Language, Sex and Adult themes apply.
I don't own anything; all characters belong to Janet Evanovich.
I just wanted to say a big thank you to every one of you who has been reading and reviewing my story. Sadly, this is the end, although I might do a couple of short stories, tying in to this one in the future, I doubt I will be doing a sequel. A big thanks to Denny, who helped me brainstorm and encouraged me constantly!
55 - Epilogue
Six weeks later, after Annabel's birth.
"Babe...don't go to the gym this morning" Carlos groaned, holding onto me tightly, trapping me with his arm around my waist and his leg thrown over mine. His face was buried in my neck and he was peppering my skin with kisses. I knew where this was going to lead: to a whole lot of sexual frustration. I hadn't been cleared for sex yet, but hopefully today was the day. If not, I feared for the doctor's safety.
"Wow, I never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth. Do I detect some frustration?" I giggled as he groaned and pressed me tighter to his body.
"I can't take much more of this querida. I want to be inside you, I want to make love to you, I want to hear you scream my name. I researched this; you could have been cleared almost two weeks ago. You didn't have any tearing or any complications. This doctor is out to get me! He's trying to kill me!" He growled, nipping at my skin gently.
"Carlos, I'm sure he had a good reason for asking me to wait another week. Today's the day. I can feel it...and if he doesn't then, well, too bad. I feel fine, better than fine. I feel fantastic!" I exclaimed.
"You look better than fantastic Babe. Ravishingly sexy, gorgeous, breathtaking, foxy...delicious. I'm so proud of all you've accomplished. I think this is the best physical shape you've ever been in." He praised, his hand running slowly down my curves to prove his point.
"Carlos" I moaned, exasperated.
"I know Babe, I'm playing with fire. I'm sorry. I just can't keep my hands of my unbelievably sexy wife. I don't think I can handle the pressure of going to another Doctor's appointment with you. I'm sorry Babe, but if that man told me one more time that you are not ready for sexual activities, I think I might have to detach his head from his body." I laughed. I had already anticipated this and invited Lester to come with me today. I missed my short time partner. It really was a shame he wasn't up for babysitting.
"It's ok Carlos. Lester will go with me. I understand, I don't want to have to explain to anyone the good old Doc's death" I assured him, kissing his pouting lips.
"No one would find the body" He assured me. I laughed and pushed him onto his back, straddling his chest.
"Is that so?" I purred, kissing his skin, as he had mine, just moments ago.
"God, now I'm going to have to go to the gym" he crawled out from underneath me and into a pair of extremely baggy shorts. They still didn't disguise his massive hard on.
"I can take care of that for you" I murmured, licking my lips.
"Christ Steph! We've been through this. I will not take pleasure that I can't reciprocate." He snapped.
I sighed.
"Babe...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...I love you" He mumbled.
"I love you too...so why can't I go down to the gym?" I wondered.
"Because if I have to watch you exercise in those tiny, tight pants and sports bra one more time I WILL put on a show for all the men to see. I'll see you when you get home. Please have some good news for me" He leaned over the bed and gave me a toe curling, earth tilting kiss before striding out of the bedroom.
"Bye Carlos!" I called, sending up a prayer that I would be able to have sex with my husband tonight. I heard him go to the nursery and listened as he murmured to Annabel for a moment, then the apartment door was opening and closing and he was gone.
I relaxed into the mattress until I heard gurgling sounds coming through the baby monitor. Hoisting myself out of bed I staggered to the nursery.
"Good Morning baby girl" I greeted my adorable daughter, lifting her up and blowing a raspberry on her tummy. She smiled. I smiled. Suddenly having to get up every three hours didn't seem like such a chore.
I swiftly got down to feeding and burping her, anxious to start this day. I showered and dressed. Then I washed and dressed Annabel and headed down to the control room with baby, baby bag and purse in tow. I greeted the guys and glanced over the monitors. Carlos was kicking the shit out of someone in the gym. I really felt sorry for the guys.
I paused in the lunch room, where I found Lester and Bobby.
"Morning guys" I smiled. Bobby stood and came over to me, touching Annabel's nose
"What did you do to Ranger this morning Bombshell?" Bobby laughed. I sighed, rolled my eyes and ignored him.
"Ready to hit the road Lester?" I wondered.
"Jesus Steph, when's your appointment?" Lester exclaimed, scraping back his chair, stretching his arms over his head and yawning.
"Eight thirty am. C'mon, let's hustle" I encouraged. I knew my energy would wear off soon and I would be dead on my feet, not to mention bitchy.
"I hope that Doc knows what's good for him today" Lester grumbled under his breath as we travelled down the stairs. Lester had received a three hour sparing session last week when we had returned from the doctors.
