Chapter 30

Warnings for smut

Three Years Later...

Carlos POV:

I laid in bed with Steph; today we were having a lazy morning. Her body was curled around mine, nothing else mattered right now. Julie had spent the night at Tank and Elena, playing with their son who was just a year younger than her.

Steph purred and pressed her face into my chest, her bare body rubbing against mine. I nuzzled into the top of her head as she woke up slowly.

"Good morning, Sexy," she purred.

I felt a laugh rumble from my chest. "Good morning, Babe."

"Mmm, it can be an even better morning," ahe said, kissing my neck and shoulder as she slid her body all the way on top of mine.

I chuckled softly, as her lips claimed mine. My hands roamed down her back, gripping her ass and pulling her closer. She sat up, rocking against me, her eyes hooded. "God, you feel so good." She moaned softly.

I rolled her onto her back, hitching one leg over my shoulder and wrapping the other around my waist. I leaned down to kiss her, her hands raking over my back as she arched, trying to force me inside her. I grinned and nipped at her neck.

"Stay still," I growled softly. "It's been a long time since we've been alone, and I've been able to make you scream."

She moaned as my hand opened her nightstand drawer. I plucked the pair of soft leather cuffs from the drawer and threaded them through the slats of the headboard. I cuffed her wrists and moved away from her, dropping both legs. She whimpered, looking up at me and biting her lip.

"Carlos!"

"I'm taking my time," I growled against her thigh as I kissed the tender skin. "In a few hours we'll have a toddler running around and we'll have to be quiet."

She bucked and I smacked her thigh, and she pouted down at me. My mouth found her clit, my tongue circling before I sucked on the small bead, hard. She cried out, arching against the bonds. I sat up, spreading her legs wider. She tried to force me on top of her, but I smacked her raised ass.

"Behave." I growled softly.

She glared at me. "Carlos, stop fucking teasing and fuck me!"

"You've gotten too used to getting your way," I told her, moving up her body. "Hold still or I stop."

I thrust into her, slamming home, hitting that spot inside her that made her scream. She held it back, all the muscles in her body tense and trembling as she tried to keep from moving. I pulled back two inches and thrust in one. Moving in and out of her at a slow hard pace.

I wrapped one of her legs around my waist, one of my hands tangling in her hair, pulling, and forcing her to arch up. Her chest rubbed against mine with each thrust, causing her to moan with every movement, the bars in her nipples making her even more sensitive.

"Carlos, please!"

"Hmmm, what do you want, Babe?"

"Please let me come, Carino!" she begged.

I ground against her clit, with each thrust speeding up. She cried out, bucking against me, arching up into my touch. "God, you feel so fucking good!" I growled against her neck.

"Carlos!" She moaned and I felt her fluttering around me; I knew she was right on edge. I sucked one of her nipples into my mouth, tongue flicking against her piercing.

"Come for me!" I groaned.

I watched her eyes roll back in her head as she screamed my name. I came with her, rutting against her. I unlatched the cuffs, rolling us so she could rest on top of me. Steph nuzzled into my neck and sighed.

"What if we can't do it?" Steph asked softly.

I knew what she was talking about. I ran my hand up and down her back. "It's going to take some time, Babe."

She sighed. "It's been nine months, Carlos."

"And the doctor says there isn't anything wrong with either of us. If we can't get it to happen, we'll figure something out," I told her softly.

"What about fertility shots?" she asked.

"There's so many side effects. I don't want you to have to take them."

"I don't want to either, but I want a bigger family," she said.

"If we are meant to have one, we will; if not, then it's okay," I said, running my fingers through her hair. "I don't want something to happen to you."

"People get them all the time," she reminded me.

"I know. Have you read about the symptoms?"

"Of course, I have," she said, looking down at me. "I'm willing to take the chance."

"How about we table this for another three months? If it doesn't happen by then we can do it."

She nodded. "That's reasonable," she said.

"Babe, you really need to stop stressing," I said, stroking the side of her face.

She sat up, straddling my stomach and looking down at me. "I don't want your only child to be from a crazy one-night stand." She traced the ridges between my abs. "I love Julie. I really do. I just want to be able to have one of our own. That way we can experience everything that comes with pregnancy together."

I sighed and hugged her close. "I know, I would love to have all of that too, Babe." I kissed her temple softly.

