"Hey," he sweetly interrupted, "The night is still young," he excitedly animated, "We are young!" He kissed her forehead and then leaned away from her to climb off the bed.
"Spinelli what are you doing?" She amusingly stared at his burst of energy.
He walked over to his bag of clothes, "How about I give you that fashion show you've always wanted?"
"What?" She giggled wondering where this came from, "Spinelli..." She leaned up from the pillows as he excitedly ran into the bathroom.
"Hang on Maximista!" He shouted.
"Spin-elli?" She laughed silly, "You don't have to do this."
"Nonsense," he said seriously before walking out in black tie dangling against his bare chest.
"This a preshow?" She smiled at the lack of pants and dress shirt.
"Yes," he smiled charmingly, "And while I change into each outfit you need something to entertain yourself."
"I do?" She amusingly huffed.
He nodded, "And I…" He turned to the cart, his hands reaching into the white curtains, "Don't think that a glass of ginger-ale," he revealed it, "Or a plate of crackers," he pulled out from the curtains.
She intriguingly glared at him as he set the glass on the nightstand and placed the plate next to her.
"I'm starting to think you planned this."
"Me?" He leaned away from her, "Do I look like a guy with a plan?"
"Are you kidding me?" She grabbed hold of his tie, "Damian Spinelli you are a smooth operator."
"Ehhh," he shrugged his shoulders.
"No," she playfully whined, "Not eh. You are the true mind of a genius."
He smiled in agreement, "And behind every genius…"
She wasn't sure what to say, "Is a blonde girl?"
He giggled, looking down where he saw her breasts, "Wow."
"Spinelli!" She playfully hit him.
"What?" He glanced up at her, "I see just another great thing about this pregnancy."
She rolled her eyes and then slowly rose her hand to stroke his brown curls, his goofy grin making it impossible not to think he was adorable in this moment.
"As I was saying," he chuckled, "Behind every genius, is a muse."
"And I'm your muse?"
"You," he leaned in, "Are my inspiration." He softly smiled before pecking her lips and walking around to the other side of the bed.
"To conclude this preshow," he bent down to the book where he hid it around his back, "You need something to keep yourself occupied while I change in and out of these dashing suits."
"And what do you have in mind?" She played along as he crawled onto the bed.
"How about a little reading?" He stopped in front of her seeing her curious expression.
"I thought that with your impending motherhood and my impending fatherhood, that you might enjoy this," he shyly looked down at the sheets, nervous that she wouldn't like it.
"Spinelli," she reached out to cup his cheek, seeing a fear in his eyes, "I'm sure I'll like whatever it is you got me."
He nodded, "I know, but…" He pouted still unable to look at her, "I just…" He looked up at her, "I just want you to know how happy you've honestly made me and that I…well," he sighed because there was an emotion of vulnerability in this moment that he wanted to tell her. It was an emotion that all men reach, that he had had seen Stone Cold reach with Fair Samantha, a refusal to go on without the people you love.
"Spinelli," she slowly said looking into his eyes, "Breathe."
He nodded, "Sorry, I just," he looked up at her, "I just, I can't lose you..." He let go of her hand to kiss her forehead. "Or…" He remained focused on her eyes while his hand gently slid back the silky lingerie over her stomach, "you…" He looked away from her where as he kissed her abdomen, essentially believing he was kissing the baby, he felt Maxie's tender hands stroking his brown hair.
She watched the connection he was making with their child and thought back to what Dr. Lee had told her, she was right and that scared her. She didn't know how Spinelli could be incredibly devoted to something as small as a blueberry and yet she barely felt a connection.
"The Jackal loves you both," he said confidently before revealing the book by placing it in her hands and walking away from her to the bathroom.