I ducked quickly into the gym and watched Carlos render his opponent unconscious before he turned to mutilate a punching bag. I silently slipped out again, getting too turned on by watching him, his muscles bulging, relaxing and flexing, to want to hang around when there was nothing I could do about it.
The drive to the Doctor's office was fairly quick due to light traffic. We arrived just as a woman, whom I assumed to either be a nurse or a secretary, was unlocking the front doors.
"Ah, you must be the first appointment. Mrs Manoso?" I nodded at her as she smiled at my eagerness.
"The Doctor will be a few minutes yet, take a seat and I'll notify him you're here" I thanked the woman and sat with Annabel in my lap and Lester to my left.
Twenty minutes later and I was being led into one of the examining rooms. I seated myself down in a chair and watched Lester close the door.
Another ten minutes and the door opened to reveal the fashionably, cough, late doctor.
"What's up Doc?" I questioned as he ambled in and took a seat.
"Not much Mrs Manoso, how are you feeling today?" He inquired, pen at the ready.
"Great! On top of the world! Healthy" He smiled and made a note on his chart, before flipping through a couple of pages.
"How's the breast pump going?" Doc asked.
"It's great! And Carlos has been so wonderful, volunteering to do night time feedings every second night! I love not having to get up and down all night, every night!" The doctor chuckled at my response, but quickly sobered.
"You're still breastfeeding during the day though? It's important for the child to feel connected to you" I nodded.
"Well then. All appears good and Annabel looks the picture of health. Congratulations Mrs Manoso, you are now free from abstention!" He clapped his hands together. I frowned at him, not wanting to misinterpret his words.
"Does that mean I can have sex with Carlos?" I demanded quickly.
"I suspect you've been ready to recommence sexual activity for the past week or more. You have slimmed down remarkably quickly. You are in excellent shape, and extremely healthy." He announced happily. I felt my face turning red with anger.
"Then how come you didn't clear me for sex last week?!" I shrieked indignantly, loud enough for Lester to step into the room to investigate the source of my distress. I told him I was ok, but that I wanted him to stay.
"Because I've met your husband. I wanted to be sure that you wouldn't suffer any inconvenience or pain when he...reclaimed his wife" The doctor shifted in his seat nervously. I heard Lester growl and knew he was standing behind me, most likely glaring at the doctor.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?! I'm not some possession for a male to claim! I am a human being with feelings and needs! Damn you!" I huffed agitatedly.
"It means, Mrs Manoso, that when your husband was here last week he was undressing you with his eyes and when I refused to allow you to partake in sexual activity he almost broke down in tears. He is a man, a possessive man at that. Accept the facts and move on" The doctor stated in his annoyingly calm voice. Asshole.
"I think we're finished here" I growled, standing up and shifting Annabel in my arms slightly.
"Mrs Manoso – " The doctor's words were cut off by Lester.
"Is ready to leave. She is leaving now" I felt Lester's hand on my back as he ushered us out and down the hall, quickly signing the paperwork for me.
I took a deep breath of the welcoming New Jersey air as I stepped outside. I felt like a massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
Hugging Annabel close to me and kissing her cheek, I let Lester manoeuvre us to the car.
"Lester! We have to go to Pino's for a celebratory meatball sub! I've been eating bird seed food for the last never ending amount of weeks! I deserve a treat!" I declared, my stomach rumbling, agreeing loudly with me.
"Alright beautiful. I'm happy too, I'm not gonna get my ass kicked today. I guess this is a cause for celebration! And Ranger isn't going to be a shitty mood from now on!" He pulled me into a tight hug, kissed my forehead, and then baby's forehead.
Lester helped me get everything and the baby inside the car. Then I was jumping in the passenger's seat, positively bouncing with glee. I was gonna get me some Cuban Sex God loving tonight!
Lester pulled out of the parking lot, driving five miles under the speed limit on his way to Pino's. This was a new rule of Carlos'; whoever was driving me and/or Annabel must remain at least five miles under, or else face his wrath. Carlos had taken to monitoring the speeds that all SUV's were travelling at. Two days previously, Hal had run me to the grocery store. When we returned, Carlos pounced, insisting Hal had been driving excessively fast. It had taken a lot of sweet talking on my part to get my husband to back down. Sheesh, all this no sex was making him crazy, he knew how much I hated it when someone wanted to control my life. Lucky I was in a forgiving mood at the time, or I might just have held it against him.
Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, I was shocked to realise it was almost quarter to ten! Pino's would be in full swing with the pre lunch crowd. I hoped it wasn't too packed.
We finally arrived...I swear we were overtaken by a kid on a push bike on the way there, we were going that slow. My good mood was wearing thin, my stomach had not ceased growling and my energy levels had dropped, leaving me feeling exhausted. I wanted nothing more than to grab some food, eat, and then go home and curl up in bed with my husband...well maybe not curl up in bed...