She nuzzled into my chest. "Let's keep trying the natural way for now."

I nuzzled into the top of her head and closed my eyes. I felt her melting into me. We both drifted off to sleep, waking up to our alarm so that we could go get Julie.

XXXXXX

Steph sat on the living room floor with Julie, both of them sitting at the coffee table, coloring and drawing. I heard giggling and smiled as I saw the two of them with their heads pressed together. No doubt they were scheming.

Julie looked over her shoulder and giggled at me before turning back to Steph. They were definitely planning something. Julie stood and ran to me, paper flying in her hand. "Daddy!" she yelled.

"Don't run in the house, Princessa," I said. She slowed to a walk and held her arms up, telling me to pick her up.

"Mommy and I made you something!" she said, shoving the paper at me as I balanced her on my hip. I tossed the rag in my hand over my shoulder and took the paper from her.

A set of three stick humans and a stick dog. Our names over our heads. My stick figure had spiky hair and black clothes. Steph and Julie were wearing dresses. Steph's hair is brown and crazy, Julie's straight and black. Mag was black and brown with a long nose. I smiled and kissed her forehead.

"It's beautiful, baby."

"So, you like it?" she asked, smiling her crooked smile.

"I love it," I said, rubbing my nose against hers and making her giggle. She wiggled to get down before running to the stairs to her room.

"No running Julie!" Steph yelled up the stairs.

"Sorry Mommy!" she called back.

Steph smiled and walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. I stepped forward, pinning her against the counter with my body. I leaned down and claimed her lips, kissing her softly.

I pulled back and met her eyes. She smiled again. "What're you two planning?" I asked.

She grinned. "Nothing..."

"I don't believe you," I told her. She smiled and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I love you," she said, stretching up to kiss me. I accepted it and laughed softly against her lips.

"I'll find out." I grinned.

"Sure, you will." She smiled. She turned and tasted the sauce and smiled.

"Almost done."

I grinned and pulled her close again. Nuzzling her neck, I kissed her below the ear. Both of us looked up when we heard the pitter patter of little feet and two sets of paws thumping against the ground.

I shook my head as Julie, Mag, and Ember came sliding around the corner. "Momma, Mag and Em are dirty!" she said, crinkling her nose.

Steph went to open her mouth when Mag and Em shook, slinging mud all over the kitchen. Thankfully the food was all covered. Steph stood stunned, Julie was giggling, and the dogs were rolling on the floor, spreading their mud.

"Okay, I'm going to go take them to the bathroom," Steph said. "Can you get Julie changed and start cleaning this up?"

I nodded and watched as she grabbed both of their collars to keep them from slinging mud all over the living room and hallway. I shook my head and took Julie upstairs.

That night, Steph and I laid on the couch. Mag and Em laid on the huge dog beds in the corner of the room. "Carlos?"

"Hmmm?" I asked, not lifting my face from her neck.

"What made us get another dog?" she asked.

I chuckled. "Alex offered you another one while I was away on business, and he sent you a puppy picture. I came home and we had a new puppy."

"Well, I asked how you would feel about adding a new family member," she said turning over to look at me. She laid across me and I kissed the tip of her nose.

"I thought you meant a baby." I shook my head.

"Well, she was a baby." She grinned. "Besides, she's your dog."

I laughed softly. Em cocked her head at us. She was a lighter color sable than Mag. Mag had more black, where she was more red. I shook my head.

"She's just as messy as a baby," Steph said.

I shook my head. She rested her head under my chin. I kissed her forehead as she snuggled into me.

"My period is two days late," she said softly. I looked down as she set her chin on my chest.

"Really?"

She nodded. "I'm going to wait to take a test though."

"Why?" I asked, sitting up slightly.

"Because there's a number of things that could make it a few days late. I want to wait at least nine days."

I nodded. "Okay. I can deal with that, even if I don't want to wait." I smiled. She grinned and kissed me.

"I love you."

"I love you, Carlos."

"Let's go to bed Babe." I grinned. My hands roaming over her hips. She straddled me and rocked against me. My hands squeezed her ass and she smiled.

"You're bad," she said as I stood, her legs wrapping around my waist.

"I don't hear you complaining, Babe."

XXXXXX

I walked into the house; it was dark despite being only six o'clock. Then the lights flicked on, and everyone jumped out. "Happy Birthday!"