She called his name wanting to share her reaction with him, but realized he was too shy to see it through. As she read the cover and began opening it, she felt déjà vu for she had seen this book, read parts of it before. When she was faking her pregnancy with Lucky, she had to do the research to make it believable and when Robin told her she was expecting, she gave her this as a congratulations gift. She never thought that five months later she'd be looking at this again, but then again everything she ever expected to happen never came true, like Georgie having the fairy tale ending with Dillon. Never the less she looked up the table of contents and turned to chapter 7 and began reading what was most appropriate to the stage she was at. Truthfully though if Spinelli couldn't exactly convince her a hundred percent to have this baby, then she was most confident a book couldn't.
Spinelli adjust the black tie around his silver dress shirt and then poked his head out with a frown slowly forming into a smile, he could see she was genuinely interested and that made him hopeful.
"So," he cleared his throat where she looked up, "What do you think about this?"
It matched well, but silver and black, they were colors that just weren't him.
"I guess…"
"You guess?" He confusingly looked at her as he twirled around, "The Jackal doesn't look good?"
"Oh on the contrary," she giggled, "The Jackal looks very good, but…"
He interrupted, "The Jackal thinks he knows what you mean…" He walked back into the bathroom amused at the ideas he had planned.
Moments later he walked out in a black dress shirt with silver tie, "What about this?"
She looked up again from the pages that had her attention, "Interesting."
"You hate it," he stood in front of the bed.
"Nooo," she sighed, "I don't hate it."
"But you don't like it?" He looked at her honestly disappointed for he thought he looked kind of sharp in it, a real tool.
"Spinelli…"
"No," he put his hands up in defense, "I think I know what you want."
"Okay?!" She amusingly looked back down at the book having no idea that she would find some of the things in their like tips on how to handle morning sickness so informative.
Spinelli stood in front of the bed now, a white tie, "You know I'm beginning to think that book was a bad idea." He said with his hands on his hips.
"And I'm beginning to think this fashion show was a bad idea," she teased back.
"What?" He looked at her appalled, "You don't like the color, the black and white?"
She set the book on her lap, "Spinelli, those colors aren't you."
"So?" He jumped in defense, "Isn't the best part about dressing up, being someone your not or maybe could be?"
She giggled at his desirability to be a bad guy, still, "Spinelli why don't you come back to bed and…"
"No," he kindly looked at her, "I've got one more idea."
"Alll-right…" She picked up the book again.
He walked into the bathroom and pulled out the dress shirt and tie that he hoped would catch her interest this time. Luckily for him, it would do more than that. Maxie glanced up at the closed bathroom doors amusingly thinking back at his attempts to impress her when really he didn't need to impress her at all. She read the last bottom paragraph and then turned the page where suddenly there was no longer a man blending in with the shadows.
She put the book down and watched as he slowly departed from the darkness of their dim lit room.
"Is this what you were expecting?" He grinned mysteriously.
The candles flickered against his orange shirt and highlighted the shininess of his blue tie, lighting him up just enough that she found her eagerness from the mall and the elevator again.
"Now that's more like it," she smiled as he neared closer to the bed.
"Really?" He asked twirling around, "You like the colorful Mr. Jackal…"
"Versus the dark menacing Mr. Jackal?" She pondered, "I'll take the man I fell in love with any day."
He nodded as he walked around to her side of the bed where he stood still and let her take control of his modeling moves.
"Come here," she motioned with her finger where he met her demands and walked over to her.
She moved the book to the nightstand as well as the plate and then gazed up at him, "Closer."
"Is there something wrong with my tie?" He glanced down at it where he soon saw her hand grasping it.
He looked up at her wondering what was going on, but as he forcefully took a seat on the bed she loosened it up, "Now there is."
He cautiously looked up at her wondering if this was an invitation, "Has Maximista rested enough?"
She undid the rest of his tie and then pulled it through the collar. Her fingers moved to the buttons and before he knew it she was pulling up his tucked in shirt, "Spinelli you could help me out here?"
He instantly smiled at her where he moved his hands to his belt and she ripped it right from his waist, "The jackal senses you enjoyed that."