"Earth to Beautiful. Do you still want to go in?" I nodded my head and jumped out of the car, retrieved my niña from the back, and followed Lester to the door.
I noticed Tank and Lula sitting in a booth and waved to them and their little Darnell. They smiled and waved back. I gave Lula a thumbs up, indicating all was go in the bedroom, she winked back but gave me a thumbs down. Looked like Tank was going to stay in a bad mood for a little longer.
Lester and I sidled up to the counter, Lester making room by glaring at anyone that came within two feet of me. It was times like these that I enjoyed having a body guard.
"What'll it be, Steph?" Lester wondered, pulling out his wallet.
"A mega meatball sub! I'll be over with Tank and Lula" He nodded, but I felt his eyes on my back the entire journey to the table. I took my seat and greeted my friends.
Lester soon joined us and we chatted easily.
"I'll be right back guys; can you watch Annabel for a second Les?" I requested, pushing the baby into his arms.
"I...uh...Stephanie...what the hell am I supposed to do if she cries?!" I patted him on the back reassuringly and pointed at Tank and Lula.
"This is supervised baby-sitting. Relax Lester, I'll be gone two minutes" I rolled my eyes as I walked off to the bathroom. I passed Morelli in the hall. He did a double take and froze, stumbling backwards until he was facing me.
"Shit Cupcake, you've lost some weight!" Joe had the nerve to smile at me!
"Are you calling me fat Morelli?! Are you implying I was fat?!" I shrieked, outraged. What an asshole! I thought he was turning over a new leaf?!
"Uh, no Steph…I…uh…shit, no" He stuttered, holding out his hands and backing away from me until he collided with the hallway wall. Too late buddy, I was in rhino mode!
"No fucking take backs" I lifted my knee and connected it solidly with his groin. He went down like a sack of bricks.
"Hey! Steph! What the hell?!" Alicia shouted, running forward and dropping down next to Morelli.
"He called me fat! What was I supposed to do? Nobody wins with a head-butt! He deserved a knee to the groin for a comment like that. Everyone knows not to tell a woman who's recently had a baby that she was fat. I was up all night, I'm tired and cranky and at the moment hungry, bitchy and horny!" I argued, hands on my slim hips. I just wanted to get home and tell Carlos the good news!
"You called her fat?!" Alicia demanded, smacking Morelli upside the head before he even had a chance to answer…though I doubted he would have been able to anyway, his balls were probably still heading north. I smiled in satisfaction. "I thought I had you trained better than that." Alicia shook her head in mock sadness, sending a wink my way.
I still wouldn't be able to get used to friendly Alicia. Boy had Carlos' banishment to military camp worked wonders on her. Thankfully, she was now mature, unselfish, kind and happy. I didn't know a person could change personalities so completely in such a short time, but I was glad she had. I still had trouble trusting her though; I doubt I'd ever leave her alone with my child. An elephant never forgets…or something like that…I just knew I wouldn't be able to forgive her or forget the way she had treated me; locking me in the Manoso's basement.
"Sorry Kitten. Love you" Morelli gasped out, his voice a little squeaky; his hands cradling his crotch. I held back a laugh; Morelli was officially whipped.
"It's ok Super-stud. I love you too" I gagged a little as Alicia kissed Morelli's mouth gently.
"Sorry to break up this love fest" gag "But I have to use the bathroom" Morelli had collapsed down in front of the women's bathroom, just my luck.
"What the hell is going on?" Lester ambled up. Annabel gargled at me from Lester's arms. I pulled her into mine and rubbed my nose against her little tiny one.
"Did you miss mommy?" I asked and was rewarded with an adorable gummy smile. She had only just started smiling a few days ago, Carlos and I had been doing anything we could to make her smile since then.
"Joey! I think we should tell them!" My head snapped up and turned in Morelli's and Alicia's direction. Morelli was now standing up, leaning against Alicia, his arm around her shoulder. He was looking paler than a few seconds ago. Uh oh.
"Tell us what?" Lester wondered, folding his arms.
"Nothing" Morelli grunted quickly.
"You don't want anyone to know?! I thought this was what you wanted?!" My eyes widened as Alicia's eyes filled with tears.
"I do want people to know. This is what I want. I want everyone to know! I love you!" Morelli quickly backtracked, smiling at his pouting girlfriend.
"Ok" Sniff "Joey and I are engaged!" Alicia shrieked happily.
"He's too old for you!" And with those parting words I watched Lester crash to the ground in a dead faint. Guess he didn't take their happy news too well.
Boy was it going to be fun announcing this to Carlos. He almost blew a coronary when he found out they were dating.
At least he would have sex to take his mind off it!
The End.