I shook my head with a smile. Julie ran to me and jumped into my arms. "Daddy! Happy Birthday!" she squealed. I grinned and she kissed my cheek.

"Thank you, Baby." I said, kissing her forehead.

Steph stood at the front of the group, my mother and father with her. Abuela Rosa sat on the couch, and my brothers and sisters were gathered along with their families. This was the first time we had all been in one place since Steph's and my wedding.

After being greeted by the family and receiving slaps on the backs from the guys, I moved over to Steph, drawing her into my arms and kissing her deeply.

"This was a surprise." I grinned.

"Well considering I had to plan it almost two weeks before your actual party."

"At least I can say I sure as hell wasn't expecting it." I grinned. She laughed softly. She stood on her toes and kissed me again.

"I'm going to go grab a drink. Do you want anything?"

"Whatever you want to get me," I told her. She nodded.

I watched her leave for the kitchen, Julie came running to me and motioned for me to pick her up. "When can we eat the cake?" she asked. Before I could answer, she fired another question at me. "When can we open presents?"

"That would be a question for your mother," I said. She frowned.

"But it's your birthday." she said, jabbing me in the chest. I chuckled softly.

"But your momma is running this show," I said. She frowned and crossed her arms this time. I almost chuckled, the face she displayed was almost the same one that Steph gave me when I didn't answer her questions the way she wanted me to.

Steph walked out carrying a glass of red wine and a glass of champagne. She handed me the wine and stepped into my other side, wrapping her arm around my waist.

"Mommy when is Daddy opening his presents?" she asked.

"We'll start in a few minutes," Steph answered with a mischievous smile. I didn't trust that look at all.

Julie, satisfied, ran off to find her cousins. I looked down at my wife, and she just smirked up at me. "I'm in for another surprise tonight aren't I, Babe?"

"What kind of wife would I be if I didn't surprise my husband every now and then?"

"It better not be another dog," I told her.

She laughed; the sound was beautiful. "It's not another dog," she paused, "This time."

I shook my head. She led me over to the couch, and whistled, drawing everyone's attention. "The birthday boy is opening his presents. Gather around," she called.

I shook my head and she shoved me back onto the couch. Over the course of the next thirty minutes, I opened a slew of presents. Some I would use, others would be tucked into the back of a closet and never seen again. There were a few small trinkets mixed in, as well.

Eventually Steph passed the present from her grandmother to me. She sat in the corner grinning, holding a wine glass. She waggled her eyebrows at me, and I looked at Babe. She gave me a look of sympathy. Edna had moved to Miami two years ago, moving into the same retirement condo home as Abuela Rosa.

I opened the box before slamming it closed. She cackled and I passed the box to Steph, who proceeded to hide it under a table. Finally, there were two presents left.

One was from Julie, the other from Steph. The box that had Steph's name written across it was small and rectangular. Julie's gift was only a half inch thick and rectangular in shape.

I opened Julie's first. A picture frame; I smiled looking at the picture. Steph, Mag, Em, Julie and I were all displayed. But there was something else, something Steph was holding. It looked like an oval, colored blue, a face and black hair. I was pretty sure it was supposed to be a baby.

"Steph?" I asked softly as the room went quiet.

I looked up to see her sitting on the coffee table. She passed me the last present, watching my face. I opened the box, inside was a pregnancy test and an ultrasound picture, the bottom reading Baby Manoso due March 14th. She was ten weeks pregnant.

"Babe." I grinned. I looked up and saw her smiling at me.

"Happy birthday, Carino." She smiled.

I stood, pulling her into a hug, spinning her around. She giggled, and I set her back down and found her lips. "Thank you," I whispered softly against her lips. "Thank you, Babe. This is the best present."

"Daddy! Mommy is having another baby!" Julie yelled running to Steph and me. I picked her up and held her between us.

"That's right; you're going to have a little brother or sister," Steph said, kissing her forehead.

"How long has Julie known?" I asked.

"This morning," Steph laughed softly. "I knew she couldn't keep a secret from you, so I didn't tell her until after you left this morning, and I was praying she didn't tell you when you got home."

I grinned and shook my head, kissing the both of them on the forehead.

Chapters 30-35 is mostly fluff from their married life, I think they deserve it.