She giggled as he leaned towards her, "A little."
"Oh the Jackal disagrees," he leaned closer forcing her to lean all the way back down on her pillows, "You liked it more than just a little." He passionately kissed her lips and then leaned up from the bed dropping his black pants down. He rapidly pulled the sheets back and then climbed into bed where he pulled the sheets back and wrapped his arms around her kissing every part of her. Oddly enough though he still had his orange dress shirt on and for some reason didn't feel the need to take it off just yet, "Maxie," he kissed her neck before finding her lips.
"Yea?" She looked up at him with a smile.
"You know what's great about this moment?"
"That we're about to have sex?" She said out of breath as kiss his chest.
"Yes, but," he paused moving his hands to his boxer shorts and gradually pulling them down.
"But what?" She kissed his shoulder with a scar on it.
Once he felt free from his boxers he motioned his hands to her pink lacey gown and pulled it off. They joined closer together where as Spinelli positioned himself perfectly on top of her, he looked down, "But that I'm about to make love to you in my favorite color."
"Well I'd rather it be that than that dreadful black," she teased wrapping her arms around him where he looked at her offended, "Hey the Jackal looked pretty bad ass in black."
"Well I thought you looked pretty bad ass in orange, now shut up and make love to me!" She looked him straight in the eye thinking if they waited any longer she would just about die.
"You definitely still have the fire in you tonight Maximista!" He pulled her into a tongue-twisting kiss before pursuing into her and the two taking part in a much longing passion since…seven weeks and four days.
An hour later…
She was resting pleasantly on his shoulder when she began to stroke the front ends of his hair, "That was…."
"Exhausting…" He leaned his head back on the pillows.
"I was going to great," she slid her hand down to his chest.
"Indeed it was," he closed his eyes.
"Aww is the Jackal tired?" She leaned up where he nodded, "You took every bit of energy out of me."
"You mean there's nothing left in you to go again?" She began to lower her hand down his chest.
"Maximista, the jackal needs strength, he needs food and water and…" He shot his eyes open as he felt a certain grip.
"Max…" His voice cracked where he saw her climb on top of him.
"You know what that book you got me said?" She leaned closer ever close to him.
"Wha-t?" He awkwardly smiled.
She kissed her way up his cheek and then his neck, "That sex is…" She whispered into his ear, "Good for the baby." He looked into her eyes, "Where does it say that?"
"It just does," she huffed.
"I want a works cited Maximista," he grunted.
"Spinelli," she softly, but evilly looked into his eyes, "Am I not a trustable source for you?"
He chuckled closing his eyes, "Max-i-mi-sta," he whined.
"Oh come on!" She kissed chest, "I know you have at least twenty minutes left in you."
"Twenty?!" He growled, "Maybe five."
"I can work with that," she uttered and he opened his eyes seriously, "Good for the baby eeehh?"
She nodded silly with a smile he couldn't say no to, "I swear woman you will be the end of me."
She giggled not exactly amused, "Thanks."
"Aww I'm just kidding," he playfully smiled before rolling himself on top, "Twenty minutes and then the Jackal wants to sleep with you right next to him in his arms."
"Deal," she wrapped her arms around him pulling him into a kiss and they began another round of the beauty and the geek lovemaking.
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Next chapter: Stacy was the start of negative feed back, but there's more to come and it's not just from Mac. What will happen when Spinelli spills the truth in front of some people who could effect Maxie's career and what will happen when Maxie spills the truth to Jason? Tensions rise and a once confident relationship crumbles. Can Sam, Robin and Mickey (remember Spinelli's coach?) save them? The next chapter afterwards will be a reunion. Johnny returns with Lulu who brings her mystery new guy that Spinelli has a bad pas with. In fear that the numbers might be in Maxie's favor when it comes to a vote, Spinelli enlists the help of a director, a certain Quartermaine to convince fair Maximista that Georgie would want her to do this. The tiffany's ring will pop up very soon.
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